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A tea garden, ROJI in Japanese, is intended to prepare guests for the tea ceremony. Such gardens
traditionally have two parts, an outer garden and an inner one, leading to the tea house. Like the tea
ceremony itself, the design of these gardens is based on techniques and rules developed over hundreds
of years. The stones and plants are carefully arranged to create sober, natural-looking tableaux. The
shrubs, like the serviceberry used here, highlight the cycle of the seasons. The moss suggests the
passage of time. The tobi-ishi, or stepping stones, direct visitors' footsteps.
Everything in this orderly garden inspires calm and serenity. The tsukubai, the basin in which visitors wash before the
tea ritual, forces them to stoop and show their humility, a prerequisite for the ceremony. The stone
lantern, created for tea gardens, plays a practical and aesthetic role. A visit to a tea garden is a
pleasant experience, offering beauty for the eyes and harmony for the soul.
 This garden, dedicated to the memory of Mr. Hector Dupuis, first Canadian Executive Vice-President
of Toyota Canada, was made possible thanks to the generosity of Toyota Canada Inc.
The plans for the tea garden were donated by the City of Hiroshima.
The tea garden is open to visitors from May to November as part of a
guided tour or tea ceremony. Ask at the desk inside the Pavilion or consult the program of activities.
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