Ishigaki Wall & Accessible Pathway

Seattle Japanese Garden will be closed June 22nd-July 26th 2026 as we begin demolition for a once-in-a-century renewal project of our ishigaki or stone wall at the north end of the Garden.

Upon reopening July 27th, construction will enter a new phase with 15th generation master stone mason Suminori Awata leading his crew from Shiga Prefecture, Japan in the laborious task of placing creating the wall stone-by-stone using only traditional tools.

Project Details

The ishigaki stone rampart wall will be created by Suminori Awata, one of the last remaining stonemasons of his 15-generation lineage, with support from U.S.-based artisans. Each ishigaki is formed with enormous granite boulders that are split and shaped by hand into foundational cornerstones. Smaller stones top the cornerstones, with ballast stones filling the gaps instead of mortar. Awata directs the precise placement of each stone, explaining that he “listens to the stones and puts them where they want to go.” These magnificent structures often stand for centuries.

As a crucial part of this project, the nearby walkways will be regraded and built to be accessible, allowing the Garden to become even more inclusive and restorative to the 100,000 guests visiting annually from our local communities and across the globe.

As Seattle Parks and Recreation and the Arboretum Foundation plan for the replacement of the wall and connecting stairs, they worked with Hoshide Wanzer and Berger Partnership to complete a schematic design for the entire north section of the Garden to ensure that the rebuilt walls will dovetail well with future plans for a pavilion and its surroundings.