Kariya Park

Kariya Park is a Japanese garden in downtown Mississauga, opened by the City in July 1992 to honour Mississauga's sister-city partnership with Kariya, Japan. Several of the sculptures in the garden were gifts from Kariya City.

The garden is built around water and stone rather than open lawn. Its features include a stone tsukubai water basin, a zig-zag boardwalk, a cascade waterfall with an overhanging red Japanese maple, a dry stream bed, and a duck pond with a turtle rock. The Friendship Bell stands in the pavilion.

Roughly 80 Japanese cherry blossom trees grow here in several varieties and hues, and the magnolias bloom in spring as well. The City expects full bloom once daytime temperatures hold at 15°C or above for about a week, and the blossom lasts up to two weeks, though wind or rain can shorten it. Cherry blossoms are seasonal and weather-dependent, so couples hoping for blossom portraits should also consider alternative portrait locations.

The park is open daily from dawn until 11 p.m. The City asks visitors to stay on the trails, not to climb the trees or pull at their branches, and not to feed the ducks, squirrels and turtles. Dogs are not permitted in the park.

For current visitor information and planning enquiries, consult the official location website.