Learn and Relax at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens. The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens opened in 1977, and has since been the primary center in South Florida for Japanese arts and culture. It houses a number of galleries and rotating exhibits, tea ceremonies, and even Japanese festivals held at different times throughout the year.
The collections at the museum have a variety of different items and artifacts that are meant to showcase the culture of Japan. One of the focuses of the museum is the period of the mid-19th to the late 20th centuries. You will find a variety of folk and fine art on display, as well as items from everyday Japanese life during the Meiji Period (1868 – 1912).
Exhibits and Artifacts
The museum houses a host of different items from Japan’s past, all of which are quite interesting. The following are just a few of the wonderful artifacts that you will see when you visit the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens.
A decorative wooden beam end, beautifully carved in the shape of a mystical creature called a kirin, is one of the artifacts that is sure to catch your attention. The kirin is an imaginary creature that is a combination of a dragon with a lion’s mane and the hooves of a deer. This beam was carved in the mid 19th century.
See a sake flask created in the city of Miyako. It is a beautiful piece of glazed ceramic, lovingly created and featuring a lovely hand painted design.
Other interesting pieces include pairs of shells from a shell matching game. The shells have intricate paintings on them. For each shell there is one that matches it exactly, with a total of ten in the game. The shells would be placed upside down, and then the game players would try to match the shells, just like the modern game Memory.
You will also see a variety of baskets, toys, and many other forms of artwork, including everything from sculptures to paintings, scrollwork and woodblocks. The museum has enough artifacts that it will keep you busy for hours!
The Gardens
The Gardens at the museum are called Roji-en, meaning Garden of the Drops of Dew. You will find six gardens that make up the Roji-en. Each of these gardens represents a different historical period and type of Japanese garden. You will see botanical gardens, rock gardens, and more.
These gardens make a great place to relax after you have seen all the wonderful artifacts in the museum.
Admission to the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach, Florida is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, $6 for children 6 – 17 as well as college students with an ID. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday.
4000 Morikami Park Road
Delray Beach, Fl 33446
561-495-0233
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