Japanese Garden in Pisarzowice

In Pisarzowice, a village in the Wilamowice district known for growing ornamental plants, the family-run Pudełko nursery keeps a Japanese garden that was created after the owners travelled to Japan. Stone paths lead between ponds with small bridges, stone lanterns and azaleas clipped into soft cushions. You can round off the walk with tea in the Satomi teahouse, overlooking the water and the flowering shrubs.

History: a nursery from 1958 and a trip to Japan

The horticultural farm was founded in 1958 by Stanisław Pudełko. At first it grew roses, yews, junipers and spruces, and the first azaleas and rhododendrons arrived as early as the 1960s. In the late 1970s the founder's son, Antoni Pudełko, took over and focused on conifers, later adding new varieties of rhododendrons and Japanese azaleas. Today the third generation runs the nursery. The Japanese garden was laid out in 2003 and covers about 0.18 ha.

What to see

• Elements of the tsukiyama style, in which small mounds and stones represent mountains and ponds stand for lakes and seas.
• Sections of a karesansui dry garden, where pale gravel replaces water and boulders represent islands.
• Paths of flat stepping stones and stone lanterns that slow your pace and lead through the different parts of the garden.
• Japanese azaleas, Japanese maples, magnolias, cherries and peonies, as well as trees shaped in the manner of bonsai.
• The Satomi teahouse in a Japanese-style pavilion.

Did you know?

The design follows the Japanese principle that a garden should imitate nature rather than copy it – hence the simplicity, asymmetry and many shades of green with seasonal splashes of flowers. In summer 2016 the Japanese broadcaster TV Tokyo ran a competition called "Who wants to go to Japan?", in which the Pisarzowice garden was judged the best at promoting Japanese culture; the prize was a study trip to Japanese gardens and meetings with masters of garden art. In 2011 an episode of the Polish TV programme "Maja w ogrodzie" was filmed here. The garden can be hired for events and photo shoots, including weddings and cosplay.

Tripto tips

The garden lies beside the nursery at ul. Ogrodnicza 2. It has two seasonal highlights: spring, when the azaleas, cherries and magnolias bloom, and autumn, when the Japanese maples turn red and orange. Allow 30–45 minutes for a walk, or about an hour with tea. Check opening hours and admission rules on the nursery's website or by phone before you go. While you are there you can browse and buy plants at the nursery's sales point. Pisarzowice lies between Kęty and Bielsko-Biała.