Last summer I took the two youngest girls to the Penticton-Ikeda Japanese Garden for a visit.
The Japanese Garden is quaint, offering a pathway to walk along, a few benches for seating throughout along with a beautiful Pond filled with giant Koi fish.
Location
The Gardens are located next to the Penticton Art Gallery with parking available along Lakeshore Drive East or on Marina Way (next to the Penticton Art Gallery).
Parking
If you park along Lakeshore Drive East, you can access the Gardens through Okanagan Lake Park. You will walk along the designated pathway where you will see red arches and a bridge leading to the Gardens.
There is also a parking lot off of Marina Way, located north of the Penticton Art Gallery. Here you will find plenty of parking stalls with an archway above the entrance with Japanese writing above it leading you into the Garden.
Sister Cities Penticton and Ikeda – 40 Years of Friendship
Penticton has been a sister city with Ikeda, Japan since 1977. Since the first donation in 1995, generous donations have been and continue to be received from individuals, companies, and organizations.
Koi Pond
The Koi Pond was the main attraction for my girls. These large beautiful Koi fish in the pond hide under the walkway which opens into the middle of the pond.
A local mentioned if you stomp 3 times on the walkway the fish will come out to say hello.
Rentals & Donations
You can book the Penticton-Ikeda Japanese Garden for weddings or other special events for a fee of $100.00. These bookings, the sale of commemorative rocks, and donations are their only source of income and are appreciated to keep the ongoing maintenance of the garden. 
Tips & Tricks:
- Please do not feed the koi fish
- There are no railways along the walkway that goes out into the middle of the pond to look at the fish. Please keep a close eye on the kids
- Dogs are allowed on leash in the Gardens
- There are no washrooms in the Japanese Gardens, although there are public washrooms available in adjacent Okanagan Lake Park (depending on the time of the year)
