Japanese Stroll Garden, Springfield

I am aware of the garden's policy on weddings, which makes sense, so the grounds can remain pristine. Knowing this, I went to the park and told the woman working the booth exactly what I wanted to do, which was show up in a sun dress with my fiancee, officiant, and 2 photographers, share vows, take pics, and leave. She told me that would be acceptable (I will omit her name), since we would have no visitors, chairs, music, food, etc. We got there on my wedding day. It was cold and raining, but whatever, we were excited still. The park was deserted. The same woman was working the booth. She barred my husband and me, my officiant, and my photographers from paying to enter (with a premium to take professional photographs), because she was worried we would exchange vows in the cold, wet, deserted park. It's permissible to pay to enter, walk around, talk, and take pictures, but if the words you will say happen to be marriage vows, expect to meet with hateful, irrational resistance. There weren't even any people in the park that day, because it was so cold and rainy, so it's not like we could have disrupted the ambiance for other park patrons. She could have just told me 'no' when I asked in advance instead of denying she would have ever said such a thing(as though I would have not made other plans had she originally told me 'no'). I even kept the receipt with her name on it from the day she told me 'yes'. I will go back someday if I find she does not work there anymore, or this policy is revised. I will never forget how unnecessarily hateful she was. It's unfortunate, because it really is quite a lovely park. We now refer to it as the Japanese Troll Garden, because they have their very own troll to keep patrons out! lol ; )

In about 2004, I led a garden tour of the Japanese Garden for a group of Unitarians. We enjoyed our stroll in this lovely, quiet garden, and so, I will include this garden on my 2012, "Heartland Gardens, Art and Resorts, garden tour. This tour will include: Kauffman Memorial Garden (KC), the Japanese Garden at Four Seasons Resort (Lake Ozark), Big Cedar Resort, and more. We will start from St Louis in Spring, 2012. Joyce Pearl Jones, EcoGarden Tourism Consultant and Garden tours designer.

I've been to the stroll gardens many times, and I fall in love with it every time we go!! But I truly don't understand why they don't allow weddings in the garden..... I get wanting to keep it preserved, but laying down guidelines should help with that! I could never imagine them allowing receptions inside, but why not vows???? It was my dream to say my vows wih my husband on one of their islands in the center of the ponds; sooo romantic!! If they charged a fee for such a service, it would help with maintaining the place! If they ever do change this rule, I hope they have it posted somewhere so we know, I would love to renew my vows there!

I love the Garden it is so peaceful I have been there a few times. it is a nice place if you want to take a nice relaxing walk and just get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life I am so glad I found this lil gem in springfield it is well worth seeing. great place to take that special someone for a picnic you can easily find a nice private spot to sit.

This place was absolutely beautiful. The kind of place where you ask a girl to marry you for sure. The Koi pond and all of the gorgeous landscape made it a very peaceful and enjoyable place to visit, and I am a twenty year old guy who usually thinks things like this are boring and fruity.

The Japanese Stroll Garden, like every other place, has pros and cons. Pros: The Japanese Garden is a very calm area that has a trail to walk through. They have beautiful scenery and it's very quiet, away from the city. For 25 cents you can feed the fish in the lake that lies in the middle. This is an excellent place to go and get away from it all. Cons: The Stroll Garden is a false term. When most people hear "garden" they think of flowers and beautiful greens. I don't believe I've ever seen one flower there, cutting out the "garden" name. There's also the "Japanese" part in the Stroll Garden. The basic structure of the garden, I suppose, is Japanese cultural style. It's definitely more of a walking trail than a "Japanese" cultural experience. There is also a $3 cover charge just to get in. Most people have no problem with this, but others will go somewhere else that is free.

My friend and I went one day when we couldn't think of anything to do. We thought it was great, and I couldn't believe I had never known about it before. I plan on taking my boyfriend there when we have time.

I loved the sroll garden. To get away to another world in the middle of springfield this is the place. I could'nt believe that this was in Springfield and I had never been or heard of it. Thank you NewsLeader For running a story on this place would go back in a heart beat.

My son was married at Nathianl Greene Park, and we did his wedding photos at the Stroll Garden. It was beautiful, calming after a day or stress. I have been to the garden many times and will keep going. The Festival in the fall, is fine. Yes there are vendors there selling food stuff for people to eat. Some of use stay in the park all day and do the night walk. The night walk is so beautiful with all the lighted tiki and candles. Go, relax, see some beautiful fauna, and so large and colorful koi. No its not Japan, but is as close as i will get to being in Japan.

I love the gardens,butI will NEVER visit again. I brought my family to the garden while they were in town. I went to the pay booth and the older man who was there ignored me by hiding behind a book. Once i got his attention he was incredibly rude to me. This made my sister feel very uncomfortable and she wanted to leave immediately. I convinced her that the garden was so charming she would forget all about the incident. We went to buy fish food and 3 of the machines ate our money. I returned to the booth where the same cantankerous man ignored me once again. I politely informed him the the vending machine ate our quarters. I said i don't mind donating those quarters to the gardens but if he could change out my dollar I would be much obliged. The man shouted at me, he said that he had no quarters and he refused to compensate me for my loss. My younger sister began to cry. I can't believe they have people like this running such a wonderful place. It ruined the entire experience. I used to go there all the time and now I refuse to go back.