The Baltalimanı Japanese Garden is a park established in Istanbul in collaboration with Japan and it is administered by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. It’s a kind of hidden place. There is no cafe-restaurant etc, just nature. 

In 2003 it was Year of Japan in Turkey. On the occasion of that, sister city agreement was completed between two cities. The park was completed in 2003 by Istanbul together with Shimonoseki, which is in Yamaguchi province.

The garden, located in a very inspiring place. Inside the garden there are two ‘Bosphoruses’, inspired by the Shimonoseki Bosphorus and the Istanbul Bosphorus. Besides that, there is a tea room (Yogetsuan), a waterfall, a pond and a walkway, all main characteristics of a typical Japanese garden.

Also, it wasn’t possible to think a Japanese garden without cherry blossoms (Sakura). Especially during Sakura season it’d be a great option to visit these gardens for a small rest. My last visit to this garden was with a Spotter that came here for small Istanbul trip. It was also a good experience.