Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens Tramore

The Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens Tramore reflect the life of literary figure Lafcadio Hearn, Koizumi Yakumo. CLOSED FIRST WEEK JANUARY 2018 (opens Tuesday 9th January) GARDENS OPEN: 11.00am - 4.00pm (January - March) 11.00am - 5.00pm (April - September) Entry: €5. Children: U-12 FRee. Guided Tour (45mins): €7.50 Loyalty Card: €25 (10 visits) Opening days may vary from season to season. (Open Bank Holiday Mondays)Take R675 from Waterford City to Tramore. Turn right at first roundabout entering Tramore. Turn immediate left onto the Old Waterford Road. Continue past the racecourse straight through next roundabout until you meet a crossroads where the Gardens are signposted, turn left down Pond Road. entrance to gardens on left, 100 metres after Fire Station. GPS: 52.163304°, -7.149895° The Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens reflect the life and extensive wanderings of Patrick Lafcadio Hearn, who grew up in Ireland, and whose life journey embraced several parts of the world. The gardens pay homage to the fame he attained in Japan through his incomparable literary descriptions of the people, customs and culture of that country. The Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens have a wonderful and unique story to tell. In their style and planting they contain elements of the gardening traditions of the countries and cultures traversed by Hearn during his varied life. The journey begins in a Victorian Garden to commemorate Hearn’s happy childhood summers in Tramore. There is an American Garden, a Greek Garden and a traditional Japanese Tea Garden, in addition to a Stream Garden, ponds, a waterfall and an extensive woodland area. The main elements of design, in particular the use of rocks and water and the plant selection, are influenced by the tradition of a Japanese Strolling Garden.