Picture a Japanese stroll garden built as a bridge between two cities: the Japanese Friendship Garden in Phoenix, Arizona, known as Rohō-en. The garden encompasses 3.5 acres (14,000 m2) and is the shared cultural vision and a joint project of Phoenix and its Sister City, Himeji. Himeji became a Phoenix Sister City in November 1976 and is one of Phoenix's twelve Sister Cities around the globe; Phoenix and Himeji participate in business, governmental, cultural and educational exchanges that promote international goodwill and understanding.
Rohō-en, written with three kanji, names this place: ro (鷺) means heron, the symbol of Himeji City; hō (鳳) refers to the mythical phoenix, Fenghuang; en (園) simply means garden, a public garden. Himeji Castle, the White Heron Castle, is a 300-year-old medieval castle in Himeji — a reminder of the connection you are standing within. The Garden is a 501(c)(3) non-profit in partnership with the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department and its Sister City of Himeji, and in fact landscape architects from Himeji have made 60 trips to Phoenix to shape this place.
In 2004 the City of Phoenix named it one of the Phoenix Points of Pride. Every path across these 3.5 acres was shaped by landscape architects from Himeji, who made 60 trips to Phoenix to do it.