# Japanese Friendship Garden & Kelley Park Winter Family Stroll

> Place to go for families in the San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara area (CA). Times are Pacific Time.

- When: Open on its own schedule
- Where: Japanese Friendship Garden, 1300 Senter Rd, San Jose, CA 95112
- Ages: All ages (serene paved walking trails, koi ponds, and red moon bridges)
- Price: Free garden admission; $6 park vehicle parking fee; coin-operated koi food dispensers
- Organizer: City of San José Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Services
- Official page: https://www.sanjoseca.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/2827/2028
- Last checked: Thu, Nov 5

Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 11, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about
Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-10), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/san-jose/activities/japanese-friendship-garden-and-kelley-park-winter-family-stroll--listing-c9a7f3c665e7627a90c2426a

## About

The Japanese Friendship Garden is a serene, six-acre walled sanctuary located within San Jose's sprawling Kelley Park along Coyote Creek. Designed as a living symbol of the sister-city relationship between San Jose and Okayama, Japan, the garden was modeled after Okayama's world-renowned Korakuen Garden. In winter, the garden offers a tranquil, unhurried escape with mossy stone lanterns, delicate weeping willows, and sculpted black pine trees. The focal point is a series of three interconnected scenic ponds populated by hundreds of vibrant orange, white, and calico Japanese koi fish. Children are utterly captivated by feeding the koi from the picturesque vermillion-red wooden moon bridges, watching the gentle fish surface and splash. Paved, gently meandering pathways loop around cascading miniature waterfalls, traditional tea house pavilions, and bamboo groves, making it an idyllic spot for a peaceful family winter morning walk with toddlers and grandparents.

Family Experience & Accessibility:
• Stroller Accessibility: Wide paved asphalt and concrete trails wind around the ponds and garden perimeter with gradual ramp inclines; arched decorative wooden bridges have stairs, but bypass ramps allow full stroller access.
• Nursing & Rest Spots: Traditional wooden pavilion benches, shaded waterside stone seats, and clean public restrooms with baby changing amenities located near the garden entrance.
• Age Suitability: All ages; toddlers love watching and feeding the giant koi fish, while parents and grandparents appreciate the calming beauty.
• Sensory Tips: Exceptionally soothing sensory environment filled with the gentle splash of flowing waterfalls, rustling bamboo stalks, and serene pond reflections.

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