Japanese Garden

Really poorly thought through and lacks authenticity. It’s clear that most of the investment goes into the neighbouring rose garden. The seating area was also covered in graffiti when I visited. Appreciate that this isn’t entirely the councils fault, but it’s an absolute eyesore. Reading other reviews, the graffiti seems to be an issue. One hopes that the council are linking in with local neighbourhood police, as this appears to be an ongoing issue.

Most plants are native British plants, and the structures lack any authenticity (and are in a poor state of repair). I saw pretty much nothing Japanese about this garden.

Not sure what this is meant to show. Obviously the plants are from or represent a Japanese garden, but my (very) limited knowledge just says that there is quite a bit of greenery with tarmac'd paths, lumps of rock and a patch of grass.Maybe an effort could be made to explain what the plants are and what is meant to be represented?

As a fan of Japanese Gardens (having visited quite a few) I was so excited to find out that there was one virtually on my doorstep. However, I was sorely disappointed. Upon arrival via Southsea Rose Garden, the entranceway showed great promise, a torii entranceway with a small bridge just beyond. But that is where the similarities end. Essential elements of a Japanese garden such as elements of bamboo, the creation of vignettes (mystery- such as paths that lead your eyes around the next corner), Plants with a variety of shades and colours (Japanese gardens are suppost to rely on subtle changes in colour and texture), Their version of a private Pavillion was nothing more than a covered scrappy park bench that screamed graffiti not relaxing zen garden. The absence of Pagoda pillars and statues, ponds or places of reflection and gravel garden where noticed. Any calm or zen created was quickly disturbed by the noise coming from the sports courts that enclose the space. Overall there is virtually nothing that resembles a Japanese garden and it is clear there is minimal to no effort put into its creation and upkeep (unlike its stunning neighbour Southsea Rose Garden which puts it to shame). If your going to do something, it should be done right with at least the minimal effort to resemble what it's suppost to be, because once you enter, the only way of telling what it was meant to be was a sign. Not Zen, Not a Japanese garden and to call it that is embarrassing and frankly disrespectful. Either change the name or put it right and do better.

The Japanese Garden is clearly a afterthought when compared to the neighbouring Southsea Rose Garden. The point of the garden is non-existence and the plants are majority native flora of the British Isles. Therefore there is not much to distinguish it from being a English Garden apart from some red paint, a small bridge and a ugly looking pagoda-type structure.It is clear that the Japanese Gardens need some vision for the future, otherwise it will remain as a disappointing attachment to the Rose Gardens.

Has nothing in common with any Japanese garden.

On the 6th April 2018 I went on a visit to Southsea and Portsmouth to first visit the newly refurbished D day museum. Southsea is a seaside resort located next to Portsmouth at the southern end of Portsea Island, it is in the county of Hampshire. It developed as a fashionable Victorian seaside resort in the 19th. century, originally it was named named Croxton Town. The name Southsea originates from Southsea Castle; a fortified castle located on the seafront and constructed in 1544 to help defend the Solent and the important approaches to Portsmouth Harbour. Palmerston road is the main High Street of Southsea. Albert Road is a distinct street containing shopping and other cultural venues, which includes the Kings Theatre, a regional theatre built in 1907. The Pier here is great for a stroll on a hot summers day. It looks magnificent from any angle you view it.The D-Day Museum is located in Southsea, was the place I wanted to visit having seen it on the Internet. It was opened in 1984 by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, it tells the story of Operation Overlord during the Normandy D - Day landings. The D - Day Museum is home to the Overlord Embroidery and was specially built to hold it. The Overlord Embroidery took five years to complete and measures 83 metres long. It is the largest work of its kind in the world.As well as the film and embroidery there are also vehicles and displays of other material associated with D-Day and the war. The museum has its own shop and restaurant. The museum is run by Portsmouth Museum Services, a branch of Portsmouth City Council, and is supported by Portsmouth D-Day Museum Trust, a registered charity. I have to say building work and renovation was still being carried out when I visited the Museum so I was a little unhappy with the £8.00 entrance ticket fee. Inside the Tapestry work they call it Embroidery work was unique. But the rest of the museum was clean laid out well but lacked something in presentation. Following a £5 million transformation project - with thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund - the museum has now been transformed, to provide an engaging insight into the lives of those who took part in D - Day, whether they were individuals on the shore based in Portsmouth, or those who went over to Normandy.To commemorate the millennium, a scenic walk was created extending to Gunwharf Quays from Southsea seafront. Being the beginning of April this walk which I completed was very cold and windy. The route is marked on the pavement, and is lined by distinctive blue street lanterns. The Portsmouth Naval Memorial, sometimes known as the Southsea Naval Memorial, is a war memorial and can be seen on the Southsea Common beside Clarence Esplanade, between Clarence Pier and Southsea Castle. The memorial commemorates about 25,000 British and Commonwealth sailors who were lost in both World Wars. Around 10,000 sailors in the First World War and 15,000 in the Second World War lost their lives. The memorial features a central obelisk, with names of the dead on bronze plaques arranged around the memorial according to the year of their death.The model Village near the pier, the address is Southsea Model Village, Lumps Fort, Eastney Esplanade, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO4 9RU. Where you can marvel at the 1/12th scale buildings, which features forty miniature buildings, houses, forts and castles, as well as a `G' scale garden railway. The third-acre landscaped gardens are set inside the grounds of an old Victorian fort. Contained inside are a large scale electric garden railway, a 100ft-long rifleman's tunnel, a scale model of Portsmouth Guildhall, a 10,000-gallon waterfall and stream, and a small toy museum. The cost was £4.00 to get in. There is a small cafe with a few chairs outside for light refreshments. Next to this Model Village with the entrance being through Southsea Rose Garden is Lumps Fort. Many people living here have almost forgotten about this fortified Fort. It was built around the mid 1800’s but some kind of fortification started here around 1805 and possibly even longer.

Not really an attraction

Pretty

Lovely little garden hidden out of way.