Join us for a rejuvenating time of movement and mindfulness while connecting with nature and nurture your wellness in the heart of our Japanese oasis.

This 90 Minute Experiential and Participatory Workshop will introduce you to the principles and practice of Tai Chi and Qigong.
Sifu Gene Nelson, a certified Master Teacher in these revered ancient arts, will guide you through a standing meditation, postural awareness, and deep breathing exercises.

Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or new to these practices, you are all welcome to partake in this beautiful journey of self-discovery and holistic well-being. All attendees are expected to participate in the various movements.

This Workshop is appropriate for active persons with no gait challenges, who do not require assistance getting into and out of a chair. Most of this Workshop will be done standing. Seated breaks can be taken as needed.

NOTE: Sifu will make hands on posture corrections as needed. Hands on will always be appropriate and required so as to maximize the students' experience.

Dress: Please dress as if going for an active walk, gym, exercise class.

About the Instructor:
Sifu Gene Nelson is a Certified Master Teacher for Tai Chi & Qigong. Sifu Gene’s teaching philosophy is one that is singularly dedicated to offering the maximum benefit from every movement regardless of experience. This is accomplished through an experiential teaching method spanning 35+ years with over 10,000 in class students (not Zoom), at his school in Metropolitan NYC and workshops. Sifu now brings his years of personal training and teaching to Tucson where he lives full time.

Dates & Time: 

4/20

5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

Tickets:

General Admission: $25

Advanced ticket reservation is required. This is a limited admission class.

IMPORTANT: Attendees will have the opportunity to pre-register for a Ten Week program covering this topic in depth starting in October 2024. 
Dates/Time for the Ten Week program will be announced at the end of the Workshop.
Ten Week program fee for Non-Members will be $160 and will include an Individual Membership to Yume Japanese Gardens (valid for a year). Ten Week program fee for Members will be $120.

Discover the Way of the Bow amidst the serene beauty of Yume Japanese Gardens.

Step into the ancient world of Japanese archery and witness the grace, precision, and profound spirituality of kyudo. It will be a journey into tradition and mastery. Our skilled practitioners will showcase the elegance and discipline of this revered martial art, demonstrating the harmonious balance between mind, body, and spirit, followed by an opportunity for you to try your hand at this practice under their expert guidance.

Takoyaki Balls Food Truck will be on site during the entire event!!

Dates & Time: 

4/14

12:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Tickets:
General Admission: $19

Members: $10

Children 3-15: $5

Advanced ticket reservation is required. This is a limited admission event.

Walking meditation is a practice through which we develop concentration and mindfulness. We learn to cultivate mindfulness of the body while the body is moving. We learn to be awake and at ease at the same time. The Buddha taught four different ways to meditate: walking, standing, sitting and lying. Walking meditation is a particularly important practice in that it enables us to make the transition from sitting meditation to being awake in our daily lives, in our work, exercise, study, and in our relationships. In the end, that’s what it’s all about.

Please come join us for instruction, guidance and practice in walking meditation. There is no need to have practiced this form of meditation before; it is fine for beginners and intermediate students. We will be outside at the lovely Yume Gardens walking among nature.

Lhasha Tizer, MS. is a certified Community Dharma Leader trained in Insight Meditation through Spirit Rock Meditation Center. She is a long time practitioner and teacher of meditation and mindfulness, studying for 47 years, and has been teaching Buddhist Studies since 2010. Through Desert Insight Meditation, her teaching community, she offers classes, book groups, and retreats at Tucson Community Meditation Center, the Sol Center and beyond.

Date/Time:

Wednesday, April 10th, 2024

5:30PM-6:30PM

Advance registration required.

Tickets:

General public: $25

(Gardens admission included)

Embark on a serene haiku walk through the Yume Japanese Gardens of Tucson, an experience designed to immerse you in the vibrant renewal of spring amidst blooming flowers, fresh scents, and gentle sounds. This journey introduces you to the art of haiku poetry, a form celebrated for its ability to capture the ephemeral beauty of nature in a few succinct words, encouraging mindfulness and a deep connection to the present. You'll wander the garden's paths, pausing at inspirational points to observe, reflect, and pen your haiku, connecting with the season's essence and your inner self. This interactive experience combines the beauty of Japanese garden design with the reflective practice of writing haiku, offering both seasoned poets and newcomers the joy of capturing spring's spirit.

This event will be led by award-winning poet, Kenneth Pearson. Kenneth is the digital librarian for The Haiku Foundation and the author of five collections of poetry, including two collections of haiku. He resides in Vail, AZ.

Date/Time:

Saturday, April 6 @ 12pm - 1:30pm

Tickets:

$20 General/$10 Members 

Space is limited. Please reserve your spot!

Come hear the story of the Buddha, the founder of Buddhism and learn about his early life and how he became a spiritual leader. 

The word Buddha means “I am awake” pertaining to the discovery of how he became free from suffering and developed an embodiment of compassion, wisdom, and peace. 

A guided mindfulness meditation through the Gardens will follow the lecture. "Mindfulness is the ability to see things clearly, as they are, moment by moment and meditation is the foundation of mindfulness practice, the pillar of support through which our sense of self and world deepens, grows, and is clarified." - Lhasha Tizer.

Lhasha Tizer, MS. is a certified Community Dharma Leader trained in Insight Meditation through Spirit Rock Meditation Center. She is a long time practitioner and teacher of meditation and mindfulness, studying for 47 years, and has been teaching Buddhist Studies since 2010. Through Desert Insight Meditation, her teaching community, she offers classes, book groups, and retreats at Tucson Community Meditation Center, the Sol Center and beyond. 


Date/Time:

Wednesday, March 13th, 2024

5:30PM-7PM

Advance registration required.

Tickets:

General public: $30 

(Gardens admission included)

*There will be an opportunity to sign up for follow up guided instruction in mindfulness meditation the next week on Wednesday, March 20th at Yume from 5:30-7pm.

In eternal vessels of clay, we wander and wonder, at once in and of the landscape. We are earth and stars and the eternal space between unseen realms. We are the clouds and mountains, the rivers and forests, presence and prayer. We are the dreams within the clay.

Funhouse movement theater returns to Yume Gardens to take you on a butoh exploration of eternal body as landscape. Inspired by the writings of Shundo Aoyama and John O’donohue, Dreams in Clay combines the Zen aesthetics of the Japanese garden with the sculptural works of artist Keita Tsutsumi. Visitors to this unique performance will encounter dancers engaged in communion with the sights, sounds, and sensations of the natural environment.

A contemporary, avant-garde performance art, butoh is a seamless blend of dance, theater, improvisation, and traditional Japanese performing arts. Butoh compels both performers and audience to investigate the primal, universal energies that connect us, and invites us to share an embodied experience of the collective unconscious.

Dreams in Clay is directed by Lin Lucas and Keita Tsutsumi and features Sabrina Geoffrion, Karenne Koo, Lin Lucas, Sherry Mulholland, and Keita Tsutsumi, with renowned butoh artist, Julie Becton Gillum. Music composed and performed by Paul Amiel. 

Date & Time:

3/2

7:15 PM - 8:15 PM  

Tickets:
General Admission: $30

Members: $25

Children 3-15: $10

Advanced ticket reservation is required. This is a limited admission event.

In eternal vessels of clay, we wander and wonder, at once in and of the landscape. We are earth and stars and the eternal space between unseen realms. We are the clouds and mountains, the rivers and forests, presence and prayer. We are the dreams within the clay.

Funhouse movement theater returns to Yume Gardens to take you on a butoh exploration of eternal body as landscape. Inspired by the writings of Shundo Aoyama and John O’donohue, Dreams in Clay combines the Zen aesthetics of the Japanese garden with the sculptural works of artist Keita Tsutsumi. Visitors to this unique performance will encounter dancers engaged in communion with the sights, sounds, and sensations of the natural environment.

A contemporary, avant-garde performance art, butoh is a seamless blend of dance, theater, improvisation, and traditional Japanese performing arts. Butoh compels both performers and audience to investigate the primal, universal energies that connect us, and invites us to share an embodied experience of the collective unconscious.

Dreams in Clay is directed by Lin Lucas and Keita Tsutsumi and features Sabrina Geoffrion, Karenne Koo, Lin Lucas, Sherry Mulholland, and Keita Tsutsumi, with renowned butoh artist, Julie Becton Gillum. Music composed and performed by Paul Amiel. 

Date & Time:

3/2

6 PM - 7 PM  

Tickets:
General Admission: $30

Members: $25

Children 3-15: $10

Advanced ticket reservation is required. This is a limited admission event.

Come, escape the ordinary and embrace the extraordinary at our first Evening of the season at Yume Japanese Gardens. 

As the sun sets, watch as the gardens come alive with the soft glow of lanterns, casting a warm and inviting light on the gardens' pathways. The interplay of shadows and light adds a touch of magic to the already enchanting surroundings.

Let the soulful melodies of the traditional shakuhachi flute transport you to a realm of peace and harmony. The haunting tunes, played by skilled musicians, will resonate through the garden, enhancing the atmosphere with every note.

The symphony of nature and culture will create memories that will linger in your heart forever.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to weather conditions, the event previously scheduled for 2/2 and 2/3 has been postponed.

NEW Date & Time:

2/17

6 PM - 8 PM

Tickets:
General Admission: $19

Members: $15

Children 3-15: $5

Advanced ticket reservation is required. This is a limited admission event.

Come, escape the ordinary and embrace the extraordinary at our first Evening of the season at Yume Japanese Gardens. 

As the sun sets, watch as the gardens come alive with the soft glow of lanterns, casting a warm and inviting light on the gardens' pathways. The interplay of shadows and light adds a touch of magic to the already enchanting surroundings.

Let the soulful melodies of the traditional shakuhachi flute transport you to a realm of peace and harmony. The haunting tunes, played by skilled musicians, will resonate through the garden, enhancing the atmosphere with every note.

The symphony of nature and culture will create memories that will linger in your heart forever.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to weather conditions, the event previously scheduled for 2/2 and 2/3 has been postponed.

NEW Date & Time:

2/16

6 PM - 8 PM

Tickets:
General Admission: $19

Members: $15

Children 3-15: $5

Advanced ticket reservation is required. This is a limited admission event.

Escape to the peaceful winter sanctuary of Yume Japanese Gardens for our special Winter Haiku Walk. 

Embrace the seasonal theme of "Rest" as you mindfully meander through the slumbering landscape, observing bare branches reaching towards clear skies while hibernating wildlife nestle down in the stillness. 

Compare the quiet cold to summer’s vibrant greens and lively birdsong while composing reflective haiku on this contemplative stroll. 

Capture the garden’s tranquil dormancy before spring’s renewal. 

Align your words with the theme for the upcoming Tucson Haiku Hike competition and prepare your haiku for submission.

This event will be led by award winning poet, Kenneth Pearson. Kenneth is the digital librarian for The Haiku Foundation and the author of five collections of poetry, including two collections of haiku. He resides in Vail, AZ.

Date/Time:

Saturday, February 10 @ 12pm - 1:30pm

Tickets:

$20 general/$10 Members 

Space is limited. Please reserve your spot!

Celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Dragon (辰, tatsu) and experience the magic of tradition at the Japanese New Year Festival at Yume Japanese Gardens!

Join us for an unforgettable experience filled with cultural delights, vibrant performances, and the spirit of togetherness.

Enjoy live performances featuring Japanese music and the annual ritual of mochitsuki (the pounding of rice to make mochi), and savor the flavors of authentic Japanese cuisine with a variety of food, snacks, and drinks.

Advanced ticket reservation is required. This is a limited admission event. 

Date/Time:

1/13

11am-3pm

Admission Tickets: 

Adults: $18 - Members: $10 - Children: $6 - Children under 5: Free

We will be celebrating award winning cinematographer and photographer Peter Fuhrman’s photo exhibit, Land of the Rising Sun - Hiizurukuni, with an open reception on Friday, December 8th from 5:30pm to 7pm.

The exhibit features a diverse array of photographs taken during the artist's immersive journey through Japan in 2015.
With a keen eye for detail and a profound understanding of the art of photography, Peter captures Japan’s culture and daily life presenting intimate indoor spaces and meticulous architectural elements beautifully encapsulated in each frame.

The reception will include light refreshments and a chance to discuss the exhibit with the artist.
Art also available for purchase. No admission required, this event is free for the public.

Land of the Rising Sun - Hiizurukuni is currently being featured at Yume Japanese Gardens and will be available for your enjoyment from November 2023 through April 2024.

###

Date & Time:
12/8
5:30PM - 7:00PM

Tickets:
Free Admission

Come join us for a Taste of Japanese Teas, an educational and delicious tea tasting led by tea scholar and certified tea practitioner, Eric Carr. Guests will enjoy (and learn to brew) a selection of Japanese teas from everyday sencha to refreshing mugicha — and even get to taste a rare and little-known tea from Eric’s personal collection! 

Admission to the event includes a tasting of five teas, brewing lessons, as well as a ceramic tasting cup.

Afterward, some of the teas will be available for purchase.

Date/Time:

Friday, December 8, 2023 at 2:30pm

Advance registration required.

Tickets:

General public: $25 (Gardens admission not included)

Members: $15

The event will be held in the bamboo alley. Entrance through the main gate in the parking lot.

Come join us for a Taste of Japanese Teas, an educational and delicious tea tasting led by tea scholar and certified tea practitioner, Eric Carr. Guests will enjoy (and learn to brew) a selection of Japanese teas from everyday sencha to refreshing mugicha — and even get to taste a rare and little-known tea from Eric’s personal collection! 

Admission to the event includes a tasting of five teas, brewing lessons, as well as a ceramic tasting cup.

Afterward, some of the teas will be available for purchase.

Date/Time:

Friday, December 8, 2023 at 1pm

Advance registration required.

Tickets:

General public: $25 (Gardens admission not included)

Members: $15

The event will be held in the bamboo alley. Entrance through the main gate in the parking lot.

Haiku, the iconic Japanese short poem, is the definition of brevity.

Elegant due to its compactness of expression, its typically unrhymed versus only take up a few lines and a handful of syllables. As you can imagine, every single word counts. Revolving around seasonal topics and nature but often holding double meanings, these poems are a pleasure not only to read and understand, but also to try your hand at writing.

Our autumn haiku writing walk is a time to observe, reflect on, and collect perceptions and images both of nature and life which are used in the appreciation and creation of a 
haiku.

Led by award-winning haiku poet Kenneth Francis Pearson, this workshop will discuss the history, form, and aesthetics of haiku, followed by time in the Gardens to gather personal images and impressions (along with gentle Japanese music from Paul Amiel) which we will share afterwards in an informal time together.

About Kenneth F. Pearson:

Kenneth F. Pearson has established himself as an award-winning haiku poet with several distinguished awards and many notable publications. His work offers glimpses of truth and beauty discovered through a lifetime of exploration. Each poem is a mindful concentration of experience in a brief yet impactful format. Through his writing, teaching, and tireless promotion of the art form, Kenneth F. Pearson has demonstrated a strong passion for haiku. He uses it as a means to share insights and inspire mindfulness in others.

Date/Time:

Saturday, November 18 @ 12pm - 1:30pm

Tickets:

$20 general/$10 Members 

Space is limited. Please reserve your spot!

Toro Nagashi (灯籠流し) refers to Japanese festivals where candle-lit lanterns are released into the water together with prayers for peace or to honor those who have passed.

The term "toro" refers to lanterns, and "nagashi" means flowing or floating. This practice is often associated with various cultural and religious events, particularly during Obon, a Japanese Buddhist custom to commemorate deceased ancestors' spirits. This poignant and spiritual practice fosters a sense of deep connection between the living and the dead. It's a way for people to express their love and respect for those who have passed away while also finding solace in the belief that their spirits continue their journey.

Purchase a floating lantern at the door, and launch it on our sparkling koi pond to participate in this ancient and symbolic Japanese tradition without ever leaving Tucson.

Before launching the lanterns, participants may write messages, prayers, or the names of deceased loved ones on the lanterns.

Enjoy this floating procession of lanterns and relax to the sound of Japanese folk music playing softly in the background.

Date and Time:

11/11

6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

Tickets:

General: $19 - Child (15 and under): $5 - Member: $15

Lanterns: $5

IMPORTANT PARKING INFO:

As you may know, our parking lot is quite small. Once capacity has been reached,

YOU CAN PARK:
- in the parking space behind the big shopping center at the south-east corner of Grant/Alvernon;
- in the same shopping center at the south-east corner of Grant/Alvernon.

Please, DO NOT PARK:
- on E. Hampton Place. That's the short cul-de-sac just north of Yume. It's too tight for overflow parking, and we invite you to respect the neighbors' need to get in and out of their homes.
- on Justin Ln., just south of Yume Gardens. 

Toro Nagashi (灯籠流し) refers to Japanese festivals where candle-lit lanterns are released into the water together with prayers for peace or to honor those who have passed.

The term "toro" refers to lanterns, and "nagashi" means flowing or floating. This practice is often associated with various cultural and religious events, particularly during Obon, a Japanese Buddhist custom to commemorate deceased ancestors' spirits. This poignant and spiritual practice fosters a sense of deep connection between the living and the dead. It's a way for people to express their love and respect for those who have passed away while also finding solace in the belief that their spirits continue their journey.

Purchase a floating lantern at the door, and launch it on our sparkling koi pond to participate in this ancient and symbolic Japanese tradition without ever leaving Tucson.

Before launching the lanterns, participants may write messages, prayers, or the names of deceased loved ones on the lanterns.

Enjoy this floating procession of lanterns and relax to the sound of Japanese folk music playing softly in the background.

Date and Time:

11/10

6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

Tickets:

General: $19 - Child (15 and under): $5 - Member: $15

Lanterns: $5

Oribana is a form of paper art that combines origami and ikebana, which are traditional Japanese art forms. The word "oribana" is a portmanteau of "ori" (fold) from origami and "bana" (flower) from ikebana.  

In this popular workshop, run by origami artist M. Fumie Craig, students gain hands-on experience doing Oribana and they will learn how to fold and create paper flower arrangements in a paper vase.

About the Artist:

M. Fumie Craig has been an origami enthusiast for more than 60 years. Together with David Kha, she became a Co-Founder of Tucson Origami Club in 2004. She is active in Tucson's community as a member of the Southern Arizona Japanese Cultural Coalition and was past President of the Japan America Society of Tucson. In 2006 she was honored as the Pan Asian Community Alliance Woman of the Year. Her origami artwork has been exhibited at Yume Japanese Gardens of Tucson and the Tucson Botanical Gardens.

Date/Time:

Sunday, October 22, 2023 from 1pm to 3pm

Advance registration required.

Tickets:

Adults: $20 

Children: $10

All materials included (does not include Gardens admission)

Space is limited. Please reserve your spot!

Join us on October 1st, 2023 when Yume will be re-opening its gates. Enjoy our cherished, reawakened Gardens while tasting delicious food from Takoyaki Balls food truck (from 12pm to 3pm) and be prepared to experience the joy of movement and music through captivating traditional Japanese dances and resounding beats of Taiko drumming from Odaiko Sonora.

An inspiring exhibit, “The Sedge Hat and the Staff”, dedicated to the extraordinary life of Reverend Dai-En Bennage Roshi, abbess emerita at Mt. Equity Zendo, PA, will be debuting on the same day in our Museum and will run through May 2024.

We can't wait to welcome you back and share the profound connection to nature’s beauty as well as the cultural richness that our Gardens have to offer.

General admission tickets. Members are free.

To purchase your tickets in advance click here: https://www.yumegardens.org/purchase-tickets.

This will be our last Haiku workshop before Yume Gardens closes for the summer. We’ll continue our time together and in the garden, watching the changes and observing the AWARE (essential charm) of life, and writing haiku.

The workshop talk will be on Buson, the second of the great Haiku poets, the aesthetic concept of Yugen and its relationship to Japanese Buddhism, and haiku practice for the summer season.

Led by award-winning haiku poet Yukihiro Ibuki and Yume Cultural Director, Paul Amiel.

Date/Time:

Sunday, April 30th at 12PM

Tickets:

$20 general/$10 Members 

Space is limited. Please reserve your spot!

The Japanese tea ceremony, or chanoyu (translated literally as “hot water for tea”), is a cherished ritual involving the preparation and presentation of powdered green tea in a highly stylized manner.

A host and a guest, wearing traditional Japanese kimono specific to the ceremony, will demonstrate how tea has been prepared, served, and enjoyed in Japan since the 12th century.

Presented by the Sakura Tea Circle.

Tea will be served to participants adhering to current health and safety guidelines.

Cost: $25 per person (includes Gardens admission). Members of Yume pay only $15.

Advanced ticket reservation is required. This is a limited admission event to guarantee social distancing to our guests.

The Japanese tea ceremony, or chanoyu (translated literally as “hot water for tea”), is a cherished ritual involving the preparation and presentation of powdered green tea in a highly stylized manner.

A host and a guest, wearing traditional Japanese kimono specific to the ceremony, will demonstrate how tea has been prepared, served, and enjoyed in Japan since the 12th century.

Presented by the Sakura Tea Circle.

Tea will be served to participants adhering to current health and safety guidelines.

Cost: $25 per person (includes Gardens admission). Members of Yume pay only $15.

Advanced ticket reservation is required. This is a limited admission event to guarantee social distancing to our guests.

Join us for our last Evenings of the season when Yume puts on its most beautiful luminous garments. The stroll through the glowing lights of lanterns and candles is absolutely magical.

An enchanting evening for the whole family on the notes of recorded traditional Japanese music.

The Evenings will be enlivened by the extraordinary participation of Suzu Mitsuyuki who will perform two short Japanese dances during the event on the theme of "Haru Ichiban" (Dance of Spring). 

Date & Time:

4/15

6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

Tickets:
General Admission: $19

Members: $15

Children 3-15: $5

Advanced ticket reservation is required. This is a limited admission event.

Join us for our last Evenings of the season when Yume puts on its most beautiful luminous garments. The stroll through the glowing lights of lanterns and candles is absolutely magical.

An enchanting evening for the whole family on the notes of recorded traditional Japanese music.

The Evenings will be enlivened by the extraordinary participation of Suzu Mitsuyuki who will perform two short Japanese dances during the event on the theme of "Haru Ichiban" (Dance of Spring). 

Date & Time:

4/14

6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

Tickets:
General Admission: $19

Members: $15

Children 3-15: $5

Advanced ticket reservation is required. This is a limited admission event.

Join us on Saturday, April 1st, 2023 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm to celebrate our 10th Anniversary Festival at Yume Japanese Gardens.

The event will feature Taiko drumming performance, kamishibai ("paper play") storytelling, origami, ikebana flower arrangements, Japanese crafts, and much more!

Enjoy delicious Japanese food: the Takoyaki Balls Food Truck will be on site!!!

Snacks/drinks will also be available for purchase.

Advanced ticket reservation is required. This is a limited admission event. 

Two time slots available: 10AM-12:30PM and 12:30PM-3PM

Admission Tickets: Adults: $18 - Members: $10 - Children: $6 - Children under 5: Free

The event has been sponsored by the Arizona Commission on the Arts.

Haiku is the definition of brevity. Elegant due to its compactness of expression, its typically unrhymed versus only take up a few lines and a handful of syllables. As you can imagine, every single word counts. Revolving around seasonal topics and nature but often holding double meanings, these poems are a pleasure not only to read and understand, but also to try your hand at writing.

Our haiku writing walk is a time to observe, reflect on, and collect perceptions and images both of nature and life which are used in the appreciation and creation of haiku, the iconic Japanese short poem.

Led by award-winning haiku poet Yukihiro Ibuki and Yume Cultural Director, Paul Amiel, this one hour and half workshop will discuss the history, form, and aesthetics of haiku, followed by time in the Gardens to gather personal images and impressions (along with gentle Japanese music) which we will share afterwards in an informal time together.

Sunday, March 19 at 1:30pm.
$25/ $15 Members

Space is limited. Please reserve your spot!

Spring has returned to the Gardens! 

For those who have already gone through the introductory course, we are re-convening for another gathering at Yume to continue to deepen our understanding, our observations, our sensibilities, and our growing haiku community. 

We will go into more depth concerning the kigo words, a focus on one of the Japanese masters, and then spend time again in the garden for reflection and time together for sharing.

Please sign up for this walk ONLY if you have completed the Introductory Haiku Workshop(offered the same day at 1:30pm).

Led by award-winning haiku poet Yukihiro Ibuki and Yume Cultural Director, Paul Amiel.

Date/Time:

Sunday, March 19 at 12PM

Tickets:

$20 general/$10 Members 

Space is limited. Please reserve your spot!