Waza to Kokoro: Hands and Heart is a two-level professional training seminar program in the art and technique of the Japanese garden, and the flagship program of Portland Japanese Garden’s Japanese Garden Training Center.

The seminar combines hands-on skills training and theoretical learning in Japanese garden design, construction and maintenance. Its core subject is stonework taught in the traditional hands-on method, presented in the context of the culture of the way of tea, for an immersive learning experience, with several additional subjects including bamboo fence construction and pruning. Waza to Kokoro is designed for garden practitioners seeking authentic and locally-adapted design, maintenance, and construction solutions for Japanese gardens outside of Japan — as well as for landscape design and construction professionals who wish to create Japanese-style gardens for their clientele. It:

• teaches traditional skills in a combination of western and eastern learning methods
• imparts the essence of the garden through connecting it to related art forms and philosophies
• encourages individually-tailored study as well as group learning
• demonstrates practical applications of theoretical principles

See this year’s seminar schedules can be found here. Applications open May 7th at 7AM PST. Acceptance notices will be sent by mid July.

Waza to Kokoro’s learning activities reflect the traditional training of a Japanese garden craftsman, approaching designing, building and stewarding a garden as a single craft. Completion of each level of Waza to Kokoro is recognized by professional organizations such as the American Society of Landscape Architects and the Oregon Landscape Contractors Association as eligible for professional development credits. The instructor-student radio of the program enables a high level of individual attention that allows for extensive professional development.  Learners in the course at each level are further eligible to submit a proposal to complete a work/study project at the Garden, and the program can also serve as a foundation for further study in Japan.

The course is structured into two intensive seminars: Beginner Level and Intermediate Level. Learners must start with Beginner Level. Each level of the seminar represents approximately 80 hours of theoretical and applied instruction, including an online pre-seminar guided independent study module. The independent study module helps prepare learners coming from different professional areas. Readings and instructional videos include topics on stone selection and composition, aesthetics, drawing, garden history, Japanese religions, and the Way of Tea. The two levels build upon each other and follow a similar, interrelated modular structure.

For 2025, we will be offering Beginner Level seminar.

Please take a moment to review our Terms and Conditions

The facilities of Portland Japanese Garden, including the garden spaces themselves and the Kengo Kuma-designed learning spaces and library, combine for an educational experience of technical excellence and sublime beauty. Off-site facilities include a stone yard and one of the largest nurseries in the Pacific Northwest.

The seminar’s faculty pool comes from an international community of practitioners, designers and academics. These include leading Japanese garden artisans descended from families who have gardened for centuries, as well as designers and academics from top universities, noted authors, and practitioners of related art forms. See here for the current list.

Testing of knowledge and competences takes place at each level of the seminar. As learners progress through the two levels, they are expected to demonstrate increased precision, aesthetic sensitivity, independence, and speed in technical skills. The seminar’s emphasis on history, culture and aesthetics means learners are expected to demonstrate an increasingly complex level of knowledge and a nuanced, sophisticated understanding of the garden and its related arts.  Successful participants can proceed to the next seminar level.

Tuition for this year’s Beginner Level $2,500.00. Tuition includes Garden admission, access to training venues, some meals, all learning materials, use of tools, and transportation to offsite locations, but does not include accommodation or travel costs.

Applications are accepted through our 2025 Waza to Kokoro Seminar Application Form.

– Portfolio of drawings and photographs of realized works
– Knowledge of and experience with Japanese gardens
– Proficiency in drawing, traditional tool use, hands-on stonework, and other skills

If you have any difficulty with the platform, or have any other questions about the seminar, please contact our staff at trainingcenter@japanesegarden.org.