The Japanese Friendship Garden in San Diego added a koi pond in the 1990s. It immediately became a major attraction in the garden, particularly with children. Tom, the photographer and prior president of the Koi Club of San Diego, played a significant role in the pond’s construction. The patio adjacent to the pond provides lots of safe access for kids to get down and see the tame koi, much to their delight.

If you get a chance to visit San Diego, the friendship garden is located within Balboa Park, near the Organ Pavilion, and well worth a stroll. You can even adopt a koi if you visit the garden’s website.

In the original koi pond, the koi are hand-selected by members of the local Koi Club of San Diego, who also work to maintain the pond for the garden.