The history of our garden dates back to the 1980s, when ponds and the first oriental plantings appeared on a wet meadow—now home to the Japanese Garden. At first, we imagined it as a family retreat, later as a garden space centered around agritourism. But it wasn’t until several years ago that we decided to create a garden guided by a clear idea, and we began to seek inspiration. The concepts changed many times—there was never one ready-made plan, and the theme emerged through a process of elimination. French and English gardens are beautiful, but we felt they didn’t suit us or the submontane terrain with its mixed Karkonosze forest and granite rock formations that have shaped this landscape for millions of years. The charming scenery of our land in Przesieka sparked our imagination: streams, rocks, and beautiful trees. We knew we had to give this 1.5-hectare corner a style that reflected our vision. We read countless volumes of specialist literature and came to the conclusion that the Japanese philosophy of garden design was closest to our hearts. We began the work, which initially involved construction and heavy machinery. We brought in 50,000 tons of various stones—mostly local granite and basalt. Some ponds were filled in, others relocated. We incorporated magnificent native beeches, oaks, birches, and willows into our design. We also began planting other species that fascinated us—not only from Japan, but also from Asia and North America—since not all plants thrive in the unpredictable submontane climate at 600 meters above sea level. In this way, native vegetation—like blackberries and ferns—lives in harmony alongside Asian Japanese maples and giant gunneras from Peru. From the beginning, we wanted the plant composition to remain free and natural, without strict orthodoxy. The garden also became home to over a hundred-year-old rhododendrons, saved from nearby properties where they were no longer welcome. They became the foundation of our stunning rhododendron collection, which now includes over 3,000 shrubs in around 80 varieties. We also developed a passion for collecting bonsai trees. Our collection grows each year, and some of our specimens have won awards at prestigious exhibitions. We’ve visited Japan several times. The gardens we saw there—some hundreds of years old—were incredibly inspiring. It turned out we had nothing to be ashamed of; in fact, our garden is more “Japanese” than some others we’ve seen in Europe. We became convinced we were on the right path—a path of natural, free-flowing, rather than perfectly manicured compositions. Simplicity and naturalness became the unquestionable guiding principles of our garden. We named it Siruwia, after Sylwia… We never planned to open our garden to the public. But after much encouragement from friends, we opened it to visitors in July 2014. Our fascination with Japan extends beyond garden design. We are enchanted by the culture and history of the Land of the Rising Sun. Over time, our space grew into something more, and we began calling it Little Japan. The themes we present now go far beyond plants and landscaping. We created a museum where visitors can admire the largest collection of Japanese armor in Poland, including original pieces and unique replicas from the Edo period (17th–19th century). The pride of our collection is an extraordinary 800-year-old work of art: a Tachi sword from the Kamakura period (12th–14th century). We continue to expand and develop Little Japan, adding new attractions and creating a space for unique relaxation. We regularly organize festivals featuring plants, original Japanese products, and cultural workshops. We want every visitor to feel welcome—whether you’re seeking peace and quiet, or visiting with children. With them in mind, we built the highest playground in Lower Silesia, surrounded by a beach and inviting families to enjoy the outdoors. It is watched over by Liczyrzepa—the legendary Spirit of the Karkonosze Mountains. We warmly invite you to visit our Little Japan in the Karkonosze—a place we’ve created with great passion and love. We are certain that your visit will become a fascinating and unforgettable memory. Sylwia and Jakub Kurowscy