Cowra is a farming town in the central west of New South Wales, about 325 kilometres from Sydney and a little over four hours on the road, and tucked into a hillside above it lies the largest Japanese garden in the southern hemisphere. Ken Nakajima drew it. He was one of the great Japanese garden designers of the last century, the same hand behind gardens in Montreal, Moscow, Houston and San Diego, and what he shaped at Cowra is a kaiyushiki garden, a strolling garden, twelve and a half acres meant to be walked rather than looked at. Paths wind. Water falls and gathers into two lakes. There are clipped hedges, an Edo period cottage, an open air tea house and a bonsai house, and the whole thing is arranged so that a new view opens every time the path turns. About fifty thousand people find their way here each year, and the National Trust keeps an eye on it.

Spring is when the garden shows off. Cherry blossom in Japan carries the idea of renewal and beginning again, and every year the town celebrates the flowering with Sakura Matsuri, its cherry blossom festival, held this weekend. Blossom season is in full bloom right across the district, WIN News Central West reported this month, and the garden has been sharing that report alongside its own festival notices. Blossom under foot and overhead, Japanese and Asian street food, taiko drummers, archery and sword demonstrations, sumo, origami, ikebana, tea ceremonies, bonsai workshops, dancers and a choir. Pay the entry and wander for an afternoon. Best of all, the blossom stays on after the drummers go home, so a quiet weekday walk through the garden over the coming week or two is a lovely way to meet it. Ring ahead if the blossom is the whole reason you are going, because peak is a moving target and only the gardeners really know.

Our short take: details from Cowra Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre, Visit Cowra and the National Trust. Photograph: to be chosen, three options on the photo page.