스위스 인터라켄의 Japanischer Garten Interlaken을 보면서 일본의 소프트파워를 느꼈다; 하버드 대학의 미쓰비시 교수직이라던가, 대영박물관에서 미쓰비시 후원으로 만들어진 일본관에서 느낀 것처럼

The image shows a stone monument in the "Garden of Friendship" (友好の庭 - Yūkō no Niwa) in Bern, Switzerland. 

• This Japanese garden is located near the Münster Cathedral in Bern and was established to commemorate the friendship between Bern and its Japanese sister city, Kyoto. 
• The stone monument in the image bears the Japanese characters "友好の庭" which translates to "Garden of Friendship". 
• The garden features traditional Japanese elements like a pond, rocks, and carefully arranged plants, including Japanese holly (Ilex crenata 'Convexa'), which is visible in the image. 
• It serves as a tranquil space for reflection and a symbol of cultural exchange
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•  https://www.interlaken.ch/en/experiences/poi/japanese-garden-interlaken

Great question — the Japanischer Garten (Japanese Garden) in Interlaken has an interesting backstory.

🌸 Funding & Origins

• The garden was created in 1995, designed in the style of a traditional Japanese garden.

• It was a gift from the Japanese city of Ōtsu (in Shiga Prefecture, near Kyoto), which is Interlaken’s sister city since 1978.

• The project was largely funded and supported by Ōtsu City and Japanese partners, as a symbol of friendship and cultural exchange. Interlaken provided the space and contributed to the landscaping and maintenance.

🌍 The Stone & Symbolism

• The commemorative stone you saw in the garden was placed to celebrate the friendship between Switzerland and Japan, more specifically Ōtsu and Interlaken’s sister-city relationship.

• Stones are a key element in Japanese garden design, often used to carry symbolic meaning. In this case, the inscribed stone functions as a monument, affirming lasting friendship, peace, and cultural ties between the two countries.

✅ Why Interlaken?

• Interlaken and Ōtsu both lie between two lakes and are surrounded by mountains, which made them feel like “twins” in geography.

• This natural similarity was one reason they became sister cities, and the Japanese Garden in Interlaken reflects this connection.

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✨ So in short:

• Yes, Japan (Ōtsu City) funded and gifted the garden.

• The stone commemorates Swiss–Japanese friendship, especially the long-standing sister-city bond.