Anderson Japanese Gardens Season Opening is Friday, April 19

Fresco at the Gardens will open for daily breakfast & lunch service starting Tuesday, March 26.

For Easter Brunch or General Dining Reservations, please visit HERE

Visiting the Garden

All the pertinent information required for planning your Anderson Japanese Gardens experience.

Dining at the Garden

Fresco at the Garden is currently closed and will open on March 26. Reservations can now be made for the Easter Brunch.

Membership & Support

Revenue from operations covers less than 70% of our annual operating expenses. Membership offers benefits guests of all ages can enjoy while providing vital financial support for the Garden.

Partners, Donors & Sponsors

Nurturing and being able to present a world-class public garden is a real honor. We would not be able to do this without the generous financial support from Garden enthusiasts, foundations & businesses.

Mushroom Workshop

In this presentation, Hunter tells all, well, almost…about hunting and finding the elusive morel mushroom.

 

Ikebana Workshops

Ikebana workshops are available for both beginners (Intro to Ikebana) and those looking to continue to develop their skills (Continuing Ikebana)

 

Architectural Tours

Exclusive architectural tour of the 16th-century Sukiya-style Guest House followed by the Frank Lloyd Wright Laurent House. Learn more and book your private tour today…

Weddings

Whether planning an intimate wedding ceremony or a celebration for 200+ guests, hosting your special day at Anderson Japanese Gardens creates memories for a lifetime. Now offering Receptions.

 

About Anderson Gardens

Anderson Japanese Gardens evolved from an individual’s vision to create a unique amenity for the Rockford region into an internationally renowned public garden.  The founder’s principals of authentic design, first-class craftsmanship and world-class maintenance have led to the Gardens’ reputation as one of the finest Japanese gardens in the world.  Today, the Garden operates as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and attracts nearly 100,000 guests annually.

We are proud of the Gardens’ longstanding recognition as one of the highest quality Japanese gardens in the world.  What motivates us, however, is the positive impact the Garden has on individuals.  We have deliberately focused on broadening the Gardens’ appeal by transitioning it from a passive guest attraction to a highly-programmed regional amenity.  We have found this transformation has opened the Garden and its restorative qualities to a much larger audience.

The Founder & History

Construction began in 1978 when Rockford businessman John Anderson was inspired by a visit to the Portland Japanese Garden in Oregon.  With the ongoing assistance of renowned Master Craftsman and designer Hoichi Kurisu, the Andersons’ swampy backyard along Rockford’s Spring Creek was transformed into a Japanese-style landscape.  From groundbreaking to today, the placement of every rock, alignment of every tree, and layout of all paths have been made with careful consideration by Mr. Kurisu.

In 1998, John and Linda Anderson donated the Gardens as a supported organization to the Rockford Rotary Charitable Association.  It now exists as a not-for-profit entity and continues to grow and change to this day.

Pictured from left: Ralph Anderson, John Anderson, Masahiro Takahashi and Masahiro Hamada (1985).