Anderson Japanese Gardens is a beautiful, outdoor setting that inspires the mind and energizes the soul.
Our twelve-acre landscape of streams, waterfalls, winding pathways, and koi-filled ponds has been rated one of North America’s highest quality Japanese gardens for more than a decade. Anderson Japanese Gardens is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
Visiting the Garden
All the pertinent information required for planning your Anderson Japanese Gardens experience.
Dining at the Garden
Fresco at the Garden offers daily indoor and outdoor breakfast and lunch service with breathtaking views overlooking the Garden.
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.
Tuesday Evening in the Garden
Set in the beautiful outdoor Garden setting, the 14-week summertime music series creates a family-friendly environment where guests of all ages come to enjoy live music performances.
Garden Explorers
Garden Explorers is a 10-week interactive parent/child program starting in mid-June. Each week features a storytime with a notable community figure followed by a performance or an activity.
Japanese Summer Festival
The Japanese Summer Festival is a celebration of traditional cultural arts featuring exhibits, activities, demonstrations, and unique performances. This year’s Festival is July 30 & 31.
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 of Anderson Japanese Gardens 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).
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