Anderson Japanese Gardens
Anderson Japanese Gardens
4.5
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Anderson Japanese Gardens is proud of its longstanding reputation as one of the highest quality Japanese gardens in North America. Our passion, however, is how the Garden positively impacts individuals and the communities where they live. We are committed to presenting first-class programs, events, and opportunities that bring people together in this uplifting natural setting.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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  • Ruth M
    Morgantown, West Virginia4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Peaceful Japanese garden visit
    This is a hidden jewel. We spent 90 minutes here, and even though it was busy, it was quiet and peaceful. Worth the price of admission. The paper tour guide was helpful as we leisurely strolled the grounds. Highly recommend visiting. If we lived in Rockford, we'd get an annual membership.
    We are so happy you enjoyed your visit. Thank you for sharing your experience.
    Written July 14, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 9, 2023
  • Memo
    Chicago, Illinois53 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A beautiful place amid the city limits.
    A real Japanese garden designed by a Japanese gardener. Not knowing anything about the nuances of Japanese gardens and the meditative nature of the highly structured but totally naturally surroundings we opted for a two hour tour with a docent. This docent guided tour is not necessary. The walking paths and koi ponds can be enjoyed by guests of all ages. The docent really gave us insight into the construction and purpose behind Mr. Anderson’s garden. It was enlightening and also added greatly to our collective appreciation place of quiet reflection.
    Thank you for sharing your experience for fellow travelers.
    Written July 14, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 13, 2023
  • Lesley F
    12 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful garden
    This was a beautiful place with many little areas to take in. Even though there were plenty of people visiting the garden it was still very quiet. Lots of places to take a moment to relax or clear your thoughts.
    Thank you for sharing your experience. We are so happy you found your visit peaceful.
    Written September 26, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited July 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 18, 2023
  • Dennis_Nordmoe
    Lathrup Village, Michigan5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    An exceptional experience of natural beauty, perfectly arrange and curated.
    This was a stunningly beautiful and peaceful experience. I grew up in Rockfor and I had not expected to find a world-class attraction like this in my home town. It made our stay in Rockford something to tell all our friends about. We will make it a part of any future visit.
    Thank you for sharing your experience. We hope you can visit again soon.
    Written September 26, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited July 2023
    Written July 31, 2023
  • Marty K
    Jackson, Wisconsin138 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Gardens beautiful, Japanese Festival awesome!
    Grounds were beautiful and well maintained but the Japanese Summer Festival was AWESOME! Have never been and to have our first experience be the Festival was a real treat. Lot's of fun & interactive activities. Learned a lot, danced, played drums and enjoyed the restaurant very much. Would highly recommend.
    So glad you enjoyed the festival. Thank you for sharing your experience.
    Written September 26, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited July 2023
    Written August 1, 2023
  • Chicago Mark
    Chicago, Illinois5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful day at the Gardens
    We had a beautiful day at the Gardens. Started with lunch on the patio at Fresco, followed by a marvelous tour with Frank the docent. His love for the gardens is evident, and the pace of the tour - it took a full 2 hours - matched the tranquility of the gardens perfectly. After that, we enjoyed the Gong Bath, a wonderful experience of allowing yourself to relax and get lost in the repeated sound of a gong. Highly recommend!
    Thank you for sharing your experience. Frank is wonderful! We hope you can visit again.
    Written September 26, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 17, 2023
  • Cliff L
    Chicago, Illinois7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beyond expectations!
    Anderson Japanese Gardens is without question the most beautiful horticultural park I have ever visited. Absolutely world class. I've known about its existence for many years, but this was my first in-person visit. The Gardens are in Rockford which is about 90 minutes west of Chicago (although a little longer at the moment due to the heavy construction on I-90/94) but worth every minute of the drive. There is a dining option on site which is open for breakfast and lunch, and a gift shop you actually want to bring things home from! Definitely going to make a trip out to the gardens more often (at least seasonally) and am looking forward to attending some of their special events, especially Drums of the Garden (Taiko) and the Japanese Summer Festival next year. I even took out a membership! Glad I made that first visit.
    Thank you for sharing your experience and such kind words. Welcome, new member! We are so pleased you fully enjoyed your visit.
    Written November 8, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written October 29, 2023
  • beckyberry822
    Little Falls, New Jersey229 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nice stroll through some beautiful gardens
    Stopped here on our roadtrip back to Delaware from Minnesota. The garden is very green with various Japanese decor. There are some water falls and ponds with Koi. There were some beautiful flowers blooming! A very nice garden to take a stroll through. It’s rather shaded with various trees to make it rather enjoyable to walk through in the summer as this is when I visited!
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written January 5, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles863 reviews
Excellent
706
Very good
118
Average
26
Poor
4
Terrible
9

104brandy
Galena, IL7 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021
Beautiful gardens, but avoid the restaurant. I told Jasmine I couldn’t eat a certain spice and she grudgingly exchanged the salad dressing for another. The sandwich I ordered had the spice on it and when I told her she denied it and became defensive. I told her I wouldn’t have ordered it if I knew. She said since if it wasn’t listed on the menu it wouldn’t have been used. I become ill when eating cilantro. She cleared the table of 6 except for my uneaten plate of food which remained on the cleared table until we left. No offer to exchange or credit my bill. An apology would have sufficed. Her rudeness was unacceptable. In all fairness, the others had no complaints about their food. Service was bad.
Written July 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I'm sorry to hear you had a dissatisfactory experience at Fresco. I will forward this message to them. The restaurant is separate from Anderson Japanese Gardens, so we hope you thoroughly enjoyed your time in the Garden!
Written July 19, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

AnnW
Rockford, IL14 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2022
This is a destination to take your time, either as a guided tour or just on your own. It is serene, tranquil, interesting and gives you time to enjoy the most beautiful gardens, ponds, fish and architecture.
We visited in fall and was still so much rich foliage and the paths that meander through let you appreciate it all up close.
Be sure to take your time and get away from the bustle of the world for a little bit - you'd never know you were so close to two busy roads, you will feel miles away :)
We did not stay for lunch but the restaurant is beautiful, open and has gorgeous views of the gardens.
Will be back in the spring as well as the summer to see the various blooms throughout the seasons!
Written October 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for sharing your experience in such detail with other travelers. Please, do come back in the spring when the Garden's awake from winter.
Written October 26, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Subteach10
Asheville, NC381 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2022
This is an amazing place where you can surround yourself with nature and reconnect to a part of yourself that you don't get on the average day. There are several places to sit and rest. I recommend going early in the morning before it is crowded and if you have a good set of rain gear, go when it is raining so you will most likely e completely alone in the park. My only request would be to consider having a shirt with a koi fish on it in the gift shop.
Written September 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for sharing your experience and generous review. I will pass your shirt suggestion along to the gift shop team.
Written September 19, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Memo
Chicago, IL53 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Couples
A real Japanese garden designed by a Japanese gardener. Not knowing anything about the nuances of Japanese gardens and the meditative nature of the highly structured but totally naturally surroundings we opted for a two hour tour with a docent. This docent guided tour is not necessary. The walking paths and koi ponds can be enjoyed by guests of all ages. The docent really gave us insight into the construction and purpose behind Mr. Anderson’s garden. It was enlightening and also added greatly to our collective appreciation place of quiet reflection.
Written July 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for sharing your experience for fellow travelers.
Written July 14, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

jbenimble
Fort Wayne, IN308 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2020 • Friends
My sister and I decided to stop into see the Anderson Japanese Garden even though we knew it may start raining at any time. Well, it did rain but the garden was beautiful anyway. I wish we would have been able to just sit and relax. They have plenty of benches to sit and enjoy the garden. Get the Koi food but save it for the back pond. If you are brave, the ducks in the front pond will eat right out of your hand. The poor Koi don’t have a chance in the front pond. With the multitude of plants, shrubs and trees, this garden would be beautiful at any time in the Spring, Summer, or Fall. As you can see in the pictures, they took time to think about planting hostas that bloom late in the season. Several streams and waterfalls give a constant sound of water and nature throughout the walk.
Written September 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ruth M
Morgantown, WV4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Couples
This is a hidden jewel. We spent 90 minutes here, and even though it was busy, it was quiet and peaceful. Worth the price of admission. The paper tour guide was helpful as we leisurely strolled the grounds. Highly recommend visiting. If we lived in Rockford, we'd get an annual membership.
Written July 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are so happy you enjoyed your visit. Thank you for sharing your experience.
Written July 14, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Cecilia S
Chicago, IL179 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2022
I have lived in Illinois for years and I had no idea this was here. It's a gem of a garden, incredibly beautiful and spacious. The atmosphere is tranquil and even though I was there on a beautiful day, there were many times of complete solitude. It's a lovely and peaceful way to spend an afternoon. Also spoke with a docent and I learned a tremendous amount about Japanese gardens altogether. I love the one in Portland but (gasp) I think I like this one a mite better? Good going, Rockford.
Gift shop is good, with lots of Japanese items. Restaurant has a lovely outdoor patio but I don't remember any Japanese dishes on the menu.
Written October 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for sharing your experience and detailed review with other travelers. We are humbled to be compared to our colleagues at Portland Japanese Garden. We are so happy you enjoyed your day.
Written October 17, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

DIG
Lebanon, PA119 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022 • Couples
My wife and I spent an enjoyable several hours walking around the gardens enjoying the plantings, bridges and waterfalls. It was relaxing and peaceful. The staff was available to take photos of us and tell interesting things about the gardens.
Written June 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for the detailed review!
Written June 15, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Indy-ND
South Bend, IN3,553 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2021
Anderson Japanese Gardens was the afternoon stop on this day of my road trip. The garden is beautiful. I love to photograph places like this. There was a little bit of maintenance going on, but I could crop them out.
The people working were very nice and were answering any questions that people had. The waterfall was one of the highlights, as was the walk around the pond. I did take about a 10 minute break and sat on a bench and listened to the little waterfall on a creek that ran buy. It was the perfect day with temps in the upper 60s, partly cloudy and a slight breeze. I could have sat there all day.
I did not eat at the restaurant, but it looked nice and the gift shop had a good amount of things to look through. There was even a little area of Japanese snacks and drinks.
Written May 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Cliff L
Chicago, IL7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Friends
Anderson Japanese Gardens is without question the most beautiful horticultural park I have ever visited. Absolutely world class. I've known about its existence for many years, but this was my first in-person visit. The Gardens are in Rockford which is about 90 minutes west of Chicago (although a little longer at the moment due to the heavy construction on I-90/94) but worth every minute of the drive. There is a dining option on site which is open for breakfast and lunch, and a gift shop you actually want to bring things home from! Definitely going to make a trip out to the gardens more often (at least seasonally) and am looking forward to attending some of their special events, especially Drums of the Garden (Taiko) and the Japanese Summer Festival next year. I even took out a membership! Glad I made that first visit.
Written October 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for sharing your experience and such kind words. Welcome, new member! We are so pleased you fully enjoyed your visit.
Written November 8, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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Anderson Japanese Gardens - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Frequently Asked Questions about Anderson Japanese Gardens

Anderson Japanese Gardens is open:
  • Mon - Fri 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
  • Sat - Sun 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM