Master craftsman Hoichi Kurisu was called upon to design the Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, Illinois, by businessman John Anderson.

It was after a visit to Portland that Anderson was inspired to establish the gardens in 1978. Over the years, the space has grown into the tranquil oasis it is today.

Using three elements – stone, water, and plants – the Japanese Gardens become nature’s art, creating a thought-provoking space that restores the soul.

At Anderson Japanese Gardens, visitors can walk and sit in the seasonal beauty offered by the elements and take guided tours to further understand the principles and history of the gardens.

318 Spring Creek Road, Rockford, IL, Phone: 815-229-9390

Milwaukee (1 hour 35 minutes) Holland, Michigan (2 hours 30 minutes) Kettle Moraine State Forest (2 hours 40 minutes) Lake Geneva (1 hour 40 minutes) Naperville (40 minutes) Village of Oak Park (15 minutes) Six Flags Great America (1 hour) North Utica (1 hour 45 minutes) Chicago Botanic Garden (35 minutes) Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (1 hour) Old State Capitol State Historic Site (3 hours) Apple River Canyon State Park (2 hours 30 minutes) Starved Rock State Park (1 hour 35 min) Brookfield Zoo (25 minutes) Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (3 hours) Anderson Japanese Gardens (1 hour 40 minutes) The Morton Arboretum (35 minutes) Cantigny Park (40 minutes) Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio (20 minutes) Huron-Manistee National Forests (4 hours) Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens (2 hours) Oglesby (1 hour 40 minutes) White River State Park (3 hours) Peoria (2 hours 40 minutes)

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