Anderson Japanese Gardens, Rockford

About Anderson Japanese Gardens

Anderson Japanese Gardens is a twelve-acre landscape in Rockford where visitors walk winding pathways past streams, waterfalls, and koi-filled ponds. The gardens have been rated among North America's highest quality Japanese gardens for more than a decade. Guests explore a 16th-century Sukiya-style Guest House and can take architectural tours that include the Frank Lloyd Wright Laurent House. The venue hosts seasonal events including Illuminated, a winter lights experience with dramatic uplighting and white string lights throughout the landscape, and Spooktacular, a Halloween adventure for families. Fresco at the Garden serves breakfast and lunch daily. The site offers guided tours, monthly lectures, and special programming. Anderson Japanese Gardens operates as a nonprofit organization and attracts nearly 100,000 visitors annually. The gardens open daily and charge admission, with prices published online. The location sits in Rockford, immediately east of the Rock River and north of downtown, accessible from Interstate 90 and Interstate 39.