A serene photo of a small waterfall. Water cascades over moss-covered rocks into a shallow pool, surrounded by various plants and trees with some red leaves adding a pop of color. The scene is tranquil and natural, evoking a sense of peace.

Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, IL

Anderson Japanese Gardens is a beautiful and traditional Japanese garden on 12 acres in Rockford, IL. It has beautiful waterfalls, winding paths, and koi ponds that oozes a sense of calm and tranquility. Read on to find out everything you need to know about visiting.

Anderson Japanese Gardens is consistently ranked one of the top Japanese Gardens in North America by Sukiya Living Magazine and you’ll understand why after visiting.

Quick Facts about Anderson Japanese Gardens

AdmissionLocationHours
Weekdays:
Adults: $12
Seniors (62+): $11
Students & Military: $10
Child under 5: FREE

Weekends/Holidays:
Adults: $14
Seniors (62+): $13
Students & Military: $12
Child under 5: FREE

Donation Day:
3rd Thursday of every month- in lieu
of admission, you can make a donation		318 Spring Creek Rd.
Rockford, IL 61107		Monday-Friday 9AM-6PM
Saturday-Sunday 9AM-5PM
Prices for 2024 Season

Where is Rockford, IL

Rockford, IL is about 90 minutes north of Chicago and about 30 minutes south of Beloit, WI. You can take I90 either from Chicago or Beloit areas.

What to See at the Anderson Japanese Gardens

Visitor Center

This is where you’ll enter Anderson Japanese Gardens. You’ll find the restaurant/cafe Fresco at the Gardens ahead and the counter to purchase your tickets to the right as well as a small gift shop. The bathrooms will be on your left.

Fresco at the Gardens serves some Asian inspired items for breakfast and lunch and the food is all locally sourced organic food. We didn’t eat here, but the food looked delicious and the presentation was very nice. They have indoor/outdoor seating that overlooks some beautiful scenery of the Japanese garden.

Turn to the right to purchase your tickets to the garden. It doesn’t look like you can purchase tickets online, only in person.

"Two polaroid style photos side by side, labeled 'Visitor Center' and 'Gift Shop.' The Anderson Japanese Gardens Visitor Center photo shows an entrance with stone steps and large glass doors, surrounded by plants. The Gift Shop photo displays the interior with wooden beams, shelves of merchandise, and tables with various items for sale."
Tips:
1. Buy some fish/duck food when you purchase your ticket- a small sandwich bag is $1. You can feed them in the ponds. The koi are huge and open their mouths so big to get some food. Don’t disappoint them:)
2. Go to the bathroom before heading out. There are a couple of bathrooms as you walk around, but if you’re map challenged like me, you may have a hard time finding them when you need them.

As you step out of the Visitor Center, be sure to stop at the water/drinking fountain. You can either fill your water bottle or grab a small paper cup to try a sip before heading out.

"Polaroid style photo labeled 'Water/Drinking Fountain Outside of the Visitor Center.' It shows a hand holding a cup under a stream of water flowing from a spout into a large stone basin. A basket with paper cups is placed nearby, surrounded by lush greenery."

West Waterfall

What’s not to love about a waterfall? You can stop in front of it for a photo and then continue on the stone walkway and up the stone stairs onto the path. There’s a gazebo at the top of the stairs you can sit under to enjoy the calming sound of the waterfall.

Angela is wearing sunglasses, a checkered sleeveless top, and denim shorts and is standing on a path next to a rocky waterfall surrounded by lush greenery. The polaroid image has a white border with the text "WEST WATERFALL" at the bottom.

Tea House

You can see a traditional tea house hidden amongst the trees. You can go up close to it and peek inside but you can’t go in.

A traditional wooden tea house at the Anderson Japanese Gardens is partially obscured by lush greenery and trees. The scene includes a small stream flowing over rocks in the foreground. The polaroid image has a white border with the text "TEA HOUSE" at the bottom.

Guest House

You can peek inside this house too, but can’t go in. If you really want to go inside, you can book one of their private tours.

You need to make a reservation at least 2 weeks in advance and you will need to take your shoes off and must wear socks to participate.

The left polaroid image shows the outside of a traditional Japanese guest house, featuring a stone pathway leading to a wooden entrance surrounded by lush greenery. The right polaroid image displays the inside of the guest house, showcasing a minimalist room with tatami mat flooring, a low wooden table with floor cushions, and soft lighting from traditional lamps. Both images have a white border with text at the bottom; the left reads "OUTSIDE OF GUEST HOUSE" and the right reads "INSIDE OF GUEST HOUSE."

Pond Strolling Garden/Garden of Reflection

You can see many large koi and ducks that you can feed in both of these ponds. Get the food at the Visitor Center. You can stroll around both the Pond Strolling Garden and Garden of Reflection’s winding paths to view the beautiful gardens.

"Two polaroid-style photos of ponds in a garden. The first photo shows a 'Koi Pond' with visible koi fish swimming near the surface and ducks gliding across the water. The second photo captures the 'Lily Pond in the Garden of Reflection Pond,' featuring a large cluster of lily pads with blooming flowers on the water's surface. The background includes lush greenery and a clear blue sky, reflecting a peaceful and natural environment."
"Two polaroid-style photos". The first photo shows Angela sitting on a large rock beside the 'East Waterfall,' with cascading water and lush greenery in the background. The second photo captures her standing on the 'Giboshi Bridge,' an arched wooden bridge over a tranquil pond surrounded by trees and bushes. Both scenes depict a serene and picturesque natural setting."

Other Things to Note About Your Visit

  • There are benches and gazebos placed throughout the gardens to rest and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
  • No outside food or drink other than water.
  • No camera tripods are allowed.
  • Plan on visiting for about 1 1/2 – 2 hours. That’s how long it took us and we were walking at a normal/slowish pace, not to mention we accidentally walked around the Pond Strolling Garden twice.
  • A lot of the paths are shady so it was enjoyable even on a hot summer day.

Accessibility

There are places that are uneven and/or have stairs. There is a flat path that you can take if you have a stroller or wheelchair, however some access may be limited like getting close to the West Waterfall. Ask for a flat path map when purchasing your tickets.

"Three polaroid-style photos of green signs marking accessible flat paths at the Anderson Japanese Gardens. The first photo shows a sign reading 'Flat Path Ends Here' surrounded by lush greenery and wooden log barriers. The second photo shows a sign that says 'Flat Tour' positioned along a shaded, gravel path. The third photo displays a sign labeled 'Flat Path Entrance,' nestled among various plants and bushes. Caption below the photos reads 'Flat Path Signs Throughout the Gardens.'"

More Ways to Enjoy Anderson Japanese Gardens

  • Public/Private Tours

You can take a tour at Anderson Japanese Gardens if you want a more comprehensive experience.

You can also just walk around on your own and read through the Tour Guide (this is not a person, it’s a booklet) you get when you purchase your tickets. The Tour Guide has a map and a snippet of information about each place.

  • Tuesday Evenings in the Gardens

Enjoy live music by local, regional, and nationally touring musicians. See the summer schedule here.

  • Illuminated

See the gardens illuminated with colorful lights in the wintertime. Check out the Illuminated schedule here.

  • Wellness in Nature

Spending time in nature can help with your well being. Try out Yoga, Tai Chi, and other wellness activities in the Gardens. Check it out here.

  • Other Events

Check out other events and happenings throughout the year here.

Wrap Up for my visit to the beautiful Anderson Japanese Gardens

Anderson Japanese Gardens is a must see if you’re in the northern Illinois/Rockford area. I can see why it’s ranked one of the top Japanese gardens in North America with the beautiful paths and calming waterfalls. Definitely check it out for yourself!

Where to Eat After Anderson Japanese Gardens

If you didn’t eat at the onsite cafe, Fresco at the Gardens, let me suggest a really cool fast food restaurant nearby. It’s called Tom & Jerry’s Restaurant in Machesney, IL- about 15 min away. If you’re into Marvel and DC, don’t miss this place. We accidentally ran into it on the way home and I’m so glad I did.

Read about it in this post!