The Japanese Garden in Jackson Park dates back 131 years to the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition when the government of Japan gifted it to the city of Chicago. Over time, a rich and complex American-Japanese legacy rooted in mutual respect has continued to evolve. As Jackson Park transforms, we find ourselves at an inflection point, recognizing the need to protect and preserve the legacy of the Garden. 

The following images, captured and curated across the four seasons, reveal a beautiful gem of a garden that offers gentle and peaceful solitude, evoking reverence and heightening the senses with its natural sounds, wildlife, and tranquil surroundings. These visual moments reflect the unique and extraordinary nature of this magical place. 

Just outside the formal garden, SKYLANDING, Yoko Ono’s exclusive North American sculpture, reaches skyward, with twelve petals of a lotus flower, emerging from the original site of the Ho-o-den (Phoenix Pavilion), This contemporary work establishes a symbiotic relationship with the Garden and offers an enduring symbol of peace and good relations between Japan and the United States.