After poring over the country’s most breathtaking vistas, stunning landscapes and immaculate flower beds, HGTV has released its definitive list of the most beautiful gardens in every state. And, no, Chicago is not home to the garden that made these experts’ hearts skip a beat (though we question how anyone couldn’t fall in love with these 15 beloved Chicago gardens). According to HGTV, the destination most deserving of the “most beautiful garden in Illinois” title is the Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, Illinois.
Also known as the “Forest City” thanks to its heavily wooded residential areas, Rockford is a mid-sized Northern Illinois metropolis nestled within the Rock River Valley, a particularly verdant locale in the Midwest. One of Rockford’s crown jewels is—understandably—the Anderson Japanese Gardens, which began construction in 1978, after Rockford businessman John Anderson had an inspiring visit at the Portland Japanese Garden in Oregon. Guided by the expertise of master craftsman and designer Hoichi Kurisu, Anderson’s swampy backyard bordering Rockford’s Spring Creek was reimagined as a Japanese-style landscape.
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Walk along the stone pathways winding throughout this 12-acre garden and you’ll find no shortage of nature’s marvels, from grand waterfalls and koi-filled ponds to stately pagodas and arched bridges. Remaining true to Japanese garden tradition, every element is intentionally placed and designed to elicit a sense of calm. The Anderson Japanese Gardens offers public and private tours as well as guided serenity walks, which grants visitors the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the tree-filled sanctuary.
Want to experience the Anderson Japanese Gardens for yourself? Rockford is about a two-hour drive or Amtrak ride from Chicago and offers more than enough activities to constitute a worthy day trip. From the Discovery Center Museum and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Laurent House to Prairie Street Brewing and Screw City Light, there’s no shortage of pit stops to make throughout Rockford. Read our full Rockford, Illinois, day trip itinerary here.
The Anderson Japanese Gardens are still open for the 2025 season. Admission for adults is $13 on weekdays and $15 on weekends. Plan your visit here.