Love this south side gem! Visitors beware: pictures make the place look large but it is tiny. Still, a lovely place for a stroll.I hear this is a good place to see the cherry blossoms bloom if you can catch them. It is a hike to get into the garden. Enjoy Hyde Park!

Beautifully maintained hidden gem on the South Side of Chicago. Easy to get to via Bus 15 and is located right next to the Museum of Science and Industry. Small park but was overall not very crowded. There are small areas of grass where there is enough room for a few people to set up for a picnic. Bikes are not allowed on the trail so a convenient bike rack is out front. Please remember to pick up after yourself to help maintain this beautiful garden!

This is a small Japanese-inspired garden within Jackson Park that is peaceful and tranquil. It has a pond with fishes and ducks, small waterfall, a foot bridge, shaded area and pebbled pathways. The area is clean, well-kept and ideal for meditation, picnic or simply chilling or walking. It is good for photography backdrop as Ive seen couples or families having their pictures taken here. A hidden gem south of downtown Chicago.

Sooo lovely. Perfect spot as usual. The trees are a bit bare, but the traditional structure is still there during our winter months. This is the entrance to a lovely little garden that we enjoy very often.

Absolutely beautiful spot to stop by near Hyde park. It’s quiet and outdoors. Can’t be beat!

Adorable location for a picnic! Garden is well-tended to, very minimal trash (which is great). Most people appeared to approach the park very respectfully. Definitely a lot of people having their photos taken, out on walks, or with groups - very full of life.

Absolutely beautiful Japanese gardens .You can sit and meditate by the water. If youre looking to take beautiful photos in nature this is the place.

Beautiful park, with great scenery. Took great pictures of bae during golden hour. 10/10 would recommend.

Its a very beautiful park. Peaceful, calm, the area has a gentle atmosphere. Friendly ducks are also part of the experience.

Secluded space surrounded literally by nature (its a little island!) Some people have fished there, lots of easy space to have a pocket just for you or with a small group of friends/your lover. Even the ducks are chill, lol.

Love this part of the park. Very relaxing and absolutely stunning site.

Great place to come to. Really nice scenery and great place for taking photos. Id definitely come again in the future

This was the perfect post-brunch setting to continue a friends birthday celebration. First time visiting, but almost certain to be a regular visitor.

Hidden gem on Southside in Jackson Park A real treasure

Beautiful spot in the city. No dogs allowed & some karen will yell at you if you try to peek at the beauty with your pupper. The park is free and worth a visit.

Beautiful place! Great location for a relaxing stroll.

Such a peaceful and calming experience Definitely worth visiting

Beautiful and peaceful hidden gem of Chicago! Its the perfect place to get away from the busy city life, even just for a few mins of walking.

I love this place. It has been very busy since covid 19 but enough room for everybody & easy to get lost if you have no sense of direction, but there are maps.

One of my favorite places to visit in Chicago! A must visit and enjoy.

It’s small garden but nice and clean and good place for photography

Beautiful serene garden. Reminded me a bit of the gardens i visited whilst in Kyoto. That little bridge is everything.

Simply breathtaking, serene, and beautiful. There are large Chinese gold, and white fishes in the ponds. The ducks walk up to you peacefully, and with all the stones, and beautiful outdoor decor, youll feel like youre in Beijing.

Amazing little hidden gem in Hyde Park. This is a very beautiful Japanese garden thats a perfect setting for temae ceremony.

Amazing little spot tucked away in Jackson Park. A complete gym for the Chicago Park District. Amazing little waterfall, great places to sit and relax, and a lovely little play area just outside. Absolutely love this place!

Quite place for completing.Nice area for lunch.I saw a koi that was there in the 90s.

Took a while to find. Followed Googles walking directions from Promontory Point. Unfortunately one point of the route was closed so had to find a detour around the museum. The route to the garden itself, according to Google, required walking on water abilities but we found a bridge that took us over the water to the garden. The garden itself is beautiful and we passed very few people inside. It is south of downtown Chicago and off the beaten trqck but worth a quick visit if you have time.

This is THE BEST location in Chicago for all nature lovers. This park is a bit far from downtown (around 13km) but is very well worth it.I was biking through lakeview trail with a Divvy bike and passed by this park. Only inconvenience is that you cannot take the bike in the park and there are no Divvy stations outside of it. However, there is a bike station for normal bikes to park but you need to have a lock.The location is very calm and relaxing. The park’s blend with the lake is superb. It’s design is far better than all parks in Chicago. It is a Japanese park. Once you step in all your worries are gone. I highly recommend this park. However one note: there are no sitting areas which makes it a bit annoying.

Nice idea. But not in an easy access area, somewhat unsafe, and overwhelmingly meh

Serene spot for relaxing, reading or meditating.

Beautiful place to explore. Well kept and a beautiful hidden place to see.

Its an oasis of beauty and tranquility inside the city limits.

Very serene traditional Japanese garden. Easy to explore in 20 min and quiet and beautiful to stay longer.

Such a beautiful place! Definitely added to my top places for photography.

Great views but unfortunately some of the park was under construction

Garden of the Phoenix is a small Japanese garden established for the 1893(!) Colombian Exposition held in Chicago. This park epitomizes all that is Japanese: Small yet ornate, isolated and serene. The garden resides on an island which is accessible with two bridges, one on the north and one on the south. No pets allowed, so leave Fido at home. If you want to enjoy this gem, parking is available south of the island off of E. Hayes Dr. (cost is about $2 per hour). Also, it is about a 15 minute walk from this garden to the Museum of Science and Industry.My wife and I was travelling from Milwaukee to Indianapolis. We made a special trip to find this garden. This is not going to be an attraction to a lot of people. This garden is much like a Bonsai tree: small but incredibility beautiful. If you appreciate a Bonsai, you will love this park.

A place that you must visit if you are in Chicago. It is a small park with beautiful views and landscapes to take pictures or just to relaxing. Pets are not allowed. Bikes are not allowed either. There is a rack to park bikes outside.

Very good place to take pictures and relax. They have quite zones to get your zen on. Beautiful garden please be respectful.

Walking into the garden was like walking into a beautiful fantastical world.The garden was gorgeous and peaceful, and had many families exploring it.

Nice landscape quiet place nice natural atmosphere, really good place to take photos in the little pond there are enormous orange and white gold fish

This hidden nature gem in the city is the best nature preserve that selfishly i dont want found.

This is park has seemingly been closed for years and years. Despite living in Chicago for 6 years, I hadn’t visited this park until recently. I believe the water levels are high and are probably wreaking havoc on the grounds. If you’re ever on the south side, this is a must visit.

Its a very nice and beautiful park to take a walk at and take a few pictures also.

Nice and cozy ambience, this garden is perfect for a romantic walk. The Japanese cherry blossoms are spectacular in the spring.

This is one of my favorite spots.

Super cool feeling when youre surrounded by the city and then BAM! Youre in the middle of a zen garden surrounded by water, sculptures, gardens and trees. This is one of these must stop locations to relax and catch your breath if the city takes a bit too much out of you for a day. Just walking silently and watching the Coy feed near the running waterfall was enough for me to breath a bit lighter upon the exit. Go, enjoy, its free and relaxing (Punny)

The Chinese food a fair price

Very beautiful but extremely small space. You can see everything within a 5 minute walk

Beautiful, serene Japanese garden on an island inside of park just off the lake.

Beautiful place but waterfall wasnt on

Very peaceful and beautiful.

Small hidden garden outside the Museum of Science and Industry. Great place for photos or a nice walk around the lagoon. Lovely little waterfall inside the garden.

Very beautiful place reminds me Japan. Small but well maintained. Its free to look around. Has a parking space on south with cheap price.

Absolutely beautiful and incredibly peaceful. So easy to forget youre next to a busy highway!

Beautiful nature oasis in the SGV. After Huntington raised their admissions fees YET AGAIN, Descanso has become our exclusive garden retreat when back home. Many walking paths, diverse flowering areas and gardens and the ultra cool Stuart Haaga gallery on-site.

A hidden gem located in Jackson park Behind the Museum of Science and Industry. A small Japanese Garden thats really beautiful and really well-kept.Its really peaceful and normally not crowded. Bring a picnic lunch and be sure to clean up after yourselves.Parking used to be free, but now you have to pay so be prepared.#CitiExperts @Localguides

Lovely space to contemplate nature and the sound of birds.

Hidden little paradise in the city. No dogs allowed though :(

Beautiful Japanese garden with cute little waterfall and dojo style lounging area. Alot of people come for grad/prom photoshoots. Near Jackson Park

A Japanese corner in South East Chicago, apparently not so famous even for the citizens. Its quite small but its the perfect place where to find relax and connection with the nature.

Great place to zen out.

I still refer to this as Osaka Gardens. Such fabulous history on these grounds. Gorgeous all year round. A wonderful spot to escape too!

Its so peaceful. Even when you come into contact with other people, theyre really polite and leave you to your own devices. So many places to sit and absorb nature. A really quiet, reflective spot thats never crowded. Also, theres a place to park your bike out front

Nice and peaceful place to go for a walk in the middle of city.

Beautiful garden, worth the trip for sure!!

Stayed there for 3 hours. Its good

Very nice place, little walk and you can experience a wonderful place.

One of my favorite hidden gems of Chicago!

Very peaceful and beautiful path. Nice walks

Worlds Fair of 1893Beautiful park!

Pretty little place to feel like you’re not right next to a major city

Very nice garden. Not easily accessible. The bridge from the parking lot to the gardens is closed at the moment. If you are disabled or have any limitations, it proves to be a bit difficult to get here. So be prepared to walk a bit.

Beautiful Japanese garden offering serenity steps from the U of C and Museum of Science and Industry.

Beautiful small Japanese inspired park in the city by the MSI.

The enchanted Garden of the Phoenix floats in Jackson Park. Birds flit through the sunlight, turtles swim in the lagoons, and stone-cut lanterns dot the exotic landscape, which youll likely have to yourself.

A gem of a park. Enjoy a peaceful walk, sit and enjoy the views, take time to paint a picture. You can definitely spend a few hours here.

It’s a tiny but beautiful Japanese garden!

Great experience. Very serene.

A very picturesque walk in Chicago

Well kept secret Japanese garden

This is a beautiful place and soo relaxing!

Very peaceful place to go!

Lovely park when it isnt crowded

A tranquil, uncrowded oasis in the city, unpretentious and inviting, a haven of simple beauty in any season.

Wonderful place to relax!

This is a great place to come and calm down

Beautiful place to sit and meditate

A beautiful hideaway spot

Very nice place, little walk and you can experience a wonderful place.

Another of Chicagos South Side hidden gems. The Garden is a well planned, tranquil setting with a variety of beautiful flowers and foliage. I come here sometimes just to take photos, to sit and meditate or have lunch with friends and family. Outside of the gates of the Garden, there are winding paths that lead through a forest of trees either north towards the Museum of Science & Industry or south to Jackson Parks soccer fields. You can pick up an educational brochure that lists the types of trees youll find on those paths (tagged for easy identification).

Idk how i missed this in the summertime, but next year I will return. I imagine it being even more beautiful during the warmer seasons

Other reviews call this Japanese garden a hidden treasure or hidden gem. Well, it is hidden. We took an Uber there and couldnt find the entrance. Thats because there isnt one. Its in the middle of a park. Its tiny and not well maintained. The water is murky. There are traffic cones and yellow tape. If you have been to Japanese gardens in San Francisco, Portland, or, you know, Japan, then skip this one.

It is a beautiful place to see down and relax

Visiting from the UK we found this beautiful, peaceful oasis on our way back from an exciting, but busy, visit to the Museum of Science and Industry. We enjoyed sitting by the lake watching the birds and butterflies and appreciating all the flowers.

Garden of the Phoenix is one of the most beautiful Japanese gardens l have ever seen. Indeed, everything is beautiful, clean and well maintained and I highly recommend visiting this place.

I love it such a beautiful place

A wonderful little garden tucked away in the heart of Jackson Park. This Japanese-styled area seems really authentic and brings a breath of fresh air to the usual scenery of Chicagos parks. Definitely recommend to both locals and tourists.

One of the greatest hidden treasures of Chicago. Beautiful secluded Japanese garden in pristine condition. It is gorgeously designed with countless small aesthetic moments that allow you to rest and reflect.

Its free! Really hard to find, the bridge from the lakeside is closed looking so we walked all the way aroud the museum of science and industry. There are some really cool tree specimens on the whole island. The garden was chill compared to some that just get crazy busy. Just not maintained to its fullest.

Cute and quiet place hided in Chicago. Very clean and relaxing spot in the south of the city.