Japanese Garden of Peace

The Japanese Garden of Peace at the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas is a gift from the people of Japan to the people of the United States and symbolizes the friendship between these two countries. Completed in 1976, the Garden celebrates the mutual respect between two great naval heroes: Japanese Admiral Heihachiro Togo and American Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. Nimitz greatly admired Togo, and after World War Two he contributed to the Mikasa memorial in honor of the Japanese naval hero. To return this kindness, the Japanese Coordinating Committee partnered with the NMPW to create this garden, complete with a replica of Togo’s personal study in Japan. The garden displays not only symbols and traditional values common in Japanese gardens but also contains unique elements that embody the Pacific Ocean and the themes of the Museum.