Take the Self-Guided Tour

Welcome to Yuko-en, the Official Kentucky-Japan Garden.

Yes, dogs are welcome in our garden!

Guided tours of the Yuko-en may be scheduled. Let us know. We would love to show you around our beautiful garden and tell you about its history.

(1) Tokugawa Gates

The large gate marks the entrance to the garden and represents the Tokugawa Shogunate Era 1603-1868. The gate was built by local craftsmen, carpenters and metal workers. To fully experience the garden, according to custom, as you enter, leave your worldly stresses and cares behind.

(2-3) Tahara Snow Lantern and Maple Grove

At the top of the path is a large Yukimi Gata, snow lantern. This type of lantern is most beautiful after a snowfall when the roof line is highlighted. Beyond the lantern is a Maple Grove, it includes a variety of maple trees from both America and Japan. From this point, the pathway opens to a portion of the garden that represents the Bluegrass Region, suggesting gentle rolling hills. The majority of trees in this area are redbuds and cedars. Our local redbuds offer a familiar spring color in Kentucky. To the left is a small Shizedourou lantern which honors the beauty of unrefined stone. It is meant to look as if it has been weathered in nature. Just ahead, in front of the bridge are Sakura or Japanese cherry trees.

(4) Koi Pond

Water is an important element in Japanese gardens and the large koi pond is a central feature of Yuko-En on the Elkhorn. Koi are the national fish of Japan. They can grow to more than three feet long and live for 100 years. The Iris bog at the southern end of the pond, with its decorative Kotoji lantern, serves as the pond’s natural bio-filter. Two other lanterns grace the pond, the Maru-yukimi round top snow viewing lantern and the Rankei lantern, with its arched supporting column extending over the lake so that its image is reflected in the pond.

(5) Upper Waterfall and Mountain

A limestone outcropping forms the waterfall. The small cone shaped mountain form was inspired by the island of Yakushima in southern Japan, famous for its thousand year old cedar trees and great cascading mountain streams.

(6) Tahara Waterfall Garden

Travel along the winding path to the lower waterfall garden.

(7) North Elkhorn Creek

Elkhorn Creek was the pathway to settlements in the Bluegrass and continues to be a shared resource in the life of the community. In 1860, Walt Whitman wrote of the Elkhorn in his epic poem Leaves of Grass. The creek is part of the Shakkei or borrowed scenery of the garden.

(8) Wallace Dam

The pathway continues under the US 25 bridge to Cardome Landing, a small park with a picnic area and access to Elkhorn Creek. The waterfall created by the dam adds a charming view from the garden.

(9) Hermit’s Hut – Elkhorn Viewing Spot

Log structures are familiar to both Kentuckians and Japanese. Here, triangular cut logs replicate the ancient treasury building in Nara, Japan. The cedar posts at the front reflect a Japanese stylistic element. The weighted roof is used in the mountainous regions of Japan to hold shingles in place during typhoons. The rocky landscape approach is similar to the Temple of One Thousand Steps in Akita Prefecture.

(10) Cerebral Dancer

Enjoy the movement in the metal sculpture created by Mark Wallis of Spencer, IN.

(11) Stone Garden

This is a classic Japanese style stone garden. The subtle patterns of the raked pebbles are meant to remind us of peaceful streams, the larger stones, islands. The moss along the base of the south wall provides a subtle green backdrop for the gray color of the stones. Enjoy the patterns raked by area volunteers.

(12) Children’s Stone Garden

A smaller stone garden has been constructed so that visitors can create their own design. Feel free to create as many patterns as you wish in this hands-on Japanese style stone garden. Inspiration for many raked patterns comes from the natural pattern found at the ocean or in river beds when water flows in and out leaving ripples in the sand.

(13) The Villa

This lovely structure serves as a community meeting place, event and educational center and is available for rental.

(14) Arched Bridge and Dry Stream

The bridge arches over a stream similar to those in Japan’s volcanic mountain region. When the stream is dry, the rocks become a karesansui, dry landscape or dry mountain water. In this way the stream remains, whether there is water running or not. When flowing, the stream runs into the pond below.

(15) Raku House

This structure houses a kiln used to create a special type of pottery associated with the early tea ceremony in Japan, the raku tea bowl. This is the only working kiln within a Japanese style garden in or out of Japan. At present, the kiln is not firing.

(16) Maho-An Tea House

Set in a lovely grove of pine trees, this open air building is designed to be used for the tea ceremony and also serves as a quiet resting place in the garden.