Carmel’s Kawachinagano Japanese Garden reopens after redesign & expansion

The Kawachinagano Japanese Garden in Carmel has officially reopened to the public following redesign and site enhancements.

Originally opened in 2009 through the City of Carmel’s Sister City partnership with Kawachinagano, Japan, the garden reflects a shared investment by Carmel, Clay Township, which funded garden design and construction, and Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation (CCPR), which will oversee its long-term maintenance.

Updates to the garden include refinements to the pond, enhancements to the northern garden area, and improved stormwater capacity to support long-term sustainability. Clay Township engaged world-renowned designer Hoichi Kurisu, former landscape director for the Oregon-based Japanese Garden Society, to lead the redesign.

To mark the garden’s reopening, CCPR will host a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony this spring, with additional details to be announced.

The re-imagined Kawachinagano Japanese Garden is open daily and free to the public. Visitors are invited to enjoy the garden’s winding paths, tranquil setting, and carefully crafted cultural and aesthetic features. Phase 2 improvements to incorporate the new southern pond in the existing garden are anticipated to begin this year.