When you stay in our upscale lodging at Inn on Barons Creek, you’re not just enjoying a relaxing getaway at our hotel in the heart of downtown Fredericksburg, TX. You’re stepping into a destination surrounded by history, culture, and peaceful beauty. One of the most meaningful places to experience during your visit is the Japanese Garden of Peace, located at the National Museum of the Pacific War—just a brief walk from our doors.
A Symbol of Friendship at the National Museum of the Pacific War
The Japanese Garden of Peace in the National Museum of the Pacific War is more than a stunning landscape in Fredericksburg, Texas. The garden honors the friendship between Japanese Admiral Heihachiro Togo and American Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, a Fredericksburg native who was integral to the Pacific theater in World War II. Japan gifted the garden to the people of the United States as a gesture of friendship and reconciliation after World War II.
Japanese Garden of Peace at the Texas Pacific War Museum
Mikasa Memorial Painting
The Mikasa Memorial Painting depicts Admiral Heihachiro Togo’s statue with the battleship Mikasa in the background. Created by artist Chanako and donated by the Japanese Coordinating Committee, the painting embodies Admiral Chester W. Nimitz’s dedication to preserving the Mikasa.
Garden Blueprints
The Garden Blueprints are the original architectural drawings for the Japanese Garden of Peace, now on display at the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas. Designed by Taketora Saita of Meiji Seisakusho, Ltd., these plans transformed the Texas Hill Country landscape into a traditional Japanese-style garden.
Togo Study
The Togo Study is a replica of Admiral Heihachiro Togo’s personal study, which was originally built in Japan and later reassembled at the National Museum of the Pacific War. A traditional tea ceremony was held during the garden’s dedication in 1976. In 2018, the study was rededicated to emphasize its importance as a tribute to the enduring international relationship between Japan and the United States.
Water Elements
The Japanese Garden of Peace features traditional water elements that encircle the landscape. The pond was inspired by the one at the Togo Shrine in Tokyo, shaped into the characters for “ichi no Iki,” meaning “one heart” or “loyalty,” represented by inscribed rocks beside the pond. A stone basin fed by bamboo water allows visitors to purify themselves before entering. At the center, a rock formation symbolizes the Pacific Ocean, with large islands surrounded by white granite stones raked to mimic ocean waves.
Sake Bottle
The Sake Bottle was brought from the Togo Shrine in Tokyo for the dedication of the Japanese Garden of Peace on May 8, 1976. Admirals Hoshina and Fukuchi of the Japanese Coordinating Committee carried the sake to Fredericksburg, where it was shared during the ceremony held inside the replica of Admiral Togo’s study.
After spending the morning exploring the museum and garden, return to the comfort of your lodging at Inn on Barons Creek in Fredericksburg, TX!