The garden was originally designed in the early 1970s by Iwakii Ishiguro and his son, Shoji Ishiguro.
It was specifically commissioned by the Japanese community in Düsseldorf, one of the largest in Europe.
The garden is a 'tsukiyama' style garden, which incorporates man-made hills to represent mountains.
The stone placement follows traditional Japanese principles where rocks are considered the 'bones' of the garden.
The pruning of the azaleas is performed by specialists trained in the Japanese art of 'karikomi'.
It is integrated into the larger 36-hectare Nordpark, which was created in the 1930s.
The Japanese Garden in the Nordpark of Düsseldorf is a meticulously maintained horticultural space influenced by traditional Japanese landscape design. It features carefully curated rock arrangements, pruned azaleas, and maple trees surrounding central koi ponds. The layout is designed to encourage meditative movement along winding paths and stone bridges. Unlike the surrounding public park, this specific enclosure prioritizes quiet reflection and botanical aesthetics. Water elements include a stream-fed pond system populated by various carp species. The garden maintains a distinctively Japanese structural aesthetic, contrasting with the expansive lawns of the broader Nordpark. It serves as a visual centerpiece within the larger urban park complex. The garden is managed by the city of Düsseldorf to preserve its authentic horticultural character.
The arched wooden bridge providing a centered view of the main pond and the backdrop of pruned shrubs.
Bring a polarizing filter for your camera to reduce glare on the water and clearly capture the koi.
Visit during the early morning hours to avoid crowds, as the pathways are narrow.
Combine your visit with a walk along the adjacent Rhine river embankment.
Feeding the koi, as the water chemistry is strictly monitored by the city.
Stay strictly on the designated paths; do not walk on mossy areas or stone borders.
