Osaka Garden backed by the Palace of Fine Arts

#ChicagoLandamarks | Osaka Garden in early fall

The first time I visited Osaka Garden was this past summer, and the light wasn’t good at all. It was mid-afternoon and the most photogenic angles had the foliage in heavy shadow. As a side note, it’s funny how I’ve come to judge new experiences by the quality of light at the time I was visiting. Anyway, Osaka Garden is a beautiful, tranquil Japanese garden in the heart of Jackson Park. This beautifully manicured strolling garden, complete with a Japanese styled footbridge and natural rock waterfall, is just south of the Museum of Science and Industry, and east of the Midway Plaisance nestled on the northeast bank of Wooded Island.

Aside from its beauty and peacefulness, one of the coolest parts about this little oasis in the city is it’s one of the few remaining relics of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. But it isn’t the exact same garden from the World’s Fair; it was reconstructed in the same spot after heavy vandalism during World War II left it in shambles.

After my initial visit, I knew the best time to come back would be for sunrise – the light from the low eastern sun would fully illuminate the landscaping and chances are no one would be there to “photobomb” my images. As you can see in the images below, my hunches were correct. I highly recommend checking this place out if you haven’t already. It’s one of Chicago’s most beautiful hidden gems and is steeped in some pretty cool city history.

Here’s one last tip. Drive, especially if you’re bringing a lot of camera gear. There’s a nice little parking lot just south of the museum that makes getting here a breeze and it’s just steps away from all the natural beauty that is Osaka Garden and the rest of Wooded Island. The best part is that you don’t have to pay until 9am, well after sunrise.