Japanese Garden

A donation from the Japanese government, the Japanese Garden is one of the most beloved landscapes at Rizal Park celebrating the beauty and wonder of nature through picturesque sceneries of trees, ornamental plants, stone lanterns, a lagoon, and Japanese-inspired bridges.

Since 1967, then First Lady Imelda Marcos made repeated requests to the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines to have a Japanese garden built in Rizal Park. Then President Ferdinand Marcos and First lady Imelda Marcos made the same request to then Japanese Prime Minister Eisaku Sato when he visited Manila.

Based on the strong request from the Philippines and to help foster Philippine-Japan relations, then Prime Minister Eisaku Sato requested the Philippine Society of Japan to lead the project. Over 53 million Japanese yen were gathered from various Japanese companies and organizations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan also spent 3.6 million Japanese yen to support the project. The turnover ceremony for the garden was held on June 11, 1969 with the attendance of President Ferdinand Marcos together with First Lady Imelda Marcos, as well as Former Japanese Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi.

Located inside the Japanese Garden, the Trece Martirez de Bagumbayan Marker commemorates the heroism of 13 Filipino patriots in January 11, 1897 who were arrested after the Cry of Pugad Lawin on charges of treason and sedition.