The Fabyan Japanese Garden is a fenced-in outdoor garden inside the Fabyan West Forest Preserve on the west side of the Fox River. The garden encompasses approximately one acre and includes a variety of plant life and historic and Japanese cultural structures. The path in the garden varies between packed mulch and crushed gravel with several grade changes and a set of stairs. There are two steep bridges you may climb carefully if you wish. The walk from the edge of the north parking lot to the garden is approximately 200 yards along a flat, paved service road.

The self-guided tour typically takes 15-30 minutes.

Pets are not allowed in the garden.

Posed photography such as weddings, senior photos, quinceañeras, modeling, etc. are NOT ALLOWED in the Garden during our public open hours. See Weddings & Photography below for more details.

Self-Guided Tour

Group tours are specifically tailored to complement your group’s interests. Tours of the Japanese Garden are available with or without a tour of the Fabyan Villa Museum. For groups of any size, group tours are available May-September on Thursdays.

THURSDAYS MAY-SEPTMBER
$15/person with a minimum group fee $150
30 minute docent-led private tour

$20/person with a minimum group fee of $200 to include the Fabyan Villa Museum
1 and 1/2 hour docent-led private tour

A deposit of the minimum fee is required to confirm a date and time for the tour. For additional terms and information about our group tours, please see our Fee Schedule.

For more information and to book a tour for your group please call 630-377-6424 or email fabyanvilla@ppfv.org.

Wheelchair accessibility limited.

Due to the packed mulch, crushed gravel, and stairs, wheelchair accessibility is limited in the garden. The walk from the parking lot to the garden is approximately a 200-yard walk.

Click here for assistance and more information on accessibility while visiting the Forest Preserve District of Kane County (FPDKC) sites. For more information contact the FPDKC ADA Coordinator at Voice: (630) 444-3095 or (630) 232-5980; TTY Relay: (800) 526-0844 or email ada@kaneforest.com.

Special events such as weddings, quinceañeras, and photography shoots are available through reservation only and can be reserved through the Forest Preserve District of Kane County.

No weddings, photoshoots, or events are allowed during our public open hours.

For information and reservations please call the District’s reservation line at (630) 232-1242, or email your request to kcfpres@kaneforest.com.

Installed c. 1910, the Fabyan Japanese Garden is a tranquil oasis where history melds with nature and design. George and Nelle Fabyan developed an intense appreciation for Japanese culture after visiting Chicago’s 1893 Columbian Exposition, which featured a Japanese Pavilion. After moving from Chicago to their “villa” outside of Geneva, they commissioned renowned landscape designer Taro Otsuka to design a Japanese-style garden on their property. The nearby river and surrounding woods provided a perfect canvas for a Japanese-style garden, which relies on borrowed scenery for its naturalized vistas.

After the Fabyans’ deaths, the garden was not maintained. In 1974 the Geneva Garden Club was inspired to undertake the restoration of the Japanese Garden, which was now part of the Fayban West Forest Preserve. It has undergone two extensive renovations since then. This historic garden affords the opportunity to experience the uniqueness of Japanese gardening and enjoy a moment of harmony with nature while strolling the winding path of this 100+ year-old site.

The Fabyan Villa Museum and Japanese Garden are featured in the book Off The Beaten Path, Illinois, and in WTTW’s Fox River Valley and Chain o’Lakes with Geoffrey Baer.

Greet guests in the most tranquil place in the Fox Valley! We appreciate a commitment of at least one three-hour open day a month during our season, May to October. For more information, visit our Volunteer Page.