The Topeka Zoo is home to so much more than animals. The Kay McFarland Japanese Garden is an exquisite retreat featuring traditional koi ponds, lush landscapes, and elegant architectural elements available for weddings, corporate retreats, celebrations of life, and more. Each season offers a refreshing, unique view each time you visit. We invite you to take a stroll down the winding paths and discover the beauty of the stones, waterfalls, and bridges in all its detail and find yourself in a state of Zen and relaxation.
The Kay McFarland Japanese Garden began from Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Kay McFarland’s desire to leave an inspirational meditative space for others to enjoy in the Capitol city of the State she served. Completed in Fall of 2020 by architect GLMV, interpretation design of the gallery by Studio Tectonic, and final and authentic design by Garden Master Koji Morimoto, as a world class Japanese garden and event center.
Koji encourages those coming to enjoy the garden to touch the large rock just outside of Crane Gate and consciously transfer their negative energies, stress and worry to this stone. This is so that visitors enter the garden with a proper mindset. The aim of this space is to provide a place of serenity where the person who enters may relax, recharge and reconnect to find harmony and balance with nature. Visitors to the garden will be entering a space that projects a different atmosphere than the Zoo. The garden design brings to life Koji’s central concept of the two journeys that we can take in life, from birth through maturation, meeting to unite as a couple and becoming a family. After entering, you will notice that the garden was designed to illustrate Koji’s theme by diverging into two pathways; a softer, colorful one curving with sound and a more silent, angular path with a more neutral palette. These pathways eventually merge at the small red bridge to unite. The red color of the bridge symbolizes the path to paradise and immortality.
Koji encourages those coming to enjoy the garden to touch the large rock just outside of Crane Gate and consciously transfer their negative energies, stress and worry to this stone. This is so that visitors enter the garden with a proper mindset. The aim of this space is to provide a place of serenity where the person who enters may relax, recharge and reconnect to find harmony and balance with nature. Visitors to the garden will be entering a space that projects a different atmosphere than the Zoo. The garden design brings to life Koji’s central concept of the two journeys that we can take in life, from birth through maturation, meeting to unite as a couple and becoming a family. After entering, you will notice that the garden was designed to illustrate Koji’s theme by diverging into two pathways; a softer, colorful one curving with sound and a more silent, angular path with a more neutral palette. These pathways eventually merge at the small red bridge to unite. The red color of the bridge symbolizes the path to paradise and immortality.
Want to learn more? Download the Topeka Zoo Kays Garden app for a more in-depth private tour of the Kay McFarland Japanese Garden!
