The Moriyama Japanese Garden located on the grounds of Ewing Cultural Center was established in 1986 as an example of the friendship between the cities of Bloomington-Normal, Illinois, U.S.A., and Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan. Portions of a Japanese garden, installed in 1982, were reinstalled at the new site on the northwest edge of the property.
This garden was designed by Yamada Landscape located in Asahikawa and installed by Landscape Design in Bloomington. On May 12, 1986, Masanori Uchilda, executive director of Yamada Nursery; his son, Norihiko Uchilda; and Shinsaku Kobota, owner of Asahikawa Landscape, flew to Bloomington to personally create the garden. Local residents volunteered to work alongside the guests from northern Japan. Local nurserymen donated both time and materials. The garden is named in honor of Motoichi Moriyama, the first chairperson of the friendship committee in Asahikawa.
The Moriyama Garden has been the site of celebrations and ceremonies and is as beautiful in spring as it is after a winter snow. The garden provides a place for quiet contemplation and a beautiful site for hundreds of people who enjoy it each night of the summer when they come to the Illinois Shakespeare Festival.
Ewing Manor is open to potential clients by appointment only.
