CARMEL, Ind. (WISH) — The Kawachinagano Japanese Garden has reopened to the public after a redesign and expansion, the Carmel city government announced in a news release issued Friday. The garden will host its second Carmel Cheery Blossom Festival on May 3 in One Civic Square, according to online information. The garden, which sits just off the Monon Trail, includes a traditional Japanese gate in between cherry blossom trees. Originally opened in 2009 through a Sister City partnership with Kawachinagano, Japan, the garden has undergone improvements to the pond and the northern garden area. Also, upgrades were made to increase stormwater capacity. Hoichi Kurisu, a renowned designer known for his work with the Oregon-based Japanese Garden Society, led the redesign. Phase Two improvements are slated to begin sometime in the spring 2026. They include integrating a new southern pond into the landscape. Carmel demolished four buildings in 2021 to make room for the garden’s expansion. The expansion project initially saw pushback and faced financial uncertainties. The expansion of the Japanese Garden was a partnership between the city and Clay Township governments. Kawachinagano city government, Clay Township government, and the Carmel Redevelopment Commission funded the original project. Kawachinagano, with about 98,700 residents based on 2023 estimates, is about a seven-hour drive west-southwest of Tokyo. ...read more read less