In the dog days of summer, who doesn’t want to discover a secret garden? I thought I’d make it a little easier by sharing secret #22 from my book Secret Chicago!
If you’re looking for a little peace in the middle of the city, Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood has just the place to seek some respite—a serene garden at the Midwest Buddhist Temple.
Hidden in Plain Sight
Everyone is welcome at the Midwest Buddhist Temple, which practices the Jodo Shinshu school of Buddhism. It was founded in 1944 by “resettlers,” Japanese-Americans who relocated to Chicago after release from World War II internment camps. The present temple was built in 1971.
Jodo Shinshu, also known as Shin Buddhism, was founded in Japan in the 1200s. Traditional Buddhism was limited to monastic practice, and Shinran Shonin made Buddhist teachings accessible to ordinary people. Today, more than 300 million people practice Buddhism worldwide.
Located on a quiet street next to a park, the temple is tucked away from the nearby retail and entertainment commotion. “Although we’ve been part of this community for over seventy years, we’re definitely hidden in plain sight,” says Office Manager Jesse Zavala.
Legacy Garden
In 2014, the temple marked its seventieth anniversary by dedicating a new Legacy Garden. The lush sanctuary is a memorial to the first- and second-generation Japanese-Americans (issei and nisei) who founded the Midwest Buddhist Temple.
Each rock, tree, and shrub in the garden was carefully considered. It took three days to find boulders of the right size and a thirty-ton crane to set them in place. The boulders recall the mountainous setting of sect founder Shinran Shonin’s walk from Mt. Hiei into the villages as he preached. A trickling stone bowl water feature represents healing. The garden’s winding path and the cedar gate’s textures and smells are meant to engage all your senses. “The essence is not only a visual effect; it’s much more an inner effect,” said landscape designer Hoichi Kurisu.
The Legacy Garden is free and open to the public the first Sunday of each month April through November, and by appointment.
“Although we’ve been part of this community for over seventy years,
we’re definitely hidden in plain sight.”
– Jesse Zavala, Midwest Buddhist Temple
Ginza Holiday Festival
Every August, the temple hosts the Ginza Holiday. The weekend-long cultural festival features Japanese food, music, and artisans. Waza, an organization of Japanese craftsmen, will be visiting from Tokyo to showcase their traditional skills that date back to the Edo period. Visitors enjoy Taiko drumming, Japanese Folk dance, martial arts demonstrations, and more. The 2019 Ginza Holiday Festival is scheduled for August 9-11.
What began as a garden to honor the founders of the Midwest Buddhist Temple, now welcomes visitors to share in its thoughtful sanctuary and Japanese cultural heritage. In a city filled with distractions, it’s refreshing to savor a space designed for peace and inspiration.
A version of this article first appeared in the book Secret Chicago: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure.
Midwest Buddhist Temple
435 W. Menomonee St.
Chicago, IL 60614
Jessica Mlinaric founded Urban Explorer in 2010 to inspire curious travelers by highlighting arts and culture, history, and hidden gems in Chicago and beyond. She is the author of ‘Secret Chicago’ and ‘Chicago Scavenger.’ Jessica has visited 20+ countries and 30+ U.S. states. She has more than 16 years of experience as a marketing strategist and works as a freelance writer and photographer.
