The Japanese Garden of Peace is a gift from the military leaders of Japan to the people of the United States, in honor of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. A traditional Japanese garden, three basic elements are represented: stone, plants and water. As you enter the garden you are transported to a replica of Admiral Togo's garden in Japan. Togo's meditation study was duplicated in Japan, disassembled and shipped to Fredericksburg, then reassembled (without nails) by the same craftsmen who built it in Japan.

The black and white stones in front of the building are a visual reminder of the balance of nature, ying, yang. The raked gravel represents the waves in the ocean and the clumps of stone and green within the area represent the islands in the Pacific. Even the stream that surrounds the garden represents a single raindrop returning to the ocean. Visitors are encouraged to stop and rest and "visit with the stones."