BBG's Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden was one of the first Japanese gardens to be created in an American botanic garden, and reportedly the first one to be accessible free of charge.
It was constructed between 1914 and 1915 at a cost of $13,000, a gift of early BBG benefactor and trustee Alfred Tredway White, and it first opened to the public in June 1915.
The garden was created by Japanese landscape designer Takeo Shiota (1881–1943).

The garden is a blend of the ancient hill-and-pond style and the more modern stroll-garden styles in which landscape features are gradually revealed along winding paths.
Its 3 acres (1.2 ha) contain three hills signifying earth, heaven, and humanity; a waterfall; a pond resembling the Japanese character for "heart"; and an island, all of which were artificially constructed.
There are also carefully placed rocks.
Among the architectural elements of the garden are wooden bridges, stone lanterns, a viewing pavilion, a torii (gateway), and a Shinto shrine.
 The pond is filled with hundreds of Japanese koi fish that visitors can view at the torii or along the garden's trail.
There is also a Japanese temple dedicated to Inari, the fox kami.
The brook from this garden leads through several other parts of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, terminating at the Water Garden.

The shrine was destroyed by a fire in 1939 and rebuilt in 1950.
The viewing pavilion, burned down in 1948, was rebuilt in 1963.
The Japanese Garden was renamed the Oriental Garden during World War II and restored in 1950.
The Japanese Garden was restored again in 2000 for $3 million; the project was recognized with the New York Landmark Conservancy's 2001 Preservation Award.
BBG's Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden was one of the first Japanese gardens to be created in an American botanic garden, and reportedly the first one to be accessible free of charge. It was constructed between 1914 and 1915 at a cost of $13,000, a gift of early BBG benefactor and trustee Alfred Tredway White, and it first opened to the public in June 1915. The garden was created by Japanese landscape designer Takeo Shiota (1881–1943). 
The garden is a blend of the ancient hill-and-pond style and the more modern stroll-garden styles in which landscape features are gradually revealed along winding paths. Its 3 acres (1.2 ha) contain three hills signifying earth, heaven, and humanity; a waterfall; a pond resembling the Japanese character for "heart"; and an island, all of which were artificially constructed. There are also carefully placed rocks. Among the architectural elements of the garden are wooden bridges, stone lanterns, a viewing pavilion, a torii (gateway), and a Shinto shrine.  The pond is filled with hundreds of Japanese koi fish that visitors can view at the torii or along the garden's trail. There is also a Japanese temple dedicated to Inari, the fox kami. The brook from this garden leads through several other parts of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, terminating at the Water Garden.
The shrine was destroyed by a fire in 1939 and rebuilt in 1950. The viewing pavilion, burned down in 1948, was rebuilt in 1963. The Japanese Garden was renamed the Oriental Garden during World War II and restored in 1950. The Japanese Garden was restored again in 2000 for $3 million; the project was recognized with the New York Landmark Conservancy's 2001 Preservation Award.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden