Local landscape architects Steve Austin and Jeff Singer helped design and build the garden, incorporating the Bluegrass landscape with the features of a Japanese strolling garden.

The Kentucky legislature designated Yuko-En on the Elkhorn, the "Official" Kentucky-Japan friendship garden.

The site's flat land was converted with 1400 truckloads of earth into gentle rising hills with gravel paths and arched bridges leading through a water garden, a Zen rock garden, and past the banks of Elkhorn Creek.

A zigzag path leads into the garden through a patch of native cane.

The Zen rock garden, best seen from the Elkhorn Viewing Pavilion, has patterns created by local volunteers.