The Japanese Pagoda was built in 1900 by the architect Knud Arne Petersen, who had just become the director of Tivoli. The tower is built as an illumination tower, i.e. the primary purpose of the tower was to light up Tivoli in the evening, and to reflect beautifully in the lake. 

Between 1901 and 2009 it was called The Chinese Tower. No one knows why its name was changed, but in a souvenir booklet from 1900 the following can be read: 
"The next of Tivoli's great new buildings is "The Japanese Pagoda", which is built according to a drawing by the director, Arne Petersen. The Pagoda, which is 80 feet high, is beautifully situated at the end of the lake, where previously the "crowd's attention was directed to the cluster of roses". It is divided into four storeys, of which only the bottom two are currently open to the public. This is where Mr David Metz dispenses his famous tea and other refreshments. The Japanese Pagoda has a particularly decorative effect, especially as a part of the great party illuminations, when it reflects its scintillating contours in the lake." ("Tivoli-sæsonen 1900" (The Tivoli-Season 1900), published by The Tivoli Programme, ed. Axel Breidahl). 

There are approx. 2,800 colourful Tivoli bulbs on The Japanese Pagoda including extensions. The Pagoda was the first of Tivoli's buildings to get low energy light bulbs.

A mantra at Tivoli is: there is always space for a landscaped garden. One aspect of this is the distinctive gardens, such as the Parterre Garden or the Japanese Garden at the Tivoli Lake. Another aspect is the small flower beds located at restaurants and rides, or wherever there is a small open space, for example in front of Paafuglen (the Peacock). 

There are flowers and plants everywhere in Tivoli. If there is no space or possibility for a flower bed, then there is at least space for a pot with a striking plant or a unique combination of plants. In many pots and flower beds there are vegetables and herbs alongside the ornamental plants, which provides a pretty and surprising effect. The pots are planted continuously throughout the year according to the season. Many grasses and Chrysanthemums are used in October. In November and December plants such as Myrtle, Christmas Rose and Christmas Tulip as well as kale and Brussels sprouts are used.

In 2006, the Rhododendron Garden around The Vintage Cars was created. The original landscaped gardens were flat with grass and round, traditional flower beds with the season's plants. 

Different levels were created in the Rhododendron Garden to make the circuit more exciting for the younger guests – what will happen around the next corner? At the same time, the Rhododendron is an evergreen, and the variety of size, colour and flowering season is immense, so the garden is more suitable all year round. 

The large California Redwood stands in the middle of the garden. This tree was donated to Tivoli by a Danish-Californian Friendship Association in the 1960's.

The Vintage Cars from 1959 have become a classic Tivoli ride. Most of us have probably sat in one of the beautiful cars and concentrated on steering, without thinking about the fact that the car rides on a rail. And most parents have stood there thrilled, camera at the ready, and waited for junior to show up in the bend so that the moment could be captured forever. 

All the cars are designed according to models of classic cars: Oldsmobile, Chrysler, Ford, etc. One can see a difference in the original cars, which have narrower seats and flimsy wheel rims, while the cars that were added later, from 1968, have been made slightly larger.

H.C. Andersen and Tivoli's founder Georg Carstensen were acquaintances. H.C. Andersen was also a frequent guest at Tivoli, and he visited on 11 October 1843. It was the last day of the first season and a benefit performance was held for Georg Carstensen, the profits going to Georg Carstensen to finance an inspirational journey.

H.C. Andersen was so captivated by Tivoli's exotic appearance that he was inspired to write The Nightingale. Andersen got the idea for the description of the Chinese Emperor's enormous park during his visit to Tivoli. He wrote in his almanac: "In Tivoli, Carstensen's Evening. I started my Chinese Adventure."