Japanese gardening is an art that brings peace and tranquility both to the artist and to the beholder. It has developed in Japan since olden times and, during the centuries, it has gone through a lot of changes, yet never lost its original spirit and intent.
When you visit Japan, be sure not to miss these amazing places. They are unique in every aspect: the sensation they will give you, the way they are built and decorated. They are an oasis of tranquility in a world that seems unable to slow down.
Read our brief article and learn something more about gardens in Japan.
Highlights
- The long history of Japanese gardens began in the 7th century and still goes on today.
- Every element of the Japanese gardens is carefully chosen to create a harmonic atmosphere.
- Gardens come in different styles, each one characterized by its own structure and decorative elements.
- The different styles were born during different periods, reflecting the main philosophical and religious schools.
- If you want to fully appreciate the complexity of the gardens, hiring a guide is fundamental.
Japanese gardens
The design of Japanese gardens is carefully thought out, so as best to represent the religious and philosophical ideas of its creator. Every decorative object, from the sand to the rock, from the bridges to the lanterns, is chosen to be part of a greater plan, with harmony being the most important element.
The gardens originated during the 7th century, and since then many different styles have been developed. Each style focuses on something different, but it can be said that all of them try to suggest an isolated and ancient landscape, to express transiency of beauty and fragility of life.
Rocks, ponds, sand, and water are arranged so as to hide the hand of the artist and give the viewer a sense of naturalness. Buddhism has always been the main inspiration for designers, and many of the elements found in a garden convey a strong symbolical meaning. With the introduction of Zen Buddhism, gardens have become simpler and more tranquil.
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The experience of working with Bert was…
The experience of working with Bert was amazing! Everything is clear! The route he introduced and planned for the travel in Japan was amazing! More
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We haven't taken our trip to Japan yet with Asia Highlights, but I am so impressed by the thoroughness, communication skills, and attention to detail of their hard working agent, Claire Wong. I sent an inquiry to Asia Highlights and immediately I was given Claire as my agent. She designed a trip for my family that works for us and my communications with her via WhatsApp have been excellent. She always gets right back to me with answers and suggestions. Her English is perfect. Because of Claire, I have a very high regard for Asia Highlights, and I'm glad that I chose this company for our trip to Japan. More
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Japan Trip Planning
Although our travel plans will not materialize for another 2 months, we had the absolute pleasure of working with Bert Hu in putting our trip to Japan together. Bert was extremely professional in meeting our needs and tailoring a trip to our interests. Bert was also quite patient and helpful when we had to change a few details and add a couple days. I'm sure I'll have more wonderful things to say after our experience in Japan. More
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Bert Hu knowledgeable travel adviser.
Hello! My trip adviser Bert Hu gave very clear instructions about the my travel plan to Japan. He is very knowledgeable and guided me step by step. I highly recommend Bert Hu as a personal travel adviser. Thank you for making my future trip easily accessible. More
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Such a great company to help us find our next family trip. We have been working with Bert Hu he is very informative and helpful. Looking forward to continuing doing business and our travels to Japan. More
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It is my first time in Japan, I am glad that i found Asian highlights especially meeting claire the travel agent! She is amazing. She is very helpful all through out the process, she respond quickly to all my inquiry. She made the process so smooth. During the trip, I have to praise the company for giving us amazing accomodations and the best tour guides. Claire made everything happened. There are few bumps and she solve it right away.She was honest about the things that she can not provide. It is my first time to ask for help from a travel agency , I am glad I found Asia highlights. If I will plan tour in the future I will definitely ask help for this company. I recommended this company to my family and friends! Thankyou once again. More power! Keep it up Claire! More
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10 Day Family Vacation in Japan
We had the absolute best time in Japan! Jennifer was our wonderful tour guide in Tokyo and Ho was our amazing tour guide in Kyoto and Osaka. We can’t thank them both enough for making our 10 day sightseeing trip truly a trip of a lifetime!! More
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Trip to Japan
Family trip to Japan. Excellent itinerary, allowed for seeing many different sights in multiple cities in Japan. The tour was well-paced with enough time to explore on our own in the evenings. Tour guides were knowledgeable, had great attitudes and were accommodating, willing to modify our plans to allow us to see other sights if we wanted to as well. The vans were large and comfortable for the longer drives and water was always provided. More
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Fall in Japan
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Alisa Liu was my contact person for Asia Highlights. She was remarkably punctual, she was thoughtful, and she handle an emergency on my end, with grace and patience. She recommended great hotels in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka Japan that put us in the center of the action. The guides she choose were personable, punctual a knowledgeable about their cities. More
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Excellent service
Started using Asia Highlights to plan my trip to Japan. Sharon was very helpful, giving me all the information I would need for the tour. I would definitely use Asia Highlights again, when planning another trip to Asia. More
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Japan tour
Our airport pick-up went very smoothly. Our guide, Vivian, on the second day was very nice, very accommodating, took into account our preferences. In Osaka, our trip to the castle was a very long walk with lots of steps to climb and quite honestly wasn’t very interesting. But Dotonburi is a must-see and we enjoyed that very much.Our trip to Hiroshima was very memorable. I highly recommend it. Our guide, Etsuko, was very knowledgeable and kind. The trip to Miyajima island, on the other hand, wasn’t too memorable. Our next city, Kyoto, is a truly wonderful place to visit. All the temples we went to were very interesting and very distinctive from each other (Kinkakuji temple, Nijo castle, Sanjusangendo temple,Kiyumizo temple, Fushimi Inari shrine, Kasuga Taisha shrine, Tojaidi temple). The sake tour was a downer and wouldn’t recommend it.Our guide, Ritsuko, was a darling. She was very knowledgeable too and kind and warm and easy to talk to. Our last tour in Tokyo was a rainy day and Sue, our guide, was able to change our tour to the next day. She was so efficient and so accommodating and so kind and very knowledgeable too. More
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Very good tour of Japan
Very good tour around Japan for 10 days, including Tokyo, Hakone and Kyoto. Excellent guides and experiences. Albee, the tour organiser, was always available to sort out changes to itinerary or extra requests. More
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Everything is good
All of the hotels were wonderful and our guides were super friendly, knowledgeable and flexible. We had a 10 day trip that included multiple cities and lots of different sights, we squeezed in as much as we could, including a 2 day hiking trip to Mt. Fuji (our guide Sun Nan was awesome!). Our guide in Tokyo, Jennifer, was lovely and our guide for 2 days in Kyoto, Dennis, was also super great. We did a food tour in Osaka with Vivian which was nice Sallie Fujimoto-Swun More
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Thank you for the wonderful experience…
Thank you for the wonderful experience we all truely enjoyed. From the beginning (making first contact with Sharon from Asia Highlights) to the end (Saying good bye to our amazing guide Lilly) the experience was top notch. Great communication while preparing the trip and excellent local knowledge of our tour guide. I can highly recommend Asia Highlights and would not hesitate to use them again for our next trip. More
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Vacations in Japan
The guides Jessie and Vivian were very kind and professionals and the drivers as well. In a future vacation we will get in touch with Asia Highlights without a doubt. More
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Elements of a Japanese garden
Japanese gardens aim to capture the essence of nature, and gardeners have to do this by working with a limited space. Every element becomes important: structure, harmony, and serenity.
Water
Water, being a strong symbol in Buddhism, cannot be missing. Along with stones, it represents yin and yang. Ponds and rivers will be placed wisely, and different styles can be followed when placing streams of water: An "ocean style", with rock eroded by water; or "marsh pond style", a large pond with aquatic plants. Miniature waterfalls are important as well.
Rocks
Different rocks represent different things. A flat rock might symbolize the earth; a vertical rock will stand for the house of the Eight Immortals. Volcanic rocks are used as stepping stones, while sedimentary rocks are normally used around the lakes.
Placing the rocks in the right spots greatly contributes to the general aesthetics of the garden, and they must naturally blend in with the surrounding environment.
Bridges
As the many small islands inside the gardens represent heavenly places, bridges symbolize a way to reach paradise, immortality. They can be made of wood, of stone, or of logs covered with earth and moss. They can be flat or arched.
Touristic tours of gardens became popular during the Edo period, and thus many bridges and paths were constructed.
Stone Lanterns
Stone lanterns originated during the Nara period, and were introduced to the gardens during the Momoyama period. Each one of their forming elements corresponds to an element of the Buddhist cosmology: earth, water, fire, air, and spirit (or void).
Trees and Plants
Trees and plants are chosen and not casual. They are used to hide unwanted sights, to provide a background to the garden, to add more elements to a scene. When gardeners choose the trees, they will consider their garden colors, and flowers are chosen by their season of flowering. Lotus, sacred to Buddhists, conveys a strong religious meaning.
Niwaki is the technique used to control the growth of the trees: they are trimmed and sometimes bent in order to provide a better landscape.
Styles of Japanese gardens
Different garden styles originated during different periods and served different purposes. Each one of them is structured in its own way, using peculiar decorative elements.
Chisen-shoyū-teien – Pond Garden
This kind of garden, imported from China, is characterized by a main building with two wings, ending in a pavilion used by guest to enjoy the view of the pond. Musicians used to play on the islands in the center of the lake.
Paradise Garden
Created by members of a Buddhist sect, this kind of garden symbolizes the Pure Land where Buddha uses to contemplate lotus. A Buddha hall is located on the island. The most famous paradise garden can be found in the garden of the Phoenix Hall of the Byōdō-in Temple.
Roji – Tea Garden
Roji (the path to the teahouse) was created during the 14th century as an inspiration for visitors to meditate and get ready for the ceremony. There are an outer and an inner garden, and visitors can rinse their hands and mouth with water. The path is made to look like an isolated mountain trail.
Kaiyū-shiki-teien – Stroll Garden
Stroll gardens date back to the Edo period. They are surrounded by a path that goes around the lake. The scenery outside the garden is as important as the one inside; and the best view is hidden until the last moment by fences and winding paths.
Popular Gardens to Visit in Japan
Gardens can be found all over the country, but there is an incredible concentration in Tokyo and, especially, in Kyoto.
The former capital city has more than 1,600 Buddhist temples, many Shinto shrines, and dozens of amazing gardens. Due to this incredible concentration of sacred places, Zen gardens can be found everywhere. They are minimalistic, and their main components are sand and rock. As said above, gardens vary in style and size, and each one is unique in its own way.
Below you will find a quick survey of the most popular and most beautiful gardens of Japan.
Imperial Palace East Garden in Tokyo
This garden is part of the complex where the Emperor lives. You will find most of the administrative building there, along, of course, an impressive, beautiful garden.
Visitors mostly head to the Ninomaru Grove, an area covered with trees. In the past, the main keep was located here; nowadays, there is a pond and a tea house, Suwa-no-chaya. During the Edo period, the Togukawa shogun used to dwell there, but today none of the main buildings remain. Only the moats, the walls, and the entrance gates can still be admired.
Nijo's Garden in the Nijo Castle in Kyoto
The gardens are part of the Nijo Castle built in 1603, the residence of the first shogun of the Edo period, Tokugawa Ieyasu. After the end of the shogunate, the castle was briefly used as imperial palace.
The castle is divided into three areas: the Honmary (outer defense circle), the Ninomaru (inner circle), and the gardens between the first two areas.
The garden, designed by tea master Kobori Enshū, is the newest part of the complex. It was built in 1965 to receive official guests and to host cultural events. Its structure is quite traditional: it has a large pond, more than 10,000 decorative stones, and numerous pine trees. There are lots of groves of cherry trees and Japanese plum trees.
Ryoanji Zen Garden in Kyoto
In Kyoto, you will find plenty of beautiful minimalistic gardens to visit. They are all finely designed, using mostly rock and sand; the perfect place to meditate and stroll.
The design of the Ryoanji Zen Garden wants you to think about the space around you and interact with it by strolling around. There are 15 rocks in a sea of sand, and it's impossible to see all of them at the same time. We don't know why the rocks are arranged that way, or who built the garden.
Joruri-ji Garden in Nara
Located in the countryside, this garden is peaceful and isolated. It was built in 1047, and it is a marvelous example of the "paradise garden". The pond in the middle symbolizes the ocean between birth and death; and the nine Buddha statues represent the nine stages of nirvana.
Nowadays, there are not many "paradise gardens" left, and Joruri-ji is totally worth a visit.
Kenroku-en Garden in Kanazawa
Kenroku-en Garden is ranked among the top three gardens of Japan. Its name means "The Garden of Six Sublimities": broad views, abundant water, spaciousness, antiquity, seclusion, and artificiality. These six qualities make the perfect garden.
A green pond with one of the oldest Japanese fountains will welcome you as you enter through the wooden gate. After walking up a small hill, the garden will reveal itself: In front of you, you will see the peaceful pond with a tea house on the corner; behind you, the majestic Ryōhaku Mountains just waiting to be photographed. Following the paths of the garden, you will be naturally led to a particular viewpoint.
A guided garden visiting experience
Visiting a garden by yourself is still a nice experience. You can take your time and meditate. But if you want to understand the complex symbolism behind every stream of water, stretch of sand, pond, lantern and rock, you need to hire a guide.
The guide will calmly explain everything you need to know about the garden, letting you appreciate many details you would otherwise overlook. You will be able to get a deeper understanding of why a garden is set that way, and it will be easier for the garden itself to fully release itself and to achieve its goal.
Useful tips for visiting gardens
As said above, to greatly enhance your experience, it is recommended to hire a guide.
When you are visiting a garden, just follow one rule: Respect everything around you. Respect other people's space, don't be loud, don't stand in the way. Be as discreet as possible. When strolling around, take your time to appreciate both the small details and the grand design. Remember that everything is placed in a certain way with a certain goal in mind.
It is absolutely forbidden to touch anything.
A brief history of Japanese gardens
Japanese gardens first appeared during the 7th century, when merchants saw Chinese gardens and wished to duplicate them. The first gardens were built on Honshu, drawing inspiration by the island landscape and Shinto philosophy.
During their history, Japanese gardens were strongly influenced by the spirit of the period and the main philosophical and religious schools.
Heian period (794-1185)
Architecture of residences and gardens kept following the Chinese example, especially Feng Shui. During this period, many stroll gardens were built, and the social life inside the gardens was vibrant. Near the end of the Heian period, Paradise Gardens began to appear, thanks to noblemen who wanted to assert their declining power.
Kamakura and Muromachi period (1185 – 1573)
A civil war destroyed most of the gardens in Kyoto; but many new gardens were built under the influence of the form of Zen Buddhism. The first Zen Garden was built in 1251. Japan enjoyed a garden renaissance.
The new gardens followed the Zen principles of spontaneity and simplicity: Ryōanji in Kyoto is one of the best examples.
Edo period
The Sukyazukuri style dominated during the Edo period. Buildings were undecorated, and gardens were mostly stroll ones. They were built to integrate the mountainous landscape and were composed of a series of famous views, like imitations of Mount Fuji. They were intended to portray nature as it appeared.
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moreWe had a booking with China Highlights through Silvia Ye who guarenteed a perfect organisation. In Chengdu our guide was Helen. She was the diamond of all. Speaking fluently English, full of interesting stories, laughing and talking all the time. We missed her the rest of our tour. We highly recommend to go to Chengdu for 3 days when visiting China, especially with Helen.
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