Japnese Gardens

Known to be traditional gardens, Japanese Gardens are characterized by miniature idealized landscapes. The gardens of Buddhist temples have been designed for meditating and contemplating purposes. The gardens of the emperors and nobles are contrived to make one enjoy quality recreation time in the aesthetic surroundings.

Japanese garden styles include:

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• Karesansui, Japanese Rock Gardens or Zen Gardens: These are meditation gardens and known as gardens where white sand takes place of water.
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• Roji, Simple, Rustic Gardens with Teahouses: Here Japanese tea ceremony is organized.
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• Kaiyū-shiki-teien, Promenade or Stroll Gardens: Here the visitors can walk along the path around the garden, and feast the senses watching the composed landscapes.
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• Tsubo-Niwa, Small Courtyard Gardens.

Various Garden Elements

Water: Japanese gardens have beautiful ponds or streams. The dry rock garden does not have water but the water is represented by white sand.

Rocks, Sand & Gravel: Japanese garden comprises of rock, sand and gravel. While the vertical rock represents Mount Horai, and the flat rock represents the earth. Sand and gravel in the garden can mean beach, or flowing river.

Bridges: Bridges in the garden are made of stone and wood. There are also bridges in the garden made of logs having earth on the top, and are covered with moss.