News Published: 16 December 2024

BGCI’s Accounts Officer, Alex Pizzoni, recently visited Japan and was lucky enough to see some of the beautiful gardens there. He kindly wrote a blog about his time away to share his enjoyment with us.

During late October to early November, I visited Japan, following the hot and humid summer period that the country had experienced during the year and somewhat before the autumn leaves had fully developed. One thing that particularly fascinated me was the Japanese gardens. I will explain a brief history of Japanese gardens, an overview of the garden elements, the various garden styles and several gardens that I got to see whilst out in the Far East (photos to illustrate).

Japanese gardens are very simple in design, together with Japanese aesthetics and philosophical ideas. They have a minimalist natural setting which helps to encourage reflection and meditation. They have been adapted in both the West and other countries around the world which has made them very popular to visit. Japanese literature on gardens dates back around thousand years and they are designed to be viewed from specific points.

History of gardens: Japanese gardens originated during the Asuka period (6^th – 7^th century) and first appeared on the island of Honshu. Their aesthetic was influenced by distinct features of the Honshu landscape – rugged volcanic peaks, narrow valleys, mountain streams containing waterfalls and cascades, lakes and beaches with small stones. Alternative influences include the rich variety of flowers and species of trees, including the four different seasons of Japan.
They developed through eras as early as the Nara period (710-794 AD), the Heian period (794-1185 AD), Kamakura period (1192-1333 AD), Muromachi period (1338-1573 AD), Momoyama period (1568-1600 AD), Edo period (1615-1867 AD), Meiji period (1868-1912 AD) through to the Showa period (1926-1989 AD) and the present. Throughout these times, there was development and restoration of gardens, leading to modern progress.

Garden elements: traditional Japanese gardens are classified into three types: tsukiyama (hill gardens), karesansui (dry gardens) and chaniwa gardens (tea gardens). There are evident features of gardens which include:

• Water: all Japanese gardens contain water, either physically with a pond/stream or symbolically, represented by white sand in a dry rock garden. Waterfalls are a prominent feature in Japanese gardens, being miniature versions of waterfalls of Japanese mountain streams.
• Rocks and sand: all Japanese gardens contain rocks, sand and gravel. Rocks will appear either vertically or flat. Sand and gravel might represent a beach or flowing river. Rocks and water complement each other. Rocks can be used around lakes or as stepping stones and are arranged in structures of three generally.
• Garden bridges: all Japanese gardens contain bridges, which symbolize the path to paradise and immortality, notably the one at Byōdō-in garden in Kyoto. They are made either of stone or wood or logs with earth on top, covered in moss and can be either arched or flat. Many are painted red, specifically if part of a temple garden.
• Stone lanterns and water basins: stone lanterns go back as far as the Nara and Heian periods – they are located at both Buddhist and Shinto shrines; also, in the Momoyama period, these were introduced to tea gardens. Stone water basins are used for visitors to wash their hands and mouth before the tea ceremony; water is provided to the basin by a bamboo pipe and a wooden ladle to drink the water.
• Garden fences, gates, and devices: these are all features of Japanese gardens and will vary from one garden to another, for instance exterior walls, traditional garden gates and bamboo garden devices/instruments.
• Trees and flowers: trees and flowers are carefully chosen according to aesthetic principles and for seasonal purposes. For example, moss is used to suggest that the garden is ancient, and plants will be chosen for their religious symbolism. Trees and plants in Japanese gardens include azalea, camellia, oak, elm, Japanese apricot, cherry, maple among others.

Garden styles: there are a few styles of garden which are known in Japan:

Chisen-shoyū-teien or pond garden – these gardens feature a large, ornate residence with two long wings reaching south to a large lake and garden; none of the originals remain, but reconstructions are found in Heian-jingū and Daikaku-ji temples in Kyoto.

The Paradise Garden – these gardens appeared in the late Heian period and symbolize Paradise or Pure Land (Jōdo) where a Buddha sat on platform in contemplation of a lotus pond; there are various examples of this, predominantly in Kyoto.

Karesansui dry rock gardens – these are effectively zen gardens, with white sand or raked gravel in place of water, carefully arranged rocks, and rocks and sand covered with moss; many of these gardens are noticeable in Kyoto.

Roji, or tea gardens – these gardens are settings for the Japanese tea ceremony and are designed in such a way to inspire the visitor to meditation; there are many in Kyoto, Ise Jingu and a traditional teahouse at the famous Kenroku-en garden.

Kaiyū-shiki-teien, or promenade gardens – these appeared in Japan in the Edo period at the villas of nobles or warlords and had a unique design with some highlighting recreations of famous scenery inspired by literature; several exist in Kyoto and Tokyo.

Small urban gardens – these gardens are designed to give a glimpse of nature and some privacy to residents from the rear side of the building; many are found in Japanese residences, hotels, restaurants and public buildings; courtyard rock gardens in Kyoto and Kanazawa are good examples.

Hermitage garden – a small garden built by a samurai or government official who wanted to retire from public life; they comprise of a small pond, rock garden and other aspects designed to create peacefulness and inspiration; Shisen-dō garden in Kyoto is a great example of this which is now a Buddhist temple.

Japanese gardens that I got to see: During the 2-weeks in Japan, I witnessed a variety of gardens and stayed in many different places, from the busy cities of Tokyo and Kyoto to the smaller towns located in the Japanese alps viz. Kanazawa and Takayama.

See some photos and captions in illustration: