| The style of garden generally referred to as | | | | or veranda and for walking through and |
| a "Japanese Garden" is a garden based on the | | | | exploring. |
| traditional Japanese style gardens of ancient | | | | |
| Japan. Tracing its origins back to the | | | | A famous style of garden that most people may |
| Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, Japanese | | | | be familiar with is the karesansui or "dry |
| gardens can now be found in many backyards, | | | | landscape garden. This garden originates |
| public parks, schools and retreats around the | | | | from the Zen temples of Japan, most |
| world. The most common style of garden found | | | | recognizable for their lack of water and few |
| around the world as well as in Japan is the | | | | plants. The feeling of water is achieved |
| famous dry or rock gardens which are gardens | | | | through the use of pebbles and raked gravel |
| that contain very little in the way of | | | | instead of water. Perhaps the most famous |
| vegetation traditionally called Karesansui. | | | | example of a karesansui garden is the |
| | | | Ryoan-ji temple in Kyoto. |
| The tradition of the Japanese tea ceremony | | | | |
| and the beliefs of tea masters have | | | | Plants in Japanese gardens consist mostly of |
| encouraged the creation of Japanese gardens | | | | bamboos and evergreens such as Black Pine and |
| of a completely different style. The tea | | | | the famous bright leaved deciduous Maples |
| masters have a trademark styles that evokes | | | | trees. In cooler climates ferns and mosses |
| of a sense of rural simplicity as well as | | | | can be used as ground covers and thrive in |
| tranquility and consolidation. | | | | the moist conditions. |
| | | | |
| One thing that is common throughout all | | | | Ideally a Japanese garden should provide the |
| Japanese gardens is the presence of water | | | | visitor with a wholesome environment that |
| containing an island with a bridge to it, a | | | | allows them to see beauty, relax and find |
| stone lantern and a teahouse or sitting | | | | inspiration. One of the greatest cultural |
| pavilion. The elements aren't necessarily | | | | practices to make itself into the western |
| real they can be of a symbolic nature. | | | | world the Japanese garden is truly a thing of |
| Gardens can also be designed for several | | | | beauty. |
| viewing styles including from a boat, porch | | | | |