| Japanese tea gardens are a type of garden where a | | | | Japanese teahouses are intended to be places where |
| tea ceremony can be performed. These gardens | | | | people can relax, spend time with friends, and enjoy |
| consist of an outer and inner garden. This is one of | | | | the beauty of the garden. |
| the more popular gardens to create. The outer | | | | The host will summon the guests to the teahouse |
| garden has an entry gate and a stone path which | | | | where they will be served Japanese tea by the host. |
| leads to the inner garden and it is more informal in its | | | | The guests can then drink tea, reflect upon the |
| plantings. Guests pass through a second gate where | | | | seasonal beauty of the garden, and enjoy the host's |
| there is a water basin which is used in the ceremony. | | | | artwork and tea accessories. |
| There is another stone path that goes through the | | | | Almost all Japanese people have had some exposure |
| inner garden where the plants are not flowered in | | | | to the tea ceremony. Many Japanese women |
| order to prevent any distractions along the journey. | | | | participate in the tea ceremony regularly. Many tea |
| This path leads to the small building where the tea | | | | ceremonies are actually held in Japanese homes as |
| ceremony will be performed. This type of garden is | | | | very few people can afford an actual teahouse. Tea |
| good for average-sized yards or can be incorporated | | | | groups sometimes meet in restaurants and others |
| within a larger Japanese garden. | | | | rent public teahouses in parks where they can |
| The guests of a tea garden proceed slowly along the | | | | practice this ceremony. Tea garden landscaping is |
| garden stepping stones until they reach a Japanese | | | | often found around homes and restaurants and not |
| garden bench. This bench is known as a machiai. The | | | | just around formal teahouses. |
| guests wait until they are greeted by their host. | | | | |