Japanese gardens are elegant and represent nature with a touch of unspoiled beauty. The landscape encourages tranquility, meditation, and balance.
These gardens are widely known all over the world as the perfect haven where one can find peace, calmness, and serenity. Even if you don’t live in Japan or close to a location where they are popular, designing your own Japanese inspired garden, can be a fulfilling and worthy try.
The landscape includes the fundamental elements of plants, rocks, sand, and water, along with well-defined and uncomplicated lines.
They also highlight the gardener’s relationship and unique ideas to introduce an ancient natural garden, where the landscape uses pure and natural ornamentation. Overall, the garden concept is to convey the feeling of harmony and stability to every guest.
Before we get into how to Japanese garden landscape, let’s breakdown some of the most beautiful Japanese garden landscape ideas for your leisure.
53 Best Japanese Garden Landscape Designs
1) Gardenscape
The detailed shapes and shadows of matured trees make the garden stunning. The spacious landscape promotes plenty of walking, which is excellent for your health.
2) Garden of Tranquility
The rocks in the garden convey peace and tranquility. The bridge, with its vibrant red color, adds elegance to the garden. The water surrounding the garden provides a concept to create an environment for perfect meditation. Every element contributes a deliberate purpose to the charming landscape.
3) Soothing Elegance of Koi
The garden highlights the pond filled with pieces of small shrubs to accent the surrounding decor. The fascinating koi, along with the small waterfall, adds soothing elegance to your garden.
4) The Rock Bird House and Bamboo Pipe
The sculpted rock birdhouse is the centerpiece of the garden’s corner. The bamboo backdrop and bamboo pipe along with the stone basin where water flows allow you to rinse your hands and experience the beauty of the oriental purification.
5) Stone Bed Garden
Another Japanese garden-inspired landscape is this stone garden with a backdrop of bamboo. It is a bed of carefully arranged rock. A zen garden is usually created to be seen while seated from the porch. Its design is to imitate the essence of nature and to be an aid to meditation.
6) Simply Beautiful
The garden’s minimal design creates a pleasing environment to promote tranquility and positive energy. The landscape also implies mental clarity.
7) The Therapeutic Fall and Moss
The moss covering the rocks along with the waterfall provides pure fresh air. The therapeutic effect will help you relax and de-stress while you lounge in the garden.
8) Koi in The Pond
The pond gives the koi plenty of space to swim, while the crystal-like water promotes mental clarity.
9) The Beauty of Imperfection
The unpainted wooden bridge makes the focal point of this garden. The wood is allowed to age naturally. It also demonstrates the beauty of aging and imperfection. Taking a few steps while slowly crossing the bridge will lead you to the other side of the garden and experience its natural splendor.
10) The Modern Touch
The combination of modern and a far away garden concept makes this garden one of a kind. The sculpture and the backdrop of leaves, highlight the charm of this Japanese landscape.
11) Symbol of Longevity
Stones imply longevity and balance in the Japanese garden. Different rock formations are the primary accents of this landscape.
12) Footsteps in the Pond
This Japanese inspired garden features a pond filled with lilies and concrete footsteps where guests can cross to the other side of the garden. Its crisp design makes a worthy-visit.
13) The Stairs of Health
Japanese gardens always promote health in its nature. The stairs built out of whole logs add a remarkable style to the garden.
14) Feel The Serenity Inside The Tea House
The pond beside the ancient Japanese tea house makes the landscape stunning. Unobstructed windows and doorways will let you enjoy the beauty and serenity of the surroundings all day long.
15) The Steps To Serenity
The stone paths turn the landscape chic. The sand, flat stone, and a tree in the corner make the view impressive. Everything in the zen garden inspires calmness and serenity.
16) The Charm of Traditional Japanese Garden
The combination of a spacious lawn, piles of rocks, and various species of plants exhibit the beauty of the traditional Japanese garden.
17) Lush and Green
The landscape showcases the richness and luxury of a traditional Japanese garden. To mimic the unique creativity of the landscape in your garden can be the focal point where your family and guests admire.
18) A Garden in the Corner
This Japanese inspired enclosed garden features a combination of wooden borders, several plants, and gravels. Aside from adding a style to your home, it also provides a space where you can sit, relax, and refresh your strength for another day.
19) The Zig-Zag Bridge
The zig-zag bridge implies many purposes when it comes to Japanese traditions. First, it will make you slow down and appreciate the beauty of the landscape. Next, it will enable you to see the garden from a different view.
It also means that life has different viewpoints. If you don’t like where you are currently, you can go and see life from another perspective. The zig-zag bridge can also protect you from evil spirits, as the myth says evil spirits only travels in straight lines.
20) The Stones and The Circles
The circles’ patterns symbolize enlightenment, while the stones symbolize longevity. The gravel glitters when hit by the rising sun, just like gemstones. This Japanese-inspired garden is said to bring happy mantras.
21) The Sophisticated Style
Stone and gravels are fundamental elements in constructing the Japanese garden. Aside from adding style to your garden, its soothing effect will let you relax and de-stress from the stressful demand of life. Another psychological effect is the feeling of awe, and there’s a charm in it you cannot resist.
22) The Classy Moss
The stone with the moss is the centerpiece of this garden. The garden can be a perfect place to meditate or a place to sit while reading your favorite book.
23) The Art of Balance
You can see the beauty of stacked stones almost all around the world. The sight of this natural masterpiece is so captivating, making people mimic the grandeur of nature in their gardens.
24) The Statue of Buddha
The concept of this landscape is to bring serenity and a closer connection to nature. It’s believed that placing the statue of Buddha in your garden is the most effective visual aid to redirect negative thinking into positive thinking. It inspires the sightseer to draw from within.
25) The Flowing River
The landscape showcases gravels arranged in a straight line instead of circles. The pattern creates an illusion of a flowing river.
26) The Rock Garden
This Japanese-inspired rock garden demonstrates the richness of Japanese traditions. The landscape reminds you that even living in the heart of the city is not an obstacle to connecting with nature.
27) Space Expander
The appearance of water in a Japanese garden signifies constant renewal and a source of spiritual purification. It also gives an illusion of space, making a smaller garden seem spacious.
28) Hand-Washing Basin
Washing your hands and rinsing your mouth before entering the house or the temple is a sign of purification. Setting a bamboo pipe and a stone basin showcases spiritual cleansing and a connection to nature, aside from adding a natural style in your garden.
29) Strength and Flexibility
Japanese gardens use bamboo frequently as it symbolizes prosperity, flexibility, and strength.
30) A Pocket Paradise
Watching a miniature version of a more comprehensive Japanese garden landscape is satisfying, especially if you sit on a porch or an elevated platform in the comfort of your home.
31) Ornamental Jar
Placing a jar as an ornament in the Japanese garden is also common. It infuses the garden with subtle beauty and tranquility, blending in the balance of natural surroundings.
32) The Stone Pathway
Every element in the garden has its way to be arranged. The concept of utilizing stone as a pathway means to take every step slowly, and see the beauty and experience of the atmosphere of your surroundings as you pass by.
33) The Stone Lantern
One of the primary elements in the Japanese garden is the sculpted stone lantern. The light it gives symbolizes the light of knowledge, clearing away the shadows of ignorance.
34) Lotus Flower
Lotus is also known as the “Flower of Buddha.” It is considered a sacred plant and a perfect aid to contemplation while resting on the surface of a pond.
35) Bonsai
Plants are always associated with thoughts of life. The Japanese shaped their plants to the exact form needed to express their joys and pains and showcase them in the garden. Their association with nature reveals itself through plants.
Bonsai are maintained and carefully cultivated by many generations. These miniature trees varying from 25 to 350 years posses the heart of Japanese people.
36) The Bridge to Linger
A bridge in a Japanese garden means one can cross slowly or linger for a while to see the entire landscape. You can watch koi swimming in the pond or behold the beauty of blossoming cherries while experiencing the softness of the gentle breeze.
37) Japanese Garden Gates
Gates in the Japanese garden are known to be the entrance of your journey into creating a unique connection with nature.
38) The Lake Garden
The miniature lake is to mimic the crisp and freshness of nature. The lush green trees surrounding the lake can also evoke certain feelings within. A garden like this is often designed for self-reflection.
39) The Pavilions
The pavilion is always part of prominent Japanese gardens. If you have adequate space, why not try adding a smaller structure into your Japanese inspired garden.
40) Garden Fairies
Ornaments in Japanese gardens should infuse serenity, beauty, and balance. The fairies add style and blend harmoniously in the garden.
41) House Of Retreat
The perfect place for meditation. Experience life without distractions from the outside world, and feel the serenity and peace the house of retreat can offer.
42) Awesomely Chic
If your space is limited, but you want a corner in your backyard where you can sit, relax, and reflect, then why not try to mimic this Japanese-inspired garden in your home.
The elegant look of the bamboo backdrop and the beautifully arranged bed of gravel along with the water trickling from the sculpted water basin makes the landscape awesomely chic.
43) The Perfect Zen
If you wish for a moment of peace, whether at your home or your office, an indoor zen garden is a great place to meditate and help find your inner peace.
44) Graceful Wall
The Japanese inspired garden showcases the elegance of bamboo as the wall. The natural color of the bamboo contrasting with the lush and green plants making the garden gracefully impressive.
45) Compact and Stylish
A compact and carefully designed stylish corner is all you need to experience the charm and serenity of a Japanese garden.
46) Minimalist Zen
The minimal Zen garden that is perfect for your modern home.
47) Refreshingly Best
The refreshing atmosphere of this Japanese-inspired landscape will connect you to nature in the most empathizing way. The beauty and freshness of the structure will let you experience the soothing effect of the garden.
48) Neat And Elegant
By incorporating basic designs, this Japanese-inspired garden is found to be a perfectly beautiful place for meditation.
49) The Essence Of Simplicity
The landscape showcases the simplicity of nature. You’ll surely love stepping on the stone paths and sitting in the shed while experiencing the gentle breeze in this spacious Japanese-inspired landscape.
50) The Waterfall
The sound of water falling from the rocks may seem like music to your ears. It will also remind you of the soothing effect the real waterfall gives.
51) The Tea Corner
This landscape features the essential elements of a tea garden where you will love to spend your pastimes with its meditative environment.
52) The Basin of Purification
The sculpted stone bowl along with the bamboo pipe is where guests can purify themselves before entering the sacred tea ceremony.
53) Island in The Pond
The island at the center of the pond allows your mind to take you to another place as you experience the atmosphere of the soft and gentle breeze.
How To Japanese Garden Landscape
Constructing a Japanese garden can be challenging. However, you will be amazed by the outcome and know that all the efforts spent are all worth it.
Alright, let’s talk about the basics of the Japanese garden landscape to help you understand the next time you see one.
This guide can be of big help too if you wish to build a Japanese-inspired garden. Experience its superior beauty and a deep connection to nature in the comfort of your own home.
Zen Garden
Zen garden is to mimic the essence of nature as an aid to meditation and self-reflection. This type of garden is smaller compared to others. It is designed to be seen if you are sitting on the porch or an elevated platform.
- Rock
The most vital part of creating a zen garden is the careful selection and precise setting of the rocks. There is always a warning that by not following the rules strictly, the garden owner will suffer misfortune.
There are five classifications of rocks in a Japanese garden.
- Tall vertical
- Low vertical
- Arching
- Reclining
- Flat
Rocks with unusual features or rocks that look like animals are often the star attraction of the garden. However, the design should emphasize the harmony of composition.
Lay all the stones showing their best sides. Set more horizontal stones than vertical. Also, if there are runaway stones, there should be chasing stones.
The most typical design is a group of three rocks, representing Buddha and his two attendants. Balancing the number of vertical and horizontal stones is one of the most vital principles.
- Sand and Gravel
Gravel is less displaced by wind and rain, so it is often used instead of sand. Raking the gravel with a wave pattern or curling water, aid zen priests on their concentration.
- Raking
Exhibiting artistic designs in the zen garden is challenging and inspiring. However, with your determination and constant practice in the art of raking, you can achieve your meditative patterns with perfection.
Zen has a stone arrangement along with other elements that symbolize water, islands, rivers, and falls. Using moss as ground cover to represent a forest is also common.
Tea Garden
The main feature of the tea garden is the tea house. To achieve the right thinking for the coming tea ceremony, the guests purify themselves through rituals as they walk through stone paths from the entrance of the garden towards the tea house.
A typical tea garden has:
- One or more gates
- Waiting shelters
- Toilet
- Stepping stones
- Water basin
- A waste hole
- Non-flowering plants
Washing your hands in the sculpted stone water basin before entering into the inner garden is a traditional practice of purification.
Stroll Garden
The stroll garden showcases the owner’s wealth and bravery. It often features a pond or a lake for the rich. A bridge is also essential to the design.
One of the most prominent features of this garden is that you can show guests the magnificent beauty of the garden by following the paths in a clockwise design. Guests can see all the corners of the garden while crossing the bridge slowly.
Courtyard Garden
A courtyard garden is a small garden within the walls or behind shops and houses. It is simple but holds an elegant design that exudes natural rhythms.
Aside from improving the temperature and natural airflow inside the home, particularly in hot summer, it makes a small house seem spacious.
Often, you can see several water features in the garden. The elements used are mostly non-functional but ornamental.
This type of garden could turn even a small corner in your home into a scenic spot, where your guests can admire.
Study Garden
This type of garden is designed to exhibit a picturesque view from the study for guests who need not wander around.
The basic layout for a study garden has a pond nearest to the guests. It has a panoramic sight leading up to the beyond.
In the panoramic view, you will often see a bridge on one side of the pond along with small shrubs carefully arranged on the garden slope. There are also some sculpted stone lanterns, pagodas, and statuaries.
A Kasuga style lantern is typical in traditional Japanese gardens. The lamp stands on a single solid pillar with a firebox that has carvings of a deer. You will also find pagodas under the trees standing on the hill.
In the west, some use the statues of Buddha as decorations. However, in Japan, stone Buddha statues are only used in a garden connected either to a temple or a museum.
Do’s And Don’ts In Creating Japanese Inspired Gardens
Do’s
- Incorporate art pieces
Incorporating art pieces can add style in the garden. However, the use of pagodas and other Asian sculptures sparingly highlights the natural meaning of serenity, beauty, and balance.
AJ Shephard, a landscape architect emphasizes, “Softer and subtler Asian elements can set the scene without visually dominating the space.”
- Study and plan your garden landscape
Look out your windows and use the visual angle from the house to plan your garden view. The scenic spot should be visible if you are at your porch or sitting on an elevated platform while reading a book.
- Create meandering paths
Create zig-zag paths to protect your self and your home from evil spirits. As the myth says, straight pathways enable evil spirits to go into your house.
- Choose plants that best complement the landscape
When choosing plants, select Asian plants that best complement the atmosphere of the landscape. Plants like Japanese maple, ginkgo, bamboo, mugo pine, and flowering cherry will set the tone just right.
Don’ts
- Never select white flowers and chrysanthemums for your garden
In many Asian countries, Chrysanthemums in any color and white flowers imply as funeral flowers. So, never select them for your Japanese-inspired garden.
- Don’t overfill the entire garden
Don’t overfill the entire garden. Keep your design with the impression of simplicity and with a purpose. A garden that is crafted with simplicity aids mental clarity more effectively than a garden that is bursting with plants. As the saying goes, less is more.
- Never set just the head of Buddha statue in your garden
If you want to honor Buddha by setting a sculpture in your garden, choose a statue that shows its entire body. Otherwise, the effect of featuring just the head of Buddha seems disrespectful.
- Outdoor lighting
Add outdoor lighting. You can use Asian style lanterns to light pathways or direct light into art pieces.
Final Thoughts on Your Japanese Landscape Designs
A Japanese garden landscape can radiate the essence of peace, tranquility, and beauty. It promotes the feeling of relaxation and highlights the importance of connecting with nature.
It is known for demonstrating an atmosphere that is deserving of human affections. Moreover, it enhances the quality of your life by skillfully bringing the charm of nature into your home.
The landscape will let you experience the essence of simplicity, serenity, and allow you to regain your strength from the stress of life.
There you have all the Japanese garden landscape ideas we’ve shared. I hope you now have an idea of how you can turn your backyard corner or any space unused into an elegant Japanese-inspired garden that you and your guests can admire.
Anything to add? Please feel free to write your thoughts or suggestions down in the comment section below. We’re always glad to hear them.
