Japanese garden elements
As a general rule a Japanese garden will contain all or some of the following elements:
- Water containing an island
- A bridge to access the island
- A stone lantern
- A teahouse or pavilion
There are also various styles of Japanese gardens they include:
- Pond gardens that are viewed from a boat
- Sitting gardens for viewing from a designated area such as a seat or veranda
- Tea gardens which contain a tea ceremony hut
- Strolling gardens which have a winding path for you to navigate you way around the garden
When creating a more modern style garden these are more borrowed from than strictly followed. Remember that a Japanese garden is ultimately a form of expression and you should only be limited by your imagination; this has become a noticeable factor around the world in modern times with creativity in garden design overcoming formal mindsets.
With most major capital cities now housing Japanese gardens be sure to visit one and take notice of the elements that most appealed to you, these should form the basis for your own creation.
