t The Phoenix Hall and lotus pond in Byodo-in garden in Uji City
Reflecting the Shinto love of nature and the Buddhist ideal of paradise, Japan’s gardens may seem like heaven on earth. From strolling in Western-style parks to meditating among curious rock formations in a zen garden, there are plenty of ways to appreciate these outdoor spaces.
t The Phoenix Hall and lotus pond in Byodo-in garden in Uji City
Introduced to Japan by Buddhist monks during the Heian Period, a Paradise Garden is designed to evoke the Pure Land, or Buddhist paradise. You can easily imagine the Buddha meditating on an island in one of the gardens’ lotus ponds. Byodo-in in Uji City is one of the most famous examples, while the Motsu-ji garden in Hiraizumi makes use of “borrowed landscape” – trees or mountains outside the garden that appear to be part of it.
Looking to be more mindful? Seek out a karesansui (Japanese rock garden) and focus on one of the stones, seemingly floating in a sea of raked gravel. Kyoto is home to some of the best examples, including Ryoan-ji – where the plain earthen walls enhance the abstract arrangement of the stones – and Daisen-in. Kyoto Garden Experience (www.kyotogardenexperience.com) offers private tours and the chance to access gardens usually barred to the public.
The landscape comes to life on a walk through one of Japan’s stroll gardens, as vistas are concealed and revealed with every step. Suizen-ji Jou-en is one of the country’s finest, while the garden of the Katsura Imperial Villa replicates famous Japanese landscapes. Tokyo’s Rikugi-en Garden was inspired by famous poems.
To reach a teahouse for the tea ceremony, you must first pass through a roji. Lined with sweet-smelling moss, this garden is designed to resemble a mountain trail, leading from reality into the magical world of the teahouse. Head to the Kenroku-en Garden or the Ise Shrine to take part in this unique ritual.
The practice of using flowers as temple offerings originated in the 7th century, but formalized flower arranging, or ikebana, didn’t take hold until the late 15th century. Nowadays, it is seen as a meditative art. Arrangements are supposed to be created in silence, to allow the designer to observe the beauty of nature and gain inner peace.
DISCOVER Japan Your Way
Kenroku-en
One of Japan’s “three great gardens,” this expansive park is equally breathtaking in every season.
Kairaku-en
Located in Mito, the second of the “three great gardens” is at its most spectacular when its 3,000 plum trees blossom in February and March.
Koraku-en
The last of the “three great gardens,” this picturesque stroll garden in Okayama is unusual for its spacious lawns.