Most people who take an interest in Japanese gardens will likely first visit the famous temple gardens of Kyoto. This book is the result of successive visits over the years around the main islands of Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu, even the faraway subtropical islands of Okinawa. A particular interest in stone gardens, a quintessentially Japanese form, developed on these trips and many gardens were revisited in order to yield fresh perspectives on their unique designs.
Gardens are the fruit of sophisticated civilizations. In the case of Japan, where castles and temples were built, arts and crafts established, gardens often followed in their wake. Because of this, most of the dry landscapes that appear in this book are located in cities and towns with bona fide cultural credentials. They are, in other words, very much on the map and relatively easy to access by public transport. Some may require a short walk from the nearest bus stop or train station. In the case of Kyoto, a city accustomed to large numbers of visitors, the names of some temples are even included on bus schedules. Tourist information offices exist in even relatively small towns, usually located in or near main train stations. They can usually provide good maps and background information, often in English, to where gardens can be found.
Karesansui are all-season gardens, but the borrowed views that often form a part of the design concept are best appreciated between April and November. Some garden lovers, however, swear by the winter months, when landscape designs (and the number of visitors) are reduced to their bare bones.
