There are certain principles that a person has to have proper hold of to be able to successfully capture the real spirit and essence of a traditional Japanese Garden. Above everything else, the most important thing is to understand that the ideal to strive for is that of nature. Remember that you cannot create something that nature itself cannot produce. A good example of this would be a square pond, which is very unnatural and is something that you won’t find in nature and as such it won’t be a good idea to put one in your Japanese Garden. Same thing goes for fountains; you should instead opt for a waterfall as it is more natural. Remember that balance is key so think of your proportions well.

One of the most prominent features of a Japanese Garden, which is especially noticeable for Western eyes, is the scarceness of clutter, a sort of emptiness in the garden’s proportions. This emptiness might be a little new to gardeners who are more accustomed to a wide variety of components as well as color in a garden. But if you really want that Zen or peaceful feeling in your garden, then this emptiness is one of the key factors in achieving that.

Another inherent concept in each and every Japanese garden is the enclosure. For your garden to become a real retreat, you must first hide it away from the outside world. Fences and gates are of equal importance with lanterns and maples when it comes to Japanese gardens. Like with most things associated with Japanese gardens, the fences and gates both have a symbolic meaning and a specific function. It serves as a sort of barrier to separate us from an outside world and sheltering us in a place of calm without any worry.

Many fence styles for Japanese Gardens use the subtlest of visual screens which gives off slight hints of what is on the other side. This is called the miegakure or the concept of hide and reveal. Sometimes a designer might create a small window on a solid wall in order to give any passerby as glimpse of what is beyond the wall.

Japanese Garden’s are not singular types despite the fact that there are certain rules to each garden. These gardens will still differ by their settings and how they are utilized. But there are three basic styles that can be commonly seen:

The Chisen-kaiyu-shiki (Hill and Pond) is the basic of most styles and was brought over from China. A pond is placed in front of a hill or hills. The pond can vary from being an actual water pond or a representation in the form of raked gravel. The style evokes the feel of a mountain area and as such the plants used are the ones indigenous to mountains. Many stroll gardens are always designed using the hill and pond style.

The Hiraniwa (Flat Garden) this style originates from the use of flat, open spaces in front of palace and temples. It is considered to be a very Zen style and is good for meditation and contemplation. It represents a seashore area and utilizes appropriate plants for the style. Many courtyards are always designed after the flat garden style.

The Rojiniwa (Tea Gardens) is the only one of the design types where function overrides form. This type of style is always informal and is often relegated to mountain retreats and peasant huts.

Remember these few simple pointers and you’re on your way to creating a very Zen Japanese style garden in your very own home.