Garden design is an important art form which has been refined for over 1000 years. Gardens have evolved into a variety of styles with different purposes, including strolling gardens for the recreation of feudal lords and dry stone gardens for religious use by monks. Outstanding gardens can be found across Japan, with particularly many in the former capital of Kyoto.
Below are Japan's best gardens according to japan-guide.com's editors and users:
Built in Kanazawa for the enjoyment of the former local lords, Kenrokuen feels like a collection of multiple excellent gardens, which include a variety of ponds, streams, hills, groves, flower gardens, pavilions and tea houses.
Meticulously maintained, the relatively recently created garden at the Adachi Museum of Art near Matsue is almost surreal. The museum's collection of Japanese paintings is also outstanding.
The strolling garden of the Katsura Imperial Villa in western Kyoto is one of the first and finest of its kind. Visitors need to join a guided tour to see the garden.
The moss-covered garden of Kyoto's Kokedera (Moss Temple) is one of the country's most celebrated. Advance reservations by mail and participation in a sutra copying session are required to see the garden.
The recreational garden of the former local lords, Ritsurin Koen in Takamatsu is one of the most beautiful strolling gardens in Japan, featuring ponds, tea pavilions and walking trails.
Kyoto's Ryoanji Temple is home to the most famous of all stone gardens in Japan. Try to visit on weekdays in the early morning or late afternoon to reduce the crowds.
Korakuen is another of the best strolling gardens of Japan. It stands next to Okayama Castle whose former residents would use it for the entertainment of guests and themselves.
Daitokuji Temple is the ultimate destination for those interested in Zen gardens. Consisting of nearly two dozen subtemples, Daitokuji offers a large number and variety of excellent gardens.
The best garden in the Greater Tokyo area, Yokohama's Sankeien features a central pond and a variety of historic buildings moved there from across Japan.
Byodoin is the best surviving example of a Pure Land Garden. Its celebrated Phoenix Hall appears on the 10 yen coin. A unique museum with temple treasures stands nearby.
