Japanese Garden Inspiration

When you plan on making over your garden, it’s actually a huge opportunity to transform your outdoor space in ways which go beyond the obvious.

 

For those of you who crave a sense of calm and relaxation, a Japanese style garden could give you the feeling of being on faraway shores every time you step outside. That’s because in Japan, their approach to garden design focuses on holistic principles which encourage a sense of peace and reflection.

 

If a Japanese garden sounds appealing but you don’t know where to start, this post is for you! The Stone Warehouse team is here to inspire you with our favourite Japanese garden design ideas to show you how it's done. 

 

What Is A Japanese Garden?

Japanese garden design aims to create a space where reflection and tranquillity are prioritised. There should be an immediate stillness to the senses which benefits your wellbeing. Typical features of a Japanese garden include gravel, sand, stones, rocks, bridges, water, tea houses, paths and pavilions. 

 

Despite the name, it’s possible to recreate a Japanese garden anywhere in the world, since the idea is to reflect the philosophical values. This is in stark contrast to most gardens which rely on specific light and soil conditions to support living plants. As a result, Japanese gardens remain achievable for all outdoor spaces, even if you’re on a budget! 

The key principles of Japanese garden design include: 

Simplicity: Avoid clutter within your design. Every element of a Japanese garden should have meaning.

Asymmetry: Unlike traditional British cottage gardens, the aim is not to create symmetry. Instead, the Japanese find beauty in nature’s interpretation of balance, including asymmetric designs. 

Mindfulness: Spending time in a Japanese garden should evoke the senses. Popular statement features include paths, benches or viewing platforms. For larger gardens, aim to frame views from nearby scenery and work with existing trees and buildings to highlight their beauty. 

 

Japanese Zen Gardens

Closely related to a Japanese garden is the Japanese zen garden, which has some subtle differences to note. 

 

As the name suggests, a zen garden is all about contemplation and so should also provide opportunities for meditation. 

 

Like all Japanese gardens, the likes of gravel, sand and moss can also be found in Japanese zen gardens. However, the overall design focuses more on ‘dry’ elements. The gravel itself also has specific patterns raked into it, which are intended to reflect natural elements like the flow of waves. 

 

Owners of Japanese zen gardens meticulously maintain these patterns by raking them out daily. Rather than being seen as a chore, Japanese culture associates gravel raking with mindfulness.

 

Reasons Why A Japanese Garden Could Work For You

Japanese gardens are about achieving that instant sense of calm, and in today’s world, that’s more important than ever. 

 

For instance, a recent study by Bionic revealed that the average person in the UK now spends 76% of their time online. With so much information, not to mention notifications being sent our way each day, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

 

Thankfully, a Japanese garden is the perfect antithesis for our modern and often highly stressful lives. Furthermore, Japanese gardens are also considered low maintenance, meaning they create an outdoor space that you’ll spend more time enjoying compared with traditional British garden designs which need a lot of upkeep. 

 

Other reasons to consider creating a Japanese garden include:

It doesn’t matter how big your garden is: Size is certainly not a barrier to being able to turn your garden into your own personal oasis. A small Japanese garden is a fantastic way to creatively transform small or awkwardly shaped gardens. For larger gardens, the extra space provides endless potential to explore water features, curved pathways or other key features synonymous with oriental garden design. 

 

Great for shaded gardens: Does your UK garden lack adequate sunlight? Japanese gardens focus more on hard landscaping than plants, which gives you greater flexibility over the design. Best of all, the likes of gravel, sand, rocks and even water features provide visual interest throughout the seasons. 

 

Anyone can build a Japanese garden: If you feel intimidated by more formalised garden designs, then a Japanese garden offers a welcoming alternative. So long as you research the basic principles, it is easy to capture the essence of a Japanese garden, regardless of your skill level. You’ll also find many of the core materials you’ll need right here at Stone Warehouse! 

Japanese Garden Design Ideas

Stillness and simplicity lie at the heart of all Japanese garden ideas. 

 

While some designs are on the elaborate side, it’s also possible to capture the essence of Japan by incorporating some simple additions. 

 

Regardless of the size of your garden and budget, there is a Japanese garden design idea just waiting for you. Here are some creative directions to consider. 

 

Japanese Water Gardens

 

Water is hugely symbolic within Japanese garden design as it signifies movement and reflection. 

 

Based on the size of your garden and your overall preferences, you could incorporate a small water feature, or go all out by building a statement pond complete with koi fish. 

 

Even with more modest water features, an arched or zig-zag bridge can be added to represent life’s journey, which again taps into Japanese garden design principles. 

 

When coming up with ideas for a Japanese garden, it’s good to know that we stock a range of products which work well with water features. So be sure to explore these on our website if you decide on a Japanese water garden! 

 

Moss & Shade Garden

 

The UK’s notoriously wet weather can actually create the perfect base for a Japanese garden that leans more towards moss and other shade-loving plants. A Japanese moss garden is low maintenance and moss itself possesses various environmental benefits, including air purification. 

 

Since the likes of gravel, rocks and even large boulders look great in all lighting conditions, they can be used to complement your designs. In particular, grey-toned stones pair well against moss and other feats of greenery within a Japanese garden.

 

To capture that authentic Japanese feel, try adding some stone ornaments with ferns.

 

Courtyard Or Balcony Japanese Garden

 

It’s certainly not the case that having a courtyard or balcony garden means you cannot embrace Japanese garden design. As with all of our ideas, it’s simply a case of getting creative! 

 

When space is tight, a small tray can be used to incorporate sand or gravel, along with stones to create a table-top zen garden. Similarly, compact lantern ornaments and water bowls can fit into even the most compact of outdoor spaces. 

 

Some of the most popular Japanese plants for garden designs include container-grown plants such as acers, bamboo and moss bowls. 

 

However, adding Japanese garden plants remains optional, since Japanese garden design focuses more on hard landscaping materials. That said, plants can be used to infuse different colourways into your outdoor space, particularly plants that possess red and green tones. 

 

 

Pathway Journey (Roji -Tea Garden Path)

 

A key characteristic of Japanese garden design is the deliberate creation of paths which lead to specific destinations. 

 

In Japan, these destinations often include tea houses, pavilions or hidden benches. However, smaller ornamental features such as lanterns can be used instead. 

 

Pathway journeys can also be created by designing winding paths. Likewise, the use of stepping stones can encourage slow and mindful walking. 

 

Miniature Mountain & Lake

 

Japan is famous for its mountains, including Mount Fuji, Mount Kita and Mount Hotaka.

Now, we’re certainly not suggesting you attempt to build an actual mountain in your garden! However, in Japanese garden design, large rocks are commonly used to signify mountains. 

 

Additional scenery can be created by using gravel and ponds, which represent the lake and the sea. 

Even if your British garden is on the smaller side, incorporating rocks and larger pebbles can work well. It’s also worth researching some Japanese rock garden ideas to help you plan your design based on the size and shape of your garden.

 

Zen Corner (Karesansui)

 

If you have a small area of your garden that is feeling a little unloved, then a Japanese zen corner is just the ticket. This particular idea also suits courtyard gardens well. 

 

Creating a zen garden or corner involves installing a raked bed of gravel or sand. Add visual interest with some carefully placed rocks, or try mixing things up with greenery, including moss patches or Japanese pine (Pinus thunbergii). 

 

Get Inspired: The Japanese Garden At Cowden

We’re very lucky to have some lush examples of Japanese gardens across the UK. A personal favourite of the Stone Warehouse team is the Japanese Garden at Cowden, which is located in Dollar, Clackmannanshire.

 

Its official name is ‘Sha Raku En’, which translates to mean ‘a place of pleasure and delight’. Founded by Ella Christie, Cowden infuses Japanese garden design against the breathtaking backdrop of Scotland’s mountainous terrain. 

 

An in-person visit is highly recommended, especially as you’ll get to enjoy a mixture of wet and dry landscaping designs throughout the sprawling site. 

 

 

Elsewhere in the UK, you can find Japanese gardens at the following locations: 

 

• Compton Acres, Dorset
• Fanhams Hall, Hertfordshire
• Japanese Garden at Tatton Park, Cheshire
• Japanese Landscape, Kew Gardens, London
• Johnston Gardens, Aberdeen
• Kyoto Garden, Holland Park, London
• Lauriston Castle Kyoto Friendship Garden, Edinburgh
• St Mungo Zen Garden, Glasgow
• Stobo Japanese Water Garden, Peebleshire, Scotland
• Tranquillity Haven in Powys, Wales

Do you have any to add to our list? Please get in touch! 

 

 

Create Your Own Japanese Garden With Gravel & Chippings From Stone Warehouse

 

Bring a slice of Kyoto to your garden in the UK by discovering our stunning range of Japanese landscaping materials.  

 

At Stone Warehouse, we specialise in Japanese garden gravel spanning various gravel colours and sizes. All of our products are available with UK nationwide delivery. 

 

Once you’ve created your Japanese inspired garden, be sure to tag us on Instagram, where you can also follow us for more garden tips and design ideas. 

 

Or, if you need any help with your purchase, please contact us, and our team will be with you shortly. 

 

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