Peace and Relaxation in the Japanese Garden

Especially in recent years, there's been a growing desire for rest and retreat from stressful daily life. A Japanese garden offers exactly that and is much easier to create than you might think.

A Japanese garden radiates peace and harmony, improves well-being, and gives the owner the opportunity to simply lean back and relax. You don't need to be a garden professional or an Asia expert to achieve this.

Before you create a Japanese garden, it's helpful to understand its main elements and their symbolism. A Japanese garden is distinct because of several special components.

You'll find stones and rocks in a Japanese garden, both as sculptures and as raw elements. Stones and rocks reflect Japan's mountainous island landscape. And because the Japanese islands have countless freshwater springs and are surrounded by the sea, water also plays a very central role in Japanese gardens.

How water is integrated into a Japanese garden is entirely up to the garden owner's taste. This can include streams, bubbling spring stones, or tranquil ponds. There are no limits to creativity when it comes to the water element. Flowing water soothes the mind and soul, slowing down our hectic daily lives. That's why it's an indispensable part of a Japanese garden. Combined with light effects and shadows, water takes on a truly central role.

Of course, there are other important elements that a Japanese garden has to offer.

In a Japanese garden, woody plants, both shrubs and trees, are as essential as the emperor is to China. In Japanese culture, woody plants symbolize life itself, and whether they are conifers or deciduous trees, a shrub or tree is an absolute must-have. Ideally, you'll skillfully combine conifers and deciduous plants to create diverse areas within the Japanese garden.

Shaped trees and shrubs (Formgehölze) are particularly popular and well-suited to the Japanese aesthetic. Classic deciduous trees and shrubs for a Japanese garden include azaleas, Japanese maples, rhododendrons, and Japanese ornamental cherries. At least one of these representatives should definitely be present. However, bamboo, pines, or beeches also fit well into the Japanese concept and complete the overall picture.

What absolutely cannot be missing is moss. What many garden owners consider an unwelcome sight in autumn is, for fans of the Japanese garden, a symbol of permanence and long life. Due to its unique growth characteristics and its tenacious nature, moss grows on almost any surface, no matter how poor it may be. Therefore, consciously planted moss is an absolute must in every Japanese garden.

When it comes to a Japanese garden, it's not just about the individual elements and plants, but also the overall design. Asymmetry plays a very significant role in Japanese culture. Odd numbers are considered lucky when designing with plants and rocks. Therefore, in a Japanese garden, it's particularly important to adhere to these rules and always plant an odd number of plants.

To prevent evil spirits from wreaking havoc in a Japanese garden, curved paths and round ponds provide a natural and harmonious defense against them. Winding paths are reminiscent of natural trails and deny evil spirits entry.

When creating your own Japanese garden, thorough planning is highly recommended. The view into the garden should originate from one specific point. This could be a terrace or a pavilion. From this vantage point, the garden is designed as if you were painting a picture. And for those who embrace a bit of Japanese culture, you'll design your own Japanese garden according to your taste and in harmony with yourself and nature.