Ever been to a Japanese Garden? If you have, you know that they do justice to their name. The Japanese word for these gardens is "niwa". It means "a pure place".

Even if you have never personally visited a Japanese Garden, just looking at pictures brings a sense of peace and tranquility. It is for this reason that building a Japanese Garden has become such a popular landscaping project.

The first reference to a "Japanese Garden" dates back to the 6th Century. The fact was registered in the Nihonshoki, or the "Chronicle of Japan." From that time until 1912, there have been seven periods of Japanese Garden history, each with it´s own distinct characteristics.

A fundamental element in the creation of a Japanese Garden is aesthetics. The important thing is not the number of elements but that these be chosen with the goal of blending with nature and creating a total harmony among the different elements.

Japanese Garden elements such as enclosures, gates, plants, water, pathways and stones are placed in such a way as to create a work of art that engrandeurs nature itself.

There are many types of Japanese Gardens.

• Strolling Pond Garden
• Water Garden
• The Natural Garden
• Sand and Stone Garden
• Tea Garden
• Flat Garden
• Karesansui
• Chaniwa
• Front Garden
• Back Garden
• Country Garden
• Roof and Balcony Garden
• Interior Garden
• Container Garden

One of the most attractive elements are the Koi, the large and colorful fish found in most Japanese Gardens. Young Koi measure only 6 to 10 inches long but as they grow, they can reach up to 24-36 inches or more.

For a detailed account of the history and types of Japanese Gardens as well as a step-by-step guide to create your own Japanese Garden, go to Japanese Garden Secrets.

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