Japan and Japanese Gardens Japanese Gardens Japanese gardens are very important to the Japanese. All of the gardens are representations of nature. The purpose of these gardens in to capture nature is the utmost natural way, and do it with a touch of artistic feeling. The Japanese gardens, for the Japanese people, have an ancient history influenced by Shinto, Buddhist and Taoist philosophies. These philosphies are used in the creation of the Japanese Gardens so as to bring a spiritual sense to the gardens. The Buddhist influence makes the garden a quiet place, allowing people to look back and reflect upon themselves, or meditate. The essential elements to a Japanese garden--water, garden plants, stones, waterfalls, trees, and bridges--create this symbolism. There are two common misconceptions concerning Japanese gardens. The first is that the Japanese gardens always follow certain ground rules with regard to both arrangement and content. This is not true. The architect does follow some rules, but he/she is free to express his/her creativity through the Japanese garden. The second is that Japanese gardens are miniature gardens. This is also not true. Everything that is designed is ascessible for full size adults, but sometimes the small trees give the illusion of the Japanese garden being small. There are five different styles of Japanese gardens, and all are discussed. Chishaku-in Chishaku-in is a temple of the Chizan School of Shingon Buddhism. Erected in 1585 over the site of an earlier temple founded by Hideyoshi, it is most famous for its screens of cherry and maple trees painted by Hasegawa Tohaku. Most of the garden dates from the 17th Century, and was designed by Zuio Hakunyo, Chishaku-in's chief priest. It takes the form of a long narrow pond bordered on the east by a steeply sloping hill. Designed to be viewed from a number of points on the veranda of the abbot’s residence as well as from a small adjacent tea house, the garden evokes a mountain landscape complete with cascade, mountain bridge, and satsuki pruned to simulate rolling hills. Choose a view point from the map or click Tour the Garden for more views of this garden. The Daisen-in The Daisen-in was founded in 1509 by the Zen priest Kogaku Sotan (1464-1548) upon his retirement as abbot of Daitoku-ji. The hojo, his residence, was completed in 1513, and the most famous of the gardens that surround that structure probably dates from the same period. While the theory that other early Zen gardens were intended to imitate Chinese landscape paintings or their Japanese equivalents is open to question, there can be little doubt that this was the intention at the Daisen-in. The garden that flanks two sides of the hojo is a miniature landscape whose vertical rocks suggest the mountains from which a waterfall and its resulting river flow. Choose a view point from the map or click Tour the Garden for more views of this garden. Japan's best historic towns and districts While Japanese cities have dramatically changed their appearance over the past 150 years, some of them managed to preserve a street block or whole district of traditional buildings. Countdown to Expo 2005: Introducing Nagoya The city of Nagoya will move into global spotlight, when the Expo 2005 Aichi, the first world exhibition since the year 2000, will be held in its vicinity from March 25 to September 25, 2005. Tokyo Districts: Ikebukuro Ikebukuro is one of Tokyo's multiple city centers. With the second busiest railway station of Japan at its center, the district offers lots of entertainment, shopping and dining opportunities. Everyday bicycles in Japan Commuting to school, work or to the closest railway station, picking up children from preschool or doing the daily groceries are among the activities commonly done by bicycle. Japan Air Pass A few months ago, JAL and the Star Alliance have launched new Japan Air Passes, which offer foreign visitors domestic flights at largely discounted prices. JAL has now improved its air pass by lowering the minimum number of flights to be purchased from two to one. Decorate your home with Japanese Furniture! Greentea Design's collection of antique and contemporary Japanese furniture combines clean lines with organic designs for an enchanting zen feel. Editor : Bengi Demirkan - L.A.- University of Greenwich/LONDON