Since I have been in Japan, I have had the opportunity to view many different sizes and styles of Japanese gardens. Garden dimensions range from the foot-by-foot plot of land that inhabits the narrow passage between neighboring houses to the enormous, sometimes even larger than what we might consider the size of a large park.
There are many diferent types or styles of gardens as well. Most of these styles are very different from what the Westerner thinks of as a "garden".
The Japanese garden, for example, still plays a very important role in the world of contemporary Japanese architecture. No matter how big or small a Japanese house might be, it always has some type of "garden". Now, this garden may only be one or two plants sitting on the windowsill of a small Tokyo apartment, but the Japanese would still refer to it as "their garden".
Almost no Japanese garden places any emphasis on the use of different kinds of attractive flowers. Most concentrate instead on the use of water (in the form of a pond or stream) and shrubbery as well as different types of trees. An example of this type of garden can be found right here in Hikone. Genkyu-en, located very close to Hikone Castle, is a very traditional style stroll garden built around a large pond.
In such a garden, the effect of the seasons is astounding. I feel that Genkyu-en is best viewed in the Fall (as is Tenryuji, another similar garden located in Kyoto), when the colors of the leaves begin to change. To fully appreciate the effect of seasonal change on gardens like this, however, one should take the opportunity to view them at different times throughout the year. Because of this, I feel that Genkyu-en is a must-see for any visitor to this part of Shiga no matter what time of year it might be!
Another type of Japanese garden is called the Zen Rock Garden. I find this garden style fascinating because it usually tries to evoke a deeper meaning than just that of the aesthetic impact one feels in most Japanese gardens. The Zen garden usually represents a larger image or concept, most likely representative of a connection between the expanse of pebbles and perhaps a large body of water or an important geographical formation. These gardens were originally created only by Zen Buddhist monks, and, as a result, I feel that the best gardens of this type are still the ones that can be seen at larger Buddhist temples. Now, however, the creation of a Japanese Rock Garden has grown away from this original religious context and is apt to be found elsewhere as well.
All of these different types of gardens appear to be uniquely Japanese not only in their origin but in the meanings attached to each as well. Although many different things about the Japanese way of life have changed and become more modern, because of this, I suspect the Japanese garden will always have a place of pride even in contemporary Japanese culture.
Please relay any comments and suggestions to
Dan McNeil
(dirtymac@umich.edu)