ABSTRACT
Different styles of Japanese gardens were developed throughout Japanese history: gardens for the residences of aristocrats, Zen gardens, tea gardens, and stroll gardens. Japanese gardens can vary in size and form but they all share a unique relationship to architecture and philosophy. A Japanese house has a skeletal structure to maximize ventilation during the hot and humid summer. The floor is raised to avoid ground water and the roof has deep eaves to protect the structure from rain. Consequently, the garden has been developed to be viewed from inside the residence as part of the interior space that lacks a roof. Unlike the Chinese garden, designed to be walked through and provide a variety of spaces, the Japanese garden is designed to be viewed from within the living space. Therefore the garden is a space into which people look all the time, from morning to evening in all seasons. It is a space where they communicate with nature, the world of Shinto, and where many spirits dwell.
