ABSTRACT
Japanese gardens symbolize the mystical power and beauty of nature not only by the built landscape they contain but by the existing landscape that surrounds them. Maximum utilization of given environmental conditions is an aspect of superior design in a Japanese garden. If a site has beautiful scenery, the view should be introduced as the main theme of the garden. If a garden is built on a particular topography, the lay of the land and existing natural resources, such as a well, streams, or woods, should be utilized in the design. Lastly, even if the site is small, flat, and lacks interesting views, the garden should be designed to take advantage of the given conditions of its site. In short, there are two ways of using a given landform: visual and physical. This chapter will introduce gardens that represent their messages by visually and physically using a given landform.
