Symbolism of the Japanese garden in North America

Japanese gardens are not found only in Japan. In 2006, there were 432 public Japanese gardens outside of Japan according to the Japanese Institute of Landscape Architecture. ¹ According to the Annual Report of the Portland Japanese Garden, there are sixty public Japanese gardens in the United States alone. ² The term “Japanese garden” suggests a common garden style found in Japan; however, the Japanese gardens built outside Japan differ significantly from those within Japan because they were built in different climates and cultures with different materials. Some garden elements lost their traditional meanings or gained new ones. The purpose and role of the Japanese garden abroad also influenced gardens in Japan.