When you’re looking for ways to create a uniquely calm, zen, and tranquil outdoor space, there’s nothing like Japanese garden water features. More than just the actual water feature itself–which is, of course, important–Japanese garden water features seamlessly integrate into their surroundings through purposeful landscape design full of significance and rich in tradition.
What are common Japanese water features and how can you include them in your backyard vision? Read on to explore elements of Japanese garden water features and their surrounding landscaping elements.
Japanese Garden Water Features
When you step into a Japanese garden, or Japanese-inspired garden, you can feel the calm, tranquil nature of the design. Deeply rooted in history and tradition, Japanese garden water features work together to provide an immersive experience. Whether you’re considering outdoor residential water features for your home or want to spruce up your business with corporate water features installation services, Japanese garden water features are showstoppers.
Some of our favorite elements of Japanese garden water features include:
- Peaceful water feature designs
- Stones, gravel, and sand
- Bridges and walkways
- The lantern
- Water basins
- Beautiful landscaping with plants, trees, and shrubs
Peaceful Water Feature Designs
It stands to reason that the first thing to talk about when it comes to Japanese garden water features are the water features themselves. Water holds a very special place in Japanese garden design, where it functions as an expression of nature while symbolizing renewal, calm, and the hereafter.
Many times, Japanese garden water features center around a pond water feature. These may be meant to represent real or legendary lakes, and are often filled with koi fish. Colorful koi fish add to the bursts of color in Japanese garden water features, breathing life into every design element.
Other popular Japanese garden water features are waterfall features and streams. Gentle brooks that lead to the zen sounds of water crashing on rocks below add different elevations to Japanese gardens. For those looking to add Japanese garden water features to their outdoor space but who may not have as much room, pondless waterfalls make an excellent alternative.
Stones, Gravel, and Sand With Japanese Garden Water Features
Stones have played an important role in Japanese culture for thousands of years. Large natural stones were part of spiritual worship in Shinto where gravel designated sacred grounds. In today’s gardens, large stones paired with Japanese garden water features are often meant to represent hills or mountains. They also serve as decorative accents and building materials for walkways or bridges. Smaller rocks and gravel are used to line ponds and streams.
The way stones create hills and valleys that lead to cascading water, streams and ponds is a beautiful element deeply rooted in design and functionality.
Bridges and Walkways
Bridges and walkways are of special significance with Japanese garden water features. Bridges give you the opportunity to stand still and immerse yourself in the beautiful landscaping, taking it all in and feeling the calm wash over you. They’re often built of stones, wood, or bamboo to keep with the natural elements of the Japanese garden water features, as well. They may be rounded, in an arc shape, or done in zig-zag formations but always represent communing with the nature around you.
Walkways are another common element of Japanese garden water features. Made of stepping stones, gravel, sand, or even dirt, winding paths are meant to allow someone to view different aspects of the Japanese garden water features. For larger backyard spaces, you could even have walkways that extend to more secluded or private seating areas perfect for taking in the zen feeling of your Japanese garden water features in a more intimate spot.
Lanterns With Japanese Garden Water Features
Lanterns, especially a traditional stone lantern, come in a wide range of shapes and sizes but are a common element found paired with Japanese garden water features. Traditionally intended to guide visitors during evening tea ceremonies, the light of the lantern was also considered to be representative of the light of knowledge clearing away the clouds of ignorance.
Today’s gardens tend to have stone lanterns that serve a more decorative purpose, but still provide beauty and tranquility all the same. Positioned near Japanese garden water features, the lantern provides an architectural element in direct contrast to the more natural elements of the garden as a whole.
Water Basins
Often positioned near the lantern, another of the most common Japanese garden water features is a water basin. Historically and traditionally meant for cleansing before tea ceremonies, today’s Japanese garden water features with water basins are more symbolic and decorative, similar to the lanterns. They can vary from simple rock water features made of uncut stone to ornate basins with outdoor water fountains for a bit of flair.
Landscaping Around Japanese Garden Water Features
Last, though certainly not least, is the landscaping around Japanese garden water features as a whole. Meant to be a fully-immersive tranquil experience, no Japanese-inspired garden is complete without purposeful landscaping with plants, trees, and shrubs to finish the look. Each of these elements compliment Japanese garden water features and are intended to enhance the overall feeling of the space. Your water features installation professional will be able to help choose the right plants, trees, and shrubs to create a beautiful space that will thrive in the local climate.
Japanese garden water features are some of the most tranquil, zen, and beautiful water feature installations you can design. To complete the look and give you the outdoor space of your dreams, it’s important to remember the overall design as a whole. While the space may center around the Japanese garden water features themselves, all the elements that pair with ponds, fountains, or waterfalls are important. We happen to know just who to contact for water feature installations in Albany, Colonie, Saratoga, Schenectady, and the surrounding areas to bring your vision to life.
Curious about water features and want to learn more? Check out these resources:
