Japanese Gardens - by Geeta Mehta & Kimie Tada

About the Book

Finding tranquility, appreciating simplicity and living in harmony with nature and others--these are the roots of the Japanese garden

Book Synopsis

Featuring beautiful photographs and insightful commentary this Japanese gardening book is a must-have for any gardening or zen enthusiast.

At the heart of a Japanese garden is harmony with nature. More than simply a landscape of trees and flowering shrubs, a Japanese garden provides a place of serenity and rest, filled with peaceful spots that lend themselves to meditation and contemplation. Japanese Gardens celebrates and illustrates this ideal, showcasing the exquisite natural beauty of more than 20 quintessentially Japanese gardens--big and small, urban and rural, traditional and contemporary.

The expert author-and-photographer team behind this book excels at capturing and explaining the essential elements and techniques that distinguish Japanese garden design from that of other countries. The featured sites reflect a cross-section of Japanese culture and history including large feudal period gardens, temple and Zen gardens and private countryside gardens. The mountain flower garden, tea garden, rock garden and bonsai garden alike are all celebrated and appreciated in this beautiful book.

Review Quotes

"Capturing the essence of nature in twenty-three gardens in Japan, authors Geeta Mehta and Kimie Tada classify and tell the history of garden making in that country, as well as explain the elements and techniques in their design. The selection of landscapes is well chosen, ranging from classic temple gardens to public and private gardens in great variety and size. Noboru Murata's glorious photographs celebrate their beauty." --The National Gardener

About the Author

Geeta K. Mehta is a partner in the firm of Braden and Mehta Architects. She is the co-author of several books, including Japan Style and Japan Houses.

Kimie Tada runs I See All Inc., an editorial company set up in 2000. Previously she was editor-in-chief of Confort, a Japanese magazine featuring Japanese houses and interiors.

Noboru Murata is one of Japan's most accomplished design photographers. His recent publications include The Japanese House and Japan Style.