The essence of the Japanese garden design is being natural. It is based on the principle of balance or ‘sumi’. The design must be apt for the site.

There are three styles of Japanese Gardens. Hill and Pond (Chisen-Kaiyu-skiki) style featuring mountain plant species is used by stroll gardens. Flat Garden (Hiraniwa) style is used in courtyards and uses seashore plants. Tea Gardens (Rojiniwa) style has a rustic feel. They include a water basin, gates, a dewy path (Roji) and sparse plants.

The Japanese garden design is characterized by empty spaces (ma). It also embodies the principles of wabi (uniqueness) and sabi (time or ideal image of something). The Japanese garden design uses enclosures-gates and fences to symbolize that the garden is a solitary peace giving retreat. The fence enables hide and reveal-‘miegakure’.

In a Japanese garden design rocks are seen in threes, fives and sevens or in pairs representing male (bigger sized rock) and female (smaller sized rock). The stones usually used in Japanese garden design are the tall and low vertical stone, horizontal stone, reclining stone, arched stone and throwaway stones. The Diseased Stone, the dead stone and the pauper stone should not be used.

Water is represented in a Japanese garden design through raked gravel. River stones symbolize streams. Water marks the passage of time. A bridge usually crosses it and marks a journey.

The Japanese garden design uses dwarf varieties of perennials, shrubs and trees native to Japan. They are planted in uneven numbers for symmetry. Pines, bamboo, cherries and maples are used. Showy and exotic plants are not used in a Japanese garden.

Stone lanterns, stupas and basins are the mainly used Japanese garden ornaments. The Kasuga lantern is upright with a stone base. The Oribe style has the pedestal sunk inside the ground. The Yukimi or Snow Viewing lantern has short legs.

The concept of Shakkei or borrowed scenery is also implemented in the Japanese garden design. They include far-distant mountain, near-tree outside the fence, high-above the fence and low-view from below the fence or a window on it.

Japanese garden design is based on the natural landscape of Japan. The garden has a warm and natural feel.