Japanese Landscape
Take a mindful moment in our tranquil Japanese gardens, a delicately manicured landscape designed to complement the Chokushi-Mon (Japanese Gateway).
![Raking the gravel in the Japanese Landscape © RBG Kew Horticulturists raking the gravel in the Japanese Landscape at Kew](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.kew.org/sites/default/files/styles/header_style/public/2019-02/Japanese%20landscape%20gallery%204.jpg.webp?itok=DlSrsEs0)
Combining a Garden of Peace, a Garden of Activity and a Garden of Harmony, our Japanese Landscape is the ideal spot for quiet reflection.
The main entrance leads into the Garden of Peace, a tranquil area reminiscent of a traditional Japanese tea garden. Here, paths pass between stone lanterns and a dripping water basin.
In the Garden of Activity, a slope symbolises elements of the natural world like waterfalls, mountains and the sea while raked gravel and large rocks represent the movement of water flowing and tumbling.
![The Japanese Gateway and Landscape © RBG Kew A view of the Japanese Gateway at Kew](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.kew.org/sites/default/files/styles/image_gallery/public/2019-02/Japanese%20gateway%20gallery%202.jpg.webp?itok=bumKO2WV)
![Japanese Landscape, RBG Kew Plants in the Japanese Landscape at Kew](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.kew.org/sites/default/files/styles/image_gallery/public/2019-02/Japanese%20landscape%20gallery%203.jpg.webp?itok=A1a0Bw1J)
![Raking the gravel in the Japanese Landscape © RBG Kew Horticulturists raking the gravel in the Japanese Landscape at Kew](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.kew.org/sites/default/files/styles/image_gallery/public/2019-02/Japanese%20landscape%20gallery%204.jpg.webp?itok=eN4xynaN)
The Garden of Harmony unites the two landscapes. Japan’s mountain regions are represented by stones and rock outcrops, interplanted with shrubs. The plants include neatly clipped low-lying hedges of Rhododendron ‘Mother’s Day’, and the Japanese anemone (Anemone x hybrida).
The landscape was designed by Professor Fukuhara of Osaka University and laid out in 1996 following restoration of the Japanese Gateway.
Hidden highlight
Chokushi-Mon (Gateway of the Imperial Messenger) is a near replica of the Gate of Nishi Hongan-ji (Western Temple of the Original Vow) in Kyoto, Japan.
Created for the Japan-British Exhibition held at White City in London in 1910, the Japanese Gateway is built in the architectural style of the late-16th century Momoyama (or Japanese rococo) period.
![Great white cherry (Prunus 'Taihaku') in the Japanese Landscape © RBG Kew Japanese Landscape at Kew](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.kew.org/sites/default/files/styles/original/public/2019-02/Japanese%20landscape%20gallery%201.jpg.webp?itok=N9Xv3jjx)
The finely carved woodwork of the Gateway is embellished with stylised flowers and animals. The most intricately carved panels depict an ancient legend about the devotion of a pupil to his master.
Nearest entrance
Lion Gate
Visiting the Japanese Landscape
We may occasionally need to close attractions for maintenance or visitor safety: check for planned closures and visitor notices before you visit.
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