Gardens comprise a sensory as much as a cultural experience - a medium for artistic expression, a place to unwind, and a portal to the elemental and emotional. This book illustrates how original landscapes have maintained their mastery of time and made their principals central to any discussion about space and the environment. Author Stephen Mansfield takes readers on an exploration of the outward forms, underpinning principles, complex use of metaphor and allusion, and beauty and depth that set the Japanese garden apart. As a specialist in the field, Stephen has visited over two hundred gardens in Japan, written extensively on the topic, and designed a Japanese garden at his own home.