Japanese and European Garden Design by Niwashyu in Tokyo
Today we want to introduce a garden designed and built by our partner company Niwashyu, experts in Japanese garden design. This project is a wonderful example of how traditional Japanese style can blend with European influences to create a bright, colorful space. If you live in Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, Kanagawa, or even overseas, Niwashyu can help you design a garden that reflects your own vision.
The Client’s Request and Design Challenges
The clients wanted a lively and colorful garden that combined Japanese and European elements. Because the property is a rented house, there were strict limitations:
- Large background trees could not be cut.
- Permanent installations were not allowed.
- The lawn area had to remain untouched.
- The budget did not allow for large ornamental stones.
Despite these challenges, the design needed to create depth and focus so the “green wall” of trees in the background would not overwhelm the space.
Creating Depth and Flow with Plants
To give the garden a sense of perspective, we built a small artificial hill. At its base, white-leaved Trachelospermum asiaticum was planted to resemble a stream flowing into the distance. This subtle element creates depth and draws the eye through the garden.
We combined carefully chosen Japanese plants with popular European perennials. To keep the garden attractive year-round, evergreen plants formed the foundation, while deciduous varieties were used sparingly for seasonal highlights.
Eye-Catchers for All Seasons
The garden was designed to be enjoyed from three main viewpoints over a length of about 20 meters. Key focal points include:
- The hilltop: Planted with Phormium tenax, a striking New Zealand plant often used in Japanese design.
- The stone terrace: A small, practical feature that invites visitors into the garden. It provides a place for seasonal potted plants, close-up photography, or simply enjoying fragrance and texture.
- Gravel sections: Two contemporary gravel areas add structure. One separates the lawn from the tree background, planted with Leucothoe catesbaei ‘Rainbow’ for vibrant color. Another, near the terrace and a white wall, uses Equisetum for strong vertical contrast.
A European Touch with Perennials
European garden style influenced the flowerbeds, where layers of perennials create variety and resilience against weeds. Low plants and ground covers fill the front, while higher perennials and shrubs structure the back.
Connections between areas were carefully planned. For example, Heuchera varieties brighten the terrace, while Hosta, Anemone hupehensis, and Tricyrtis hirta link the middle ground to the rear. Seasonal interest is guaranteed, with flowers and foliage ensuring beauty in every season.
A Garden for Daily Life
The result is a garden that balances Japanese simplicity with European abundance, offering color, depth, and year-round enjoyment. The clients now have a personal retreat where they can relax, take photos, and watch their garden change with the seasons.
Garden Design by Niwashyu in Tokyo and Beyond
This project shows how Niwashyu adapts Japanese traditions to meet modern needs and personal requests. Whether you live in Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, Kanagawa, or overseas, Niwashyu can design a garden that reflects both Japanese aesthetics and your own lifestyle.
If you dream of a garden that feels truly unique, contact Niwashyu to bring your vision to life.
If you want to see some of the examples of our overseas work, head over to the Service tab.
With twelve years of professional landscaping experience under her belt, Anika Ogusu is your perfect guide to the world of Japanese gardens. Her love of nature began early, in the woods near her childhood home and the garden of her grandmother’s house. During her teenage years she developed a strong interest in Japanese culture, and after university she decided to combine her love of Japan and gardens into a profession. Anika started her career as chief gardener in charge of the perennial valley at the Botanical Garden in Hamburg, Germany, then moved to Tokyo in pursuit of her dream. For two years she apprenticed under local landscape designers and learned the art of Japanese garden design, construction and maintenance. Now, in partnership with Real Japanese Gardens (www.japanesegardens.jp), her wish is to spread the magic of Japanese gardens to the rest of the world. Her in-depth guide books on gardens throughout Japan are available in eBook format or paperback. In her free time, Anika enjoys exploring her adopted country (especially green moss gardens), and soaking up nature and any details that interest her.
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With twelve years of professional landscaping experience under her belt, Anika Ogusu is your perfect guide to the world of Japanese gardens. Her love of nature began early, in the woods near her childhood home and the garden of her grandmother’s house. During her teenage years she developed a strong interest in Japanese culture, and after university she decided to combine her love of Japan and gardens into a profession. Anika started her career as chief gardener in charge of the perennial valley at the Botanical Garden in Hamburg, Germany, then moved to Tokyo in pursuit of her dream. For two years she apprenticed under local landscape designers and learned the art of Japanese garden design, construction and maintenance. Now, in partnership with Real Japanese Gardens (www.japanesegardens.jp), her wish is to spread the magic of Japanese gardens to the rest of the world. Her in-depth guide books on gardens throughout Japan are available in eBook format or paperback. In her free time, Anika enjoys exploring her adopted country (especially green moss gardens), and soaking up nature and any details that interest her.
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