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Kyoto gardens: masterworks of the Japanese gardener's art
"Bring the art and beauty of Japan to your garden with inspiration from Kyoto Gardens. "
--HGTV Gardens
Featuring beautiful Japanese garden photography and insightful writing, Kyoto Gardens is a labor of love from master photographer Ben Simmons and Kyoto-based writer Judith Clancy. In their rocks and plants, empty spaces and intimate details--Kyoto's gardens manifest a unique ability to provoke thought and delight in equal measure. These varied landscapes meld the sensuality of nature with the disciplines of cosmology, poetry and meditation. Japanese aristocrats created these gardens to display not just wealth and power, but cultural sensitivity and an appreciation for transcendent beauty. A class of professional gardeners eventually emerged, transforming Japanese landscape design into a formalized art. Today, Kyoto's gardens display an enormous range of forms--from rock gardens display of extreme minimalism and subtle hues, to stroll gardens of luscious proportions and vibrant colors.
In Kyoto Gardens Simmons' photographs present a fresh and contemporary look at Kyoto's most important gardens. Their beauty is enhanced and humanized by gardeners tending the grounds using the tools of their art. Clancy's graceful text provides historical, aesthetic and cultural context to the Japanese gardens. Combining wonder and rigor, she describes how Kyoto's most beloved gardens remain faithful to their founders' creative spirit and conception. Journey to Kyoto's thirty gardens with just a turn of a page, or use the handy maps to plan your trip.
--HGTV Gardens
Featuring beautiful Japanese garden photography and insightful writing, Kyoto Gardens is a labor of love from master photographer Ben Simmons and Kyoto-based writer Judith Clancy. In their rocks and plants, empty spaces and intimate details--Kyoto's gardens manifest a unique ability to provoke thought and delight in equal measure. These varied landscapes meld the sensuality of nature with the disciplines of cosmology, poetry and meditation. Japanese aristocrats created these gardens to display not just wealth and power, but cultural sensitivity and an appreciation for transcendent beauty. A class of professional gardeners eventually emerged, transforming Japanese landscape design into a formalized art. Today, Kyoto's gardens display an enormous range of forms--from rock gardens display of extreme minimalism and subtle hues, to stroll gardens of luscious proportions and vibrant colors.
In Kyoto Gardens Simmons' photographs present a fresh and contemporary look at Kyoto's most important gardens. Their beauty is enhanced and humanized by gardeners tending the grounds using the tools of their art. Clancy's graceful text provides historical, aesthetic and cultural context to the Japanese gardens. Combining wonder and rigor, she describes how Kyoto's most beloved gardens remain faithful to their founders' creative spirit and conception. Journey to Kyoto's thirty gardens with just a turn of a page, or use the handy maps to plan your trip.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published March 10, 2015
11 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 1, 2021
The pictures are absolutely STUNNING. Japan is my second home and this book has managed to capture the beauty of the country. There’s also heaps of good history and cultural information as well :)
February 23, 2023
Kyoto Kōen
This is a stunningly beautiful book that takes readers on a journey through the tranquil and serene gardens of Kyoto.
The photographs are truly breathtaking and capture the essence of the gardens perfectly.
The author's writeups are informative, providing readers with historical and cultural context, as well as practical tips for visiting the gardens.
The book is a must-have for anyone interested in Japanese gardens or simply looking for a calming and visually pleasing read. I found the recommendations for gardens to visit particularly helpful for planning our trip to Japan / Kyoto.
Overall, this book is a great combination of beauty and practicality, and I highly recommend it.
4.3/5
This is a stunningly beautiful book that takes readers on a journey through the tranquil and serene gardens of Kyoto.
The photographs are truly breathtaking and capture the essence of the gardens perfectly.
The author's writeups are informative, providing readers with historical and cultural context, as well as practical tips for visiting the gardens.
The book is a must-have for anyone interested in Japanese gardens or simply looking for a calming and visually pleasing read. I found the recommendations for gardens to visit particularly helpful for planning our trip to Japan / Kyoto.
Overall, this book is a great combination of beauty and practicality, and I highly recommend it.
4.3/5
February 14, 2018
Beautifully photographed book illuminating the serenity and transcendence of the Kyoto gardens which blend spirituality with natural elements to provide retreats within the city.
April 8, 2016
This is a beautiful example of what natural art is within Japan. I've admired Japanese culture, art, and cuisine ever since I discovered my interest in anime/manga. Reading Clancy's book has renewed my interest to visit Japan and view such artistic splendor that residents and visitors alike may enjoy.
Recommended for those who have been to Japan, those who wish to visit Japan, and those who simply love nature and artistic gardening.
Recommended for those who have been to Japan, those who wish to visit Japan, and those who simply love nature and artistic gardening.
October 18, 2024
Ben Simmons’ photos capture Kyoto’s many a unique garden - the one I would love to visit is:
“Ginkaku-Ji Pure Land Garden:
An earthly paradise was the model for this temple’s garden…For today’s visitor the very first hint of richness of this emperor’s former estate is the elaborate hedge that manifests the concept of shin-gyo-so, the three levels of formality. The bottom, the most informal layer, is constructed of regular stone; the middle is a vertical bamboo fence; and the top is a several-meter-high hedge, kept in meticulous shape even after hundreds of years. A graceful cusped window frames the visitor’s next view; an intriguing juxtaposition of raked sand devoid of any growth, set against a voluptuous backdrop of woodland.”
“Ginkaku-Ji Pure Land Garden:
An earthly paradise was the model for this temple’s garden…For today’s visitor the very first hint of richness of this emperor’s former estate is the elaborate hedge that manifests the concept of shin-gyo-so, the three levels of formality. The bottom, the most informal layer, is constructed of regular stone; the middle is a vertical bamboo fence; and the top is a several-meter-high hedge, kept in meticulous shape even after hundreds of years. A graceful cusped window frames the visitor’s next view; an intriguing juxtaposition of raked sand devoid of any growth, set against a voluptuous backdrop of woodland.”
July 25, 2017
This book would really be a lot better in a bigger format rather than the small, compact square size it currently is printed in, which do no justice to the absolutely beautiful photos found within. If you plan to visit any of Kyoto's gardens, this book contains a listing of a good number of them, providing an overview of the garden's history, and explaining some of the elements seen within (e.g. sand sculptures, raked stone patterns, etc). The photos are plentiful (though small) and give a good idea of what to expect, from the general landscape to tiny features found within (like knots on ropes, a basin of water, etc).
September 12, 2019
The pictures were pretty, but the writing wasn't terribly exciting--I didn't actively enjoy reading the text, and I didn't get a great sense of how one garden might differ from another. I suspect (as is often the case for me, if not for others) this was yet another example of TMPNET (too many photos, not enough text).
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve!
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve!
October 25, 2025
The garden of the Jodo sect temple evokes Zen and Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa becomes an emperor, OK. There are quite a few mistakes in the text, even though there's not much text in the book, and 80% of it is just water. The most informative part of the work is the table of contents, because the authors did choose some really great gardens, but they didn't bother to tell us anything about them. The photos are beautiful, though, no complaints there — I'd happily flip through the pictures again while waiting at the dental office.
December 23, 2025
Great book. Fantastic photography. Beautiful gardens, and I have been to all but three of them spread out in the 1970’s on four separate visits. Would want to return and finish with the gardens not seen. Is possible? Probably not, that’s why I bought the book!
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March 18, 2021I'm thoroughly obsessed with Japanese gardens. This was a beautiful refresher of our Kyoto visit, and inspiring for our own garden.
November 20, 2025
This is so beautiful, it makes me miss Japan so much. How lovely would it be to be sitting in any of these gardens, during any of the seasons with a beautiful cup of matcha... sigh.
June 15, 2017
https://101booksjapan.blogspot.ca/
It seems that the more gardens you see in Kyoto the more gardens and temples there are left to see. And even though I told myself I'd seen enough gardens during my most recent four-day trip to the old Japanese capital, Kyoto Gardens had made me realize how I have scratched the surface.
The book captures the essence of the key gardens and grounds each in four page profiles. Packed with pictures and accompanying short descriptions you get a quick look at and a bit of history of the garden and its temple or palace home.
And actually one great advantage of the book is it has all the photos you wish you could have taken but couldn't because the light was wrong or there were 356 tourists in front of you. So for the places you've been it's a great return visit.
It's a great guide. So I have officially renounced my thought I'd seen enough gardens and temples. I need to see more and this will be my decision guide.
It seems that the more gardens you see in Kyoto the more gardens and temples there are left to see. And even though I told myself I'd seen enough gardens during my most recent four-day trip to the old Japanese capital, Kyoto Gardens had made me realize how I have scratched the surface.
The book captures the essence of the key gardens and grounds each in four page profiles. Packed with pictures and accompanying short descriptions you get a quick look at and a bit of history of the garden and its temple or palace home.
And actually one great advantage of the book is it has all the photos you wish you could have taken but couldn't because the light was wrong or there were 356 tourists in front of you. So for the places you've been it's a great return visit.
It's a great guide. So I have officially renounced my thought I'd seen enough gardens and temples. I need to see more and this will be my decision guide.
June 12, 2016
This is an absolutely gorgeous book. The photographs are amazing and the texts are short, but evocative and also provide background, history and explanation of the gardens showcased. I was lucky enough to have seen some of them, but reading this makes me want to go to Kyoto immediately to visit all the rest (and see the ones I've been to again) ;)
A variety of gardens are selected, some of them a little off the beaten (main) tourist track, which is really nice, too.
This is not only for garden enthusiasts or Japanophiles, but really anyone who loves gorgeous photography. This is a real gem.
A variety of gardens are selected, some of them a little off the beaten (main) tourist track, which is really nice, too.
This is not only for garden enthusiasts or Japanophiles, but really anyone who loves gorgeous photography. This is a real gem.
February 15, 2016
A nice book with nice photos and a nice narrative.
-1 star because some wonderful ideas explained in the text or photos are not given the same reception in the other.
I borrowed this book to study/prepare myself with background information for a friend's upcoming presentation. I feel I am now ready to attend this presentation.
-1 star because some wonderful ideas explained in the text or photos are not given the same reception in the other.
I borrowed this book to study/prepare myself with background information for a friend's upcoming presentation. I feel I am now ready to attend this presentation.
December 18, 2018
This is a beautiful and inspiring book. I love gardens and this book has helped me choose what to visit on trips to Kyoto. It's also helped me understand the design and features of the gardens. I would recommend this to any garden lover traveling to Kyoto who wants to understand more about the gardens they visit.
September 27, 2015
Gorgeous picture book to peruse, especially in fall.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews