The history of the Japanese garden dates back thousands of years to the very origins of the Japanese people who depended on the land for sustenance. A reverence for everything in nature developed. Trees, rocks, hillsides, the sun, the rain, etc. were each assigned a god or kami which had to be enticed to earth in order to bring good fortune. This belief is the basis of the native religion, Shinto. The very first Shinto temples were in fact gardens or clearings in the woods which were covered with white sand, encircled by rice-fiber rope, made beautiful and purified in order to receive the gods.

In 260 B.C. a shrine was built in Ise to honor the sun goddess Amaterasu which to this day is considered one of the most sacred places in Japan. The shrine incorporates a wooded area with a path leading to a large, enclosed rock garden and two ancient structures. The stark aesthetic of the Ise shrine is reflected in the design of Japanese gardens all the way up to the present day. In 607, Ono No Imoku who lead Japan's first diplomatic mission to China was impressed with the way the Chinese created the effect of large-scale natural wonders such as mountains, islands and lakes within the limited space of a garden. Upon returning to Nara, he introduced Chinese gardening techniques which were quickly adopted by garden designers who were typically Buddhist priests. Buddhism flourished as well and as temples were built so were the gardens surrounding them. Near the end of the Heian period (794-1195 A.D.), a book detailing Japanese gardening techniques and aesthetics called, "Sakuteiki" was compiled. The Kamakura period (1185-1333) was the next great period of influence relative to the Japanese garden. The samurai took over the country and embraced the austere tenets of Zen Buddhism. The karesansui style of gardening became popular which was essentially a "dry style" in which sand was used to represent the ocean, and rocks the surrounding hillsides and islands. Since the path to enlightenment included proficiency in the arts, Zen priests became accomplished in painting, calligraphy, tea ceremony and gardening. In fact the garden, like the tea house was considered an ideal place for meditation. With continued influence from China and eventually the West, gardens became somewhat more literal. Ponds were used to represent oceans, bridges were included providing new perspectives and shrubs and trees were added to the garden landscape.

To this day, many of Japan's oldest gardens are still maintained with the utmost dedication as they have been for centuries and are enjoyed by people worldwide. Modern hotels usually include a Japanese style garden which is a popular spot for weddings and large-scale celebrations. Even the contemporary Japanese home with its limited space has a garden however small. Whether these gardens are more Zen in style or Western, big or little, the common theme is a reverence for nature expressed in a way which is uniquely Japanese.