Exploring the timeless beauty of Isuien: Reflections from Japan
By Liz Nicholson, Managing Director
As I travel to Fukuoka, on the southern tip of Japan, to help judge their very first flower show created in the style of RHS Chelsea, I am taking the opportunity to immerse myself in the extraordinary world of Japanese gardens. This journey is as much about learning and cultural exchange as it is about horticulture and my first stop, Isuien Garden in Nara, offered an unforgettable introduction to the heart of Japanese landscape philosophy.
Discovering Nara’s historic strolling garden
Isuien is one of Japan’s most admired traditional strolling gardens, formed from two parts: the front garden crafted in the 17th century and the rear garden added in the 19th century. These were beautifully unified in 1939, creating the richly layered site that exists today.
The garden is especially revered for its use of shakkei or borrowed scenery. The designers expertly framed views of the Todai-ji Temple and the surrounding hills, blending the garden with the wider landscape in a way that feels both deliberate and profoundly natural. Water from the Yoshikigawa River feeds the ponds and streams, bringing movement and life throughout the space.
On arrival, a sense of peace immediately washes over you. Routes through the garden are gently waymarked and small rocks bound with rope politely discourage access to areas under preservation – a simple but touching expression of respect for nature.
Exploring the timeless beauty of Isuien: Reflections from Japan
By Liz Nicholson, Managing Director
As I travel to Fukuoka, on the southern tip of Japan, to help judge their very first flower show created in the style of RHS Chelsea, I am taking the opportunity to immerse myself in the extraordinary world of Japanese gardens. This journey is as much about learning and cultural exchange as it is about horticulture and my first stop, Isuien Garden in Nara, offered an unforgettable introduction to the heart of Japanese landscape philosophy.
Discovering Nara’s historic strolling garden
Isuien is one of Japan’s most admired traditional strolling gardens, formed from two parts: the front garden crafted in the 17th century and the rear garden added in the 19th century. These were beautifully unified in 1939, creating the richly layered site that exists today.
The garden is especially revered for its use of shakkei or borrowed scenery. The designers expertly framed views of the Todai-ji Temple and the surrounding hills, blending the garden with the wider landscape in a way that feels both deliberate and profoundly natural. Water from the Yoshikigawa River feeds the ponds and streams, bringing movement and life throughout the space.
On arrival, a sense of peace immediately washes over you. Routes through the garden are gently waymarked and small rocks bound with rope politely discourage access to areas under preservation – a simple but touching expression of respect for nature.
A masterclass in sensory design
Water is ever-present at Isuien. As I walked, I was struck by how its character shifted from one space to another. With your eyes closed, you can distinguish the gentle burble of a stream from the energetic rush of gushing water – each soundscape intentionally crafted.
It is this sensory richness that defines the Japanese garden experience. These landscapes are not only to be viewed; they are designed to deepen presence, awareness and the emotional journey of the visitor.
The quiet beauty of late winter
I visited at the very end of winter – a time when some might feel the garden is past its prime, with golden, tired moss and leafless trees. But for me, this was the perfect moment.
With less foliage to soften the scene, the garden’s structure, stonework and topography take centre stage. One memorable detail came as I walked from the waiting house toward the tea house: at first, the path is laid with flat pebbles. Passing through a small gate, the surface subtly shifts to rounded stones, encouraging a slower, more mindful pace.
Entry to the Tea Hut itself is through a 70 cm opening – ensuring, historically, that Samurai left their swords outside. A charming and humbling reminder of the etiquette that once shaped daily life.
A masterclass in sensory design
Water is ever-present at Isuien. As I walked, I was struck by how its character shifted from one space to another. With your eyes closed, you can distinguish the gentle burble of a stream from the energetic rush of gushing water – each soundscape intentionally crafted.
It is this sensory richness that defines the Japanese garden experience. These landscapes are not only to be viewed; they are designed to deepen presence, awareness and the emotional journey of the visitor.
The quiet beauty of late winter
I visited at the very end of winter – a time when some might feel the garden is past its prime, with golden, tired moss and leafless trees. But for me, this was the perfect moment.
With less foliage to soften the scene, the garden’s structure, stonework and topography take centre stage. One memorable detail came as I walked from the waiting house toward the tea house: at first, the path is laid with flat pebbles. Passing through a small gate, the surface subtly shifts to rounded stones, encouraging a slower, more mindful pace.
Entry to the Tea Hut itself is through a 70 cm opening – ensuring, historically, that Samurai left their swords outside. A charming and humbling reminder of the etiquette that once shaped daily life.
Sustainability woven quietly into the craft
One of the most inspiring aspects of Isuien is how sustainability is embedded naturally, rather than declared. All the rocks are from local geology. Many of the buildings and structures utilise timber repurposed from old water mills once used by monks.
Nothing is wasteful. Everything is respectful.
This quiet, thoughtful approach resonates deeply with our ethos at Nicholsons – designing landscapes that work harmoniously with nature and honour the story of their surroundings.
The mountains as silent anchors
The garden is beautifully framed by three distant mountains, which act as a natural anchor to the entire design. They lend a timeless backdrop that brings scale, depth and a powerful sense of place.
Standing there in the cool winter air, with the soft outlines of temple roofs and hillside forests blending into the horizon, I felt the garden’s deep elegance – enduring, understated and profoundly connected to the land.
Why these lessons matter to Nicholsons
Travelling through Japan has reaffirmed some of the core principles we hold at Nicholsons:
- Work with nature’s character, not against it
- Choose materials that belong to the landscape
- Create gardens that evoke emotion through all the senses
- Celebrate simplicity and authenticity
These values lie at the centre of sustainable design and experiencing them in the birthplace of such traditions is both grounding and inspiring.
Sustainability woven quietly into the craft
One of the most inspiring aspects of Isuien is how sustainability is embedded naturally, rather than declared. All the rocks are from local geology. Many of the buildings and structures utilise timber repurposed from old water mills once used by monks.
Nothing is wasteful. Everything is respectful.
This quiet, thoughtful approach resonates deeply with our ethos at Nicholsons – designing landscapes that work harmoniously with nature and honour the story of their surroundings.
The mountains as silent anchors
The garden is beautifully framed by three distant mountains, which act as a natural anchor to the entire design. They lend a timeless backdrop that brings scale, depth and a powerful sense of place.
Standing there in the cool winter air, with the soft outlines of temple roofs and hillside forests blending into the horizon, I felt the garden’s deep elegance – enduring, understated and profoundly connected to the land.
Why these lessons matter to Nicholsons
Travelling through Japan has reaffirmed some of the core principles we hold at Nicholsons:
- Work with nature’s character, not against it
- Choose materials that belong to the landscape
- Create gardens that evoke emotion through all the senses
- Celebrate simplicity and authenticity
These values lie at the centre of sustainable design and experiencing them in the birthplace of such traditions is both grounding and inspiring.
