With over ninety pages of color photographs and numerous maps, plans, and sketches, The Gardens of Japan is both textually informative and a treat for the eyes. It begins with the origins and history of the garden in Japan, discusses the different types that evolved over time, brings the story up to date with the development of the modern garden, and takes a close look at the materials that go into their creation. The sequence ends with a look at the author's favorite gardens, both modern and ancient. Among the gardens included are those at Daisen-in, Ryoan-ji, Shoden-ji, Katsura Detached Palace, Shugaku-in Detached Palace, and Tenryu-ji. The gardens range from beautiful orchestrations of greenery to simple yet profound placements of a few stones. These gardens represent one of Japan's foremost contributions to world culture. A reading of The Gardens of Japan makes this abundantly clear.

Whether the reader's interest lies in the purely aesthetic, the horticultural, or in historical fact, The Gardens of Japan is sure to meet expectations.