A Japanese garden designer develops a conceptual plan for a Japanese garden, sketches it to scale on paper or on the computer, decides whether ponds or sculptures will be included, chooses the plants that will be planted there, and finally supervises the work as the designer’s vision is realized. However, before the Japanese garden designer can start working on the actual design, he or she must first assess the land on which the garden will be built. A Japanese garden designer must consider the land’s drainage and soil types, natural terrain, trees and other vegetation, and the amount of sunlight it receives. All of these factors must be taken into account so that the Japanese garden designer can determine which plants will thrive in the garden and which design elements will complement the natural beauty of the garden.
The designer meets with the customer to determine the type of garden he or she desires. Other types of Japanese gardens, such as Zen Buddhist gardens, strolling gardens, and courtyard gardens, are popular as well. The design work begins in earnest after the Japanese garden designer has a good sense of what the client wants and has properly analyzed and had the garden site professionally surveyed.
Landscape architects are frequently, but not always, graduates of Japanese garden design programs. Landscape architecture bachelor’s and master’s degree programs are available at colleges and universities all over the world. A higher concentration in design is available at some of these schools.
Landscape architects work as interns and apprentices for professional landscape architects for a few years during school and after graduation before going out on their own. Landscape architects are required to be licensed in some countries. To obtain a license in the United States, most states require landscape architects to take and pass the Landscape Architect Registration Examination. Garden designers who have not studied landscape architecture may have studied design, art, or horticulture or environmental programs.
Garden designers and landscape architects who specialize in creating Japanese gardens frequently have a strong affinity for or interest in Japanese culture. Many people travel to Japan to learn about the culture. This also allows them to see authentic Japanese gardens up close and personal, which will help them with their studies.