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A Japanese water garden is a place of serenity. It is a place that one can go to appreciate nature, gather one's thoughts, and relax to the humble sounds of nature. You can create this type of garden in your own back yard and enjoy it's offerings for years to come.

If you live in a crowded noisy area, but have a backyard to work with, you can still have this type of garden. For you, proper placement and some natural sound barriers are important. Boulders can create a sound barrier that will drown out the sounds of passing traffic or noisy neighbors. Certain plants can also do that job such as the arborvitae variety of tall bushes. These bushes are typically inexpensive and create a nice looking natural sound barrier that can do the same job that boulders can do. These plants may start smaller, so it may take a few years before they become effective, or you can choose to purchase the taller, more established plants, but these will cost a little more.

For those that have a little more land to work with, this will not be a problem and unless you want to create a natural barrier for privacy, you will not need to take that first step.

Once sound barriers have been decided, locations will also need to be decided. You want your utopia to be away from traffic and neighbors, but within the confines of your land. This will allow you to have some privacy and gain the feel that you are truly "away" from the humdrum of everyday life. It should be a place that you can "escape" to, not one that enhances the stresses in life.

The next decision will be whether or not you want to raise Koi fish. These are typically found in Japanese water gardens and will require some care. If caring for fish, remember to dig deep enough so that the water won't freeze in the winter. Also be sure that the pond is large enough for the fish to reproduce without being cramped.

In order to enhance the feel of your gardens you will need a few decorative elements as well. You will probably want to use various stone steps throughout the garden and some boulders for decoration. Many people put bridges into their gardens and use lanterns to light up the water garden. You may also want to use bamboo, dwarf pines, and some benches throughout the garden as well.

A Japanese water garden is one that will require some work and research in its creation, but the benefits are unparalleled. For many years you and your friends and family will watch the pond thrive and bask in the serenity that it creates. It is an aesthetic beauty and a lovely addition to any back yard.