Katsura Detached Palace (a casestudy): its landscaping and architecture
Red indicates area of the Palace reproduced in the model.

Generally "Garden" in Japan can comprises rather an idea than an actual plot of land; this can range from a single flower arrangement to a miniature garden imitating a landscape or a stone garden with nothing but a few rocks surrounded with raked pebbles. The origin of those gardens can be traced back Zen Buddhist concept of minimalism and engagement of the own mind to transform these "ideas" of a garden into a real landscape.

In the case of the Katsura Rikyu, the designer has distanced himself from religious aspects and planned the garden purely for pleasure and entertainment. The Palace was designed to be used between spring and autumn, accordingly the garden reflected the needs of a summering place, providing enjoyment with its splendid vegetation, strolling paths, riding grounds and a large pond for boating as well as a dramatic setting for tea ceremonies. The path leading through the garden was designed to connect these teahouses, entertaining the visitors with kaleidoscopic views, and multi-sensual experiences through variations in materials, terrain, breezes and temperatures. A complex development of time and space.
Traditional houses were ordinarily arranged to face either the south, or the east or west, along a straight axis. When compared with the usual azimuth of dwelling architecture, the individual structures of Katsura Palace faced 19 degrees southeast - the builder/designer Prince Toshihito was fond of moon viewing - this position allowed both for a perfect view of the harvest moon just rising above the horizon and full sunlight during the four seasons as well as the cool breeze in summer. Accordingly, the palace had a space exclusive for moon viewing, this beauty reflected in the pond.
Apart from aesthetic pleasures, the garden served the simple task of funneling and cooling the breezes through vegetation and the open water. When sunlight was required in the winter, seasonal changes of the trees allowed for the rays to pass through the bare branches.