japan, Gardening and Plants, Gardening, gardens, Photography, asia, Landscape Design 

This collection of 75 photographs introduces 45 renowned Japanese gardens, ranging in location from Aomori Prefecture in the north to Kagoshima Prefecture in the south. The author is freelance photographer Sadao Hibi, known for his works on Japanese fine art, as well as several previous Graphic-sha publications: "Japan's Best-Loved Gardens," the series "Japanese Tradition in Color and Form" (Dress; Cuisine; Architecture; Pastimes), and two editions of the book "Japanese Traditional Patterns."This collection includes gardens of the Katsura Imperial Villa, the Sentou Imperial Palace, and the Shuugakuin Imperial Villa, all Kyoto locations under the administration of the Imperial Household Agency; the garden of the Former Shiba Imperial Villa, in Tokyo; the Shibata family garden, in Fukui Prefecture; the Makaya-ji Temple garden, in Shizuoka Prefecture; the Tentoku-in Temple garden, in Wakayama Prefecture; and others, ten of which are classed as "scenic" gardens under the Cultural Properties Protection Act but were not included in "Japan's Best-Loved Gardens." Another 32 superb gardens which have received little popular notice are also included, for a total of 45 locations.The book includes an introduction and explanatory appendix by garden researcher and architect Isao Yoshikawa, as well as a section of detailed notes, "The styles of Japanese Gardens." - from Amzon