The Japanese garden is an important element in Japanese culture , it's influenced by the principal religion of Japan, the Shintoism , in this religion the jinn or spirits of nature and even nature itself are worshipped. An example of this worship is the Mount Fuji in which reside many deities of Shinto and the mount itself is sacred.
Another influence is Taoism, Chinese religion based on the thoughts of the philosopher Lao Tzu ( Old Master ) whose real name is not known . him written named "Tao Te Ching" gives a guide to this religion. Roughly, Taoism promotes harmony and such harmony is reflected especially in the nature which man must respect as something sacred.
There are several types of Japanese gardens, the garden that is located in Montevideo comprises a tea lounge so it is considered a tea garden , consisting of a living room thatched which is accessed through stone paths that are surrounded by different types of vegetation and ponds where there are fishes. There are also a stones grouping that are symbolizing a mountain , which is essential in a Japanese garden and also there are also two stone lanterns, one at the border of the pond and another to light the way.
The Japanese garden of Montevideo is located at the same facilities that the museum named Juan Manuel Blanes in the Prado neighbourhood. The garden was designed by the Japanese landscape Haruho Ieda who was commissioned by the Embassy of Japan in the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Uruguay and Japan.
