Japanese Landscape Garden Mitsui Osaka Premier
Located in Nakanoshima, Osaka’s business district, the Mitsui Osaka Premier Japanese landscape garden was designed with the concept of engaging all five senses of the hotel’s discerning clientele. The landscape design firm STGK (Studio Gen Kumagai), based in Kanagawa Prefecture, crafted the hotel’s gardens with the intention of making them visible from the surrounding high-rise office buildings, allowing hotel guests to admire the gardens from above.
STGK Studio’s Conceptual Designs



The gardens align with the hotel’s main theme, which can be described as “refined Japanese style.” In Japanese cuisine, there is a practice called “kaishiki,” where food is decorated with seasonal flowers and leaves. STGK Studio developed the concept of a “kaishiki garden,” embodying a distinctive Japanese sensitivity and deep respect for the landscape. Various types of cherry trees were carefully selected to reflect the movement of wind and water, with subtle transformations in nature symbolizing a unique form of hospitality.

The Nakanoshima area, including the project site, is undergoing continuous renewal. The planting of cherry trees and the concept of expressing seasonality through these trees were key elements of the project.



The garden’s corner plot is situated in an office district, and the space allocated for the garden is rather limited. The challenge was to create a garden with two purposes: first, a park-like space that would enrich the daily lives of city residents, and second, a Japanese-style garden that would provide hotel guests with a special experience, especially at night. A traditional Japanese pattern was incorporated into various elements of the design and distributed throughout the garden. In some areas, squares form paths, while in others, they appear on screens. It was essential to maintain a sense of unity in the garden, while offering diverse perspectives depending on the viewer’s position.



The project also included the development of an intricate garden lighting system, adding a magical atmosphere to the space in the evening.

This project clearly demonstrated the important role gardens play in urban environments. The creation of gardens in office districts in large cities positively impacts the mood and productivity of those nearby, offering a welcome break from the confines of office spaces and a chance to enjoy nature, even within the limited space of a garden. Additionally, incorporating gardens into high-level design projects significantly enhances customer service quality and serves as an effective marketing tool.
The Expertise of Ideologist
Ideologist has extensive experience collaborating with Japanese landscape design firms and offers its clients unique landscape design projects for business centers, modern offices, private residences, and commercial properties. A Japanese-style landscape brings tranquility and serenity, highlighting refined taste and distinguishing the property. Ideologist promotes the work of Japanese designers in the Russian Federation, allowing clients to commission garden projects that adhere to Japanese aesthetics while being adapted to local natural and climatic conditions.
The History and Evolution of Japanese Garden Aesthetics
The aesthetics of Japanese gardens began to take shape during the Heian period (791–1185), when the Japanese aristocracy distanced itself from governing the country and focused on the development of the arts and refined taste in all aspects, from poetry to gardening. The principles established during this period have been passed down through generations and have remarkably survived to this day.
Deep respect and admiration for nature, as well as close observation of its changes, play a significant role in all forms of Japanese art. Japanese-style gardens have served as a muse for many artists and poets. Beginning in the 15th century, the development of the tea ceremony significantly influenced the style and layout of gardens, giving rise to a distinct style known as the “tea garden.” The landscape of these gardens is usually simple: a stone path leads to a tea house, stone lanterns illuminate the surroundings while serving as decorative elements, and a tsukubai, a small basin carved from stone, is used for ritual purification.
Stroll Gardens and Other Japanese Garden Styles
Stroll gardens represent a different style and approach to gardening. These gardens often feature ponds with islands and bridges, artificial hills, and winding paths where Japanese aristocrats and samurai would take leisurely walks. A key design principle of such gardens is constant change; each turn in the path should reveal something new to the observer. These gardens are commonly found in palaces and former feudal estates.
Due to limited land in Japanese cities, “tsuboniwa” gardens (literally “gardens measuring 3.3 square meters”) have been popular both in the past and today. These gardens are located in inner courtyards or between urban houses. Despite their small size, they embody all the principles of Japanese aesthetic gardening and are often masterpieces of landscape design, providing endless enjoyment when viewed from a window or terrace. A love of nature encourages many city dwellers to get creative in their designs, fitting a complete Japanese-style composition into a small plot.
While fewer families today can afford a traditional Japanese garden, the traditions of gardening thrive in parks and public spaces, where fundamental principles are reinterpreted through contemporary design.