Psychological Restoration during the Contemplation of Japanese-style Stroll Gardens

摘要

To study the Japanese-style garden as a place of psychological restoration, a survey has been conducted at the Hamarikyū Gardens and at Koishikawa Kōrakuen in Tokyo, Japan. The purpose of the survey was, first, to understand whether visitors conceive looking at a garden view as a healing experience and, second, to explore the reasons why it is so. The results confirmed that contemplating a garden is perceived as a relaxing activity that inspires positive feelings - as supported by previous research in environmental psychology. The elements of the garden view that inspired these feelings were examined and grouped into three categories: nature, aesthetics and space-time.