I am looking for a "landscape architect" who specializes in Japanese gardens.

Finding a landscape architect or designer who truly understands the nuanced, deeply philosophical art of the Japanese garden requires looking for specialists who have trained either in Japan or under traditional masters.

Several prominent landscape architects, designers, and specialized design-build firms across North America focus on authentic Japanese and Zen gardens:

• Hoichi Kurisu / Kurisu LLC (Based in Portland, OR, projects nationwide) – A renowned, award-winning Japanese-born designer specializing in traditional and healing gardens. He has worked on prominent public spaces like the Portland Japanese Garden, Anderson Japanese Gardens, and Morikami Museum and Gardens. You can view his work via Kurisu LLC.
• Sadafumi Uchiyama (Portland, OR / International) – A third-generation Japanese gardener and registered landscape architect who serves as Curator Emeritus of the Portland Japanese Garden. He frequently collaborates globally on high-end public and private Japanese landscape spaces. Learn more through the Portland Japanese Garden.
• Shin Abe / ZEN Associates (Woburn, MA and Silver Spring, MD) – Highlighted as one of North America's contemporary masters of Japanese garden design, Shin Abe and his firm provide high-end landscape architecture blending modern site needs with traditional Japanese principles. Details are available at ZEN Associates.
• Kohei Owatari / Modern Zen Garden (Southern California) – Trained in Tokyo and having worked on garden retreats for the Japanese royal family, Owatari specializes in both traditional and contemporary Japanese gardens throughout Southern California. See portfolio examples at Modern Zen Garden.
• Asher Browne Gardens (New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut tri-state area) – A specialized design-build firm focusing on authentic Japanese residential gardens emphasizing stone, water, and indoor-outdoor integration. More can be found at Asher Browne.
• Nagomi Landscape (San Jose / Silicon Valley, CA) – Founded by Masakazu (Masa) Sato, who brings decades of training from Japan and California, specializing in preserving traditional Japanese landscape craftsmanship. Information is provided at Nagomi Landscape.
• Lee's Oriental Landscape Art (Ashton, MD / Washington D.C. metro area) – A full-service design firm with a long-standing reputation for Asian-themed and Japanese gardens featuring custom stonework, water features, and specimen trees. You can explore their work at Lee's Oriental Landscape Art.

If you share your general location or region and whether this is for a residential or commercial project , I can help narrow down the closest specialized designer or suggest local resources.

Yes. Since you’re in the St. Cloud/Orlando area, I found a few promising options, but there’s an important distinction: some are licensed landscape architects who have done Japanese-inspired work, while others specifically market Japanese/Zen garden design.

Best matches I found

• Floravie Design — Orlando/Central Florida. This is a licensed landscape architecture firm, and I found a documented project specifically called a “Japanese Meditation Garden” in Orlando. Their project incorporated Japanese-influenced paving, fencing, bamboo screening, and a Japanese-style planting approach.

• Garden Traditions — Orlando. This is particularly interesting because Japanese gardens are explicitly listed among their services, along with garden design, water gardens, and design-installation oversight.

• Greener Industries — Orlando — Their landscape architecture services specifically list “Japanese & Zen Gardens” as a design specialty, along with water features and minimalist landscapes.

• Stephen G Pategas Landscape Architecture / Hortus Oasis — Winter Park. A strong candidate if you want a true landscape architect and garden designer rather than simply a landscaping contractor. Their practice focuses on custom residential gardens and detailed, buildable plans throughout Central Florida.

One I'd investigate first

Floravie Design stands out to me because there's actual evidence of a completed Japanese garden project in Orlando, rather than simply a company saying it can create a “Zen” landscape. If your goal is a genuine Japanese garden—careful stone placement, asymmetry, borrowed scenery, water, pathways, appropriate pruning, and Japanese garden symbolism—I would ask them specifically about their experience with traditional Japanese garden design.

If you'd like, I can also dig deeper and find 5–10 specialists within about 50 miles of St. Cloud, including their portfolios, phone numbers, websites, approximate distance from you, and whether they're licensed landscape architects vs. Japanese garden designers/installers.

Finding a landscape architect or designer who specializes in authentic Japanese gardens involves looking for professionals trained in traditional Japanese aesthetics, stone placement, and plant shaping.

Notable landscape architects and specialized design firms known for traditional and contemporary Japanese gardens in North America include:

• Kurisu International – Founded by master designer Hoichi Kurisu, known for large public and private restorative Japanese gardens across the U.S. (such as projects at Frederik Meijer Gardens).
• Sadafumi Uchiyama – Landscape architect and Curator Emeritus of the Portland Japanese Garden, specializing in authentic Japanese garden design and institutional collaborations.
• ZEN Associates – Led by Shin Abe, specializing in high-end residential and corporate Japanese-style landscape architecture and environmental design in the Eastern US.
• Marc Peter Keane – Landscape architect based in the US/Japan who designs contemporary karesansui (dry landscape/zen) gardens and has authored multiple definitive books on the subject.
• Asher Browne Gardens – Specializes in custom Japanese garden design and build services serving the greater New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut regions.
• Nagomi Landscape – Led by Masa Sato, offering traditional Japanese garden architecture and construction in California's Silicon Valley/Bay Area.

You can also check the professional directory hosted by the North American Japanese Garden Association to find vetted designers, landscape architects, and builders local to your specific region.

If you share your city or region , I can help you look for local landscape architects or specialized design-build contractors near you.

Absolutely. If you're looking in Colorado, I found several especially strong candidates for Japanese-garden work:

• Desirae D. Wood / Dobro Design — probably the closest match to your request. Wood is a licensed landscape architect with extensive training in traditional Japanese garden techniques and was formerly garden asset manager at the Portland Japanese Garden. She designed Denver's Flower Mountain Zendo Garden, a 2025 ASLA Colorado/Wyoming award-winning Japanese dry landscape garden.

• Marpa Landscape Architecture — a Boulder firm founded by Martin Mosko, who trained extensively with Japanese master gardeners and built numerous Japanese-influenced gardens in the Rockies. The firm continues his contemplative-design tradition under principal Luke Sanzone.

• Mariko Tominaga / SEED Design — a licensed Colorado landscape architect with Japanese architectural training and experience in both Japan and the U.S. Her work incorporates Japanese aesthetics into regional landscapes.

• James D. Brown / Living Design Landscapes — Colorado landscape designer with Japanese-garden work among his projects.

My first two calls would be Dobro Design and Marpa, particularly if you want an authentically Japanese garden rather than a conventional landscape with a few Japanese-style elements.

If you tell me what city/area the property is in and roughly the size/type of garden (courtyard, backyard, large estate, pond garden, Zen/dry garden, etc.), I can narrow this down to the best 3–5 people and include contact information and examples of their work.

Assuming you’re near Forest Park, Ohio, I found a few landscape architects and Japanese-garden specialists worth contacting. The best matches are not necessarily the closest general landscapers, but people with demonstrated Japanese garden experience.

Strong Japanese garden matches

• Iwakura Japanese Gardens — specializes specifically in Japanese-inspired garden design, construction, and ongoing care. They work on elements such as stone composition, water features, and traditional Japanese garden concepts. They serve Central Ohio and beyond, so they may be a good fit if you want a more authentic approach.

• David Toguchi Landscape Architect — a licensed landscape architect whose portfolio includes Japanese/Zen garden design work, including a Japanese-style residential garden project adapted to the Midwest climate.

• Devore's Land & Water Gardens — located in Hamilton, OH, and lists Japanese garden concepts among its design specialties, including stone placement, water features, and garden composition.

Cincinnati-area landscape architects who could adapt a Japanese design

• Meisner + Associates / Land Vision — a Cincinnati landscape architecture firm with licensed landscape architects and broad site-design experience. They may be worth contacting for a custom Japanese-inspired residential garden, especially if you need full plans and coordination.

• Outside Influence Landscape Design Group — Milford-based landscape design firm offering custom garden design and master planning.

When you call, I’d ask specifically:

1. “Can you show me completed Japanese garden projects you designed?”
2. “Do you have experience with Japanese pruning, stone placement, water features, tea-garden or dry-garden principles?”
3. “Will you provide a landscape plan, or only installation?”

If you tell me your city/neighborhood, yard size, and whether you want a traditional Japanese garden, Zen/dry garden, or Japanese-inspired Midwest garden, I can narrow this to the best 3–5 candidates.

Finding a landscape architect or designer who truly understands the deep philosophy, stone-setting techniques, and delicate pruning required for an authentic Japanese garden requires looking for specific expertise.

Where to Find Vetted Specialists

• North American Japanese Garden Association (NAJGA) Professional Directory : This is the gold standard for locating certified landscape architects, designers, and design-build contractors specializing specifically in Japanese gardens across North America.
• Local Japanese/Botanical Gardens: Reaching out to the management or curators of major public Japanese gardens in your region often connects you with recommended local artisans and designers they collaborate with for maintenance and expansion.

Notable Practitioners & Firms (By Region)

ZEN Associates 3.9 (15)
Landscape designer
Closed Woburn, MA
CallDirections Website Led by Shin Abe, recognized as a contemporary master of Japanese garden design blending traditional philosophy with modern architecture.

Kurisu International 5.0 (2)
Landscape designer
Tigard, OR
CallDirections Website Kurisu International (Portland, OR / National projects): Founded by Hoichi Kurisu, renowned for large-scale public and private restorative Japanese gardens across the U.S.

Nagomi Landscape 5.0 (1)
Landscape designer
Closed San Jose, CA
CallDirections Website Nagomi Landscape (Silicon Valley / Bay Area, CA): Headed by Masa Sato, offering traditional Japanese landscape artistry and design-build services tailored to local microclimates.

Hanselman Landscape and Gardens 5.0 (14)
Landscape designer
Closed Manheim, PA
CallDirections Website Hanselman Landscape and Gardens (Pennsylvania / Mid-Atlantic region): Known for incorporating centuries-old Japanese traditions, stone arrangement, and authentic detailing.

To help narrow down the right architect or firm for you, please share:

• Your geographic location (city/state)
• Whether this is for a residential or commercial space
• If you are looking for pure design/architecture or a design-build contractor who also constructs and installs the hardscapes

Finding a landscape architect or designer who truly understands the deep philosophy, stone-setting techniques, and precise horticultural pruning of traditional Japanese gardens requires looking for specialists.

Top-tier resources and renowned North American landscape architects specializing in Japanese gardens include:

• The North American Japanese Garden Association (NAJGA) : The best official directory to find vetted professionals, designers, and builders is through the NAJGA Professional Directory . They specialize in connecting people with authentic craftspeople and landscape architects dedicated to Japanese garden preservation and creation.
• Hoichi Kurisu (Kurisu LLC) : Based in the Pacific Northwest, Kurisu is one of the most legendary Japanese garden designers in North America, having worked on major public and private spaces including the Portland Japanese Garden and Anderson Japanese Gardens.
• Sadafumi Uchiyama : The Chief Curator Emeritus of the Portland Japanese Garden, Uchiyama is a registered landscape architect who leads high-profile traditional and contemporary Japanese garden integrations across the United States (such as projects at the Denver Botanic Gardens and Duke University).
• ZEN Associates (Shin Abe) : Based in the Boston area, Shin Abe is widely recognized as a contemporary master of Japanese garden design, specializing in blending traditional Zen principles with modern architectural landscapes.
• Marc Peter Keane : A landscape architect based in Ithaca, New York, Keane is uniquely trained in Japan, spent years designing gardens there, and has authored several seminal books on Marc Peter Keane on the Art of Japanese Gardens . He specializes in contemporary karesansui (dry landscape/zen) gardens.
• John Powell (Zoen LLC Associates) : Operating nationwide, Powell is a specialized Japanese garden design, construction, and maintenance consultant trained extensively in the history and practical execution of authentic Japanese spaces.

If you share your general location or region and whether this is for a residential or commercial project , I can help narrow down the closest specialized landscape architects or local design-build firms.

If you're in the York, Pennsylvania area, there are a few firms that stand out because they either specialize in Japanese gardens or have significant experience designing them.

The strongest local option is Hanselman Landscape and Gardens in Manheim, PA. They explicitly offer Japanese garden design and installation, drawing on traditional Japanese design principles while adapting them to Pennsylvania landscapes. They serve Lancaster, York, Harrisburg, and surrounding areas, making them one of the closest specialists.

If you're willing to work with someone a bit farther away, these are also highly regarded:

• Lee's Oriental Landscape Art, LLC (Ashton, MD) — A long-established firm focused specifically on Japanese gardens, offering design, installation, and maintenance. Their portfolio includes traditional Japanese and Zen gardens.
• SED Design Associates (Blue Bell, PA) — A landscape architecture firm with experience creating Japanese-inspired water gardens, teahouse settings, and site-specific residential landscapes.
• EdenScapes (Upper Chichester, PA) — Offers Japanese garden design ranging from Zen courtyards to larger stroll gardens, with an emphasis on adapting the design to the site's size and climate.

When evaluating designers, it's worth asking:

• Have you designed authentic Japanese gardens, not just "Japanese-inspired" landscapes?
• Can you show completed projects that include stone placement, pruning, water features, and garden composition?
• Do you understand the long-term maintenance that Japanese gardens require?
• Have you studied Japanese garden traditions or trained under experienced practitioners?

If your goal is a particularly authentic garden, firms that emphasize study of traditional Japanese garden design (rather than simply using Japanese maples and lanterns) tend to produce more cohesive results.

Could you tell me a little about the project? For example:

• Is it a small Zen courtyard, a tea garden, or a larger stroll garden?
• Approximately how large is the property?
• Are you looking for design only, or design and installation?

If you're looking for someone who truly understands traditional Japanese garden design (rather than simply adding Japanese-style plants or stone lanterns), it's worth focusing on landscape architects or design-build firms with specific training or a portfolio in Japanese gardens.

Based on your location in central Illinois, these are strong options:

1. Water Gardening and Landscapes by J. Skuba (Lake Forest, IL)

   • Specializes in Japanese-inspired gardens, koi ponds, waterfalls, aesthetic pruning (niwaki), and traditional garden elements.
   • Works throughout the greater Chicago and North Shore region.
   • This is probably the closest Illinois firm that explicitly focuses on Japanese garden design.

2. Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects (Chicago)

   • Nationally recognized landscape architecture firm.
   • While not exclusively Japanese gardens, they are known for high-end, finely crafted gardens and would be capable of designing a Japanese-inspired landscape.

3. Bergfeld Landscape Architecture Studio Ltd. (Henry, IL)

   • A Central Illinois landscape architecture practice.
   • They don't specialize in Japanese gardens, but if you want someone closer for site visits, they may be worth consulting and could collaborate with a Japanese garden specialist.

If you're open to working with someone outside Illinois (many will travel or provide design services remotely), these are among the most respected specialists in North America:

• Sadafumi Uchiyama — internationally recognized for Japanese garden design and restoration, including projects in Chicago.
• Asher Browne Gardens (New York) — specializes exclusively in custom Japanese gardens from concept through construction.

If your project is significant (for example, over $50,000), hiring a nationally recognized Japanese garden designer for the master plan and then having a local contractor build it is a common approach.

Could you tell me:

• Is this for a small residential backyard, a large estate, or a commercial/public property?
• Approximately how large is the area (for example, 500 sq ft, ¼ acre, or 2 acres)?

Finding a landscape architect who truly understands the deep philosophy, stone placement, and aesthetic of Japanese gardening requires looking for specialists who have trained in traditional methods—often via apprenticeships or direct study in Japan.

To help you find the right professional, consider these top-tier landscape architects and specialized design-build firms recognized in North America, as well as the best directory to search locally:

Notable Specialists and Designers in North America

• Sadafumi Uchiyama: Curator Emeritus of the Portland Japanese Garden and a registered landscape architect. He has designed and consulted on major public and high-profile Japanese gardens across the U.S. (including the Denver Botanic Gardens and Duke University).
• Hoichi Kurisu (Kurisu LLC): A legendary name in Japanese garden design responsible for world-class spaces like the Portland Japanese Garden, Anderson Japanese Gardens, and Frederik Meijer Gardens. His work focuses heavily on healing and therapeutic spaces through traditional design.
• Shin Abe (ZEN Associates): Based in the Boston/New England area and highlighted as a leading master of Japanese garden design in North America, blending traditional concepts with modern architecture.
• Marc Peter Keane: A landscape architect based in New York who spent years working in Kyoto, Japan. He specializes in contemporary karesansui (dry landscape/rock) gardens and has authored several seminal books on the subject.
• Regional Design-Build Firms: Depending on your location, firms like Asher Browne Gardens (NY/NJ/CT area), Lee's Oriental Landscape Art (Washington D.C. area), or Modern Zen Garden (Southern California) specialize explicitly in authentic stone setting, pruning, and Japanese aesthetics.

The Best Industry Directory

If you want to find a certified professional or contractor near your specific location, use the North American Japanese Garden Association (NAJGA) Professional Directory . NAJGA is the premier cultural and professional hub linking authentic Japanese garden designers, landscape architects, and specialized horticulturists across the continent.

If you share your city or region , I can help narrow down the search to find a local landscape architect or specialized designer near you.