A Japanese garden is an idealized outdoor landscape constructed in a traditional Japanese style. Common features include undulating landforms, bonsai or carefully sculpted trees, small Japanese-style pavilions (gazebos, teahouses, etc.), carefully placed decorative rocks, combed beds of gravel, ponds and streams with stepping stones, stone lanterns, meticulously pruned hedges, and arched bridges. This style of garden is popular worldwide.

The landscape is deliberately composed rather than left in a natural state. Plant forms, stones, water, and small architectural features can work together within the traditional style.

The style is independent of the garden's geographic location. A garden constructed in this manner can exist outside Japan, while the listed features are common possibilities rather than a required inventory.