Of Japan's two great religious traditions, Shinto is far less known and understood in the West. Although there are a number of books that explain the religion and its philosophy, this work is the first in English to focus on sites where Shinto has been practiced since the dawn of Japanese history. In an extensive introductory section, authors Joseph Cali and John Dougill delve into the fascinating aspects of Shinto, clarifying its relationship with Buddhism as well as its customs, symbolism, and pilgrimage routes. This is followed by a fully illustrated guide to 57 major Shinto shrines throughout Japan, many of which have been designated World Heritage Sites or National Treasures. In each comprehensive entry, the authors highlight important spiritual and physical features of the individual shrines (architecture, design, and art), associated festivals, and enshrined gods. They note the prayers offered and, for travelers, the best times to visit. With over 125 color photographs and 50 detailed illustrations of archetypical Shinto objects and shrines, this volume will enthrall not only those interested in religion but also armchair travelers and visitors to Japan alike.

Whether you are planning to visit the actual sites or take a virtual journey, this guide is the perfect companion.

Visit Joseph Cali's Shinto Shrines of Japan: The Blog Guide: http: //shintoshrinesofjapanblogguide.blogspot.jp/.

Visit John Dougill's Green Shinto, dedicated to the promotion of an open, international and environmental Shinto http: //www.greenshinto.com/wp/.

With instructive drawings and step-by-step techniques, Inside Your Japanese Garden walks you through designing and creating your very own Japanese garden. From small projects like benches and gates, to larger undertakings like bridges and mud walls, this book provides a wide variety of ways to enhance the space around your home, no matter the size. Instructions on how to work with stone, mud and bamboo--as well as a catalogue of the 94 plant varieties used in the gardens shown in the book--round out this complete guide.

This book also features 19 gardens that author Sadao Yasumoro has designed and built in Japan, and some--like those at Visvim shop in Tokyo and at Yushima Tenjin in Tokyo--are open to the public. From small tsuboniwa courtyard gardens to a large backyard stroll garden with water features, stairs and walls, these real-life inspirations will help spark your own garden plan.

These inspirational garden projects include:

• Tea Garden for an Urban Farmhouse featuring a clay wall with a split-bamboo frame and a stone base
• The Landslide That Became a Garden with a terraced slope, trees, bushes, long grasses and moss
• A Buddha's Mountain Retreat of Moss and Stone with vertical-split bamboo and brushwood fencing
• Paradise in an Urban Jungle with a pond, Japanese-style bridge, and stone lanterns

The New Zen Garden enlivens a tradition dating back 1500 years and introduces the contemplative Japanese space in all its varied forms. Author Joseph Cali guides you through the basics of theory, design, and construction, blending age-old techniques with modern innovation.

Beginning with a brief history of the spiritual and cultural aspects of the Japanese garden, Cali reveals the underpinnings of the gardener's art. In simple and straightforward terms, Cali presents a broad range of modern stone and sand gardens, provides a detailed outline of the history of Japanese gardens, and shows how principles of Japanese garden design could be applied to Western-style housing. With a focus on small and medium home gardens, the author introduces a visually explicit process in which anyone can conceive their own home garden, whether for a single-family residence or the balcony of an apartment.

The New Zen Garden is a provocative eye-opener for both the serious Japanese garden enthusiast and the weekend gardener. Dozens of carefully conceived line drawings by the author--as well as additional instruction by top professionals--further illuminate the finer points of garden making and steer the reader step-by-step through some specific building techniques, including the making of textured clay walls, traditional stone walkways, and stone settings.

This book, printed in the rich color tones of serene and inviting spaces, is an excellent start to an appreciation of the theory and craft of Japanese garden design and will supply you with an abundance of ideas to transform your backyard, patio, terrace, courtyard, or other expanse into a space steeped in a quiet joy that you will cherish for years to come.

Joseph Cali, a native New Yorker with a background in painting and fine art, has spent half his life in Japan pursuing art, design and writing on the topic of Japanese culture. Cali has lived and worked in Japan as an interior designer, graphic designer, copywriter, and illustrator, and his work has been featured in numerous publications.

The New Zen Garden enlivens a tradition dating back 1500 years and introduces the contemplative Japanese space in all its varied forms. Author Joseph Cali guides you through the basics of theory, design, and construction, blending age-old techniques with modern innovation.

Beginning with a brief history of the spiritual and cultural aspects of the Japanese garden, Cali reveals the underpinnings of the gardener's art. In simple and straightforward terms, Cali presents a broad range of modern stone and sand gardens, provides a detailed outline of the history of Japanese gardens, and shows how principles of Japanese garden design could be applied to Western-style housing. With a focus on small and medium home gardens, the author introduces a visually explicit process in which anyone can conceive their own home garden, whether for a single-family residence or the balcony of an apartment.

The New Zen Garden is a provocative eye-opener for both the serious Japanese garden enthusiast and the weekend gardener. Dozens of carefully conceived line drawings by the author--as well as additional instruction by top professionals--further illuminate the finer points of garden making and steer the reader step-by-step through some specific building techniques, including the making of textured clay walls, traditional stone walkways, and stone settings.

This book, printed in the rich color tones of serene and inviting spaces, is an excellent start to an appreciation of the theory and craft of Japanese garden design and will supply you with an abundance of ideas to transform your backyard, patio, terrace, courtyard, or other expanse into a space steeped in a quiet joy that you will cherish for years to come.

Joseph Cali, a native New Yorker with a background in painting and fine art, has spent half his life in Japan pursuing art, design and writing on the topic of Japanese culture. Cali has lived and worked in Japan as an interior designer, graphic designer, copywriter, and illustrator, and his work has been featured in numerous publications.