Evaluation of some Japanese gardens in Turkey in terms of Japanese garden design criteria

Japanese gardens have roots older than a thousand years with the earliest examples seen with Chinese influence, over time with the influence of Japanese culture and mythology, Shinto belief, and later adopted Buddhist philosophies, have created a unique style of garden art. This is quite unique garden art, using natural design elements, as the nature visualized in the human mind is reflected in the garden with form of miniature landscapes. Its use of symbolism, philosophical concepts, and abstract elements has attracted great interest all over the world. Japanese gardens can have a unique design feature for each garden, because the design elements are very diverse in terms of material, shape, size, texture and color. Japanese gardens have different styles with a wide range of applications due to using rocks, gravel, sand and use of water elements and different styles of plant compositions in their designs. In this study, it is aimed to determine design criteria of Japanese garden art in context of design elements and design principles used in the application of these elements and examination of important Japanese garden examples in Turkey in the light of this information. Within the scope of the research Kaman Kalehöyük Archeology Museum Japanese Garden, Konya Kyoto Japanese Park and Istanbul Baltalimanı Japanese Garden has been examined and photographed. An evaluation analysis using analytic rubric method has been carried out showing the extent of representation of the characteristics of Japanese garden art of the mentioned Japanese gardens in Turkey. As a result of this evaluation, Istanbul Baltalimanı Japanese Garden has received 74 points that corresponds to very good representation, Konya Kyoto Japanese Park has received 69 points and Kaman Kalehöyük Archeology Museum Japanese Garden has received 61 points which corresponds to good representation of Japanese garden art. Comments and suggestions have been made in the direction of the results obtained.