Decide on the type of garden you want. Some Japanese gardens are designed as strolling gardens. The stone pathway twists a bit as it follows the fence line. Surrounded by a low ground cover that resembles moss, an often-used ground cover itself, the path disappears at the end of the yard. You may know, intellectually, that it just goes to the fence, but it appears to continue to a distant destination. Boulders and mixed plantings line the path in a causal and irregular mix that creates a sense of balance while still providing movement through the space. Though most of the elements are taken straight out of nature, the dark stone lantern hints at a human presence.