--- title: "Modern Zen Garden — Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/modern-zen-garden-pfvwus-pf~2013752483 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~2013752483.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "Modern Zen Garden" category: ["Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/dce3ac89014f67b8_3597-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "30535 Anthony Rd, Valley Center, California 92082, United States" latitude: 33.249 longitude: -117.0122 phone: "(760) 468-3968" website: http://www.modernzengarden.com rating: 5 review_count: 6 best_of_houzz_awards: 4 followers: 150 last_updated: 2026-09-14 --- # Modern Zen Garden Original Houzz profile: [Modern Zen Garden](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/modern-zen-garden-pfvwus-pf~2013752483) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers - **Location:** Valley Center, CA - **Serves:** California - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (6 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 4 awards (2015–2025), for Design, Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Star Houzzer - Recommended on Houzz - 1,000 Ideabook Saves We specialize in Japanese garden design and installation of combined modern Zen and organic materials. Japanese landscape designer Kohei Owatari's modern Zen aesthetic continues to wow past and future clients. Kohei's designs can be seen not only at private residences, but at hotels, parks, and commercial spaces, and create a peaceful retreat from our hectic lives. His reverence for nature comes out in his extensive use of water and stone, resulting in an interplay of clean geometric lines and meandering paths that often lead to a koi pond or meditation bench. In addition to his lush gardens, Kohei Owatari designs and carves his own sculptural accents, mosaics, and water basins that can work as standalone pieces or as part of his overall garden. You can find more of Kohei's award-winning work in publications like Architectural Digest, Better Home and Gardens, HGTV, San Diego Union Tribune, KUSI TV, and San Diego Magazine. Koi ponds, waterfalls, stone sculptures, fountains, Zen gardens… we’ve done it all. By using natural elements like water and stone, we can give you a relaxing environment that takes you away from your modern life. Certifications and Awards: Year 2022 recipient of the ribbon of Green-white award at the Japan Agricultural Achievement to promote and sustain Japanese garden in USA 2017 Garden of the year sponsored by San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyle LEED Platinum Certification on custom residential project – La Jolla, CA – May 2010 Best water feature design – San Diego Spring Garden Show – Mary 2005 Most creative landscape design – San Diego County Fair and Garden Show – July 2003 Achievement Award in medium-sized design and build category – California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA) – 2003 First Place in water feature category – CLCA – November 2003 First Place in large landscape design and build category – CLCA – February 2003 ### Services Provided - Landscape Design - Garden Design - Hardscaping - Landscape Plans - Patio Design - Drought Tolerant Landscaping - Custom Fire Pits - Custom Water Features - Design Consultation - Outdoor Lighting Design - Deck Design - 3D Rendering - Pond Construction - Organic Gardens - Living Walls - Landscape Supplies - Custom Stone Work - Japanese Garden Designs - Japanese Zen garden design - Modern Zen garden designs ### Areas Served - California ### Typical Job Cost $5,000 - 1 million ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | Modern Zen Garden | | Address | 30535 Anthony Rd, Valley Center, California 92082, United States | | Phone | (760) 468-3968 | | Website | http://www.modernzengarden.com | | License Number | 1095487 | | Followers on Houzz | 150 | **Social profiles:** - Blog — modernzengarden.com ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [Modern Zen Garden](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/modern-zen-garden-pfvwus-pf~2013752483) - **Website:** http://www.modernzengarden.com - **Phone:** (760) 468-3968 ## Credentials **Certifications & Awards** - See above, and for full list, visit: http://modernzengarden.com/awards-media/ - **Best of Houzz:** 4 awards (2015–2025), for Design, Service. ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 6 reviews** ### All 6 reviews **★★★★★ — Rich T, Feb. 2019** > We hired Modern Zen Garden to build a Japanese-style garden and fountain in our back yard, and we were very happy with the outcome. Kohei's design was beautiful and a great use of the space, and his team did a great job on implementation. All the work was very high quality and they really seemed to think of everything. Kohei definitely had a vision but he was willing to make changes based on our requests and preferences. As a bonus, Kohei is a very nice and friendly guy, and his whole team was very friendly as well. Based on my admittedly sparse experience with landscape design, the cost seemed reasonable for the work that was done. > > Overall I can very highly recommend MZG for both design and implementation. **★★★★★ — Wood's Shop, Jan. 2018** > Kohei is one of the most creative people I've ever worked with. He does some amazing modern Zen Gardens, and often installs individual art pieces in to his designs. > I feel honored to have done some very nice woodwork for his projects as I especially enjoy Japanese and Asian designs. This is just one of the projects https://www.houzz.com/projects/2862337/low-japanese-zen-garden-fence > > Kohei is also very mellow and easy to work with, I highly recommend him :-) > > these are two projects I helped Kohei with. **★★★★★ — Southwest Boulder & Stone, Aug. 2017** > Kohei Owatari with Modern Zen Garden is a visionary professional. We always feel privileged to work with him and supply stone for his beautiful projects. **★★★★★ — Kevin Costa, Nov. 2016** > Extraordinary design and installation. It was amazing to watch Kohei's crew transform an eyesore into a modern karesansui. They worked with incredible focus, precision and speed. I am so very pleased. The results are stunningly beautiful, low maintenance and functional. Thank you Kohei-san for creating this perfect space. **★★★★★ — Janeth Kim, Oct. 2014** > Everything I expected and more!!! Absolutely beautiful pond and waterfall design and custom paw-steps leading to the pond!!! I was very surprised this caliber of art and design can still be acquired by homeowners at a very reasonable rate. I had complete trust in the this landscape designer as he and associates were very conscientious and went above and beyond any expectation. Such a work of art: now I just need to have parties and pass out his card!! **★★★★★ — sachikok, June 2013** > Kohei is not only a great landscaper but also a great artist! His unique speciality is a colaboration of Japanese/Zen and compemporory designs. While he values Japanese Wabi Sabi taste, he adds his own playful touches every here and there. His work always goes beyond our expectations! ## Selected projects - [Modern Zen garden](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/modern-zen-garden-pj-vj~7103240) - Location: Dana Point, California - Photos: 24 - [Japanese gardens](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/japanese-gardens-pj-vj~199993) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 24 - [Custom designs](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/custom-designs-pj-vj~7103308) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 28 - Description: Modern zen garden - [Stone works](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/stone-works-pj-vj~199999) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 47 - [Water works](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/water-works-pj-vj~930713) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 30 - Description: Natural stone, cut to display its best texture and color, and water, always moving... Paired together, water and stone create a soothing, tranquil centerpiece for your garden. - [Koi ponds](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/koi-ponds-pj-vj~199905) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 20 - [Art pieces](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/art-pieces-pj-vj~7103311) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 13 - Description: Stone art pieces - [ZRC Zen rain chain fountain](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/zrc-zen-rain-chain-fountain-pj-vj~7103331) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 15 - Description: The rain chain without rain. It gives you soothing sound and visual effect without rain. - [Products for sale](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/products-for-sale-pj-vj~7103344) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 21 - Description: Hand carved or fabricated boulders and stones - [Japanese Zen Garden Backyard with Fountain and Patio](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/japanese-zen-garden-backyard-with-fountain-and-patio-pj-vj~2610306) - Location: San Diego, CA - Photos: 29 - [Rammed earth lantern and garden](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/rammed-earth-lantern-and-garden-pj-vj~7339164) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 11 - Description: "Illuminate Your Space with Elegance and Earthiness: Welcome to a world where lighting transcends mere functionality to become a masterpiece of artistry and nature's embrace. Our exclusive collection of rammed earth lanterns is designed to captivate the discerning tastes of high-end connoisseurs, offering a harmony of earthly textures and artisanal craftsmanship. Each lantern in our collection is a testament to the time-honored tradition of rammed earth construction, where raw materials are tran… [See all 11 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/modern-zen-garden-pfvwus-pf~2013752483) ## Ideabooks - [koheiowatari's Ideas](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/13212858/list/koheiowatari-s-ideas) — 152 ideas [See all 1 ideabook](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/koheiowatari) ## Community Q&A **Q: Fence** *(in Photo Questions)* How will this bamboo fence last in the outdoors? Does it have a coating on the surface? A: This bamboo panels imported from Japan. It is made of synthetic material and is not easy to fade. This picture was took around 2002 and it still maintains its color even located in sunny San Diego. Thank you for looking. **Q: Bridge** *(in Photo Questions)* Did you purchase this bridge and if so from whom. It is beautiful. A: It was made from a scrach **Q: What's the ground cover grass here?** *(in Photo Questions)* I love the ground cover. What's that? A: The ground cover is dwarf Mondo grass which is planted 2" OC **Q: Where would one purchase bambo fencing like in the photo?** *(in Photo Questions)* A: just popular red mountain flag stone --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-09-14.*