The Mechanism of Relaxation by Viewing a Japanese Garden: A Pilot Study

Aim: To explore people’s visual attention and psychological and physiological responses to viewing a Japanese garden (an asymmetrically designed garden) and an herb garden (a symmetrically designed garden). Background: There are few studies of eye movements when observing different style gardens, and how they are connected to the interpretation of the space, and physiological and psychological responses. Method: Thirty subjects were recruited and their physiological and psychological responses to viewing the garden types were assessed using a heart-rate monitor and questionnaire. Eye movements while viewing projected slide images of the gardens were tracking using an eye-tracking monitor. Results: A significant decrease in heart rate was observed when subjects were viewing the Japanese garden as opposed to viewing the herb garden. Mood was significantly improved in both gardens, but eye-gaze patterns differed. The Japanese garden elicited far more comments about expectations for the coming season; unlike the herb garden, it also induced memories of viewing other landscapes. Conclusion: The physiological and psychological responses to viewing gardens differs based on the quality of landscape design and the prior experience of viewers.