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One of the most striking elements in the garden design of Tatton is the Japanese Garden to the west of the southern end of the Broad Walk. This is widely acknowledged as the finest Japanese garden in the United Kingdom (Link Japanese Garden Journal) if not in Europe. It was laid out for Alan de Tatton in 1910 following his visit to the Anglo-Japanese Exhibition in London.

Japanese gardens have an ancient history influenced by Shinto, Buddhist and Taoist philosophies. Bringing a spiritual sense to the garden, they allow the visitor to look back and reflect. The garden at Tatton, originally laid out with the help of Japanese craftsmen, follows the plan of a tea-garden, with a small Shinto Shrine brought from Japan and a thatched Tea-House as well as a bridge over the Golden Brook, and a number of lanterns. The garden contains plants, stones and rocks which have been placed to provide a natural balance. The stones and rocks are selected for their shapes, and a mound has been formed to replicate Mount Fuji with its snow-capped summit. The plants include specimens of Japanese maple and various mosses

The site was that of a series of former pits where marl was dug to put on the land. These, remodelled, provided the necessary water-features. The whole layout embodies the highly-symbolic use of particular trees and plants, as well as the use of water.

The garden was restored in 2001. Because of its fragility and scale the garden is not normally open to visitors except at set times for guided walks, but can be enjoyed from the outside, looking in.

Link Discover Garden Architecture and Statuary (Tatton Park)