[header] How to build a japanese garden [title] Build a zen garden if you want a completely dry garden. [step] Zen gardens, also known as japanese rock gardens, are designed to be dry. They are typically comprised of different sized boulders, gravel, sand, and rocks. 
Boulders and rocks represent islands and the sand and gravel are meant to represent water, which is why wave designs are typically drawn in the sand and gravel. [title] Choose a flat piece of land to build your garden on.