Japanese gardens, Gogan-ishigumi

With a large variety of sizes and shapes, the rocks and stones are a constant presence in any Japanese garden. Regularly used for aesthetic purposes, there are situations, though, when the stones are also fulfilling a functional role. One example was the tobi-ishi stepping stones, used in front of the chashitsu tea houses.

Another example is in this photo, with the edge rocks - gogan-ishigumi - placed on the shores of the artificial islands from the Kinkaku-ji pond to prevent the erosion of the soil (but also to suggest the Japanese coastline).