Introducing
Japanese Garden Bristol
INTRODUCTION
WELCOME
Welcome to Japanese Garden Bristol
Nestled in the heart of Bristol, this breath-taking Japanese paradise has been lovingly built and nurtured over the years by Martin. With tranquil koi ponds, lush Japanese plants, and serene spaces, it's a hidden gem that brings the beauty of Japan to the UK.
Featured on numerous TV programmes — even Japanese daytime TV — the garden continues to inspire and amaze visitors from near and far.
We're always open to collaborations, features, or creative projects that celebrate this unique space. Whether you're a photographer, filmmaker, artist, or nature lover, we'd love to hear from you!
Currently, the garden is raising funds through Open Day visits – a perfect opportunity to experience its beauty in person while supporting its ongoing development.
Get in touch if you'd like to collaborate, visit, or help us share this incredible space with the world.
JAPAN TV DOCUMENTARY
CLIPS
A massive thank you to TV Tokyo for an experience I never imagined I’d have. It truly felt like living a dream—you took me to the very places that have inspired my garden, places I never thought I’d see in real life.
All Services
GARDEN EVENTS
Cream Tea
Spring Walk
Summer Walk
Guided tour over 14's only
Autumn Night Walks
You can book tickets from this website
GROUP VISITS
Arrange a time to suit with me for a one and half hour Group visit
Small Group
Tour & Relax minimum 6 maximum 12 people £15 each
Large Groups
Walk with a Talk minimum 13 maximum 30 people £8 each
Contact me for details
07594400309
GARDEN HIRE
Family, Friends, Clubs
Photo shoots, Music videos and more
Contact me for details
07594400309
SALES
Plaques, Bonsai monkey poles
Bonsai and Accessories
Contact me for details
07594400309
Charity Events, click NGS button on this site
Uneven steps and narrow walkways leading to different levels therefore unsuitable for disabled access.
No pets allowed
please use car park located on the right as you enter the road, one minute walk to garden
Japanese Garden Bristol
VISITS ARE AVAILABLE BY TICKET ONLY
Which must be purchased through our website
GARDEN WILL BE SHUT FOR MAINTENANCE
From 9th August to 30th September 2026 and will reopen on 1st to 29th October 2026
Apologies for any inconvenience
PLEASE READ BEFORE BOOKING
SPRING WALK
1x hour and 30 min visit
12x tickets
Adult £12
Child 16 & Under £6
SUMMER WALK
1x hour and 30 min visit
12x tickets
Adult £12
Child 16 & Under £6
TOUR & RELAX
1x hour and 30 min visit
12x tickets per session
£15 pp over 14’s only
CREAM TEA
1x hour visit
24x tickets per session
Adults £12
Child under 16’s £6
Child under 5’s £2
Cream tea is not for group bookings, please contact me for information!
AUTUMN NIGHT WALK
1x hour and 15 min visit
12x tickets
Adult £12
Child 16 & Under £6
ALL EVENTS REFRESHMENTS ARE INCLUDED IN PRICE
PLEASE USE THE FREE CAR PARK located on the right as you enter the road, one minute walk to the garden.
PLEASE DO NOT WAIT ON THE STREET, come up driveway and wait by garage
Uneven steps and narrow walkways leading to different levels therefore unsuitable for disabled access.
NO pets or smoking.
* Please show or print out your order confirmation email as proof of ticket purchase.
* Please respect any signage or instructions.
* Tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded.
These openings are not for charity
GARDEN FOR HIRE
PHOTO SHOOT
FAMILY
FRIENDS
CLUBS
Loading days...
15 British pounds
Loading days...
From 6 British pounds
Loading days...
From 6 British pounds
Loading days...
From 6 British pounds
Bio
My Background
My story
Built on a Small Budget
When I started creating my Japanese-style garden back in 2009, I had very little spare money. I set myself a budget of just £10 a week for the garden, and thanks to my shift pattern I was able to save between £40 and £80 in petrol money every five weeks. That gave me a maximum of around £150 to spend every five weeks.
It wasn’t enough to buy new materials from garden centres, so I became resourceful. I searched through a paper called Trade-It, where people sold second-hand and inexpensive items. That’s where I found pallet wood, rocks, plants and many of the materials that helped bring my ideas to life.
Whenever I needed more money for a bigger project, I took on DIY jobs for neighbours, friends and family. Every extra pound I earned went straight back into the garden.
That’s how I built my garden until COVID. Then fuel prices rose dramatically, leaving no spare money to invest. Everything changed in 2021 when an agent from the national newspapers contacted me for an interview. From there, my garden was featured on radio, in newspapers, on television, and in the media across both the UK and Japan.
People began asking if they could visit, so I came up with a way to keep the garden growing while sharing it with others. I started opening it to the public. The money from ticket sales goes back into improving the garden or is donated to the National Garden Scheme (NGS) charity.
Today I can afford the occasional better-quality plant or material, but not the premium specimens that many traditional Japanese gardens use. If you know Japanese gardens, you’ll understand how expensive those can be. My garden will never generate that kind of income, and that’s perfectly fine with me.
I’m happy to keep it growing at its own pace, enjoying a hobby that has given me so much, while inspiring others to create something special in their own gardens—even on a small budget.
Looking back, the money I saved by designing and building every part of the garden myself was probably the greatest saving of all.
People often ask me why I created my Japanese-style garden.
I work shifts, which means I have time off during the week, while my wife works Monday to Friday. Being at home on my own, I needed something to keep both my hands and my mind busy. Without that focus, I found depression could start to creep in.
My garden and workshop became my escape. They gave me a purpose, something positive to work towards, and a place where I could switch off from everyday life. Over the years, I’ve come to believe that gardens can play an important role in supporting mental wellbeing. They provide peace, creativity, and a chance to slow down.
Someone once asked me, “What’s your end game?”
I smiled and replied, “I don’t have one.”
I’ve never thought about reaching a finish line. I simply enjoy the moment I’m in, adding something when inspiration comes. For me, the journey has always been more important than the destination—and perhaps that’s the most Japanese thing about the garden.
Enjoy your garden, because it’s your creation.
Designer and creator of Japanese Garden Bristol
Martin Fitton
My garden has featured since 2021
* Japan ANN News Wire world news
* Japan NHK tv show on Saturday night
* Japan media and ranked number one
* Japanese YouTuber filmed in my garden
* BBC Gardeners World
* National and local Newspapers 4 times
* Local News ITV & BBC twice
* BBC Radio Bristol, Hits Radio
* Book (Japanese Garden Design)
* Andy Bennett shows BBC R Bristol twice
* Pick me up Magazine
* ITVX Winter Interview February 2024
* Chat magazine (pick me up) March 2024
* Supreme Master TV Japan
* ITV X Spring Interview May 2024
* Music Video by the Chilli Tribe
* Documentory for Japan TV 2026
* ITV West Country News Live 2026
* Interview with SWNS International, National, local Papers & Media
* And more!
You can watch all these interviews on this website
I also open for NGS Charity since 2021
My garden has taken me places I would never have dreamed of.
I have been creating my garden since 2009 so I have years of knowledge building Japanese gardens.
Now I want to help others create something special in their gardens that they can be very proud of.
