A sunken garden, also known as a Japanese-style rock garden or kare-sansui, is a traditional Japanese landscape design that creates a sense of tranquility and harmony. It often features a flat, level area surrounded by raised ground, creating a visual illusion of a garden below ground level. Key elements include carefully arranged rocks, raked sand or pebbles, and sometimes water features. Case studies of such gardens provide insights into their design principles, history, and cultural significance.