About our Japanese Garden Tools

Japanese gardens reflect the outside world, but on a smaller scale. Each carefully considered element has a purpose in imitating nature which comes from ancient religious beliefs and a deep respect for nature.
The gardens are simple and serene places of tranquility which provide a peaceful retreat for meditation and quiet reflection. Understandable then that Japanese Garden Tools are also well considered, simple in design, precision and functionality.
We’re pleased to offer our new range of these hand forged quality Japanese garden tools featuring brands: Niwaki, Higurashi, Kurumi and Okatsune

HAND FORGED Japanese Garden Tools

Niwaki - Higurashi GR Secateurs, good all round secateurs featuring yellow handles
Niwaki - Higurashi GR Secateurs
Collection

Japanese tools work just as well here!

UK gardeners know that you don’t of course need to have a Japanese garden or even grow bonsai to enjoy using Japanese garden tools. They work just as well in our own gardens here and are indeed extremely popular today with garden enthusiasts and professionals. (you may have spotted some gardening celebs using them too).
We use many of these delightful tools ourselves and are impressed with the quality and functionality of each tool. From the reassuring and gorgeous feel they all have to the lovely swishy shhnippy sound the garden shears make. It’s true to say with certain garden tools you can just feel they are right.

So, if you are clipping your hedges, trimming your box topiary, pruning your roses, snipping your vines, planting out, weeding amongst the veg patch, simply deadheading your perennials, cutting flowers etc. (you get the picture) whatever your gardening pleasure we’re sure you can find just the right tool for the job in our range of selected high quality Japanese garden tools, all of which are handmade by appointed forges in Japan.

Well considered, simple in design, attention to detail, precision and function

Aesthetically pleasing design is part of the make-up of a traditional Japanese garden and consequently this is reflected in our range of Japanese tools, which are well considered, simple in design with attention to detail, precision and function.
Perhaps that’s the reason for their popularity, because not only do they look good but they are a joy to use and simply do a good job too!
Look after your Japanese garden tools, don’t attempt to use them for the wrong purpose and they will be enjoyable to use for many years to come. (See maintenance below)

Buy Japanese Garden Tools

Niwaki

The word Niwaki means garden tree and is a term that refers to the way trees are grown, trained and pruned to fit in to the scale of a Japanese garden.
The brand Niwaki has become such a strong brand for Japanese Garden Tools since it was started by its founder Jake Hobson, who as a trained sculptor was quickly influenced by Japanese gardens on his first trip to Osaka and in particular the way their trees seemed to be shaped with such apparently little effort.

Today we are pleased to be offering tools by Niwaki and also including brands like Higurashi, Kurumi, Okatsune and Tobisho.

Find your Niwaki Garden Tool
Niwaki Garden Shears standard size., featuring hard wearing SK steel and slender white oak handles

A guide to maintenance 

These are high quality tools and should last you a lifetime with a little maintenance.

A bit of cleaning and sharpening soon sorts that out, and the benefits of weight and sharpness far out-way the time taken to look after them.

Most of our sharp tools are made from carbon steel – this means they will, through regular use, stain (and eventually rust) and gradually lose their edge. Caring for them involves three things…

1. Correct Use:

  • Japanese steel is hard and sharp, and can be more brittle than some people are used to – it will chip if abused
  • Do not cut wire, metal, stone, plastic or any other hard material (even bamboo fibres and some very hard woods, especially knots and burrs, can damage steel edges)
  • Do not twist or apply uneven pressure
  • Cut diagonally across branches (not straight across) so you cut along the fibres
  • Pay attention to our maximum cut dimensions, and don’t overdo it (shears are not loppers)
  • Use the base of the blades, not the tips, for heavier cuts

2. Keeping Them Clean:

  • Remove leaf resin, rust and gunk with a Crean Mate and water
  • Dry, wipe over with Camellia oil and store in a dry place
Buy a Japanese Garden Tool