One of the first things people notice about a Japanese garden is that it doesn't seem full.

There are open stretches of gravel. Moss without flowers. A single lantern standing on its own. Trees carefully spaced rather than planted in rows.

This isn't unfinished. It's intentional.

In Japan there's a concept called ma (間). It's often translated as "space", but it means something closer to the meaningful gap between things. It's the pause in a conversation, the silence between notes in music, or the open space that allows a garden to breathe.

That's why Japanese gardens rarely feel crowded. Each stone, tree and lantern is given room to exist on its own. The empty spaces aren't waiting to be filled. They are part of the design.

The result is a garden that feels calm without trying too hard.

It's an idea you'll find throughout Japanese culture, from architecture and calligraphy to tea ceremony and, of course, bathing.

Yū Bathhouse is bringing the traditions of Japanese bathing to Britain.

Follow the creation of Yū Bathhouse, from sketches and design decisions to Japanese bathing traditions, opening news and events