A father-of-two has spent a mini fortune and nearly two decades on transforming his desolate garden into an impressive Oriental garden, despite only visiting Japan for the first time last year. 

Martin Fitton, 58, began his green-fingered journey in 2009 and has been levelling-up his project ever since, inspiring fellow gardeners along the way. 

His barren garden has grown to include features such as a teahouse, a water dragon, a monk’s meditation space and perfect bonsai trees – inviting guests to envision the verdant landscapes of rural Japan. 

Mr Fitton’s journey reached such heights that his garden, located in the heart of Bristol, even caught the eye of Japan’s Tokyo TV, who decided to create an entire feature on it. 

The team also flew Mr Fitton out to Japan for three days in February this year and brought his ‘dream to life’ by taking him around some of the best Japanese gardens in the world. 

The garden enthusiast said: ‘It has all come as quite a shock – one moment I’m building my garden and the next I’m being flown out to Japan to work with gardeners, monks and learn how to tie bamboo knots! 

‘The places they took me to were absolutely amazing and I couldn’t believe it because they would take me somewhere and I would say, “oh wow this is a place I based part of my garden on”. 

‘It’s as if they were watching over me, saw what I was doing and then planned my dream. 

Martin Fitton has spent a mini fortune and nearly two decades on transforming his desolate garden into an impressive Oriental garden, despite only visiting Japan for the first time last year 

The father-of-two began his green-fingered journey in 2009 and has been levelling-up his project ever since, inspiring fellow gardeners along the way

Tuurning Japanese: He began his garden project in 2009, despite only visiting the Land of the Rising Sun for the first time last year

Mr Fitton opens up his garden to the public – where visitors can enjoy his koi fish, bamboo features, moss gardens, relaxation garden and a replica of a famous Japanese temple

A little piece of tranquility:Fans tell Martin his garden makes them ‘feel calm, happy and it takes their minds off problems in their life’

Mr Fitton opens his garden three times a year especially for charity, and donates all of the profits to The National Garden scheme

Martin’s Bristol garden, hidden behind his ordinary semi-detached home, transports him and fellow visitors to the lush green landscapes of rural Japan

‘I am overwhelmed with the attention and I get a lot of people contacting me through my Facebook page, YouTube channel and website saying I have given them inspiration to go out in their gardens and create their own Japanese garden or finish something they started years ago.’ 

‘They also say after seeing my Facebook post and reels they feel calm, happy and take their mind off problems in their life,’ Mr Fritton added. 

Despite his decades long infatuation with the country, Mr Fritton only visited Japan for the first time last year. 

He, and his wife Cydnie, met with the TV Tokyo film crew during their three week holiday, who took him to the celebrated Adachi Museum Gardens in Yasugi.  

Mr Fitton was first struck by inspiration for his garden 16 years ago when he visited Compton Acres, a 10-acre ornamental garden in Poole, Dorset, with his family. 

He said: ‘I remember walking through the Japanese gardens and seeing the tea house and thought, “wow, I am going to create this at home”.

‘I then continued on with the Japanese theme ever since and have taught myself.’

Mr Fitton opens up his garden to the public – where visitors can explore his koi fish, bamboo features, moss gardens, relaxation garden, Japanese-style roof and a replica of a famous Japanese temple.

Mr Fitton was first struck by inspiration for his garden (pictured) 16 years ago when he visited Compton Acres, a 10-acre ornamental garden in Poole, Dorset, with his family

Mr Fitton’s journey reached such heights that his garden, located in the heart of Bristol, even caught the eye of Japan’s Tokyo TV, who decided to create an entire feature on it

His latest venture included the transformation of his front garden into a dry riverbed paradise

The project, which took him just 16 hours, was based on his experience working with gardeners for three days in Kyoto and inspired by more rocks and small plants he saw while visiting Japan

The garden even features a perfectly-kitted-out tearoom where visitors can refresh themselves

A traditional Japanese tea ceremony is easy to organise in Martin’s haven in south west England

This ornamental water dragon is another highlight of the garden tour. Water dragons feature heavily in Japan’s mythology

When Martin visited Japan with the TV Tokyo film crew, he was taken to Adachi Museum Gardens – said to be the best garden in the world. Here a statue radiates peace back in Bristol

He also offers cakes, tea and coffees, with all the returns going right back into garden features and maintenance.

Mr Fitton opens his garden three times a year especially for charity, and donates all of the profits to The National Garden scheme.

His latest venture included the transformation of his front garden into a dry riverbed paradise. 

The project, which took him just 16 hours, was based on his experience working with gardeners for three days in Kyoto and inspired by more rocks and small plants he saw while visiting Japan.

Nearly everything is built from scratch, leading to the need to sometimes ‘get creative’ when authentic materials from Japan are not available in the UK.

Mr Fitton said: ‘The only downfall is using the materials we have available here in the UK and then transforming them to create the look.

‘That is the hard bit – but it’s so rewarding when it works.

‘The Japanese obviously build a lot from bamboo – which is useful for them but hard for us due to the quality and accessibility of the trunks here and intricate skills required to master it.’

Despite spending around £20,000 on his garden, Mr Fitton added the gardening itself has been created on a small budget.

He said: ‘I often try to find the best materials the cheapest I can and build it myself which saves a lot of money.

‘I don’t earn a penny on it – everything I get goes back into the garden.’

South West Koi have also supplied Mr Fitton with the filter that has inspired him to build a new waterfall, which is his next exciting feature.

He said: ‘I am going to build a massive waterfall into my pond.

‘I’ve already got the rocks lined up!’