SEI SHIN En Japanese Garden ("Garden of the Pure Heart"). The idea was conceived and driven by the artist Dalia Dokšaitė. The landscape design is by landscape specialist Laura Popkytė. The project's technical manager is Kitayama Yasuo, a landscape master of Kōdai-ji. The site for the Japanese garden was chosen because of the spring flowing here. The spring that flows underground in the Sluškai valley had been channelled into the sewers, like many springs in Vilnius. Maps of Vilnius from the 18th–19th centuries clearly show a stream rising in what is now Kalnai Park and flowing into the Neris. As late as the mid-20th century people still drew water from it. Today the spring water is pumped to the surface and flows through the Japanese garden. In 2011 the Sluškai valley spring was included in the Vilnius municipality's groundwater monitoring programme and its list of protected springs. Together with the Institute of Geology and Geography, geological and geographical material was gathered, cartographic material from the last century was analysed in archives, the outlets were photographed and the spring water was analysed. The look of the Japanese garden is created by pines, stones, moss, stone sculptures and various plantings. The stones symbolise mountains and are important accents of the garden, also used for little bridges and paths. Since ancient times stone has played an important role in Japanese culture. In Shinto, notable stones were considered sacred (as kami, Japanese deities). More than ten different kinds of pine have been planted in the garden, along with junipers, yews, box and rhododendrons. Moss covers a large part of the garden. It is one of the most important elements of a Japanese garden, symbolising harmony, time and tradition. The project follows the main Japanese aesthetic principles – seasonality, simplicity, harmonious and natural compatibility with the surroundings, and respect for water, wood and stone. In creating the garden, the greatest attention was paid to restoring the spring without spoiling its natural character while harmonising the whole Sluškai valley. The garden's main sponsor, Kōdai-ji Temple (Kyoto, Japan), believes that the garden will give people a deeper understanding of Japanese culture, aesthetics and nature.