Why do Japanese entrance gardens often use a curved path to the door?

In Japanese garden design, the use of a simple, curved path at the genkansaki (the front of an entrance) serves two primary purposes:

• Concealment: The curve is designed to hide the door of the house from immediate view.
• Aesthetics: It is intended to add character and visual interest to the front aspect of the home.

This approach reflects the broader Japanese aesthetic of restraint and the belief that beauty should be partially concealed so that it may be discovered individually, providing a sense of discovery and depth to the experience of the space.1