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This study was done in a traditional Japanese Daimyo (feudal lords) garden namely Hama-rikyu Gardens located in Tokyo, Japan to test one of the universal landscape aesthetic theories called Prospect-Refuge Theory and the effect of the high-rise buildings on landscape preferences. Eight sites in the garden were selected to be tested in consideration of openness degree of a view, safety degree of a site, and ratio of the background buildings of each scene. An in-situ survey was conducted at each site. 129 people (15-18 per site) agreed to take part in the survey. Subjects were stopped at each site to assess the view by looking at the direction which was indicated by a sign. After the procedure was explained, subjects were asked to answer a) general preference about the view, b) perceived openness of the view, c) perceived safety of the site, d) perceived pleasantness/disturbance of the background buildings. The results indicate that predefined open-protected sites are more preferred than the others; prospect (perceived openness) is an important indicator of the preferences; refugial symbols (perceived safety) of the garden cause no difference among the sites; the ratio of background buildings does not have a significant effect on either landscape preferences or perceived prospect-refuge attributes whereas perceived pleasantness/disturbance of background buildings significantly affects the landscape preferences. Based on the results, the design techniques -including usage of Shakkei (borrowed scenery) technique- of Japanese Daimyo gardens may reveal the principles of Prospect-Refuge Theory. Besides, the effect of the surrounding buildings is considered to be not an objective but a subjective manner depending on observers’ taste and attitudes.