Japan

This is a view down the center of a large raised aqueduct that passes through the grounds of the Nanzenji Temple. The temple entrance is at the other end of the openings, through the trees. I loved the idea of … Read more

I marvel at the Japanese aesthetic and the gardeners skill with pruning and cultivation. Rather then bending nature to their will, the gardeners partner with nature, working with the tree, plant or landscape’s natural tendencies and highlight it for the … Read more

Mount Koya is the center of Shingon Buddhism. A small, secluded town with 117 temples has developed around the sect’s headquarters on Koyasan’s wooded mountaintop. This was a simple temple door that reveals the path that lies beyond should one … Read more

I had heard that there used to be thousands of these large bronze 10’-15’+ bells all across Japan. Most were melted down for munitions during the war. Bells in the temples were rung as a call to prayer. Between their … Read more

There are hundreds of temples in and around Kyoto. They are hugely popular tourist’s destinations. However, when I separated the energy of the crowds from that of the temples, and their grounds, gardens, statues and carvings, I could feel the … Read more

Mount Koya is the center of Shingon Buddhism. A small, secluded town with 117 temples has developed around the sect’s headquarters on Koyasan’s wooded mountaintop. Used to an electric kettle at home to brew my tea, I envied this old-school, … Read more