Rural Japan : tradition and harmony

My business travels to Japan were mostly to its major cities, Tokyo and Nagoya. This time, my wife and I made a leisure trip to the rural Japan. We stayed in hotels that were well-known to the locals for their hot springs.

(Foliage in Mt. Tateyama)

Travelling outside the cities allows you to see more traditional Japanese communities.  Intensively cultivated farms and carefully managed orchards can be seen along the rural roads.  Glasshouses are also common for better controlled environment and protection from cold weather.

(Local farmer attending his paddy field)



(Village in Hida Furukawa after morning rain)

You can feel the sense of quiet and peace in the rural villages.  There are not many cars on the roads.  Village houses are small and orderly built around the green fields. Rural population has long been drawn towards cities for better education and career opportunities. 

(Old village house converted into lodging in Shirakawa-go)
 

(Cottage pottery industry)

(Street market of farm products)

Japanese garden initially followed Chinese in its early creation.  Gradually, it formed its own unique styles.  Gardeners follow strict traditions in attending their plants.  They are well maintained in orderly ways.  A strong sense of quiet beauty can be felt by visitors walking inside the garden.  The Japanese Zen garden is its extreme example. 

(Classical Japanese garden - Kenroku-en)

(Pine tree of five hundred years old)

In the past century, Japanese gardeners had helped creating many beautiful gardens in North America.  With the fusion of both East and West gardening techniques, Japanese garden find its new live in the new territories.  If you are interested to see more, you can read Brown, Kendall H.. Quiet beauty: the Japanese gardens of North America. Vermont: Tuttle Publishing, 2013.