The final photo (for now at least) from my recent trip to Japan. In the town of Uji is the historic Byodo-in Temple, a Japanese national treasure. The temple was built in 1053 and houses a Buddha statue from that era. The building is so treasured, that it appears on the 10 yen coin. The temple and its gardens are so beautiful. I liked the framing of the temple between the trees with the reflection in the water below.

March 2026 | Uji, Japan

#temple #buddha #uji #japan #park #publicspace #architecture #historicbuilding #garden #japanesegarden #reflection

A quick visit to the Cherry Blossom (Hanami) festival at the World Museum in #Leiden.

https://leiden.wereldmuseum.nl/nl/hanami/programma-hanami-2026

The outdoor market was smaller but also remarkably less crowded than the other #JapaneseMarket that is held at the #Rapenburg in July. A very nice atmosphere topped off with a brief visit to the #Hortus with its #ChineseGarden and #JapaneseGarden

Oike-niwa Garden, Imperial Palace

March 2026 | Kyoto, Japan

#garden #landscape #pond #landscapearchitecture #japanesegarden
#kyoto #japan
Gonai-tei Garden, Imperial Palace

March 2026 | Kyoto, Japan

#garden #bridge #landscape #landscapearchitecture #japanesegarden
#kyoto #japan

In spring, the quality of light changes quietly. The low, clear light of winter gradually softens and spreads, drawing out the colors inside a room. When flowers are placed by the window, this change becomes easy to notice. The petals catch the light and seem almost translucent, and the air slowly fills with the presence of the season.

From time to time I arrange flowers by the window. My girlfriend enjoys doing this as well, and sometimes I notice that she has quietly arranged them in her own way. A branch from the garden, a few seasonal flowers, a small adjustment of stems. In those moments, a small landscape appears on the windowsill.

Outside the window lies the spring garden. Pale cherry blossoms, the yellow of rapeseed flowers, small blossoms scattered like points of color. In the vegetable bed young shoots are pushing through the soil, and in the distance a range of mountains stretches softly across the horizon. Everything rests in the calm brightness of spring.

On the windowsill stands a Kintsugi vase in deep royal blue. I have always liked this color. It has a quiet depth - in the light it glows gently, while in shadow it becomes calm and grounded.

Across its surface runs a thin line of gold, the trace of a former break. I have always loved the combination of royal blue and gold. Within the deep blue, the gold appears as a soft light. The contrast is not loud; it exists as a quiet harmony.

When flowers are placed in the vase, this harmony becomes clearer. The pale tones of cherry blossoms, white petals, small purple and yellow flowers. Spring flowers are light and delicate, almost dissolving into the daylight.

And yet their time is brief. The moment of full bloom does not last long. A gust of wind can send the petals drifting through the air.

The Kintsugi vessel carries another kind of time. It holds a past. At some moment it broke, and at another moment it was carefully mended. The golden line does not hide that event. It allows it to remain visible.

While arranging flowers, I often think about this. The flowers carry the time that lies ahead of them - the certainty that they will soon fade. The vase carries the time that has already passed. On the windowsill those two directions of time meet.

In the spring light, the petals and the golden line glow softly. The flowers will fall. The vessel will keep its time.
And the light of spring quietly illuminates them both.

#spring #kintsugi #flowers #stilllife #gouache #painting #japanesegarden

Gentle little waterfall in the gardens at Maruyama Park.

March 2026 | Kyoto, Japan

#waterfall #stream #creek #rocks #garden #urbangarden #japanesegarden #kyoto #japan
A pleasant arrangement of water, rocks, and plants in the gardens at Nijō Castle. Japanese gardens are the best.

March 2026 | Kyoto, Japan

#garden #water #pool #rocks #japanesegarden #beauty #kyoto #japan
#fotovorschlag 'Objekte die mit "J" beginnen oder so aussehen ...'
The Japanese garden in the Clingendael forest in The Hague. #garden #denhaag #thehague #photography #japanesegarden #ornaments #Netherlands #fediverse #gardensofpixelfed #photo