So far we have been city-locked in the urban sprawl of Nagoya, Kobe and Kyoto visiting temples and markets.
We have seen many fantastic temple gardens.
Cherry blossoms
Holy Stones
Gardeners manicuring their lawns
So much it is overwhelming.
But “urban gardening” or “street gardening” hasn’t reached here yet – it’s always been here.
Inside a second-hand clothing store
The view from our window. A tiny traditional courtyard garden.
A parking building wall
Dispite all this greenery, there is still an enormous urban sprawl that is spreading in and outside the citys. Kyoto is quite different from what it was 40 years ago. Less small old fashioned homes and more modern buildings. Sad in a way.
We have still to get to the farming country-side which we have only seen from the lightning fast trains so far. Most gardens and fields are still resting from winter, altho I’ve seen some farmers starting and there is a lot growing under plastic.
The other day we passed an old lady planting peas in pots along the street in front of her home. I was too polite to take a picture.