I've probably already explained a few times what I find so fascinating here in Japan. In addition to the bustling cities and the long and eventful history, it is temples, shrines and gardens in particular that attract me. Here in the Land of the Rising Sun, architecture and horticulture complement each other wonderfully and sometimes even seem to be mutually dependent. Japan is above all aesthetic and enchants the visitor with a rich, exotic mix of styles, which usually serves exactly the image one has of the Land of the Rising Sun.

Away from the well-known travel routes, you are often alone and can take in the surroundings completely at your own pace. But even where the travel guides take you, it doesn't always have to be crowded and noisy. If you stop for a moment, you can usually quickly block out and even shake off the hustle and bustle that was going on around you a moment ago. Stopping is the first step, followed by looking and perceiving. The art of awareness is perhaps not always so easy to apply, but it helps a great deal to correctly take in, understand and classify what you see in front of you.

There is strength in tranquillity, which is perhaps one of the concepts behind many Japanese gardens and parks and maybe on of the reasons why they were created in the first place.