A composite image of 25 plants and flowers we saw in Japan.
Japan’s temples and shrines offer a tranquil escape from the bustling cities, often nestled in landscapes filled with lush greenery. These sacred sites, whether Buddhist temples or Shinto shrines, are not just places of worship but also havens of nature, where you can relax under towering sugi trees, walk alongside moss gardens and or sip tea in a teahouse gazing out at a curated garden.
Japan has a remarkably diversity of flora when you consider its relatively small land area. This is due thanks to the country’s geographical 3,000 kilometers range from the subarctic north of Hokkaido to the subtropical south of Okinawa. This variation in climate allows for a wide array of plant species, including evergreen forests in the south, broad-leaved deciduous forests in central Japan, and alpine vegetation in the mountainous regions.
Beyond these observations, it’s important to note that Japanese culture has a deep, almost intrinsic connection with nature, and this relationship is fostered both through formal education and longstanding cultural practices. We could sense this connection. Even in a city like Tokyo, stepping into alley from a main road, we would find plants adorning entrances or facades.
From an early age, children learn about the natural world in school, often through field trips to local parks, temples, and natural reserves. These experiences, alongside lessons in the classroom, are designed to instill not only an appreciation for the beauty of Japan’s diverse landscapes but also a sense of responsibility for preserving them. This early education is complemented by the cultural ethos shaped by Shinto and Buddhist traditions, where nature itself is revered as sacred. Children grow up seeing natural elements—be they mountains, forests, or even interesting plants in temple gardens—as important parts of their heritage and daily lives.
It's been 2 weeks since our Japan trip and we are still sorting through pictures. Unsurprisingly, we are finding many plant photos. The composite image for this post shows some of these photos; all of the photos were taken in a temple or shrine, which got use thinking about the function of these spaces in Japanese cities.
Some estimates state that Japan has approximately 80,000 shrines and temples across the country. This means that in many cities, these spiritual sites are as common as convenience stores. With that ubiquity it's easy to get in the trap of trying to see them all. It became clear to us after a few days in Japan that no, we don’t need to see them all, and we should choose ones that were interesting to us.
Japan has a remarkably diversity of flora when you consider its relatively small land area. This is due thanks to the country’s geographical 3,000 kilometers range from the subarctic north of Hokkaido to the subtropical south of Okinawa. This variation in climate allows for a wide array of plant species, including evergreen forests in the south, broad-leaved deciduous forests in central Japan, and alpine vegetation in the mountainous regions.
Beyond these observations, it’s important to note that Japanese culture has a deep, almost intrinsic connection with nature, and this relationship is fostered both through formal education and longstanding cultural practices. We could sense this connection. Even in a city like Tokyo, stepping into alley from a main road, we would find plants adorning entrances or facades.
From an early age, children learn about the natural world in school, often through field trips to local parks, temples, and natural reserves. These experiences, alongside lessons in the classroom, are designed to instill not only an appreciation for the beauty of Japan’s diverse landscapes but also a sense of responsibility for preserving them. This early education is complemented by the cultural ethos shaped by Shinto and Buddhist traditions, where nature itself is revered as sacred. Children grow up seeing natural elements—be they mountains, forests, or even interesting plants in temple gardens—as important parts of their heritage and daily lives.
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