bunny williams at ballard designs

Just browsing online and I noticed that Bunny Williams has a collection debuting for Ballard Designs. Really, some sweet and affordable pieces.

obon in aomori

Mid-August is the celebration of Obon or Bon. Lanterns and lights are lit everywhere to commemorate ancestors and those who have passed. It is one of my favorite holidays here in Japan because the lanterns are so magical in the hot summer night.

Seiruji is not a historic site, surprisingly it dates to only 1982. But it received a lot of support and has very diligent care. The bronze Showa Big Buddha is certainly the centerpiece, especially with these beautiful lanterns.

The five story pagoda was modeled after Toji Temple in Kyoto and dates to only 1996. But as a testament to modern building techniques it has withstood even the major Tohoku Earthquake of 2011 in spite of being only miles from the epicenter while most five story pagodas throughout Japan's history have not weathered winds and quakes well. source

Our daughter loved the lanterns!

Photos by me, please credit if you share. Still working on that night photography ;) 

If you would like to visit the Showa Buddha yourself, you can find information here.

kinkaku-ji, kyoto

The "Golden Pavilion" is officially called Rokuon-ji, or the deer garden. It was seriously one of the busiest sites we visited in Kyoto - bananas! But it was worth it, what a gorgeous zen garden and temple. The site dates to as early as 1397. Tragically, the original pavilion was burned down in 1950 and rebuilt in 1955. But really, what a splendid site.

The garden is the product of the Muromachi period in design, of the height of classical Japanese landscape design.

Photos by me, please credit if you share - thanks!

around kyoto, part two

More photos, enjoy!

Love the rain chain. Just a stunning garden.

This guy lives at the shrine behind Starbucks, isn't he gorgeous?

The pattern shows when wet - loved these.

Please credit if you share, photos by me, thanks!