Schizophrenic Japan

Komyozenji Shrine, about half an hour from my house, is one of the most peaceful places I have ever been to. The zen garden seems silent at first, until you begin to notice the grating cicadas, rustling leaves, and heavy wind. People just come to sit on the walkway, gaze, think, be.





The raked pebbles surround various boulders, with deep hues of brown, red, and grey. In between are small oases of thick moss, with slender trees that bend and bow in the breeze.





Then, two minutes walk away...