Buddhist temple paths lead to self-reflection in Japan
Japan has been high on my travel bucket list since my teenage years. I've always been drawn to Japanese history and culture (and of course the food). Isolated from the rest of the world for centuries, if not millennia, the allure is fueled by a powerful uniqueness that is pervasive throughout Japanese creativity, language, and spiritualism. Of those things, the spiritualism and it's places of worship took a hold of me on my recent trip to Japan.
For 10 days I battled the incessant rain of Tropical Typhoon Etau to travel around Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. Using bullet trains, buses and famous Philosopher walkways, I managed to experience 12 serene Buddhist temples. Although a number were chock full of other tourists (the not so quiet types), I was lucky to get a few almost all to myself. In those moments, I couldn't help but be overcome by a sense of pure wonder and self-reflection.
I quickly noticed the importance placed on paths and passageways. Meticulously manicured gardens and shrines were preceded by walkways designed to prepare the journeyer's senses for what was to come. Without fail, temple passageways induced a pause and a deep breath, actions that helped me realign my mental state amidst the permeating dampness from constant rain.
Reflecting on those moments, I am still affected by what I saw. These images above strike a cord that sounds a reminder to craft paths in ways that can keep us well aligned.
See more images from my time in Japan on Instagram.