Japan teaches by example: a single flower in a vase, a stone placed exactly so, a meal of seven plates each containing two bites. The lesson is not minimalism as aesthetic. The lesson is that one good thing, given full attention, is sufficient — and that you do not need to fill the rest of the room. We bring this home in suitcases and lose it again, and that is part of the practice.
Blog
The art of doing less in a country known for precision
By alderan · 4 May 2026 · 1 min read
Keep reading
Blog
Silence as a destination
We talk about places as if they had names: Kyoto, Bhutan, the Sahara. But the most accurate name for many of our…
Blog
Kyoto in spring: what the cherry blossoms hide
Everyone visits Kyoto for the cherry blossoms, and most visitors leave only with photographs of them. The trees themselves are spectacular, but…
Blog
Why we walk Philosopher’s Path slowly
Philosopher's Path is four kilometres of canal-side walking, and it can be finished in under an hour. We take half a day.…