Japan: Spring 2017

I've just returned from a completely magical week in Japan. I spent most of my days at and around Ryokan Sanga in the Kurokawa onsen village, deep in the mountains of the Aso region of Kyushu, where Beth Kirby of Local Milk and Haruka Sakaguchi of the Denizen Co cohosted a peaceful and thought-provoking retreat centered on the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi. I learned so much, found some personal peace and confirmation, and made some new treasured friends. Below are some photos of the ryokan, a nearby ceramic village called Ontayaki no Sato, and the town of Tsuetate which was adorned with koinobori (fish banners) for Kodomo no Hi - Childrens' day. 

One of the entryway of the Ryokan Sanga. My room was just to the right. 

My welcome package for the retreat. It reads "wabi sabi" in hirigana. 

The key to my room, Asebi.

The little resting area of my room. It over looks the beautiful river. 

The entry way to Ryokan Sanga. 

A lantern dusted in snow at Ryokan Sanga. 

Firewood at Ryokan Sanga. 

My window at Ryokan Sanga. 

Onsen detailing at Ryokan Sanga. 

Wearing my onsen sandals. 

Onsen sandals lined up at Ryokan Sanga. 

Sidewalk details in Ontayaki no Sato. 

Ontayaki no Sato. 

Kiln detail at Ontayaki no Sato. 

Kiln detail at Ontayaki no Sato. 

Bamboo channels water through the village to kara-usu grinders. 

A karausu in Ontayaki no sato. As it fills with water the opposite side lifts up. When the water spills out, the other side drops and pounds the clay into powder. 

Ontayaki no Sato village details. 

Clay ready for molding at Ontayaki no Sato. 

Onta children in the back of a truck.

The workshop and showroom of an Onta potter. 

The workshop of Takatori Hassengama. 

The workshop of Onimaru Toyonobu-gama. 

The workshop of Onimaru Toyonobu-gama. 

The workshop of Onimaru Toyonobu-gama.

The workshop of Onimaru Toyonobu-gama. 

The workshop of Onimaru Toyonobu-gama.

The workshop of Onimaru Toyonobu-gama.

Onimaru Toyonobu-gama. He demonstrated a chisel technique called tobi-kana for us. 

Clay in the shop of Onimaru Toyonobu-gama. 

Bowls decorated with the tobi-kanna technique. 

Bowls decorated with the tobi-kanna technique. 

Lunch at Sousuke, cuisine made with local vegetables and fish. 

Japonica flowers. 

A chimney in Ontayaki village. 

A plate placed in concrete in Ontayaki village. 

A bin of pots in Ontayaki village. 

A beautiful piece I purchased in Ontayaki no Sato. 

A dog named Shiro belonging to the family of Takatori-san. 

Matt and Eula playing with Shiro. 

A member of Takatori-san's family with Shiro-kun. 

Takatori-san working in his shop. 

Details in Takatori-san's shop. 

Sieves at the workshop of Takatori-san. 

Farmers groom the pine trees along rice patty and temple edges. They are so gorgeous. 

My new friend Leslie in one of the private onsens at Ryokan Sanga. 

Details at Ryokan Sanga. 

Details at Ryokan Sanga.

Details at Ryokan Sanga. 

Details at Ryokan Sanga. 

Details at Ryokan Sanga. 

Details at Ryokan Sanga. 

Beth styling pretties to photograph at Ryokan Sanga. 

Pretties at the Ryokan Sanga. 

My ceramics haul from Ontayaki no Sato. 

Koinobori in Tsuetate. A boy and his grandfather walk underneath. 

A koinobori fish tail rests in the river. 

Koinobori in Tsuetate.

Koinobori in Tsuetate. 

Koinobori in Tsuetate. 

Prayers and wishes in a bridge over Kurokawa. 

A business along the river in Tsuetate. 

Slyvie walking through the streets of Tsuetate. 

A footbath in Kurokawa village. 

The young matriarch of Ryokan Sanga, Mayu Goto, posing beautifully. 

Gorgeous kimono details. 

The temple ceiling decorated by local children in Kurokawa.