I couldn't agree with you more about the very questionable beauty of Japan - Japan's built environment, at least. I have always found it paradoxical that a culture which appears to be quite obsessive about orderliness, neatness and tidiness seems to tolerate so much ugliness in its villages, towns and cities. It is, in my experience, rar…
I couldn't agree with you more about the very questionable beauty of Japan - Japan's built environment, at least. I have always found it paradoxical that a culture which appears to be quite obsessive about orderliness, neatness and tidiness seems to tolerate so much ugliness in its villages, towns and cities. It is, in my experience, rare to see a pretty village. The ubiquitous telegraph poles and hideous spaghetti wires, which spoil 99.99% of views of Japanese villages, towns and cities are particularly offensive; and the tatty timber buildings that look so unloved are also a blight. It seems that the average age of a Japanese house when it is demolished is thirty. So wasteful. Wouldn't it make more financial and environmental sense to build durably for the long term and maintain obsessively?!
I don't agree with you so much about the natural landscapes though. I'm no connoisseur, but the Japanese Alps, for example, seem to me to be every bit as stunning as those of Europe. As for autumn, yes the colors are just as gorgeous as those of New England or anywhere else, but there is for me an underlying sadness about autumn, prelude as it is to the cold, dark days and stark, bare branches of winter. I prefer the promise and new life of spring, sakura and returning warmth!
Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts! You described the "ugliness" aspect much more vividly than I did. I hope anyone who reads my post also takes the time to read your thoughtful comment.
I also really appreciate you challenging me about the mountain scenery. I sometimes tend to oversimplify things for the sake of caveat-free writing, which I otherwise rely on excessively. I’d add that Daisetsuzan in Hokkaido is another destination I believe features equally flawless mountain scenery. I’ve explored parts of the Japanese Alps, but I feel too intimidated by the more exposed, chain-requiring sections, which are likely even more stunning. So, I`ll probably never get to experience their beauty! :)
I’m more of a melancholic person, so autumn suits me well. In spring and summer, I sometimes feel a bit pressured to be joyful all the time. :)
I couldn't agree with you more about the very questionable beauty of Japan - Japan's built environment, at least. I have always found it paradoxical that a culture which appears to be quite obsessive about orderliness, neatness and tidiness seems to tolerate so much ugliness in its villages, towns and cities. It is, in my experience, rare to see a pretty village. The ubiquitous telegraph poles and hideous spaghetti wires, which spoil 99.99% of views of Japanese villages, towns and cities are particularly offensive; and the tatty timber buildings that look so unloved are also a blight. It seems that the average age of a Japanese house when it is demolished is thirty. So wasteful. Wouldn't it make more financial and environmental sense to build durably for the long term and maintain obsessively?!
I don't agree with you so much about the natural landscapes though. I'm no connoisseur, but the Japanese Alps, for example, seem to me to be every bit as stunning as those of Europe. As for autumn, yes the colors are just as gorgeous as those of New England or anywhere else, but there is for me an underlying sadness about autumn, prelude as it is to the cold, dark days and stark, bare branches of winter. I prefer the promise and new life of spring, sakura and returning warmth!
Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts! You described the "ugliness" aspect much more vividly than I did. I hope anyone who reads my post also takes the time to read your thoughtful comment.
I also really appreciate you challenging me about the mountain scenery. I sometimes tend to oversimplify things for the sake of caveat-free writing, which I otherwise rely on excessively. I’d add that Daisetsuzan in Hokkaido is another destination I believe features equally flawless mountain scenery. I’ve explored parts of the Japanese Alps, but I feel too intimidated by the more exposed, chain-requiring sections, which are likely even more stunning. So, I`ll probably never get to experience their beauty! :)
I’m more of a melancholic person, so autumn suits me well. In spring and summer, I sometimes feel a bit pressured to be joyful all the time. :)