Kiyosumi

On my first visit to Japan, we spent the first few days in Tokyo. If you’ve spent any time there, you’ll know that is a maximalist city that can easily overwhelm the senses. The lights, the sounds, the masses of people, the pachinko parlors, the sheer scale of the place — it can be a lot to take in.

But there are also spots of respite and quietude peppered throughout the city. These are places where you can slow down, reflect, and listen to your thoughts for a while. These are places of such stark contrast to the din of rest the city that it’s startling when you step foot in one. Kiyosumi Garden, where I took the photo above, is one such spot. The two hours I spent here were sufficient to balance the sensory overload of the previous few days.