Adachi Museum in Matsue

The day before Soko's wedding Aya and I went to the Adachi Museum in Matsue. This is one of the "top rated Japanse Gardens in Japan", according to an American Magazine on Japanese Gardens. I find that kind of like a Japanese magazine ranking suburban neighborhood develoments in the US.Great example of 'Shakkei', or 'borrowed landscape' in Japanese garden design

Stone Bridge connecting 'islands in the sea'

Stone pathway of islands

I have to believe that the leaves did not fall in quite the perfect order that they appear to in this garden. But it does make a nice effect.

I like the pattern of islands and the line of roof tiles

Maple and moss

Spring detail

It just seems too perfect to me.

View of the garden from inside the museum (thus the blue tint)

Post Card - this tree was placed just outside of the window to frame the view of the garden. They have a huge picture exactly like this beside the window just in case dense people like myself don't understand at first glance.

We could not have timed it better in terms of fall color.

The koi pond

Someone really likes stone bridges

and stone paths

Kare San Sui or dry garden detail

I found the pattern of this bamboo fence interesting

Tottori Wedding

Last weekend we were in Tottori Prefecture for Soko's (one of Aya's friends from college) wedding to Yamada-san. Her husband is a monk so the wedding was very traditional and held at his father's temple in Akasaki.

The wedding procession. That is Soko under the red umbrella.

It was interesting to see all of the people from the neighborhood come up to watch. They were not formally invited to the ceremony but were allowed to hang out in the temple garden and look in on the proceedings. It is a small village so word spreads quickly, and likely everyone already knew since this is also the temple where they come to pray and celebrate

The interior of the temple was beautiful

The ceremony

The monk performing the ceremony.

Part of the ceremony involves saying a prayer and everyone drinking a small bowl of sake

The altar after the ceremony.

Soko looking out the window after the wedding

The Temple Belfry and courtyard

A pretty nice live/work environment if you ask me

The bride & groom and their parents at the reception

Yamada-san and all of the elder monks of his Monastery

It is traditional for the families of those married to go to each table and pour drinks for everyone. This is Yamada-san (grooms father). I think it is also required for all younger Japanese women to give a peace sign in pictures. For guys it is optional, but highly recommended.

The candle ceremony is part of the western reception once they change into a tux and gown

Aya, Soko, & Fukui - another friend from college

Aya and Soko, peace signs are just cut off

Soko and her other close friends. I think that custom allows a guy to hold up double peace which is the equivilent of 3 girls giving the peace sign. The whole rules to the peace sign are really confusing.

Aya and Soko finally got a chance to really talk later that night once everyone else left.