Page 16 - Simply Vegetables Spring 2024

Visiting Japan and discovering how the Japanese grow vegetables
I love to travel and experience new cultures. In November, I was fortunate
to spend three weeks exploring Japan,
a country where there is a lot to see and do. I started and ended my trip in Japan’s largest city Tokyo, which is a vibrant hub, constantly buzzing with activity.
It is a huge city and dream location
for an architect to visit, ultra-modern structures right next door to traditional Japanese wooden buildings.
On this trip I focused my travel within Honshu, the largest and main island of Japan. I booked a 14-day train pass which
allowed use of the incredible shinkansen bullet trains that reach a top speed of 320 km/h (199 mph). This enabled me to visit many destinations in little time.
Japan is simply spectacular in autumn. As I travelled around the country, I experienced the dramatic turning of leaf colours, greens, oranges, golds, and bright reds. While visiting Kyoto, I got to take
a walk through the towering dark green bamboo forest in Arashiyama on the banks of the Hozu River. The sound of the rustling bamboo can only be described as other- worldly, serene, and dreamlike. I also visited
Ryoan-ji rock garden which is famous for its meticulously raked gravel rock garden reflecting the spirit of Zen Buddhism. It was incredibly quiet, tranquil, and relaxing.
I visited Kanazawa which is located on the Japanese Sea coast and close to the epicentre of the recent New Years Day earthquake. Kanazawa is one of Japan’s best-preserved traditional cities and home to one of Japan’s top three landscape gardens. Kenrokuen is stunning, words are never going to do this place justice. The garden features acres of beautiful mature trees, expansive ponds, and lovely landscapes.
How the Japanese grow Vegetables
Similar to Ireland, Japanese vegetable plots are positioned close to the house
in locations that get the most sun. Most vegetable beds are raised for deep soil and good drainage. During my visit, I learned that most Japanese households have three generations living under one roof making for a full house. A full house creates lots of waste, so double digging and composting is very common with garden and kitchen leftovers incorporated to improve the
soil structure. I learned that companion planting and crop rotation are used. Old carpets are used for weeding cover and water retention. Black plastic is also used for weed cover and increasing soil heat for the plants. Due to the ample amount of water in and around the gardens, weeds can be plentiful.
While visiting Kurashiki, a weeping
Landscape Gardens, Kyoto
Local Market, Takayama
Autumn Colours - Garden in Tokyo
The Bamboo Forest in Kyoto’s Arashiyama
16 Simply Vegetables
RAYMOND HIGGINS FNVS