Katsura Imperial Villa is a palace built in Japan in the 17th century by Prince Hachijo Toshihito. It is a truly beautiful complex of buildings that merges with their gardens and lake, the reflected sunlight from the water casting rippling paterns across the walls and ceiling. It is possibly one of my favourite pieces of architecture and landscaping (along with Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Waters).

I was reminded of Katsura recently as I lay on the deck of my hideaway enjoying the early morning sunlight with a good book and a cup of tea. The sunlight reflected off the pond below the deck danced on the wall and under the eves of the building bringing to mind Katsura’s design which combines the villa’s lake, buildings, and garden to great effect.

It’s easy to get carried away by the presure of life and work these days and forget to take some time out to enjoy the simple beauty to be found in nature, good architecture, or the form and feel of a lovers body beside you.

John.

The images used in this page come from Wikimedia Commons and can be found here:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Geppa-ro.jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shokin-tei_seen_from_the_Geppa-ro.jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Katsura_Imperial_Villa.jpg