Stories We Tell

May 23, 2022

Ideas to Create a Distinctive Space

Author: Yukari Matsumoto

Reading time:5min

Hi there.

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It gets warm, then suddenly cold, the temperature is going up and down these days. I felt the changing of the seasons when I saw the Japanese snowbell tree (Egonoki) flowering, even though it produced fewer flowers compared to the past years. The flowers fall to the ground with their shape intact, making the five petals look like falling stars. Japanese snowbell is called “Egonoki” since it has gray fruit that has a harsh taste (egui). Despite the name of it, the flowers are pretty. A Japanese snowbell seems to be a tree that has two faces.

 

Visit a Restaurant to Maintain its Front Entryway

I visited the garden we constructed last fall for maintenance. 

The garden became more beautiful than when it was first created, as the green color of moss growing there became much darker. The moss we brought with us looked too new and bright compared to the moss in the garden. We could see that the customer has been taking care of it daily by watering it frequently. Trees in the garden providing shade may make it a good environment for the moss to grow.

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Wildflowers that prefer semi-shades were blooming quietly and gracefully, bringing a sense of tranquility into the garden. I’m looking forward to seeing the plants age more and create a better atmosphere. We’ve been taking care of the garden to gain more depth as if it had existed here for a long time.

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All things aside, the garden has a beautiful stone wall in front of the restaurant. It gives it a stately, sophisticated appearance. The path leading to the entrance extends diagonally. Walking on the large fieldstone pavement, you will see granite stone steps and an entranceway with the tataki (traditional earthen floors) finish. The stone wall is eye-catching, and it makes people pass by wanting to check it out. It also adds depth to the space. It's difficult to express the atmosphere of a store in the limited front space. But it may be one of the good ideas to create such a remarkable stone wall. The stone wall will gradually become mossy and will look better with age.

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It is a yakiniku (Japanese BBQ) restaurant that features Oomi beef and other ingredients produced in Shiga. You can enjoy delicious food as well as the high quality interior. Located just a stone’s throw from the Kusatsu Station in Shiga Prefecture, the restaurant is marked by the appearance of the stone wall. If you are in the neighborhood, I highly recommend checking it out.

近江牛焼肉 百々一