The Western fascination with Japanese gardens is nothing new — just take a look at Monet's famed Water Lilies, or the charming Kyoto Garden in London's Holland Park. For years now we've lusted after and admired the calming atmosphere and refined approach found in traditional Japanese garden designs, constantly searching for ways to incorporate elements of this style into our own outdoor spaces. And I think I've just found a new personal favorite.
The Tsukubai is a traditional Japanese form of water garden, most often found outside shrines, temples, and tea houses, inviting visitors to cleanse and purify themselves before entering. The literal translation of the word is a 'stooping basin', referring to the bowl's ground-level placement, offering a moment of connection to the ground beneath you, humbling yourself before you are cleansed.
