SpaceHakone, Japan
I first visited Hakone, an onsen (温泉 lit. “hot spring”) town west of Tokyo in 2024. It’s a serene place filled with swaying grass fields, ancient paths, and traditional inns.
The botanical gardens are especially peaceful, featuring around 2000 different types of flora separated into four wetland biomes (marsh, fen, bog, and swamp).
Just past the entrance, there’s a small reading room with various books, pamphlets, and a muted TV, all detailing the ecosystem of the gardens.
There I spotted this gentleman, seemingly a local, who looked like he dropped by for his weekly reading session in the gardens. He reflected a spaciousness that I paused to notice.
There’s a Japanese word for this concept called yoyu (余裕), which can translate as “spare abundance”. This has a different connotation than being rich, it’s more like having slack or space. There’s a composure and grace that founds the spaciousness of 余裕.
That moment reminded me that across from the great joy in agency, ambition, and progress, there’s also an equally great joy in having the space to reflect, to putter, and to be present.
This dynamic creates a challenging balancing act for me.
On the side of ambition, it’s deeply empowering to chart your own course, but there’s a certain restlessness or existential anxiety I feel if I’m not constantly moving forwards.
On the side of space, it’s freeing to be present rather than analyzing or planning, but there’s a certain ennui when you aren’t pushing your limits and feeling a sense of growth.
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