Stone coins, Antique Millstones

Stairstones, Tobi-ishi (飛石) in Japanese, are an indispensable element of traditional Japanese gardens. Unlike a garden path, walking on stairstones requires more concentration. This has a positive effect on how people experience and take in the garden. Additionally, stairstones prevent people from walking next to each other, which reduces distraction. In a tea garden, this also ensures that not everyone arrives at the tea house at the same time before the tea ceremony begins.

The stepping stone path was introduced by tea master Sen no Rikyū, a very famous historical figure. The original idea behind the stepping stones was to keep the Zōri, traditional Japanese slippers, clean and dry while walking through the garden.

Deze oude muntvormige molenstenen, Ishiusu (石臼) in het Japans, werden ooit gebruikt om graan of rijst mee te vermalen. Maar nu worden ze gebruikt als zeer authentieke stapstenen. Het hergebruiken van materialen in de Japanse tuin komt veel voor en sluit mooi aan op het esthetische concept van Wabi-Sabi.