Interlacing (Japan, Hakone)

Among the bare branches of a winter forest lies a Japanese lakeside village nestled on the shores of Lake Ashi , in the Hakone region, known for its hot springs ( onsen ) and views of Mount Fuji. This type of architectural layout is characteristic of the mountainous areas of rural Japan , where houses serve both as homes and small family businesses: boat rentals, artisanal fishing , or minshuku (traditional inns).

The boats moored at the water's edge bear witness to an ancestral relationship with the lake, not spectacular but utilitarian, intimate, and often passed down from generation to generation. This photograph highlights the aesthetic of ma (間) — the intentional void in Japanese culture — through the graphic presence of trees, which separate without partitioning, and offer a glimpse of an off-season Japan , discreet and silent.

Lake Ashi was formed in the caldera of Mount Hakone following a volcanic eruption over 3,000 years ago. Today, it is a popular destination for boat trips, but some surrounding villages remain uncrowded outside of peak tourist seasons.