This spring, we finally got around to restoring a corner of our Japanese garden that’s been waiting for attention for nearly two years.
In this video, we install two traditional tōrō (stone lanterns) that were gifted to us by a local builder, and I attempt to build a yotsume-gaki—a traditional bamboo fence—for the very first time.
Along the way, I share a bit about the symbolism of tōrō, the materials I used, and how the space is starting to come together. It’s not perfect, but it’s starting to feel like a proper garden again.
00:00 Intro
00:18 Putting up stone lanterns (tōrō)
06:27 Making a bamboo fence (yotsume-gaki)
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Making a Yotsume-gaki bamboo fence
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How to make a Yotsume fence: https://youtu.be/GsRb7pE2eb8?si=lThGcSDPYcCAzY3-
Bamboo fence tying: https://youtu.be/K8xvv9O6BIU?si=TvDcj-MTcq8-P74e
Attaching the four-sided fence: https://youtu.be/WJxY_h4JOzk?si=bDvNwe9Ct1FEmXFu
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Support
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If you’d like to support the channel and access more content check out my Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/tokyollama
or just buy me a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tokyollama
Merchandise: https://tokyollama.myspreadshop.com
Also, subscribe to my other channel @TokyoLlamaPlus for more videos: https://www.youtube.com/c/TokyoLlamaPlus
In between videos I’m posting at
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyo_llama/
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Tools (affiliate links)
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Makita TD171DRGXAB 18V Driver (https://amzn.to/3wJKLBN)
Makita XFD10Z 18V LXT Cordless Drill (https://amzn.to/44hJgte)
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Music
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Like the music? Find my playlist with the music I’ve used here:
https://share.epidemicsound.com/1eenp2/?playlist=4sr5avi8r45huosuu26eicn4s70da3vj
And, if you sign up to Epidemic Sound through the playlist link, you’ll get 7 days for free!
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Credit
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Photo by JR Harris on Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/photos/green-trees-on-green-grass-field-during-daytime–qWkMJMeTZI
Photo by Demure Storyteller on Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/photos/a-pond-with-a-bridge-and-trees-around-it-3NFhdThMi6M
Photo by Parya Tavakoli Tehrani on Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/photos/brown-and-green-trees-near-white-and-black-house-during-daytime-ULKWYd5YB7I
31 Comments
will they hold up on earthquakes?
The wabisbai 侘び寂び of those old lanterns… so good. I love the ending scene with the bottle of tea. Very well done.
Been such a long time since you dropped- watching from New Zealand 🇳🇿
☀️🇦🇺
Love the frog and the fabulous reuse of the lanterns
Very jealous of your spring weather, Sendai has moved back to winter 🥶
Always a calming, enjoyable watch.
3:23 – I didnt get enough time to look away and now I am scarred for life!
Next winter, cut back your old growth of your hydrangeas. It will allow them to grow fuller from low so when they get long and tall, they hold up to the weight better and don’t droop.
Love how you are really taking this whole house & property back from the years and years of neglect.
We're new to your channel and have watched so many videos already! Can you remind me which bank you all used / recommended from a few videos back? Thank you so much!!
日本庭園は、しっくり来るまでには長い時間が必要ですね。私が住む街の日本庭園は、造られて何十年も経ちますが、まだ何となく急造感が否めません。
Wouldn't want a small child playing around those things.
The minute pause when saying "Viewers with OCD look away now" and then showing the picture made me laugh a lot 😀
But the base seems straight so why is the lantern leaning if it's not by design? Wear on the components?
I like the idea of a traditional fence, but I would have made it a lot higher (at least high enough to be able to touch it while standing).
So beautiful! Love it
You have inspired me so much that I'm doing Japanese influences decoration in my gardens. Japanese style garden areas so beautiful
I want a stone lantern!!! ❤
I really love the sounds of the birds in the background! Do you get a lot of birds there year round, or is it mainly a spring time thing? 😊
oh man, with how earthquake prone japan is… I'd be scared of those works of art toppling over! but i guess they're pretty sturdy so if they did fall over could just easily put them back but man that'd sound like such a hassle every time
It's BEAUTIFUL! Great job!
Tokyo Llama, would your neighbor permit you to paint your side of the blue fence black or dark grey so that it could visually disappear into the background? If not maybe you could buy sheets of black lattice and use bamboo half rounds in front of the white posts to mask the blue fence. Check out Japanese Garden TV channel for inspiration, they have very beautiful garden projects. Love the new lanterns and yotsume-gaki fence.
I love seeing how this home is coming long, thank you for sharing it with us..
My brain couldn't comprehend how the thicker top is just balanced on the thinner bottom support.😅 None of the bits are secured in, right?
"Los espectadores con TOC que miren a otro lado" JAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJA
Gidday mate!
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My goal is to interview on line as many influencers or content creators as possible. If you would be willing to give me 10 minutes of your time, I would truly appreciate it. If not, just ignore this request. I am happy to send you a list of questions that I would ask so that you can consider your responses prior to the interview.
Let me know
Cheers mate
Nice projects. Few more check mark out of the Things to do list. I think if you can incorporate a solar light inside the lantern would be nice.
If you build a Pergola right where your picnic table is at the end of the episode, you can really enjoy your garden.
Seeing so many great Japanese traditional houses in this channel, (You are the greatest!) make me can’t help thinking where are the young Japanese generation? They just abandoned their country and gone?
I always look forward to your vids🥰 Thank you for always updating us on your home🏡
I tried repositioning a rock i placed 10 years ago and tore a chest muscle it pays to keep fit.
If you get time make a suikinkutsu pretty unique addition. 👌
it might've been easier to level if you started with a gravel base and corner stones or poured a concrete pad
How long would that bamboo fence last in the elements? Seems like untreated wood would take a few years to become too brittle to do anything!