Japanese Stone Basins

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Japanese Stone Basins (chozubachi)

Stone basins are one of the most common features of a Japanese garden, found in even the tiniest urban spaces. They're also often found at the entrance to a teahouse, for the guests to wash their hands.

Japanese Stone Basins - Water

Japanese stone water basins (chozubachi) make a beautiful addition to any garden, and even the tiniest space can fit one. Stone basins only grow more beautiful over time as the stone gradually becomes weathered. If you place them somewhere cool and damp they will also collect a lovely layer of moss.

Japanese Stone Basins were originally used at temples for ritual purification. This then became part of the tea ceremony preparations, and soon stone basins were popular in all kinds of Japanese garden.

The best material for Japanese Stone Basins is granite, which is very tough and weathers well.

Like all elements of Japanese gardening, Japanese Stone Basins come in formal, informal and rustic styles. Here are a few different kinds of Japanese stone basin.

Tetsubachi stone basin

This is a favourite kind of Japanese Stone Basins, and the kind used in the tsukubai in any garden. It has a lovely round shape, wider at the top than the bottom.

Natsume-bachi stone basin

This is another round basin, but a tall one, taller than it is wide.

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Mountain stone basins

Some tsukubai aren't shaped, but rather are made from natural stones or boulders, with a little hole carved in the top to form the basin. These are some of the most beautiful tsukubai, in my opinion. They're perfect for a rustic style garden. Being made from natural stones, they come in all shapes and sizes.

Zenigata misubachi

This is a Japanese Stone Basin which is shaped like a coin – round, with a square hole, and japanese kanji on it.

Kiku-bachi stone basin

Kiku means crysanthemum, and that's the shape of this tsukubai.

Stone dish

This is just what it sounds like – a round, flat dish, rather than a basin.