/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>44904211
So my experience is that if you're actually passionate and show genuine interest in traditional Japanese cultural things, Japanese people usually are really happy to share. Naturally, any people would be happy if a foreigner comes and shows actual desire and passion to learn their unique cultural activity, regardless of culture. I get a ton of surprised reactions when people ask my why I came to Japan and what I want to do. But they've all been (outwardly at least) very excited and often suggest various places to visit. I've gotten into some closed gardens and even a part time gardening job from just meeting people.
Kyoto has so many gardens that really run the gambit of cultural conservatism. There are plenty of gardens that are open to the public, plenty of gardens that require permission to visit (like any property managed by the imperial household agency) and plenty of gardens completely closed to the public that you need to know someone to be able to visit. I was very fortunate that the head gardener of this temple is on the progressive side despite the fact he's in his 70s. He's had baka gaijin apprentices before and also trains women, which as I'm sure you're aware is pretty uncommon for such lauded and culturally important fields.
I'd say the median age is pretty old, but that's the case for basically every job here. So if anything, I'd say it's "aging" but not dying.