The Japanese copper rain chain
A Japanese rain chain (called Kusari Doi in Japanese) makes a really interesting alternative to the use of traditional western down pipes and are just not very well known in the west.
When it is raining, water can be seen overflowing from bucket to bucket along the whole length of the chain ending up in a small stone basin at the bottom. I just had to have one on the teahouse!
This is a picture of a rain chain in a public park in Tokyo - how long would this last if was in a UK park I wonder?
The rain chain (kusari doi) arrives - it's quite heavy!
Although there are many 'fancy' rain chain styles I wanted to stick to a (the?) traditional design.
The rain chain fitted
The rain chain fitted from the side
The granite dish at the foot of the rain chain (roughly placed)