Water is the beginning of life, and there’s one place in Yamanashi prefecture where it flows from the holiest of…
Toshiko SakuraiMarch 29, 2023
If there is one craft that is intrinsically related to Japan, it is Japanese lacquer. Before humans ever rode horses,…
Toshiko SakuraiMarch 27, 2023
Sustainable Tourism has become an increasingly important topic as the world considers how to maximize the potential of global tourism…
Todd FongMarch 16, 2023
While the cities of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka continue to get the lion’s share of overseas tourists to Japan, few…
Todd FongFebruary 2, 2023
Japan's smallest main island, Shikoku, is usually not one of the main destinations for international tourists visiting Japan. Many follow…
ClaudiaMay 11, 2022
For many, the first things that come to mind when they think about Tokyo are the crowded streets full of neon lights in Shibuya or Shinjuku, the…
Lucia TsujiguchiApril 28, 2022
Japan is a country of contrasts. From the snow and low temperatures in Hokkaido to the turquoise waters and tropical…
Lucia TsujiguchiMarch 22, 2022
Starbucks is, without a doubt, a beloved Japanese institution. In a couple of short decades since the global coffee chain’s…
Richard MilnerMarch 16, 2022
The TAKUMI Road runs along Japan's western coast, collectively known as Hokuriku, from Fukui to Niigata prefectures. It is centered…
Todd FongJanuary 15, 2022
Hinoura Tsukasa turned the blade over in his hands, his keen eye taking in every detail of his handiwork. Each…
Todd FongDecember 20, 2021
It’s often said that music knows no borders. It’s a universal language understood all over the world and capable of…
Lucia TsujiguchiSeptember 8, 2021
In Okinawan dialect, yachimun (やちむん) means pottery. Its history dates back hundreds of years when the islands were still the…
Lucia TsujiguchiSeptember 8, 2021
When I think about Okinawa, the first word that comes to mind is "paradise". Its turquoise blue ocean contrasts with…
Lucia TsujiguchiSeptember 8, 2021
Handmade pottery is one of the oldest crafts in Japan. It’s a combination of art and tradition that reflects Japanese…
Lucia TsujiguchiSeptember 8, 2021
Like many of the traditional crafts of the ancient Ryukyu Kingdom (琉球王国), Okinawan glass is also part of a story…
Lucia TsujiguchiSeptember 8, 2021
If you've ever been to Japan, you've probably found yourself browsing the okashi (お菓子 Japanese snacks and sweets) area in…
Lucia TsujiguchiSeptember 8, 2021
Japanese cuisine is world-famous, but there is much more food to try than sushi, ramen, or tempura. Japan's varied landscape…
Lucia TsujiguchiSeptember 8, 2021
When you think of traditional Japanese culture, one of the first images that probably comes to mind is a beautiful…
Lucia TsujiguchiSeptember 8, 2021
Despite numerous journeys across Japan and the constant quest to discover more off-the-beaten-track destinations, Tsuwano (津和野) in Shimane Prefecture, was…
Clémentine CintréApril 30, 2021
Takaoka city, nestled between the mountains of Toyama prefecture alongside the traditional Gokayama village and the Sea of Japan, has…
Joachim DucosFebruary 26, 2021
If Japan is not the world's mecca of themed cafés and restaurants, it has to be missing very little. Any…
Toshiko SakuraiFebruary 17, 2021
There is a quality of tatami that is unmistakably Japanese. The scent of a freshly mowed field in Spring. The…
Todd FongJanuary 25, 2021
I have always loved winter and snow even more. Coming from the south of France, where it barely snows once…
Joachim DucosDecember 18, 2020
The exquisite traditional Japanese kimono is a beautiful article of clothing. However, one often forgets its other half: the long…
Todd FongNovember 30, 2020
I’m sure you are missing Japan. You would like to be closer to this wonderful culture and experience its essence.…
Maria PeñascalNovember 19, 2020
MinaHomi Design Workshop is a project born from the dreams of a young artist who rekindled her deepest roots when…
Lucia TsujiguchiNovember 11, 2020
Sometimes, coincidences give you incredible opportunities to visit a place you wouldn't have otherwise. My visit to Akabane (赤羽) was a matter…
Maria PeñascalSeptember 25, 2020
