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Top 7 Places to See Sakura in Tokyo
The time has come: it’s peak sakura season in Tokyo! We’re sharing our Top 6 favourite spots to see Sakura in Tokyo, so you can make the most of your…
Kurashiki Edo Town
Kurashiki, part of Okayama prefecture, is a small city known for its Edo-style village – Kurashiki Bikan Chika. Here you’ll find traditional craft and food stores housed in restored kura…
Hiking Tokyo’s Mt Takao in Autumn
Autumn in Japan is a magical time. The humidity slowly disappears and the skies are clear; perfect for hiking and sightseeing. Takao San is a beautiful mountain located in the…
Top 6 Vegan Eateries in Tokyo
As anyone with dietary requirements knows, Japan can either be a foodie paradise or a total nightmare. I actually went vegan in Japan while researching Buddhism and Edo culture, and…
Book Review: Japanese Kokeshi Dolls by Manami Okazaki
When we heard Manami was publishing another iconic Kokeshi book, we just had to get our hands on it! We adore her previous Kokeshi art book; Kokeshi from Tohoku with…
World Heritage Shrines & Hiking in Nikko
Nikko is a stunning World Heritage Site in Tochigi – about 2 hours Northwest of Tokyo by train. You could get there and back in a day if you really…
Meet Mayumi Suzuki: Nature-Inspired Photographer
I met Mayumi soon after I first moved to Japan, around 2015. She was looking for someone to model her jewellery creations, and I was looking for some new friends….
Discovering Edo-Tokyo in Ryogoku
Did you know Edo (now Tokyo) was one of the largest cities in the world during the 18th century? Edo grew rapidly from a small fishing town into a cultural…
Pottery Class at Hakone Crafthouse
Japan is full of memorable experiences just waiting to be stumbled upon. One winter a few years ago we took a weekend trip to Hakone to enjoy the breath-taking scenery,…
Soaking in Beppu – Kyushu’s famous onsen town
In September 2018, while we were still living in Fukuoka, we took a couple of days off to visit Beppu and celebrate Rob’s birthday. The only requirements for the trip…
Design Your Own Maneki Neko at Cafe Neko E-Mon
Can’t get enough of the super cute beckoning cat – Maneki Neko? Well read on to find out all about how you can create your very own Maneki Neko for…
How to Make Matcha the Traditional Way
In Japan, matcha has had a long history associated with the formal tea ceremony (Sadō or Chadō). Matcha differs from regular green tea in that whole tea leaves are powdered…
Taking the long way round
It’s been over two and a half years now since we left Japan and had to close down our much-loved store and subscription box. In that time we’ve gone through…
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