Japan is a place full of traditions that are ages old, and youthful cultures forming. It is a destination where seasonal celebrations, marked by rituals and unique experiences, take place on a daily basis. While many may be familiar with the spectacle of the Cherry Blossom Festival, fewer people understand the distinct local celebrations around … Read more
Where old and new meet, and technology and tradition seem like opposed universes, a small trend is connecting them in surprising ways. Despite sounding like a dystopian paradox, silent disco shrines are taking place and such cultural mixing is becoming a kind of pilgrimage for psy-trance aficionados, cultural tourists and event organisers. This blog is … Read more
Japan has long been synonymous with bold new ideas, but no concept better sums up the creativity of the country’s city streets than the capsule hotel. First introduced in the late 1970s, they have ever since been seen as emblematic of Japan’s innovative spirit. Now, they’re having their own retro-future hipster revival, evoking a 1980s … Read more
Ever been in a city and wondered how sustainability fits into the equation, or how we can live a city-life properly – here are the healthiest, human, most sustainable solutions to urban life in Japan. Sustainability in Japan is always heading in the right direction – from Tokyo to Kyoto – if you know where … Read more
We’re in Tokyo, a city of skyscrapers that poke above historic temples, and yet here’s a new version of a very old idea – farming, and not just any old area of the city, but upon the rivers and canals that snake through it. Our boats are gliding along canals lined with floating gardens that … Read more
Introduction to Japanese Skincare’s Timeless Beauty When it comes to beauty and wellness, few things are more exciting than a Japanese skincare routine. Rich with tradition and culture, multi-step regimens have been around for thousands of years. They can take only a few minutes, but the results are radiant skin that feels respectful of its … Read more
Imagine you’re walking the crowded city streets of Tokyo – a modern megalopolis with a familiar but strange atmosphere. You notice a garishly colored flier advertising Rent-a-Family, a service that seems like the stuff of sci-fi films. You pick up the flyer and read the English on it: ‘Are you’ll [sic] in foreign country, don’t … Read more
Chances are that you like anime. Whether you have a favourite show, or at the very least a cute character that you’d love to hang out with, or a place that just seems surreal and utterly beautiful, you might have wondered to yourself at one point or another: I wish I could go there. Imagine … Read more
Introduction to Japanese Toilets In a review of Japan, or What Went Wrong, you’ll often read about the country’s posh toilets that have become part and parcel (no pun intended) of the nation’s techno-culture. Arriving in a nation where futuristic toilets were not uncommon, my first and only-brief experience with toilet techno-culture was visiting a … Read more
Wellness tourism is booming across the globe as being well becomes a priority in our lives. This fast-growing sector is not only making travellers healthier but also providing a vital economic boost to those locations lucky enough to be chosen as destinations. So what is it about wellness tourism that is so popular? For travellers, … Read more