Japan Travel in the Know– category –

Today, let’s take a gently enthusiastic—occasionally cheeky—stroll through one of Tokyo’s eternal design icons: Spiral, the multi-purpose cultural complex in Omotesandō. Opened in 1985 and turning 40 in 2025, it somehow refuses to age. Y...

Today, we’re taking you on a casual, slightly cheeky stroll through one of Tokyo’s most inventive design hangouts: Tokyo Midtown Design Hub (TMDH). Imagine stepping into a building that gives a knowing wink to both your left-brain archit...

【】 When you hear Suntory, you probably think whisky on the rocks, highball cans from the konbini, or maybe that jingle that somehow gets stuck in your head for days. But plot twist: Suntory also runs a museum. Yep, a museum, and not ju...

The cult of ice: Over 100 people gathered in punishing cold before dawn to see the Jewelry Ice. We explore the power of a name: worthless river ice was renamed 'Jewelry Ice' and became a global phenomenon. Money is a form of appreciation for perceived value. We must find the 'Jewelry Wood' moment for our furniture.

Why does Japan's $300 Matsutake mushroom smell like dirty socks overseas? I explore the cultural acclimatization of fungi, the 4,000-year history of risk, and the scientific mystery of poisonous mushrooms. I then take you to Hokkaido, the last mushroom frontier, where unpicked bounty proves the biodiversity and health of our forests—and the quality of our wooden furniture.

Fire was stolen from the gods (Prometheus, the Jaguar King) to make us human. But in wooden Japan, fire also created a deep-seated dread. I trace this primal paradox of fascination and awe, only to lead you to the final conclusion: The Bonfire Bar on a rooftop terrace in Asahikawa, Hokkaido. Visit to enjoy a unique, eco-friendly bonfire made from furniture wood waste—a small, local answer to a grand, universal mystery.

Why does a Japanese person who hates the smell of raw fish insist you visit his mountain-surrounded hometown for the best sushi? I explore the Sushi Paradox, noting the scientific mystery of our elusive tastes (I love fishing, but won't touch the catch!). While Hokkaido's seas are bountiful due to colliding currents, the logic is in logistics: Asahikawa, the inland distribution hub, gathers the best fish—the quality too high to stay on the coast. Come to Asahikawa for the best sushi! (I’ll order the cooked egg.)

What are the unwritten scripts in the snow? I decode the footprints of deer and foxes in Hokkaido, only to uncover a philosophical problem: The deer population boom is destroying our forests. I admit this fear is purely human ego. This leads to my ultimate, self-serving conclusion: We should solve the ecological problem—and the chicken-or-egg venison dilemma—by dining at one of Hokkaido's many excellent deer meat restaurants. Come and eat some of the problem.

In a world of perpetual blue light, darkness is a luxury. Why does Japan lead the world in planetarium technology? Explore the "Sumo of the Stars," the bureaucratic standardization of 88 myths, and why the "Little Puppy" constellation is a glorious lie.

The $500 Japanese Ransel school bag was built to be a six-year sled. We unveil the Powder Paradox: Hokkaido’s globally famous 'Champagne Powder' is too light and dry to build snow igloos—ruining childhood fun, but creating the need for stunning, heavy-machinery-built structures like the La Vista Ice Bar. Sit on our chairs in a hotel made of ice and experience the ultimate expression of our fleeting, cold luxury.