Inspiration

The Little Indigo Museum, the World of Hiroyuki Shindo

Nestled in the hills of Kyoto prefecture lies the village of Miyama, famous for its traditional thatched roof buildings and, most notably, for being the home of Hiroyuki Shindo and his prodigious w...

Continuous Renewal: Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum

The museum in Kobe focuses on collecting, preserving, and contextualizing woodworking tools and architectural models in an effort to showcase the renowned building traditions of Japan.

Smallest Ryokan in Japan

Sakamoto Ryokan is a tiny inn on the Noto Peninsula in the Japan Sea. With only three guest rooms, one of the smallest ryokan in the country is run by a couple with exquisite taste in interior desi...

Craftsmanship for Babies

With a belief that coming into contact with craftsmanship from an early age expands a child's sense of values, Aeru, collaborates with Japanese craftspeople to create unique products catered to chi...

Making Chopsticks with Leftover Wood

Make chopsticks with this kit that uses upcycled leftover wood from Japanese construction. Sustainable and fun, you can personalize your chopsticks in as little as fifteen minutes.

A Decentralized Hotel Battling Depopulation

By creating a unique hotel experience where rooms are dispersed and guests are part of the 700-people village, Nipponia Hotel hopes to revitalize a region that faces rapid depopulation.

Japandi: Japanese Furniture Maker Meets Scandinavia

In 2008, the result of the collaboration between designer Naoto Fukusawa, and Maruni Wood Factory, a 100-year-old furniture manufacturer, was Japandi. While paring down to the essence of Japanese a...

Zaborin: Hokkaido’s Luxury Ryokan

Zaborin is a luxury ryokan of 15 villas, located in the rapidly expanding ski resort town of Niseko, Hokkaido. With its indoor and outdoor bath, Japanese and Western-style rooms, and views of a pri...

Guntu: Floating Hotel on the Seto Sea

Part yacht, part ryokan, part high-end hotel, Guntu is not only a true achievement in nautical design, but it also represents something exceptional in the world of contemporary hospitality.

Italian Designed Japanese Closet-sized Kitchens

To tackle the problem of increasingly tiny living situations in urban areas, Sanwa, a Japanese home interior and exterior company, partnered with the Italian design team Bestetti Associati to creat...

Miho Museum: Healing Power of Art

The Miho Museum is a modern museum with a mystifying history. Nestled in the mountains of Shigaraki southeast of Kyoto, the Miho was founded by Mihoko Koyama, who believed that works of art have sp...

Buaisou: Discovering Indigo in Tokushima

Photographer and writer Adam Marelli recounts his trip to Tokushima to discover indigo. He visits Buaisou, a group of indigo farmers and dyers who are keeping traditions alive by sophisticatedly in...

Bamboo Artisan Weaving Japan's Future

Japanese bamboo weaver, Hafu Matsumoto offered his expertise in bending what is naturally unbending to make exceptional baskets and sculptures for the Spanish fashion label, Loewe.

Grandma’s Stories and Recipes

Grandmas are part of Japan's intangible heritage who have wisdom to pass down countless stories and recipes to the next generation. Watch the documentary series of Japanese grandmas making Osechi, ...

Hoshinoya: Experience Traditional Japanese Hospitality

Introducing Japanese-style hospitality encapsulated in a modern space that incorporates traditional techniques through its architecture and interior design, Hoshinoya brings the essence of Japan to...

Kengo Kuma's Ichingyo-in Temple

Located in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district, the Edo-era Inchigyo-in sits in the line of sight of numerous neighboring mid- and high-rises. Kengo Kuma and Associates designed a new, low-lying main hall co...

Beniya Mukayu, A Hot Spring Ryokan

Located near a 1300-year-old hot spring town, Beniya Mukayu, the  Japanese-style inn is surrounded by abundant nature. With its 'omotenashi' service and location, you will feel rejuvenated and rela...

Blue Bottle Opens Shop In Kyoto

The Blue Bottle founder, James Freeman has always had an obsession with Japan. In 2018, they opened their first Blue Bottle in Kyoto in a beautiful 100-year-old machiya town house near Nanzen-ji Te...

%Arabica: A Love For Coffee, Design & The World

Inspired by the Starbucks movement in the United States, Kenneth Shoji, wanted to make the best coffee in the world - starting in Kyoto. Now after a decade, his vision and love for coffee, design,...

Ceramic vs Porcelain Earthenware

From the beginning of human history, earthenware has been crafted all across the world. Even within the small islands of Japan, the diversity of soil, climate, food, and aesthetics have nurtured un...

Holiday Gift Ideas

Holiday season is often associated with celebratory design with a bit of sparkle, and a table filled with warm, nourishing dishes. So there may not be anything more appropriate than giving the gif...

Our "Autumn in Kyoto" Itinerary

The word on the street is that after two and a half years, Japan is finally opening its borders to international travelers. That means we get to welcome you to our neighborhood! Autumn may very we...