inspiration

Naoto Fukasawa converted an old Kyoto townhouse, machiya, into an Issey Miyake store. Keeping the original structure intact, with its exposed timber, the facade and interior have a cohesive tone of charcoal grey to contrast the iconic designer's colorful collection.

Find the lush rooftop farm amid Kyoto city center in a building with a grocery store and a few restaurants with a farm-to-table concept.

My relatives recently went on tea picking via Airbnb in the countryside of Kyoto, Wazuka. That area has been producing tea for over 1000 years which is around the same time as the introduction of tea to Japan itself.

Made of paper and beautifully designed, not only are they biodegradable, but they are also perfect for parties!

Shigenori Uoya is an architect in Kyoto who specializes in remodeling Japanese townhouses called machiya. A master of incorporating light in moody and dark machiyas, he is behind many projects we look up to, including Maana Homes.

Kimura Glass, founded in 1910, continues to iterate and innovate while staying true to its heritage of hand-blown glass by collaborating with designers from various backgrounds.

For the past 100 years, Kondo Seisakusho, based in a historical blacksmith town in Niigata, has been specializing in handcrafting tools for farming and agriculture.

The Japanese construction workers have their uniform, which is an adaptation of the western 'knickerbockers.' While the style has continued amongst workers, it has evolved to suit the construction sites and has become a distinct style of its own.

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 work with indigo.

From carpet cleaners to other everyday items, Nittodo offers Japanese tools with simple designs and functionality made with new and traditional craft techniques.

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.

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 design and cooking.  

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 children.

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.

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.

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 aesthetics, the designer harnessed his love for Scandinavian furniture.

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 private forest, it is the ideal 'home' to come back to après-ski. 

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.

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 create a series of compact kitchens.

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 spiritual energy.

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 incorporating indigo into current trends.

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.

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, dishes eaten on new year's day.

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 the world.