Despite the fact that the top tourist sites in Kyoto tend to be quite crowded, there are still lots of quieter spots to explore. After all, there are over 1600 temples alone! During our stay near Arashiyama, we had lunch with a view at a soba restaurant called Yoshimura. You don't need ... continue reading...
Revisiting 3 favorites in Japan
Gen Yamamoto, Den, and Tempura Matsu: On every future trip to Japan, these three spots will be at the top of our list! Not only because of the wonderful food and drinks, but because the passion and personalities of the people involved make them such memorable experiences. *** Gen ... continue reading...
Making wagashi
I've always loved eating wagashi, the lovely Japanese confections of sweetened bean paste shaped like flowers, plants, and all manner of seasonal motifs. On a prior trip we even watched them being made before enjoying them with some matcha. Now it was our turn to make wagashi! I found a ... continue reading...
Luca Fantin and Amoroso, Tokyo
This is a tale of two Italian restaurants in Tokyo. On one hand - Luca Fantin, in the glittering Ginza district, on the ninth floor of the Bulgari store. And on the other - Amoroso, a neighborhood restaurant with just a dozen seats, run by one man who is not only the chef, but also the sommelier, ... continue reading...
Tempura Matsu pop-up, NYC
Last month we traveled 800 miles for a lunch - which was actually 6000 miles closer than the usual distance required! The restaurant in question, Tempura Matsu, is located in Kyoto but came to New York for a pop-up. It was in the planning stages when we were there in May, and we (perhaps a bit ... continue reading...
Gion Sushi Tadayasu, Kyoto
For us, no trip to Japan is complete without a sushi meal - it's such a quintessential experience to sit at the wooden counter and watch the chef prepare and serve piece after piece. We had lunch at Gion Sushi Tadayasu, which I chose with the help of the Tableall website. It's a very helpful ... continue reading...
Narisawa, Tokyo
To understand the thinking behind Narisawa, you must understand satoyama. It's a term unique to Japan that refers to countryside where people live in harmony with nature, farming, fishing, and foraging (the translation is village - hill). Narisawa's explanation: Japan is surrounded by forests ... continue reading...
Hoshinoya Tokyo
Imagine an open-air onsen hot spring bath, twenty stories above the Otemachi financial district. Or an elevator with pristine tatami mat flooring, whisking you - shoeless - from the streets of Tokyo to a quiet, shoji screen-lined hall. The Hoshinoya Tokyo is filled with these delightfully ... continue reading...
Hoshinoya Kyoto
Want to vacation like a Heian noble? Step onto one of the Hoshinoya's unassuming wooden boats, and 10 minutes later you're in another world, far from the thronging crowds and bustle of Arashiyama's main streets. Out here, the river cuts between steep wooded hills with rocky banks. Ahead, ... continue reading...
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