Page 7 – ALMANAK MAGAZINE

EAT > L’OMBELICO, Shibuya (15/20)

Tucked into the ground floor of TRUNK(HOTEL) YOYOGI PARK on the Yoyogi Park side of Shibuya, L’ombelico feels like a little slice of contemporary Tokyo-Italian: wood-fired warmth, natural wine energy, and that relaxed, park-adjacent buzz that rolls from breakfast through to late-night pizza. AMBIENCE > Set on a prominent corner of Inokashira-dori with three sides…

December 25, 2025ByCrispin

SKI > JAPAN WHERE TO SKI >

SKI > Appi Kogen

For regulars it's jut 'Appi' - a resort famous for its champagne powder great accomodation and good food options and while it is not 'Ski Bali' (yet) it does have a good mix of western and Japanese options. So Appi is a ski in ski out resort that sits in the Iwate Prefecture toward the…

December 24, 2025ByCrispin

DRINK > BARS DRINK > JAPAN DRINK > SENDAI

DRINK > Great Dane Brewing, Akiu, Sendai (15/20)

Set against Akiu’s pine-lined hills and onsen steam, Great Dane Brewing brings Midwestern brewpub heart to one of Tohoku’s most storied hot spring valleys—a Wisconsin-born, Sendai-brewed outpost where craft beer, wide-open views and a low-key road-trip energy converge. It feels less like a side-trip from the city and more like a base camp for slow…

December 23, 2025ByCrispin

STAY > JAPAN STAY > SENDAI WHERE TO STAY >

STAY > KAI Akiu, Akiu Onsen, Sendai (17/20)

KAI Akiu by Hoshino Resorts brings understated design, ritual-rich bathing and river-facing calm to one of Sendai’s most storied onsen towns, wrapping traditional ryokan cues in a quietly luxurious, contemporary frame. For ALMANAK readers, it is the kind of stay that feels purposeful rather than flashy—more about seasons, texture and water than spectacle.Summary Intro goes…

December 23, 2025ByCrispin

EAT > JAPAN EAT > TOKYO WHERE TO EAT >

EAT > KUFUKU±, Akihabara Tokyo (17/20)

Tucked into a quiet backstreet on the Akihabara side of Chiyoda, Kufuku feels like stepping out of electric town and into a parallel world—one where time, fermentation, and French technique quietly reframe Japanese comfort food. Set inside a lovingly preserved kominka, this is destination dining for travellers who like their Tokyo with as much patina…

December 22, 2025ByCrispin

EAT > JAPAN EAT > TOKYO WHERE TO EAT >

EAT > Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura, Ginza, Tokyo (17/20)

High above Ginza’s polished sidewalks, Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura feels less like a fashion-house spin‑off and more like a jewelled little universe of its own—part salon, part stage, part lucid dream in Gucci green. Here Italian technique, Japanese produce and a distinctly theatrical sense of storytelling converge into a tasting menu that is playful, polished…

December 22, 2025ByCrispin

STAY > JAPAN STAY > TOKYO WHERE TO STAY >

STAY > TRUNK(HOTEL), Yoyogi Park, Shibuya Tokyo (17/20)

TRUNK(HOTEL) YOYOGI PARK is a design-led, boutique bolthole on the edge of Yoyogi Park that channels low-key Tokyo cool, rooftop glamour, and neighbourhood warmth in equal measure. This is a place for those who want Shibuya’s energy within walking distance, but prefer to wake up to trees, terrace light, and the scent of wood-fired pizza…

December 21, 2025ByCrispin

EAT > JAPAN EAT > TOKYO WHERE TO EAT >

EAT > JULIA, Shibuya, Tokyo (19/20)

Tucked away in the residential fringes of Jingumae, just beyond Omotesando's designer bustle, JULIA remains a Shibuya gem for those seeking Japan's seasonal essence through innovative fine dining. Returning after our acclaimed 2024 visit to the expanded space—where Chef Nao and Sommelier Kenichiro elevated their husband-and-wife intimacy to a poised team operation—this latest meal reaffirms…

December 20, 2025ByCrispin

EDITORIAL

THE ALMANAK > DECEMBER EDITORIAL

An ‘almanak’ is a guide full of useful information, historically this started with useful farming information and expanded to be sporting, historical and much more. Our ALMANAK is your guide to finding the best places that suit your personal style and energy. This is our editorial where you can get a summary of articles…

December 19, 2025ByCrispin

DRINK > BARS DRINK > SYDNEY

DRINK > Conte, Sydney (17/20)

Conte in Sydney’s CBD is grand, an unapologetically Italian, ode to the Negroni. Part bar, part ristorante, and all about drama, detail and la dolce vita energy. With more than 30 (and climbing toward 40) Negroni riffs, serious Italian wines and a full dining menu, it feels less like a pre-dinner pit-stop and more like…

December 7, 2025ByCrispin