EAT > SHIBUichi Bakery, Shibuya

We don't usually write about bakeries or cafe's but it is time to change that because SHIBUichi has to be the best bakery we have visited in Japan and once discovered we have been back again and again. If you are looking for quality baked goods early in the morning (any time before 11am) you…

ByEd ItorJanuary 24, 20240Comments

EAT > TOKYO WHERE TO EAT >

EAT > Ryan, Tokyo

Did someone say Soba? Ryan is not quite your standard Tokyo noodle stop. It is a stylish room with tables as well as bar seating, seating is comfortable and you can easily settle in for something of a session here. And let us be clear this is not a ¥900 noodle…

ByEd ItorJanuary 23, 20240Comments

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Cabernet Sauvignon DRINK > WINE > Merlot

DRINK > Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

I am not going to pretend to be any kind of expert on the wine of Bordeaux and there are many vastly more experience wine writers who have reviewed this wine in the past and given their reviews. But in December of 2023 at a wonderful degustation/omakase dinner at the quite incredible 'Sushi-M' this was…

ByEd ItorJanuary 19, 20240Comments

SKI > JAPAN WHERE TO SKI >

SKI > Hakuba Valley

Located in northwestern Nagano Prefecture of Honshu (the main island of Japan) at the base of the 3,000m tall Northern Japan Alps, you will find the town of Hakuba and the centre of HAKUBA VALLEY which is a group of 10 resorts (Happo-one, Iwatake, Tsugaike, Hakuba 47, Goryu, Kashmayari, Sanosaka, Jigatake, Norikura and Cortina). …

ByEd ItorSeptember 7, 20230Comments

EAT > KYOTO WHERE TO EAT >

EAT > Nikuryori Oka, Kyoto (17/20)

Nikuryori Oka is restaurant that obsesses with beef, and not just beef but A5 marbled wagyu beef largely agreed to be the most flavoursome, melt in your mouth beef in the world. Hidden away amongst the beautiful machiya tea houses of Gion you will find a restaurant and a chef who will…

ByEd ItorSeptember 5, 20230Comments

EAT > TOKYO WHERE TO EAT >

EAT > J U L I A Omakase, Tokyo (18/20)

Tokyo is has the most Michelin starred restaurants in the world, it is no wonder that in this incredible city fine food is expressed in so many ways and so there are so many choices. The Michelin guide lists 461 fine dining restaurants in Tokyo of those listed 199 have either 1, 2 or…

ByCrispySeptember 5, 20230Comments

SKI > JAPAN WHERE TO SKI >

SKI > Nozawa Onsen

Maybe not for everybody but for us it is definitely pretty close. We have been lucky enough to ski in North America, South America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. We love skiing in Japan for a number of reasons, firstly of course the snow which is abundant and excellent quality, secondly the culture -…

ByEd ItorMay 30, 20230Comments

DESIGN

SPIRIT > Iwai Gin

Iwai Gin is a celebration of Nozawa’s harvest seasons. The subtle flavors of sakura, plum and applewood deliver in this fruity and floral gin. Try it with tonic on ice.

ByCrispyMarch 27, 20230Comments

DESIGN

DRINK > Snow Gin like Nozawa Onsen Gin

The Nozawa Onsen Distillery is in the beautiful historic onsen town and snow resort of the same name in Kita Shinshu, Nagano Prefecture Japan. Nozawa is a small farming village with a population of 3,500 that swells in winter when it attracts skiers from all over the world. The rest of the year…

ByEd ItorMarch 12, 20230Comments

DESIGN

STYLE > Denim in Japan

The Kojima district outside Tokyo was once known for manufacturing school uniforms and canvas sails but today those same fabric looms are being used to create denim fabric and the industry is growing massively with demand for Japanese Denim coming from all over the world. The demand for quality indigo jeans has seen the major…

ByCrispyMarch 12, 20230Comments

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