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The wonderful city of Toyama, with its eponymous bay on its north side and massive Tateyama mountain range to its south,...
28/05/2025

The wonderful city of Toyama, with its eponymous bay on its north side and massive Tateyama mountain range to its south, is a worthwhile visit and an excellent base from which to begin an adventure through Japan's Hokuriku region. From the Kengo Kuma-designed Glass Art Museum to a delightful, well-preserved Edo-era port town, Toyama is a city that beckons, with few foreign travelers who answer the call.

At just two and a half hours from Tokyo via bullet train, Toyama is a radical departure for leisure and adventure. That is, radically refreshing. Excellent food, crafts, cultural history, and natural beauty--stay tuned as we reveal more about this region soon!

With the Setouchi Triennale currently underway, many visitors to the region naturally have the art islands on their mind...
09/05/2025

With the Setouchi Triennale currently underway, many visitors to the region naturally have the art islands on their minds and itineraries. Wonderful as they are, we recommend veering eastward to nearby Shodoshima, the Inland Sea's second-largest island. It is a fascinating place, with thriving local industries producing some of the best soy sauce and olive oil in Japan, and there are beautiful art installations on the island worth visiting. In a sense, Shodoshima is like a microcosm of Shikoku, with its own 88-temple pilgrimage route and spectacular natural formations like Kankakei Gorge that make this island a real jewel of the Inland Sea.

For more on Shodoshima, see our write-up on our website: Exploring the Quiet Pulse of the Seto Inland Sea.

Are you planning your trip to Japan? Contact us from the link in bio.

With the Setouchi Triennale currently underway, many visitors to the region naturally have the art islands on their mind...
09/05/2025

With the Setouchi Triennale currently underway, many visitors to the region naturally have the art islands on their minds and itineraries. Wonderful as they are, we recommend veering eastward to nearby Shodoshima, the Inland Sea's second-largest island. There are thriving local industries producing some of the best soy sauce and olive oil in Japan, and there are beautiful art installations on the island worth visiting. In a sense, Shodoshima is like a microcosm of Shikoku, with its own 88-temple pilgrimage route and spectacular natural formations like Kankakei Gorge that make this island a real jewel of the Inland Sea.

For more on this island, see our write-up: Exploring the Quiet Pulse of the Seto Inland Sea.

Planning your trip to Japan? Contact us from the link in bio.

In the rustic temple town of Kita Kamakura, set within a residential patch in the thickets of Yamanouchi, sits the singu...
06/03/2025

In the rustic temple town of Kita Kamakura, set within a residential patch in the thickets of Yamanouchi, sits the singular NIWA–the area’s premier boutique stay. The historic house, beautifully renovated, abuts the mountainside. Besides the property’s irori-equipped sauna, tea house, and outdoor bath, it also features a yagura cave, harkening back to the time Kamakura was the capital of Japan.

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It is winter in Japan, and the year of the snake Is underway.While we are naturally focused on the cultural and culinary...
20/01/2025

It is winter in Japan, and the year of the snake Is underway.

While we are naturally focused on the cultural and culinary wonders of Japan, Unplugged Japan was born in Los Angeles, and the immense devastation caused by the current wildfires has been heartbreaking. While our Los Angeles HQ and team are safe, we are mindful of the serious challenges faced by our community. 

The spirit of the snake is about renewal and rebirth, and if we know anything about Los Angeles, it is that the city will rebuild and regrow.

Wood, stone, bamboo, and earth—ancient materials that, in the hands of a master, can be transformed into astonishing wor...
10/12/2024

Wood, stone, bamboo, and earth—ancient materials that, in the hands of a master, can be transformed into astonishing works of art and utility. Architect Kengo Kuma, standing on the shoulders of giants, reimagines these humble elements to create spaces that honor nature and culture. Through works ranging from the Ace Hotel in Kyoto to the revitalization of Yusuhara town in Kochi Prefecture, Kuma demonstrates the interaction between the built environment and its sources, proving that architecture can be both a nod to the past and a vision for the future.


 

Urushi, or Japanese lacquer, is a natural treasure harvested from the sap of the lacquer tree—a tradition cultivated ove...
12/11/2024

Urushi, or Japanese lacquer, is a natural treasure harvested from the sap of the lacquer tree—a tradition cultivated over thousands of years. Known for its glossy aesthetics, durability, repairability, and natural antibacterial properties, urushi lacquerware embodies beauty, practicality, and environmental sustainability and can be passed down through generations.

Today, innovative artisans like are bringing urushi into the modern age, going beyond traditional wares and applying it to surfboards, skateboards, and even reusable straws. As a renewable resource that requires great care to maintain, urushi is as relevant as ever and represents a stark alternative to taken-for-granted disposable mass production.

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We welcome the seasonal transition as temperatures cool and koyo nears, and receive nature’s colorful invitation with gr...
24/10/2024

We welcome the seasonal transition as temperatures cool and koyo nears, and receive nature’s colorful invitation with gratitude as we venture to Japan’s incredible autumnal sights: colorful combinations of water, trees, and stone complementing each other, forming works of natural art. Places such as Doro Gorge (pictured) along the Kitayama River in Wakayama Prefecture are a tribute to the season, and an antidote to the hurried frenzy that characterizes so much of daily life.


 

Myoga (young ginger) is a Kochi prefectural specialty and an essential ingredient in the Japanese kitchen—especially in ...
29/08/2024

Myoga (young ginger) is a Kochi prefectural specialty and an essential ingredient in the Japanese kitchen—especially in cold dishes. During Japan’s hot and humid summer days, cold foods provide much-needed relief, and a good dose of myoga can add lovely color, flavor, and nutrition to almost any meal.

Photo repost from: .farm___

The Niyodo River in Kochi Prefecture is beloved for its extraordinarily clear water, affectionately known as “Niyodo Blu...
30/07/2024

The Niyodo River in Kochi Prefecture is beloved for its extraordinarily clear water, affectionately known as “Niyodo Blue.” Fast-flowing through a steep course, the river naturally filters impurities, resulting in its stunning clarity. In fact, so pure is Niyodo River’s water that it has been recognized by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism as having the best river water in the country eight of the last 10 years.

Bisecting the center of Kochi Prefecture, the Niyodo River runs from its source at Mt. Ishizuchi to its mouth in the Pacific Ocean. Along its course are hiking trails, waterfalls, and valleys, in addition to the river’s excellent conditions for kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and swimming.  

The river is integral to Kochi’s cultural and ecological heritage, supplying fresh water essential for sustenance and industry. High-quality Tosa washi paper and sake, prized for their purity and craftsmanship, are made using the pristine water from this special river. Niyodo Blue is reason enough to explore Shikoku—Japan’s least visited main island—a true jewel hidden in plain sight.

Japanese gardens are renowned for their well-manicured beauty and thoughtful design. But there's more to their allure th...
28/06/2024

Japanese gardens are renowned for their well-manicured beauty and thoughtful design. But there's more to their allure than what gardeners can control. The term "shakkei," or "borrowed scenery," refers to how existing features of an environment can enhance the aesthetic experience of a garden. 

Several notable gardens masterfully incorporate the concept of borrowed scenery. In Takamatsu, the grand Ritsurin Garden is set against the arboreal backdrop of Mt. Shiun. Though not part of the garden itself, Mt. Shiun is inseparable from an appreciation of Ritsurin Garden as a whole. The garden becomes more beautiful, verdant, and exceptional due to the "borrowed scenery" of the mountain.


Shikoku's epic 88 temple pilgrimage is one of many ways the island can change you. Traditionally, the pilgrimage begins ...
23/05/2024

Shikoku's epic 88 temple pilgrimage is one of many ways the island can change you. Traditionally, the pilgrimage begins on the island's east side in Tokushima, proceeding clockwise in numerical order through Kochi, Ehime, and Kagawa prefectures. But it can be completed in several ways--on foot, by bicycle, by car--or in various sections over an extended period. Temples do not have to be visited in order, and it can also be done counterclockwise, starting with Temple 88 and ending at Temple 1. 

The pilgrimage has yet another variation. During a leap year (such as this one), a counterclockwise pilgrimage (called gyaku-uchi) is believed to have special significance: A pilgrim's prayers (gorieki) are thrice as powerful!

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