We’ve always loved sake – since we used to hit the karaoke bars with friends in Sydney’s Kings Cross years ago. We wouldn’t think of eating Japanese food with anything but sake*, but, unlike wine, we knew very little about the drink until recently. Being in Tokyo seemed to be a good excuse to learn, … Read more
My, how the souvenirs for kids sold in Tokyo have changed since my mother returned from Japan when I was a kid in the early ’70s, bringing back suitcases bursting with gifts. Then, my Mum brought me a beautiful white-faced geisha in a fragile glass case with black lacquer trim, dressed in an exquisite kimono … Read more
Tsukiji Outer Market is a must-visit when you’re in Tokyo and you’re a food lover. While the Tsukiji Fish Market closed and moved back in 2018, Tsukiji Outer Market remains open and is as tantalising as ever. Tsukiji Outer Market is home to shops specialising in everything from Japanese handmade knives and kitchen supplies to … Read more
The best Tokyo take-homes include beautiful notebooks, postcards and note paper. Stationery makes for terrific Tokyo souvenirs, especially for long-term travellers, because it’s not only pretty, but it’s practical, affordable, and weighs nothing at all. Fortunately Tokyo is also home to some of the world’s best stationery shops. As you’d expect, being a writer, I’m … Read more
Demystifying Tokyo’s pop culture was one of my missions after discovering Tokyo’s cuisine beyond sushi and ramen. But I knew we were going to have to recruit some local experts in all things anime, otaku, otome, and yokai to help us make sense of Tokyo pop culture. Evidence of Tokyo’s exuberant pop culture is everywhere … Read more