Japan

In 2024, we traveled through Japan, starting in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto—cities that hum with energy, design, and an impressive talent for making even the busiest moments feel beautifully choreographed. Temples and neighborhood shrines appear just around the corner from modern life, offering calm between train rides and more convenience-store delicacies than we care to admit. From there, we moved into lesser-traveled Prefectures of Yamanashi and Kanagawa, where the pace softened, and the welcome felt more personal—thanks to locally run ryokans, family-owned restaurants, and artisans. By the time we left, Japan felt less overwhelming and more quietly generous—layered, thoughtful, and best enjoyed at a slower pace.