“We create a culture here based on traditions while coexisting with nature,” explains Kyoko, the marketing representative for HOSHINOYA Resorts, which includes the property we’re currently touring, HOSHINOYA Okinawa. “The design of the property is based on the traditions and heritage of Taketomi island.” Of the hundreds of islands in [...]
It is still very hot on this November day. Some of my friends living in Saitama, the large prefecture north of Tokyo, have invited me to come and visit them in their city of Kawaguchi for a matsuri, a Japanese traditional festival. The event is rooted in religion linked to [...]
A cuisine created by HOSHINOYA Okinawa on Taketomi Island in Japan, Ryukyu Nouvelle is an innovative style of Okinawan food based on French cuisine. The recipes are based on local ingredients prepared using French cooking techniques, putting a never-before-seen twist on the Okinawan diet that is said to be one [...]
I have often followed the roads of tea during my stays in Japan. My first visit was in Shizuoka, Japan’s main tea production and transformation area — 70% of Japanese teas are processed in Shizuoka — beautifully settled around Mount Fuji in the center of Honshû island. I was welcomed [...]
While many people think of Japanese cuisine as being one large group of dishes, the ingredients used and meals eaten often vary by region. The Okinawa Prefecture is Japan‘s southernmost prefecture, composed of hundreds of islands and showcasing a culture, climate and cuisine different from the mainland. For example, while [...]
With the success of last year’s event, JNTO and JTA will collaborate again to bring back Japan’s tourism promotion event Japan Week from March 19 to 21, 2013 at Grand Central Terminal in New York. In addition to celebrating Japanese culinary culture, this year’s event will also recognize the “sister [...]
Sometimes, the story of a place cannot be told through words as well as it can through pictures, especially with the right photographer. Brooklyn-based Navid Baraty became obsessed with the art of photography once he realized the medium’s ability to tell a story while engaging all the senses.” Browsing his [...]
While Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture is composed of hundreds of islands, Taketomi Island is said to have the most well-preserved heritage. The island is home to 323 inhabitants, all of whom are extremely proud of their culture and where they come from. In fact, to be a part of the community [...]
When ordering dessert in Japan, don’t expect fudge brownie sundaes or Snicker marshmallow cheesecake. Instead, you’ll more likely be indulging in some simple but delicious wagashi, or typical Japanese sweets. Often served with tea, these confectioneries are made with mochi, azuki bean paste and fruit and often have a soft, [...]
For many, traveling to a big city makes it hard to find the cultural immersion they’re looking for. On a recent trip to Japan I visited Tokyo and Takemtomi Island. While the tiny island with its heritage-listed village and preserved customs showcased culture in every corner, Tokyo was very metropolitan. [...]
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