photos by Kenta Hasegawa courtesy Suppose Design Office
Every day is a holiday, even if it’s laundry day. At least that’s the idea behind Laundry Holiday, a laundromat in Ehime prefecture the underwent a drastic facelift last year, rebranding itself as a community-centered gathering spot where neighbors can come together, get chores done and, of course, eat ice cream.
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this post is sponsored by Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)
Okayama and Niigata prefectures are not necessarily household names for those visiting Japan. But if you’re looking to avoid the thronging crowds of tourists in Kyoto and Instagrammers in Naoshima, consider a destination off the beaten path. From historical shrines and castles to craftwork and contemporary art, Okayama and Niigata offer something for everyone.
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all images courtesy Miyabi
The second Monday of January is a special day for youths across Japan who are turning 20. A national holiday in Japan, Coming of Age Day is meant to celebrate, congratulate and encourage those who are entering adulthood. And celebrate they shall. The Kyushu region of Japan in particular is known for their youths who sport over-the-top kimonos that break every rule of Japan’s culture of conformity. And one artist helps their special day be perfect be creating custom-made attire.
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If you’re heading to the Setouchi art islands this year, do yourself a favor and stop by Mt. Yashima in Kagawa prefecture. Just a 15-minute drive from Takamatsu Port, which is the gateway to the many islands, the summit of Mt. Yashima now boasts a gorgeous, snaking, mountaintop pavilion that recently opened. Walk around the elevated pathway as it undulates according to the terrain and take in the views of the Inland Sea on one side and Takamatsu City on the other. Then grab lunch at the renovated Reigan Chaya.
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Himeji Castle and its iconic white plaster walls (photo courtesy Himeji Castle)
Japan’s Himeji Castle dates back to the 1300s but at the time it was just a fort on a hill. Its current form really took shape in the early 1600s and since then it has remained intact. And in 1993 it became one of Japan’s first landmarks to receive the UNESCO World Heritage Site declaration.
Himeji Castle is not only the largest castle in Japan but also the oldest surviving castle. The reason? “Battles were never fought here.” And to commemorate the 30-year anniversary of the castle’s heritage status the castle is spreading this message of peace.
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Welcome to the frolicking year of the rabbit! We love all of Japan’s quaint traditions around New Year’s: eating toshi-koshi soba on New Year’s Eve, having ozoni on New Year’s morning, visiting a temple or shrine for hatsumode. Well, we have a tradition of our own: admiring New Year’s cards (nangajo) created by some of our favorite Japanese artists and designers.
From anime and printmaking to minimal geometric and animated, enjoy all the different art styles of rabbits, mochi and moons.
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Scallop shells, or any seashells for that matter, are intended to protect their inhabitants from predators. Using biomimicry along with a sustainable design process, a team of researchers and designers in Japan have created a helmet to protect human lives that’s made out of discarded scallop shells. The resulting product is not only better for the environment but is also more durable and lighter than conventional plastic helmets.
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As we wind down our 15th (!) year of blogging, we embark on our annual exercise of ranking our most popular posts based on viewership. It’s always fun and interesting to see what captivated readers the most. Ever since our beginnings we’ve made a point of providing our readers with eclectic coverage of Japan that shys away from sensationalism. From mundane halloween costumes and cool visual tricks to matchbooks and cat cafe, we hope we’ve been able to add a little bit of beauty and insight into your daily lives by delivering stories about Japan through an art & design lens.
But enough from us. Happy holidays to everyone and here are our top 10 articles of 2022:
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If you’re doing some last-minute Christmas shopping in Tokyo, try and swing by some of these locations where you’ll find the best seasonal yet unorthodox designer Christmas trees. Happy Holidays!
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Apropos of nothing, other than the fact that this is December, we wanted to share one of our favorite holiday advertising campaigns. This one is by art director Yuni Yoshida, who applied a creative use of perspective to transform a green stairway and a red hallway into Christmas Trees.
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OrySnack: The Bar Where Bartenders Work From Home
Winners of Japan’s 2027 Packaging Design Awards
Tokyo is Gearing Up for an Art-Filled Fall. And the Entire City is Here for It
Japanese Aquarium Drops 2026 Version of Flowchart Illustrating Their Penguin Relationships. This Year There’s an English Version.
Kirie Artist Carves Playful Narratives Into Tree Leaves
