What is visiting Tokyo really like?
by joostay
IKIMASHO | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan
Categories: Tokyo Days • Tags: architecture, asia, design, festivals, food, japan, japanese, justin egli, summer, sun, tokyo, travel, travel tips, travel writer
Author Archives: joostay
A Summer Saturday at Ikuta Ryokuchi Park / 生田緑地で夏を楽しむ
by joostay
IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan
Categories: Tokyo Days • Tags: architecture, asia, design, japan, japanese, nature, photography, summer, tokyo, travel writer, travel writing, Zen
A walk around: Mizonokuchi, Kawasaki
by joostay
IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan
Categories: Tokyo Days • Tags: asia, design, japan, japanese, justin egli, kawasaki, photography, tokyo, travel writer, travel writing
My connection with Japan
by joostay
Originally posted on IKIMASHO!:
Nature vs Nurture. My father has a lot to answer for. Written January 2015 This ruffian here is my father. You can almost see the catapult hanging out of his back pocket. Growing up, we both looked very similar – but over the years our personalities have also merged, with me subconsciously adopting a lot of his traits. As a young man my dad travelled a lot. He was shipped off to live in Switzerland when…
Categories: Uncategorized
Todoroki Valley: Tokyo’s Backyard / 等々力渓谷東京の庭
by joostay
IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan
Categories: Tokyo Days • Tags: asia, design, japan, japanese, justin egli, photography, setagaya, Todoroki Valley, tokyo, travel writer
It’s been a while, Asakusa / 久しぶりに浅草を冒険
by joostay
IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan
Categories: Tokyo Days • Tags: architecture, asia, colour, design, ikimasho, japan, japanese, justin egli, photography, tokyo, travel writing
IKIMASHO! 2018
by joostay
IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan
Categories: Tokyo Days
A walk around: Monzen Nakacho, Tokyo
by joostay
IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan
Categories: Tokyo Days • Tags: architecture, asia, design, japan, japanese, justin egli, old, photography, street, tokyo, travel, travel writer, urban
Sunday Morning / 日曜日の朝
by joostay
IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan
Categories: Tokyo Days • Tags: asia, japan, japanese, photography, tokyo
Karasumori Inari Shrine Grand Festival 2018
by joostay
IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan
Categories: Tokyo Days, Traditional Festivals & Matsuris • Tags: asia, blog, design, festivals, japan, japanese, justin egli, matsuri, photography, summer, tokyo, travel writer, travel writing, travelling, Zen
Sayonara Sakura. A Spring Trip to Enoshima. さよなら桜
by joostay
IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan.
Categories: Tokyo Days • Tags: asia, design, ikimasho, japan, peace, photography, tokyo, travel writer, travel writing, Zen
Oiran Dochu Procession 2018, Yoshiwara, Tokyo
by joostay
A return to the red-light district of the old Edo era | IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan
Categories: Tokyo Days, Traditional Festivals & Matsuris • Tags: asia, design, festival, japan, justin egli, photography, tokyo, travel, travel writing
Purification Of Fire: Japan’s Daruma Kuyo / 日本でのだるま供養
by joostay
A ceremonial burning performed once a year by monks in Tokyo.
IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan
Categories: Bizarre/Unique, Tokyo Days, Traditional Festivals & Matsuris • Tags: asia, festival, japan, japanese, justin egli, matsuri, Obscure, photography, tokyo, travel, travel writer, travel writing
My Secret Place / 私の秘密の場所
by joostay
IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan.
Categories: Tokyo Days • Tags: architecture, asia, blog, design, escape, ikimasho, japan, japanese, justin egli, photography, quiet, tokyo, travel writer, travel writing, Zen
Fine Dining in Tokyo: The Strings by InterContinental Tokyo
by joostay
IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan
Categories: Luxury Stays, Tokyo Days • Tags: architecture, asia, design, five star, food, food photography, Food Writing, hotel, Hotel Review, interior design, japan, japanese, justin egli, luxury, photography, se asia, tokyo, travel
A walk around: Sugamo, Tokyo
by joostay
IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan
Categories: Tokyo Days • Tags: architecture, asia, design, japan, japanese, justin egli, old tokyo, photography, Shitamachi, street, street photography, tokyo, travel, travel writer, urban, Urban Development
Delusions of Grandeur
by joostay
IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan
Categories: Tokyo Days • Tags: architecture, asia, daily life, design, japan, japanese, justin egli, photography, street photography, tokyo, travel, travel writer
Welcoming Spring at Sankeien Garden, Yokohama / 横浜の三溪園で春を迎える
by joostay
IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan
Categories: Tokyo Days • Tags: beauty, city, design, japan, japanese, justin egli, lifestyle, nature, photography, temple, tokyo, travel writer, urban, yokohama, Zen
The Colourful Chigosan of Takahatafudo, Tokyo / 高幡不動尊 金剛寺の稚児
by joostay
30 pictures from the annual Chigosan Gyoretsu parade – divine children who play an important role at this temple on the outskirts of Tokyo.
Categories: Tokyo Days, Traditional Festivals & Matsuris • Tags: asia, festival, japan, japanese, justin egli, photography, tokyo, travel, travel writer, travel writing
Temples, Trains & Trees: Station Hopping on the Oimachi Line
by joostay
IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan
Categories: Tokyo Days • Tags: architecture, asia, design, interior design, japan, japanese, justin egli, local life, Oimachi Line, photography, temples, tokyo, trains, travel, travel writer
Fine Dining in Tokyo: yakumo saryo
by joostay
Entering a world of blissful simplicity…
Categories: Luxury Stays • Tags: architecture, asia, Dining, fine dining, food, interior design, japan, japanese, justin egli, luxury, photography, tokyo, travel, travel writer
A walk around: Shoin Jinja-mae, Tokyo
by joostay
IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan
Categories: Tokyo Days • Tags: architecture, asia, colour, design, japan, japanese, justin egli, neighbourhood, photography, rural, tokyo, travel, travel writer, urban
The Wooden Train / 木製の電車
by joostay
IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan
Categories: Tokyo Days • Tags: asia, blog, daily life, design, ikimasho, japan, japanese, justin egli, photography, short story, tokyo, travel, writing
As the snow fell / 雪が降った時
by joostay
IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan
Categories: Tokyo Days • Tags: asia, blog, design, ikimasho, japan, japanese, lighting, photography, snow, tokyo, travel, travel writing, winter
Winter Sun in Shinjuku Gyoen / 新宿御苑での冬の太陽
by joostay
IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan
Categories: Tokyo Days • Tags: asia, Clothes, design, fashion, ikimasho, japan, japanese, Kimono, photography, tokyo, travel, travel writing
Kitsch Coffee vibes at Seven, Sangenjaya
by joostay
IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan
Categories: Tokyo Days • Tags: architecture, asia, cafe, coffee, Coffee shop, Colours, food, interior design, japan, japanese, justin egli, photography, Sangenjaya, tokyo, travel, travel writer
All About My Croquette, Shoin Jinja-mae
by joostay
A fun little restaurant in a cute little neighbourhood.
IKIMASHO! Daily life in Tokyo, Japan.
Categories: Tokyo Days • Tags: area guide, asia, blog, design, food, foodie, ikimasho, japan, japanese, japanese food, justin egli, photography, tokyo, travel writer, writing
Titanic Belfast: Northern Ireland
by joostay
From Belfast to the world: Visiting Europe’s leading tourist attraction
Categories: Travel: Outside Japan • Tags: belfast, design, northern ireland, photography, Titanic, travel writing
Christmas in Northern Ireland
by joostay
Right now I’m back in Tokyo after spending two full weeks visiting home in Northern Ireland. As well as being able to enjoy quality time with my family and friends, I was reminded of just how untouched and beautiful some parts of my country really is. There’s a simplistic beauty about our villages and coastlines, and I’m happy I could spend Christmas there with the people I love. ☘️ ❤ Follow IKIMASHO! on Facebook ❤
Categories: Travel: Outside Japan • Tags: bangor, design, food, ireland, irish, justin egli, northern ireland, photography, Scenery, travel, travel writer
JPN > NI
by joostay
From Japan to Northern Ireland for Christmas
Categories: Tokyo Days, Travel: Outside Japan • Tags: japan, japanese, northern ireland, photography, travel
The Sounds of the Streets / 沈黙の響き
by joostay
Daily life in Tokyo, Japan.
Categories: Tokyo Days • Tags: art, blog, design, environment, ikimasho, japan, japanese, justin egli, life, photography, photos, travel, travel writing, writing
As Winter Approaches / 冬の始まり
by joostay
Daily life in Tokyo, Japan.
Categories: Tokyo Days • Tags: asia, design, food, ikimasho, japan, japanese, justin egli, photography, tokyo, travel, travel writer
Oyster Shucking in the Oshika Peninsula / 牡鹿半島でのカキ殻剥き
by joostay
Working with nature – and against it. Local life in coastal Japan.
Categories: Travel: Inside Japan • Tags: asia, blog, coastal, food, japan, japanese, justin egli, photography, rural, sea, travel, Travel blogger, travel writer
Return to Todoroki Valley / 等々力渓谷に戻る
by joostay
Forest bathing in the koyo autumn colours
Categories: Tokyo Days • Tags: asia, autumn, blog, design, fall, Fall Colours, japan, japanese, justin egli, photography, tokyo, travel, travel writer
Wes Anderson’s Ramen Shop / ウェス・アンダーソンのラーメン屋
by joostay
Noodle Nostalgia. Hazy-hued vibes in a shop that time forgot…
Categories: Tokyo Days • Tags: asia, Colours, design, film, food, interior design, japan, japanese, photography, ramen, tokyo, travel, travel writer, Wes Anderson
Autumn Colours at Akiu Great Falls, Miyagi / 宮城県の秋保大滝の紅葉
by joostay
My visit to Miyagi Prefecture last weekend coincided with koyo season – the changing of the leaves. Driving through the winding roads of Akiu Onsen, an area famous for its hot springs, we eventually found ourselves at Akiu Great Falls. This 55-metre high waterfall is a nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty, and really did look like something from a fairytale. Reflections from Tohoku, Japan Moments in Miyagi / 宮城でのひと時 IKIMASHO! on Facebook
Categories: Travel: Inside Japan • Tags: asia, autumn, blog, Colours, ikimasho, japan, japanese, justin egli, Miyagi, nature, photography, travel, travel writer
Moments in Miyagi / 宮城でのひと時
by joostay
Right now I am back in Tokyo after spending a few sun-soaked Autumnal days in Miyagi prefecture. In recent months I have come to really appreciate and enjoy the contrast between urban city life and that of the Japanese inaka (田舎) rural countryside. Spending time with my girlfriend’s family who are volunteering after the tsunami, I feel incredibly lucky to have been introduced to life in Tohoku, absorbing everything around me. Above all, the last few days have reaffirmed my belief that […]
Categories: Travel: Inside Japan • Tags: asia, food, japan, japanese, justin egli, Miyagi, nature, photography, Tohoku, travel, travel writer, Writer, Zen
Amidst the pouring rain / 雨が降る中
by joostay
I’m writing this from a small cafe in Ikebukuro that I have come to like. The rain is pattering against the window, and while the setting right at this present moment in time is somewhat idyllic, the constant onslaught of rain over the last few weeks has been anything but. In Japan, typhoons are numbered rather than being given a personal name. Today is Typhoon Number 22 – the 22nd typhoon of the year and the second in as many weekends. […]
Categories: Tokyo Days • Tags: asia, blogging, daily life, japan, japanese, justin egli, photography, tokyo, travel, travel writer
IKIMASHO! x DAZED: JAPAN’S GROTESQUE MASK PROCESSION
by joostay
David Lynch vibes at Menkake Gyoretsu: a traditional festival of men wearing ancient and grotesque masks in Kamakura, a coastal city to the south of Tokyo.
Categories: Art Music & Culture, Bizarre/Unique, Tokyo Days, Traditional Festivals & Matsuris • Tags: asia, blog, festival, ikimasho, japan, japanese, justin egli, photography, travel, travel writer
Yabo Tenman-gu Grand Festival 2017
by joostay
Spinning around in suburban west Tokyo
Categories: Art Music & Culture, Bizarre/Unique, Traditional Festivals & Matsuris • Tags: asia, buddhism, design, japan, justin egli, matsuri, photo essay, photography, shinto, shrine, temple, tokyo, travel, travel writer
IKIMASHO! x DAZED: INSIDE KAWASAKI WAREHOUSE
by joostay
The three-storey gaming warehouse in Kawasaki modelled on Hong Kong’s lawless ‘city within a city’ that was demolished in 1994 after becoming synonymous with drug addiction and prostitution.
Categories: Bizarre/Unique, Tokyo Days, Uncategorized
I drove about in a dog today
by joostay
This was my day. How was yours?
Categories: Kindergarten Life • Tags: japan, japanese, photography, teaching, travel
A walk around: Yaho, Tokyo
by joostay
YAHO / 谷保
Categories: Tokyo Days • Tags: asia, blog, blogging, design, japan, japanese, justin egli, photography, suburbia, tokyo, travel, travel writer
Fine Dining in Tokyo: China Blue at Conrad Tokyo
by joostay
First-class Chinese cuisine – with first-class views to match
Categories: Luxury Stays, Tokyo Days • Tags: architecture, asia, city, design, five star, food, Hilton, hotels, interior design, japan, japanese, justin egli, luxury, photography, review, tokyo, Travel blogger, travel writing
THREE DAYS OF FUN IN TOKYO TOWN
by joostay
Last weekend was seriously one of the best weekends I have had in years. There is a fine line being a travel blogger – I obviously want to write informative posts about places, but sometimes I like the fact that this site is simply a diary for myself, and something I can look back on in years to come. And so this post isn’t really about anything, and yet it’s about everything. This is what my three-day weekend looked like […]
Categories: Tokyo Days, Travel: Inside Japan • Tags: art, asia, blog, blogger, design, Diary, food, japan, justin egli, photography, tokyo, travel writer, Weekend
Drinking Matcha in a Bamboo Forest: Hokokuji Temple, Kamakura
by joostay
1,998… 1,999… Lost in a sea of 2,000 bamboo.
Categories: Tokyo Days, Travel: Inside Japan • Tags: blogging, buddhism, design, ikimasho, japan, japanese, justin egli, Kamakura, life, photography, photos, religion, Shonan, travel, travel writer, travel writing, Zen
Taiko at Hachimangu Shrine, Tokyo
by joostay
A few weeks back I was out at the Fukagawa Hachiman Festival in Koto-ku, east Tokyo. I wrote a bit about the insane water battle here, but before tens of thousands took to the streets I was able to watch a traditional taiko performance in somewhat calmer surroundings. I always enjoy watching Japanese drumming: it has a hypnotic effect – not only through the sound and rhythm, but also visually, the way the drums are struck. Standing there watching the taiko […]
Categories: Tokyo Days, Traditional Festivals & Matsuris • Tags: asia, drumming, festival, japan, japanese, justin egli, photography, taiko, traditional, travel writing
Reflections from Tohoku, Japan
by joostay
A region rebuilding, six years later.
Categories: Tokyo Days, Travel: Inside Japan • Tags: asia, beauty, design, earthquake, food, japan, japanese, justin egli, Miyagi, photography, regeneration, Scenic, Tohoku, travel, travel blogging, travel writer, travel writing, tsunami
Fine Dining in Tokyo: The Restaurant by Aman
by joostay
A trip to Italy, via the Tokyo skyline
Categories: Luxury Stays, Tokyo Days • Tags: 5 star, cuisine, five star, food, food photography, japan, japanese, justin egli, luxury, photography, restaurant, tokyo, Travel blogger, travel writer
Tokyo’s BIGGEST water fight: Fukagawa Hachiman Festival
by joostay
A water purification festival on a truly epic scale
Categories: Art Music & Culture, Tokyo Days, Traditional Festivals & Matsuris • Tags: asia, blogging, colour, design, festival, japan, japanese, justin egli, matsuri, photography, story, summer, travel, Travel blogger, travel writing, writing
Hachioji Matsuri 2017
by joostay
What I was up to last weekend – and the next few to come…
Categories: Tokyo Days, Traditional Festivals & Matsuris • Tags: art, asia, blog, blogging, buddhism, design, japan, japanese, justin egli, life, music, photography, photos, religion, traditional, Travel blogger, travel writer, video, writing
Kool Kids & Kakigori
by joostay
Staying ice cool from the summer heat…
Categories: Tokyo Days • Tags: asia, blogger, design, dessert, food, japan, japanese, justin egli, kakigori, photography, tokyo, Travel blogger, travel writer
A walk around: Tateishi, Tokyo
by joostay
The remains of Old Tokyo – but how long can they remain?
Categories: Tokyo Days • Tags: architecture, asia, beauty, blogging, design, environment, japan, justin egli, life, mono no aware, photography, photos, space, tokyo, travel, travel writer, urban, wabi-sabi, work, Zen
IKIMASHO! x DAZED: TOKYO’S CAT TEMPLE
by joostay
“Gotokuji is an area of the city obsessed with all things feline and many believe its temple to be the birthplace of ‘maneki-neko’ – the cats you’ve seen with one paw held high” I have a new article out in DAZED, exploring the area of Gotokuji in West Tokyo. Gotokuji is a quiet collection of backstreets, bakeries, and flower shops with people going about their daily life. It’s not unlike hundreds of other small stations in Tokyo – apart from one […]
Categories: Art Music & Culture, Tokyo Days • Tags: animals, blog, blogging, cats, design, japan, japanese, justin egli, photography, photos, se asia, temple, tokyo, traditional, travel, Travel blogger, travel writer
Fine Dining in Tokyo: Andaz Tavern, Toramonon Hills
by joostay
High-end cuisine, high up in the city.
Categories: Luxury Stays, Tokyo Days • Tags: 5 star, ANDAZ, asia, boutique, cuisine, five star, food, hyatt, ikimasho, japan, justin egli, luxury, photography, tokyo, travel, travel writer
Kappabashi Shitamachi Tanabata Matsuri: Old Tokyo’s “Star Festival”
by joostay
An ancient cosmic celebration on the streets of Tokyo
Categories: Art Music & Culture, Tokyo Days, Traditional Festivals & Matsuris • Tags: aphex twin, asia, colour, design, festival, food, japan, japanese, justin egli, photography, tokyo, Travel blogger, video
A walk around: Akabane, Tokyo
by joostay
AKABANE / 赤羽 Last Friday I found myself out drinking in Koenji, an area not too far from Shinjuku that – like my own ‘hood of Shimokitazawa – is famous for its thrift stores and retro vibes. I go there once a year for the Awa Odori, but apart from that I honestly don’t really venture out that direction – despite it only being a short train ride from where I live. (Last year I think I visited three times in total.) […]
Categories: Tokyo Days • Tags: alleyways, asia, design, food, japan, japanese, justin egli, photography, street, tokyo, travel, travel writer, urban
Six countries where you have to try the street food
by joostay
You might be surprised by just how much food you’ll eat when travelling that comes from a street vendor. Some of the best dishes you’ll come across are commonly consumed as street food – here are six countries where you should try it for yourself. India You’ll be hard done by trying to avoid the temptation of vendors in India that cook up the most pleasingly fragrant and rich dishes the country has to offer. Don’t hesitate to tuck into […]
Categories: Travel: Outside Japan
THIS IS TOKYO
by joostay
IKIMASHO! on Facebook
Categories: Tokyo Days • Tags: asia, design, food, japan, justin egli, photography, street, tokyo, travel, travel writer, urban
