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Daily life in Tokyo, Japan

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Ramen: Bigiya, Gakugei-daigaku (Michelin Bib Gourmand)

November 27, 2018 by joostay

Daily life in Tokyo, Japan | IKIMASHO!

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: asia, blogging, design, food, japan, lifestyle, photography, ramen, tokyo, travel, travel blogging, travel writing

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The Joining of Worlds / 二つの世界が出会った時

November 18, 2018 by joostay

Daily life in Tokyo, Japan | IKIMASHO!

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: autumn, colour, design, fall, japan, japanese, photography, south east asia, tokyo, travel writing, Zen

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Escape from the City: Day Tripping to Jogashima

November 11, 2018 by joostay

The rugged coastline of the Miura Peninsula, Kanagawa | IKIMASHO!

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo, Travel: Inside Japan • Tags: asia, design, fall, ikimasho, japan, kanagawa, nature, photography, Seascapes, tokyo, travel, travel writer, travel writing, winter

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One life, one encounter / 一期一会

October 29, 2018 by joostay

IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: asia, design, japan, life, lifestyle, photography, tokyo, travel writer, travel writing, Zen

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Tonkatsu Heaven. Dinner at Tonki, Meguro.

October 24, 2018 by joostay

If you’re only gonna serve one thing – you better do it well. IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: asia, design, food, japan, photography, tokyo, Travel blogger, travel writing

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Adventures in Aomori / Part 3: Among Nature

October 15, 2018 by joostay

Daily life in Tokyo, Japan | IKIMASHO!

Categories: Travel: Inside Japan • Tags: blog, blogging, design, food, ikimasho, japan, japanese, photography, road trip, tokyo, travel, travel writer, travel writing

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A walk around: Hakuraku, Kanagawa

October 8, 2018 by joostay

Daily life in Tokyo, Japan | IKIMASHO!

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: aesthetic, asia, design, japan, japanese, photography, planning, street, tokyo, travel writer, urban, Urban Design

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Adventures in Aomori / Part 2: An Unexpected Party

September 30, 2018 by joostay

Daily life in Tokyo, Japan | IKIMASHO!

Categories: Travel: Inside Japan • Tags: asia, blog, blogger, design, family, food, japan, japanese, photography, travel, travel writer

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Adventures in Aomori / Part 1: Heading North

September 25, 2018 by joostay

Part 1: Heading North | IKIMASHO!

Categories: Travel: Inside Japan • Tags: aomori, asia, blog, blogger, blogging, design, japan, japanese, photography, tokyo, travel, travel writer, travel writing

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IKIMASHO Luxury Stays: Hoi An River Town Hotel, Vietnam.

September 13, 2018 by joostay

A perfect base for exploring Hoi An’s Old Town – and the local villages beyond.

Categories: Luxury Travel, Travel: Outside Japan • Tags: asia, boutique, Hoi An, luxury, photography, se asia, Travel blogger, travel blogging, travel writer, travel writing, video, vietnam

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IKIMASHO Luxury Stays: Xuan Spa at Park Hyatt Saigon, Vietnam

September 13, 2018 by joostay

On Cloud Nine in District 1. My first ever massage experience.

Categories: Luxury Travel, Travel: Outside Japan • Tags: 5 star, asia, ho chi minh city, hyatt, ikimasho, luxury, Park Hyatt, photography, Saigon, se asia, travel, travel blogging, travel writer, vietnam, Zen

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IKIMASHO Luxury Stays: Melia Danang, Vietnam

September 11, 2018 by joostay

Two days of gloriously doing nothing by the East Vietnam Sea / 南シナ海での贅沢な二日間

Categories: Luxury Travel, Travel: Outside Japan • Tags: asia, blog, blogger, blogging, Danang, luxury, Luxury Travel, photography, resort, se asia, travel blogging, travel writer, travel writing, travelling, video, vietnam

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As the rains fall / ざあざあ. . . ざあざあ. . .

September 10, 2018 by joostay

Daily life in Tokyo, Japan | IKIMASHO!

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: asia, blog, japan, photography, Reflection, tokyo, travel writer

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IKIMASHO Luxury Stays: Park Hyatt Saigon, Vietnam

September 2, 2018 by joostay

Pure colonial elegance in bustling Ho Chi Minh City | IKIMASHO!

Categories: Luxury Travel, Travel: Outside Japan • Tags: 5 star, asia, blogging, design, food, ho chi minh city, hotels, interior design, lifestyle, luxury, photography, Saigon, se asia, space, travel, travel writer, travel writing, vietnam

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Chewed and Spat Out by District 4, Ho Chi Minh City

August 30, 2018 by joostay

Exploring Saigon’s Doan Van Bo Alleyways – once notorious for their criminal gangs and mafia personnel.

Categories: Travel: Outside Japan • Tags: asia, design, photography, Saigon, se asia, street, travel, travel writer, travel writing, urban, vietnam, Vietnamese

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Fine Dining in Tokyo: Quintessence (3 Michelin stars)

August 24, 2018 by joostay

IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan.

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo, Luxury Travel • Tags: design, food, japan, japanese, luxury, Michelin, tokyo, travel writer, travel writing

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Hello from Vietnam / ベトナムで過す夏休み

August 19, 2018 by joostay

IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan

Categories: Travel: Outside Japan • Tags: asia, photography, se asia, summer, travel, vietnam

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A uniquely Japanese Friday / 日本独特な金曜日

August 5, 2018 by joostay

Getting more than we bargained for on a simple Friday night | IKIMASHO!

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: asia, culinary, design, festival, food, japan, japanese, summer, tokyo, travel writer, travel writing, Zen

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Ramen: Mitsufuji, Midorigaoka (Michelin Bib Gourmand)

August 1, 2018 by joostay

Michelin rated ramen in a quiet area of central Tokyo | IKIMASHO!

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: asia, design, food, foodporn, japan, japanese, photography, ramen, tokyo, Travel blogger, travel writer

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Monkeying around in Sarushima /猿島でサルごっこ

July 26, 2018 by joostay

IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: asia, asian, blogging, Boats, design, japan, japanese, photography, sea, summer, sun, tokyo, travel, travel writer

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What is visiting Tokyo really like?

July 16, 2018 by joostay

IKIMASHO | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: architecture, asia, design, festivals, food, japan, japanese, summer, sun, tokyo, travel, travel tips, travel writer

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A Summer Saturday at Ikuta Ryokuchi Park / 生田緑地で夏を楽しむ

July 8, 2018 by joostay

IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: architecture, asia, design, japan, japanese, nature, photography, summer, tokyo, travel writer, travel writing, Zen

A walk around: Mizonokuchi, Kawasaki

June 26, 2018 by joostay

IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: asia, design, japan, japanese, kawasaki, photography, tokyo, travel writer, travel writing

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My connection with Japan

June 17, 2018 by joostay

Today is Father’s Day – both in Japan and Northern Ireland – and so I wanted to share this post once again. Originally written 3.5 years ago, it shows where my fondness for Japan comes from, and includes a short update at the end.

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo

Todoroki Valley: Tokyo’s Backyard / 等々力渓谷東京の庭

June 11, 2018 by joostay

IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: asia, design, japan, japanese, photography, setagaya, Todoroki Valley, tokyo, travel writer

It’s been a while, Asakusa / 久しぶりに浅草を冒険

June 5, 2018 by joostay

IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: architecture, asia, colour, design, ikimasho, japan, japanese, photography, tokyo, travel writing

IKIMASHO! 2018

June 1, 2018 by joostay

IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo

A walk around: Monzen Nakacho, Tokyo

May 22, 2018 by joostay

IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: architecture, asia, design, japan, japanese, old, photography, street, tokyo, travel, travel writer, urban

Sunday Morning / 日曜日の朝

May 13, 2018 by joostay

IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: asia, japan, japanese, photography, tokyo

Karasumori Inari Shrine Grand Festival

May 6, 2018 by joostay

IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo, Traditional Festivals • Tags: asia, blog, design, festivals, japan, japanese, matsuri, photography, summer, tokyo, travel writer, travel writing, travelling, Zen

Sayonara Sakura. A Spring Trip to Enoshima. さよなら桜

April 28, 2018 by joostay

IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan.

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: asia, design, ikimasho, japan, peace, photography, tokyo, travel writer, travel writing, Zen

Oiran Dochu Procession, Yoshiwara, Tokyo

April 15, 2018 by joostay

A return to the red-light district of the old Edo era | IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo, Traditional Festivals • Tags: asia, design, festival, japan, photography, tokyo, travel, travel writing

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Purification Of Fire: Japan’s Daruma Kuyo / 日本でのだるま供養

April 7, 2018 by joostay

A ceremonial burning performed once a year by monks in Tokyo.

IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan

Categories: Traditional Festivals • Tags: asia, festival, japan, japanese, matsuri, Obscure, photography, tokyo, travel, travel writer, travel writing

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My Secret Place / 私の秘密の場所

April 1, 2018 by joostay

IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan.

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: architecture, asia, blog, design, escape, ikimasho, japan, japanese, photography, quiet, tokyo, travel writer, travel writing, Zen

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Fine Dining in Tokyo: The Strings by InterContinental Tokyo

March 30, 2018 by joostay

IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo, Luxury Travel • Tags: architecture, asia, design, five star, food, food photography, Food Writing, hotel, Hotel Review, interior design, japan, japanese, luxury, photography, se asia, tokyo, travel

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A walk around: Sugamo, Tokyo

March 19, 2018 by joostay

IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: architecture, asia, design, japan, japanese, old tokyo, photography, Shitamachi, street, street photography, tokyo, travel, travel writer, urban, Urban Development

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Delusions of Grandeur

March 12, 2018 by joostay

IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: architecture, asia, daily life, design, japan, japanese, photography, street photography, tokyo, travel, travel writer

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Welcoming Spring at Sankeien Garden, Yokohama / 横浜の三溪園で春を迎える

March 6, 2018 by joostay

IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: beauty, city, design, japan, japanese, lifestyle, nature, photography, temple, tokyo, travel writer, urban, yokohama, Zen

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The Colourful Chigosan of Takahatafudo, Tokyo / 高幡不動尊 金剛寺の稚児

February 26, 2018 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: Daily Life in Tokyo, Traditional Festivals • Tags: asia, festival, japan, japanese, photography, tokyo, travel, travel writer, travel writing

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Temples, Trains & Trees: Station Hopping on the Oimachi Line

February 21, 2018 by joostay

IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: architecture, asia, design, interior design, japan, japanese, local life, Oimachi Line, photography, temples, tokyo, trains, travel, travel writer

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Fine Dining in Tokyo: yakumo saryo

February 17, 2018 by joostay

Entering a world of blissful simplicity…

Categories: Luxury Travel • Tags: architecture, asia, Dining, fine dining, food, interior design, japan, japanese, luxury, photography, tokyo, travel, travel writer

1

A walk around: Shoin Jinja-mae, Tokyo

February 8, 2018 by joostay

IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: architecture, asia, colour, design, japan, japanese, neighbourhood, photography, rural, tokyo, travel, travel writer, urban

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The Wooden Train / 木製の電車

February 6, 2018 by joostay

IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: asia, blog, daily life, design, ikimasho, japan, japanese, photography, short story, tokyo, travel, writing

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As the snow fell / 雪が降った時

January 25, 2018 by joostay

IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: asia, blog, design, ikimasho, japan, japanese, lighting, photography, snow, tokyo, travel, travel writing, winter

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Winter Sun in Shinjuku Gyoen / 新宿御苑での冬の太陽

January 21, 2018 by joostay

IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: asia, Clothes, design, fashion, ikimasho, japan, japanese, Kimono, photography, tokyo, travel, travel writing

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Kitsch Coffee vibes at Seven, Sangenjaya

January 20, 2018 by joostay

IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: architecture, asia, cafe, coffee, Coffee shop, Colours, food, interior design, japan, japanese, photography, Sangenjaya, tokyo, travel, travel writer

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All About My Croquette, Shoin Jinja-mae

January 14, 2018 by joostay

A fun little restaurant in a cute little neighbourhood.

IKIMASHO! Daily life in Tokyo, Japan.

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: area guide, asia, blog, design, food, foodie, ikimasho, japan, japanese, japanese food, photography, tokyo, travel writer, writing

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Titanic Belfast: Northern Ireland

January 10, 2018 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

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JPN > NI

December 24, 2017 by joostay

From Japan to Northern Ireland for Christmas

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo, Travel: Outside Japan • Tags: japan, japanese, northern ireland, photography, travel

6

The Sounds of the Streets / 沈黙の響き

December 21, 2017 by joostay

Daily life in Tokyo, Japan.

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: art, blog, design, environment, ikimasho, japan, japanese, life, photography, photos, travel, travel writing, writing

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As Winter Approaches / 冬の始まり

December 14, 2017 by joostay

Daily life in Tokyo, Japan.

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: asia, design, food, ikimasho, japan, japanese, photography, tokyo, travel, travel writer

1

Oyster Shucking in the Oshika Peninsula / 牡鹿半島でのカキ殻剥き

December 7, 2017 by joostay

Working with nature – and against it. Local life in coastal Japan.

Categories: Travel: Inside Japan • Tags: asia, blog, coastal, food, japan, japanese, photography, rural, sea, travel, Travel blogger, travel writer

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Return to Todoroki Valley / 等々力渓谷に戻る

November 29, 2017 by joostay

Forest bathing in the koyo autumn colours

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: asia, autumn, blog, design, fall, Fall Colours, japan, japanese, photography, tokyo, travel, travel writer

1

Wes Anderson’s Ramen Shop / ウェス・アンダーソンのラーメン屋

November 22, 2017 by joostay

Noodle Nostalgia. Hazy-hued vibes in a shop that time forgot…

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: asia, Colours, design, film, food, interior design, japan, japanese, photography, ramen, tokyo, travel, travel writer, Wes Anderson

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Autumn Colours at Akiu Great Falls, Miyagi / 宮城県の秋保大滝の紅葉

November 13, 2017 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, Miyagi, nature, photography, travel, travel writer

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Moments in Miyagi / 宮城でのひと時

November 9, 2017 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, Miyagi, nature, photography, Tohoku, travel, travel writer, Writer, Zen

4

Amidst the pouring rain / 雨が降る中

October 29, 2017 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: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: asia, blogging, daily life, japan, japanese, photography, tokyo, travel, travel writer

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IKIMASHO! x DAZED: JAPAN’S GROTESQUE MASK PROCESSION

October 24, 2017 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: Traditional Festivals • Tags: asia, blog, festival, ikimasho, japan, japanese, photography, travel, travel writer

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Yabo Tenman-gu Grand Festival

October 16, 2017 by joostay

Spinning around in suburban west Tokyo

Categories: Traditional Festivals • Tags: asia, buddhism, design, japan, matsuri, photo essay, photography, shinto, shrine, temple, tokyo, travel, travel writer

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IKIMASHO! x DAZED: INSIDE KAWASAKI WAREHOUSE

October 12, 2017 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: Art, Music & Culture

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