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, 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

June 5, 2018 by joostay

IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan

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

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, justin egli, 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 2018

May 6, 2018 by joostay

IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo, 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

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 2018, 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 & 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

April 7, 2018 by joostay

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

IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan

Categories: Bizarre/Unique, Daily Life in Tokyo, 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

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, justin egli, photography, quiet, tokyo, travel writer, travel writing, Zen

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, justin egli, luxury, photography, se asia, tokyo, travel

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, justin egli, old tokyo, photography, Shitamachi, street, street photography, tokyo, travel, travel writer, urban, Urban Development

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, 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

March 6, 2018 by joostay

IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • 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

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 & Matsuris • Tags: asia, festival, japan, japanese, justin egli, photography, tokyo, travel, travel writer, travel writing

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, justin egli, local life, Oimachi Line, photography, temples, tokyo, trains, travel, travel writer

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, justin egli, luxury, photography, tokyo, travel, travel writer

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, justin egli, neighbourhood, photography, rural, tokyo, travel, travel writer, urban

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, justin egli, photography, short story, tokyo, travel, writing

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

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

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, justin egli, photography, Sangenjaya, tokyo, travel, travel writer

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, justin egli, photography, tokyo, travel writer, writing

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

Christmas in Northern Ireland

January 9, 2018 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

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

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, justin egli, life, photography, photos, travel, travel writing, writing

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, justin egli, photography, tokyo, travel, travel writer

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, justin egli, photography, rural, sea, travel, Travel blogger, travel writer

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, 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

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

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, justin egli, Miyagi, nature, photography, travel, travel writer

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, justin egli, Miyagi, nature, photography, Tohoku, travel, travel writer, Writer, Zen

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, justin egli, photography, tokyo, travel, travel writer

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: Art Music & Culture, Bizarre/Unique, Daily Life in Tokyo, Traditional Festivals & Matsuris • Tags: asia, blog, festival, ikimasho, japan, japanese, justin egli, photography, travel, travel writer

Yabo Tenman-gu Grand Festival 2017

October 16, 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

I drove about in a dog today

October 4, 2017 by joostay

This was my day. How was yours?

Categories: Kindergarten Life • Tags: japan, japanese, photography, teaching, travel

A walk around: Yaho, Tokyo

September 27, 2017 by joostay

YAHO / 谷保

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: asia, blog, blogging, design, japan, japanese, justin egli, photography, suburbia, tokyo, travel, travel writer

Fine Dining in Tokyo: China Blue at Conrad Tokyo

September 22, 2017 by joostay

First-class Chinese cuisine – with first-class views to match

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo, Luxury Travel • 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

September 20, 2017 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: Daily Life in Tokyo, 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

September 19, 2017 by joostay

1,998… 1,999… Lost in a sea of 2,000 bamboo.

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo, 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

September 10, 2017 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: Daily Life in Tokyo, Traditional Festivals & Matsuris • Tags: asia, drumming, festival, japan, japanese, justin egli, photography, taiko, traditional, travel writing

Reflections from Tohoku, Japan

September 3, 2017 by joostay

A region rebuilding, six years later.

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo, 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

August 25, 2017 by joostay

A trip to Italy, via the Tokyo skyline

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo, Luxury Travel • 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

August 18, 2017 by joostay

A water purification festival on a truly epic scale

Categories: Art Music & Culture, Daily Life in Tokyo, 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

August 12, 2017 by joostay

What I was up to last weekend – and the next few to come…

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo, 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

August 6, 2017 by joostay

Staying ice cool from the summer heat…

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: asia, blogger, design, dessert, food, japan, japanese, justin egli, kakigori, photography, tokyo, Travel blogger, travel writer

A walk around: Tateishi, Tokyo

July 31, 2017 by joostay

The remains of Old Tokyo – but how long can they remain?

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • 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

July 23, 2017 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, Daily Life in Tokyo • 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

July 20, 2017 by joostay

High-end cuisine, high up in the city.

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo, Luxury Travel • 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”

July 13, 2017 by joostay

An ancient cosmic celebration on the streets of Tokyo

Categories: Art Music & Culture, Daily Life in Tokyo, 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

July 5, 2017 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: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: alleyways, asia, design, food, japan, japanese, justin egli, photography, street, tokyo, travel, travel writer, urban

THIS IS TOKYO

June 29, 2017 by joostay

IKIMASHO! on Facebook

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: asia, design, food, japan, justin egli, photography, street, tokyo, travel, travel writer, urban

Tsuyu / 梅雨

June 21, 2017 by joostay

So rainy season (tsuyu/梅雨) has finally arrived, drowning Tokyo in a thick veil of humidity and raindrops that will last until mid-July. Yet for now, the rain has stopped: the only sound outside being the distant call of a tofu-seller wheeling his cart through the streets. As I sit here sipping on a mug of yuzu-cha/ゆず茶 (citrus tea made by mixing boiling water with marmalade) I realise that after five years of living in Japan, it is the little things […]

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: asia, ikimasho, japan, justin egli, photography, tokyo, travel, travel writer

Chigo-gyoretsu at Hie Shrine, Tokyo

June 13, 2017 by joostay

A colourful children’s procession with wishes for happiness and health

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo, Traditional Festivals & Matsuris • Tags: asia, ceremony, festival, japan, japanese, justin egli, photography, shrine, temple, tokyo, travel, travel writer

Farewell Spring. Hello Summer.

June 8, 2017 by joostay

❤ A little photo essay of some wanderings from the last month or so here in Tokyo ❤ IKIMASHO on Facebook      

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: asia, blog, design, japan, japanese, justin egli, photography, se asia, tokyo, travel, travel writer

A walk around Jindaiji Temple, Chofu, Tokyo

May 31, 2017 by joostay

Peaceful tranquility at one of Tokyo’s oldest temples Even after five years, Tokyo still manages to surprise me ~ providing all sorts of new places to discover and enjoy. Last weekend Miss IKIMASHO and I took a trip out to Jindaiji Temple and its neighbouring Botanical Gardens in Chofu, a place we had never been to before. The second oldest temple in the metropolis, Jindaiji features quaint cobbled streets, leafy riverbanks and hushed surroundings. Indeed, it feels more like a small township in Kyoto rather than downtown Tokyo. Jindaiji is especially […]

Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: asia, beauty, blog, design, ikimasho, japan, japanese, justin egli, nature, photography, tokyo, travel writer, Zen

IKIMASHO! x DAZED: The spirit-chasing, cross-dressing men of outer Tokyo

May 29, 2017 by joostay

A report from Ikazuchi no Daihannya, a weird and wonderful ‘matsuri’ that takes place annually to ward off ancient ghosts

Categories: Bizarre/Unique, Daily Life in Tokyo, Traditional Festivals & Matsuris • Tags: blogging, buddhism, design, festival, japan, japanese, justin egli, photography, photos, random, religion, travel, travel writing, writing

Welcome to my crappy Vietnamese gym

May 25, 2017 by joostay

Working out how to do some working out in Saigon

Categories: Bizarre/Unique, Travel: Outside Japan • Tags: asia, backpacking, fitness, gym, ikimasho, japan, japanese, justin egli, Local Gym in Ho Chi Minh City, photography, Saigon, se asia, tokyo, travel, travel writer, urban, vietnam

IKIMASHO! x ACCLAIM: THE BLADE RUNNER YATAIS OF FUKUOKA

May 21, 2017 by joostay

Postcards: Justin Egli photographs Fukuoka City

Categories: Art: stuff I've drawn, Travel: Inside Japan • Tags: asia, design, food, fukuoka, japan, japanese, justin egli, kyushu, photography, photos, street, tokyo, travel, travel writer, urban

IKIMASHO Luxury Stays: Le Méridien Saigon, Vietnam

May 17, 2017 by joostay

Modern escapism in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City

Categories: Luxury Travel, Travel: Outside Japan • Tags: aesthetic, design, five star, food, Ho Chi MInh, hotel, japan, justin egli, luxury, photography, Saigon, tokyo, travel writer