Adventures in Aomori / Part 2: An Unexpected Party
by joostay
Daily life in Tokyo, Japan | IKIMASHO!
Categories: Travel: Inside Japan • Tags: asia, blog, blogger, design, family, food, japan, japanese, justin egli, photography, travel, travel writer
Tag: travel
Adventures in Aomori / Part 1: Heading North
by joostay
Part 1: Heading North | IKIMASHO!
Categories: Travel: Inside Japan • Tags: aomori, asia, blog, blogger, blogging, design, japan, japanese, justin egli, photography, tokyo, travel, travel writer, travel writing
IKIMASHO Luxury Stays: Xuan Spa at Park Hyatt Saigon, Vietnam
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, justin egli, luxury, Park Hyatt, photography, Saigon, se asia, travel, travel blogging, travel writer, vietnam, Zen
IKIMASHO Luxury Stays: Park Hyatt Saigon, Vietnam
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, justin egli, lifestyle, luxury, photography, Saigon, se asia, space, travel, travel writer, travel writing, vietnam
Chewed and Spat Out by District 4, Ho Chi Minh City
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, justin egli, photography, Saigon, se asia, street, travel, travel writer, travel writing, urban, vietnam, Vietnamese
Hello from Vietnam / ベトナムで過す夏休み
by joostay
IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan
Categories: Travel: Outside Japan • Tags: asia, photography, se asia, summer, travel, vietnam
Monkeying around in Sarushima /猿島でサルごっこ
by joostay
IKIMASHO! | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan
Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: asia, asian, blogging, Boats, design, japan, japanese, justin egli, photography, sea, summer, sun, tokyo, travel, travel writer
What is visiting Tokyo really like?
by joostay
IKIMASHO | Daily life in Tokyo, Japan
Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: architecture, asia, design, festivals, food, japan, japanese, justin egli, summer, sun, tokyo, travel, travel tips, travel writer
A walk around: Monzen Nakacho, Tokyo
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
Oiran Dochu Procession, Yoshiwara, Tokyo
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, 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: Traditional Festivals • Tags: asia, festival, japan, japanese, justin egli, matsuri, Obscure, photography, tokyo, travel, travel writer, travel writing
Fine Dining in Tokyo: The Strings by InterContinental Tokyo
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
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
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
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: Daily Life in Tokyo, Traditional Festivals • 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: 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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: Daily Life in Tokyo, 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: 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
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
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: 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
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
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: 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
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, justin egli, photography, travel, travel writer
Yabo Tenman-gu Grand Festival
by joostay
Spinning around in suburban west Tokyo
Categories: Traditional Festivals • Tags: asia, buddhism, design, japan, justin egli, matsuri, photo essay, photography, shinto, shrine, temple, tokyo, travel, travel writer
A walk around: Yaho, Tokyo
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
Drinking Matcha in a Bamboo Forest: Hokokuji Temple, Kamakura
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
Reflections from Tohoku, Japan
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
Tokyo’s BIGGEST water fight: Fukagawa Hachiman Festival
by joostay
A water purification festival on a truly epic scale
Categories: Traditional Festivals • Tags: asia, blogging, colour, design, festival, japan, japanese, justin egli, matsuri, photography, story, summer, travel, Travel blogger, travel writing, writing
A walk around: Tateishi, Tokyo
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
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 • 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: 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
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: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: alleyways, asia, design, food, japan, japanese, justin egli, photography, street, tokyo, travel, travel writer, urban
THIS IS TOKYO
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
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
by joostay
A colourful children’s procession with wishes for happiness and health
Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo, Traditional Festivals • Tags: asia, ceremony, festival, japan, japanese, justin egli, photography, shrine, temple, tokyo, travel, travel writer
Farewell Spring. Hello Summer.
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
IKIMASHO! x DAZED: The spirit-chasing, cross-dressing men of outer Tokyo
by joostay
A report from Ikazuchi no Daihannya, a weird and wonderful ‘matsuri’ that takes place annually to ward off ancient ghosts
Categories: Traditional Festivals • Tags: blogging, buddhism, design, festival, japan, japanese, justin egli, photography, photos, random, religion, travel, travel writing, writing
Welcome to my crappy Vietnamese gym
by joostay
Working out how to do some working out in Saigon
Categories: 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
by joostay
Postcards: Justin Egli photographs Fukuoka City
Categories: Travel: Inside Japan • Tags: asia, design, food, fukuoka, japan, japanese, justin egli, kyushu, photography, photos, street, tokyo, travel, travel writer, urban
In Pictures: Tran Hung Dao Alleyways, Saigon, Vietnam
by joostay
Right now I’m back in Tokyo after a week in Saigon. I didn’t visit one tourist attraction while I was there, instead choosing to spend my time as I usually do, wandering the backstreets and eating local food. I quickly found out that the most interesting daily life happens deep in the concentrated network of alleyways that exist away from the main tourist centre. By zooming in on Google Maps, you can clearly see areas in Ho Chi Minh where […]
Categories: Travel: Outside Japan • Tags: architecture, city, daily life, design, food, Ho Chi MInh, justin egli, photography, Saigon, se asia, travel, travel writer, urban, vietnam
Happiness at Mitau, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
by joostay
Noodles, tea, and a song. All served by the nicest person you’ll ever meet.
Categories: Travel: Outside Japan • Tags: asia, blog, HCMC, ho chi minh city, justin egli, Saigon, se asia, travel, vietnam
GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM!
by joostay
6am – 8am: SAIGON / SÀI GÒN
Categories: Travel: Outside Japan • Tags: architecture, asia, design, food, ho chi minh city, justin egli, photography, Saigon, se asia, travel, Travel Photography, urban, vietnam
NRT > SGN
by joostay
Right now I’m sitting in a coffee shop at Terminal 2 in Narita Airport listening to a super cheesy sax solo playing over the radio. I have a few hours to kill before a flight to Ho Chi Minh, where I will be hanging out until Friday. Next week is Golden Week in Japan – a string of National holidays giving people five days off this year. Looking back over my blog from the last few months, I’m aware that I’m not posting as often […]
Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: blog, japan, japanese, justin egli, photography, se asia, travel, travel writer
Ikazuchi no Daihannya Matsuri, Tokyo
by joostay
Chasing away evil spirits with cross-dressing men in the Tokyo suburbs
Categories: Traditional Festivals • Tags: asia, design, festival, japan, japanese, justin egli, Kimono, matsuri, photography, temple, Textile, tokyo, travel, travel writing
REFLECTIONS ON NAKASU / Fukuoka City
by joostay
Nakasu (中洲) is the red-light district which exists between the neon-lit sandbank of the Naka River (那珂川) and the Hakata River (博多川) in Fukuoka City
Categories: Travel: Inside Japan • Tags: aesthetic, asia, design, fukuoka, japan, justin egli, neon, photography, travel, urban
A walk around: Dazaifu, Fukuoka Prefecture
by joostay
Welcome to Dazaifu (太宰府市), a small, quiet city on the outskirts of Fukuoka in southern Japan.
Categories: Travel: Inside Japan • Tags: asia, Dazaifu, food, fukuoka, japan, japanese, justin egli, kyushu, nature, photography, shinto, travel, Zen
IKIMASHO Luxury Stays: Agora Fukuoka Hilltop Hotel & Spa, Fukuoka, Japan
by joostay
A peaceful retreat in one of Japan’s most vibrant, cosmopolitan cities
Categories: Luxury Travel, Travel: Inside Japan • Tags: Agora Hotsel & Spa, architecture, asia, design, food, food photography, fukuoka, hotel, interior design, japan, justin egli, photography, resort, travel, travel writer
Full Circle
by joostay
And so life goes full circle… In 2003 I touched down in Japan for the first time, living in this apartment block in Fukuoka city. Last weekend I went back to visit – a whopping 13 years later. I hadn’t been back during that time at all, but thankfully everything is exactly how I remember it, right down to my old post box, and the sign for the supermarket. It was such a strange feeling, and I experienced the ultimate sensation […]
Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo, Travel: Inside Japan, Travel: Outside Japan • Tags: asia, fukuoka, japan, journey, justin egli, life, tokyo, travel, travel writer, Zen
Fried Bananas in Bali
by joostay
Quite often when you travel a lot – and particularly when you are a travel writer – so many little moments can get lost; photos relegated to the the depths of memory cards, overlooked in favour of bigger articles that are being written at the time. As a perfect example, I was freeing up some space on a card the other day when I came across a group of photos I hadn’t looked at since the day they were taken. Cycling […]
Categories: Travel: Outside Japan • Tags: asia, asian, backpacking, bali, blog, food, indonesia, japan, japanese, justin egli, photography, sanur, se asia, travel, travel writer, travel writing, writing
Setagaya Plum Blossom Festival 2017
by joostay
Each year between mid-February and early March the Setagaya Plum Blossom Festival (Setagaya Ume Matsuri) takes place at Hanegi Park in Umegaoka. It’s a small park, with small neighbourhood vibes to match: the festival mainly attracting local people who live in the surrounding area. I live two stops from Umegaoka, and so last weekend I decided to check out a good sushi place then met some mates to hang out at the matsuri. Cute local festivals like this are what living in the […]
Categories: Daily Life in Tokyo • Tags: asia, blog, design, Flowers, food, ikimasho, japan, japanese, justin egli, nature, photography, tokyo, travel, urban, Zen
IKIMASHO! 