The Japan Edition

Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu in Kyoto's Pontoncho is the original shop of Japan's largest gyukatsu (beef cutlet) chain and the place that turned sizzling, pink centered beef katsu into a craze. Katsugyu opened in 2014 in this little shop in Pontocho, the narrow alley along the Kamo River known for traditional tea houses and strict tenancy rules. The brand's idea was to take the familiar tonkatsu format and swap pork for carefully sourced beef, cooked medium rare as Japanese Gyukat

Nominokoji Yamagishi in Kyoto is a casual yet refined dining experience that reflects the essence of its parent restaurant, the renowned Michelin-starred Tominokoji Yamagishi. This newer establishment opened in July 2022 to meet the demand of those who find it difficult to secure reservations at Tominokoji Yamagishi or for those who prefer a more relaxed a-la carte style setting. For us, Nominokoji Yamagishi is a completely different dining concept, and one for those who woul

Weekenders Coffee in Kyoto is renowned globally as one of the top specialty coffee roasters, consistently appearing on the lists of the best roasters worldwide. So since we were in the area, we needed to visit. The roastery is housed in a beautifully restored traditional machiya and has an absolutely gorgeous old Japanese shopfront, lending the space a quiet and beautiful peace and elegance.

The Hilton Kyoto is located in the Kawaramachi Sanjo district, which makes it a highly accessible area to key tourist locations as well as shopping. It is conveniently placed along Kawara-Machi street and walkable to the downtown Shijo area, Kamagawa River, Gion and Ponto Cho. We found it to be a fantastic base for exploring Kyoto. The building itself is gorgeous, once you walk in, you see these high panels of wood that reminds you of a calm modern meditation ground.

Ramen Tatsunoya in Shinjuku is one of those places where the line outside tells you almost everything you need to know. This is going to be a serious bowl of tonkotsu and tsukemen. Tatsunoya actually started in Kurume, Fukuoka, the birthplace of tonkotsu ramen before expanding to Tokyo. Here, the space is compact, counter style, with just 2 tables of 4 and completely no frills. Like alot of ramen shops in Japan, it is built around speed and focus on the bowl in front of you r

Rokumei Coffee Tokyo Station branch is a relatively new addition to Tokyo Station. Opening in Jul 2024, it is located in GRANSTA Marunouchi. The cafe is open from 7 am all the way till 10 pm, which makes it great for those who are travelling via Tokyo Station.

Dhawa Yura Kyoto offers a tranquil boutique hotel experience in the heart of Kyoto. Located in Higashiyama Ward, it is just a short walk from landmarks like Pontocho Alley, Gion district and Nishiki Market, providing an excellent base for exploring Kyoto, whilst staying out of the main tourist district.

Restaurant Crony in Tokyo was founded in 2016 by Chef Michihiro Haruta and sommelier Kazutaka Ozawa who met whilst working at 3* Quintessence. The story of the restaurant is beautiful, with the name "Crony" symbolizing their journey as longtime friends and companions sharing many tea sessions. In less than 10 years, Crony has already multiple accolades, including 2 Michelin Stars as well as an impressive No. 30 on Asia's Top 50 Restaurant.

Sezanne Tokyo stands as a precision jewel in the heart of Marunouchi. Newly crowned with its 3rd star in 2025 and number 7 in the world's top 50 list, the place runs like clockwork, with a carefully orchestrated service and quietly spectacular cuisine.

The Coffee Market Lab in Osaka is a recommendation provided just before we flew off to Japan. It also happened to be really close to the hotel we stayed at so we made it a point to drop by to check it out. I tend to be a bit skeptical when the shop is full of tourists and I must say most of the people in the shop were tourists with a few locals coming in to do take aways. However, that skepticism went away the moment we had our first sip.

Courtyard by Marriott Honmachi in Osaka stands in an extremely convenient location with the Sakaisuji Hommachi metro entrance right outside its doors. It offers easy access to most of the city's vibrant districts and never felt extremely crowded.

Ichiran Ramen is a highly renowned ramen chain that originated from Fukuoka, Japan. It almost has a cult following and is synonymous with ultra rich and creamy tonkotsu ramen served with Hakata style straight thin noodles. Now Ichiran operated in multiple locations globally, including New York, Hong Kong and Taiwan, all with a simple menu of tonkotsu ramen with various add ons.