I’ve written a few short pieces for them, but this is my first published full story on Gaijinpot.com, Tokyo. Last Japan trip, I tried something new — meals in locals’ homes. So much amazing fun — I’m definitely going to do it again. The best service I found was Nagomi Visit. It’s non-profit, good value, and has the biggest network of home cooks across all four major islands. I hope I inspire you to try it!
My first Japan holiday was like the most seductive blind date. I arrived with scant preconceived notions and was electrified by an intoxicating collision of ancient serene culture and fast-paced city thrills.
Alex Kerr’s legendary book, Lost Japan, sparked the desire — it’s a journey into Japanese art forms and Kerr’s restoration of an old house in the Iya Valley, Shikoku. And when I worked in marketing at an art gallery, I promoted an exhibition combining works by Claude Monet and Japanese artists Katsushika Hokusai and Utagawa Hiroshige. (Monet was greatly influenced by Edo period prints.) Read the full story here
Bites of Oishii 
Fantastic article. I really enjoyed reading it. I’m glad you had a good time!
Those moments of everyday life, being invited into people’s homes and living with them is what sticks with me about Japan, as well. I saw services like that advertised in the past but didn’t try them. Thanks for explaining more about them.
It’s funny to think that when Japanese ceramics and lacquerware were sent West, they were packed with newspapers and ukiyo-e that would influence the Impressionists.
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Thank you! I like following your Japan adventures. You seem to be deeper in your journey as you know lots of people there and you are deep into your niche of film.
Yes, interesting how ukiyo-e prints were used as packing. Working on that Monet/ukiyo-e show triggered my love for Japan. For that I’m grateful, but how different it would have been if I’d been already immersed! The art gallery director was an amazing, knowledgeable Japanophile – oh, the conversations I could have had…oh well!
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