Latest news with #Karuizawa
Daily Record
21-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Legendary Scottish pit stop marks 60 years with rare whisky sale including £35,000 bottle
The pit-stop is celebrating 60 years by selling over £200,000 worth of rare Scotch from one man's private collection. A legendary Scottish pit-stop is marking its 60th anniversary in style, by offering whisky lovers the chance to snap up more than £200,000 worth of rare Scotch from one man's remarkable private collection. The Green Welly Stop in Tyndrum, Stirlingshire, is a favourite of those travelling up the west coast. It is conveniently placed at the junction of the A82 and A85 for those heading to either Oban or Fort William, or places further afield. The iconic shop, restaurant, and filling station is selling 60 bottles of whisky from the late Derek Wilkie's personal stash, with some of the most prized bottles now fetching five-figure price tags. The exclusive sale is a tribute to Wilkie, one of the founding forces behind the much-loved family business, whose passion for single malt helped shape the shop into the destination it is today, Scottish Daily Express reports. Among the most special offerings is a Macallan 1949 50 Year Old Millennium Decanter, priced at an eye-watering £35,000. Close behind is a Black Bowmore 1964 31 Year Old Final Edition, going for £24,995, followed by the Karuizawa 1984 28 Year Old SMWS 132.1, valued at £19,999. Other highlights in the collection include the Karuizawa 1991 22 Year Old SMWS 132.2, the Karuizawa 2000 12 Year Old SMWS 132.6, and the Macallan Raffles Hotel Singapore 75cl, each priced at £9,999. Sharing the story behind the rare sale in a heartfelt social media post, Edward Robertson, shop owner, keeper of the Quaich, and Wilkie's son-in-law, wrote: 'Derek Wilkie – my father-in-law and one of the founding forces behind our family business – had two great passions: building The Green Welly Stop and collecting single malt whisky. 'In 1974, his love for whisky took him to Elgin, where he sought out one of the most respected names in the industry - 'Mr George' Urquhart, then Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail. "Renowned for maturing and bottling some of the finest single malts in Scotland, G&M seemed the perfect partner to help Derek launch a whisky department in our shop in Tyndrum.' Robertson recalled how Wilkie boldly asked Mr George for whisky stock on credit, a request that was initially declined. He said: 'At first, the answer was a firm no. But if you knew Derek, you'd know he had a charm and persistence that was hard to resist. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. "Eventually, he convinced Mr George to say yes, and just like that, our journey into the world of single malt retail began. We're proud to continue what Derek started, still driven by the same passion and spirit he showed that day in Elgin.' He added: 'I like to think of myself as a curator of rare whisky - preserving exceptional bottles so future generations can experience the spirit of a bygone era.' Still a firm favourite with tourists, The Green Welly Stop is a third-generation, family-run business that prides itself on 'Good Food and Fine Shopping.' As its website states, the site aims to cater to all visitors 'covering all spectrums of age, gender and travelling method,' offering everything from hearty homemade meals to a wide range of gifts, outdoor wear, and, of course, an ever-growing collection of rare whiskies.
Japan Times
10-05-2025
- Health
- Japan Times
Ayano Kikuchi: ‘People need to take care of themselves holistically'
After years in a corporate Tokyo job, Ayano Kikuchi relocated to Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, in 2020 to manage the town's only year-round yoga studio, W Tree House. Now 37, she has found both healing and purpose in this endeavor. 1. What inspired your family to open a yoga studio in Karuizawa? My mother and I used to organize monthly dinner parties in Tokyo, and we wanted to foster a similar community in Karuizawa. She founded W Tree House in 2018, a space immersed in nature where people can breathe and connect with their core selves while gathering with others. 2. What was your background before managing the studio? I used to be what we call an 'office lady' in Tokyo, with a regular nine-to-five job in the travel industry. I felt a lack of excitement and challenges. Before that, I had spent my youth between London, where I studied, and Tokyo, where my family was. 3. What initially drew you to yoga? I have suffered from chronic back pain since I was a teenager, probably due to frequent flying. One day my mother suggested I try yoga to alleviate the pain, and it ended up helping a lot. 4. How would you describe the significance of yoga in your life? Yoga saved me when I developed a debilitating herniated disk in my back in 2020 due to pandemic-induced stress. With no physical therapy options in Karuizawa during the COVID-19 crisis, I only had yoga to restore my body post-hospitalization. I wanted to share what I learned with other people going through similar experiences. 5. What was the transition like from your previous career? After more than a year of juggling my full-time job in Tokyo and my business in Karuizawa, I was close to burning out. Around the same time, our housekeeper, who'd raised me since birth, was diagnosed with cancer. And my mother became unable to take care of herself due to poor health. So I decided to quit my job in Tokyo and live in Karuizawa full-time to care for my family, our business and myself. 6. How was the shift from working in a Tokyo office to owning a local business? Being in Karuizawa reconnected my mind to my body and I learned how to be responsible for myself. Karuizawa has this nice, slow pace. It's not rushed like Tokyo. 7. What was your yoga journey like? I started practicing in 2014, and finished my teacher certification training back in 2020. I also completed specific training on restorative yoga, facia release yoga, yoga nidra and pain care yoga. Additionally, I have attended the Educate Movement Institute to deepen my knowledge of human anatomy. 8. What does your studio contribute to Karuizawa? The community is very diverse and our studio caters to that through its varied course offerings: ashtanga, hatha, bhakti, power yoga, aroma yoga and so on. 9. What principles underpin the philosophy of your yoga studio? The main aim of the studio is to create a welcoming and judgment-free atmosphere. People need to take care of themselves holistically, not just medically. It's not just about the body, it's also about the heart. 10. What comments do you typically receive from customers? They often say the place is warm and relaxing. They love this quiet space surrounded by nature. 11. How does your studio stand out compared to others in Japan? W Tree House aims to be as welcoming as possible, while studios in Tokyo often focus on performance. People rarely talk to each other there. 12. What led you to choose W Tree House as the name for your yoga studio? My mother named the yoga studio after her former company, Double V, which is how the letter 'w' is literally called in French. It encompasses the idea of duality in life, of yin and yang. That's why our logo is two trees of opposite colors growing in opposite directions. After working full-time in Tokyo in the travel industry, Ayano Kikuchi found healing and purpose in overseeing the yoga studio that her mother founded in 2018. | Aaya Sakaguchi 13. What do you enjoy the most about Karuizawa? I love the peaceful nature. The quiet environment helps me think clearly. Even in the dark and cold winter, there's something comforting about the atmosphere that reminds me of the U.K. I appreciate getting fresh food directly from local farmers and the genuine community spirit. In Tokyo, despite having friends around, I always felt strangely lonely. Here in Karuizawa, I can finally relax and be myself. 14. What has been the biggest challenge you've faced so far? The constant mobility of people has been the biggest challenge, which goes for staff as well as clients. Karuizawa, unlike Tokyo, is a stepping stone to other places for some people. It's hard to say goodbye to clients and staff after spending so much time together. 15. What unique challenges come with operating a business in Karuizawa? There is a low and a high season in Karuizawa. In the summer, most visitors are from big cities; for the rest of the year, our regular customers are locals. These two groups alternate during the year, which makes for quite a unique context. 16. How has the community responded to your studio? People were keen but also skeptical. Some thought it was a kind of cult. So we were careful not to give out the wrong image and focused on the sports aspect of yoga rather than the spiritual side. 17. Do you provide classes for non-Japanese speakers? We do offer English classes! For now, we have one English-speaking yoga class and we're looking into starting a pilates class in English. 18. What personal goals are you pursuing next? I'm interested in learning more about how physical health can be impacted by stress and how to provide holistic care. 19. What does your dream yoga studio look like? My dream yoga studio is huge and international! It's a big building with boarding houses, good food and cafes, where instructors, trainees and students meet. Like a yoga Disneyland with areas for practice, pilates machines and places to unwind. 20. What is your advice for people wanting to open a business in the countryside? Make sure you know the location at all seasons before starting a business in rural Japan, as there might be huge differences from one season to another. And be patient as things might be slower. Also, you need to take part in the local community — not just create a new one.
