Latest news with #Kutani

Condé Nast Traveler
15-05-2025
- Condé Nast Traveler
Our New Partnership With Abercrombie & Kent
From moss gardens and ancient temple complexes to sleek bullet trains and robot waiters, no country does the dance of the old and new quite like Japan. Nor is there any other quite as obsessive in the pursuit of perfection (or perfect imperfection). Your journey will showcase these qualities through the skyscrapers and Shinto shrines of Tokyo, the Samurai districts of the coastal city of Kanazawa, and the Zen temples and textile traditions of Kyoto. This nine-day, small group trip runs September 14 – September 22, October 8–16, October 22–30, and November 5–13. Journey Highlights: Learn how to make sushi from a master at Tokyo's legendary Tsukiji Fish Market Unlock the essence of old Japan in Kyoto through temple tours and sake tastings View authentic period artifacts at the Nagamachi Samurai Residence in Kanazawa, a restored home that captures the daily life of Japan's legendary warrior class Sit down for a private dinner while listening to live traditional Japanese music Take a pottery painting workshop in the birthplace of Kutani ceramics

Sydney Morning Herald
11-05-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Japan's next big thing is already popular, but many miss its highlights
In Kanazawa it's clear the city is no stranger to visitors. Several hours north of Kyoto and touted as Japan's 'next big thing' it's been nicknamed 'little Kyoto' for its Edo-period architecture and rich tradition of arts and crafts. It's here that my guide has come to meet me at my hotel and take me on a tour of Kanazawa's greatest hits. Despite heavy rain, the city's beautiful gardens are full of visitors. The Higashi-chaya teahouse district is bustling, but the Geisha Museum is surprisingly empty when we visit. We slip out into the surrounding streets of this old town and encounter peaceful cafes and narrow lanes where the only sets of eyes belong to curious cats that peer out of windows, following you. It's the start of a tour with a difference. Swept into a carefully curated adventure that uncovers the secret side of this country with Inside Japan on their Hidden Zen itinerary, I'm seeing what many tourists miss. What's more I'm travelling solo for full immersion. Still in Kanazawa, Omicho Market is another highlight and a much more relaxed experience compared to Kyoto's Nishiki Market. Here, I take my time exploring without being rushed by crowds. Oden Miyuki is a cozy eatery serving Kanazawa's best oden – a hotpot of umami-rich dashi broth, simmering vegetables, kurumafu (a wheat ball which soaks up the flavour) and tofu. It's possibly one of the most deliciously ugly meals I've had in Japan, accompanied by creamy potato salad, savoury miso, and a refreshing yuzu-flavoured beer. On this wintry day, locals line outside the restaurant at 4pm, signalling just how beloved this place is. A 15-minute train ride south of Kanazawa is Kaga Onsen, the 1300-year-old town famous for its healing springs and I'm staying at KAI Kaga, a ryokan housed in a 400-year-old former tofu shop. The converted building with its red facade is filled with Japanese art and has a particular focus on Kutani porcelain.

The Age
11-05-2025
- The Age
Japan's next big thing is already popular, but many miss its highlights
In Kanazawa it's clear the city is no stranger to visitors. Several hours north of Kyoto and touted as Japan's 'next big thing' it's been nicknamed 'little Kyoto' for its Edo-period architecture and rich tradition of arts and crafts. It's here that my guide has come to meet me at my hotel and take me on a tour of Kanazawa's greatest hits. Despite heavy rain, the city's beautiful gardens are full of visitors. The Higashi-chaya teahouse district is bustling, but the Geisha Museum is surprisingly empty when we visit. We slip out into the surrounding streets of this old town and encounter peaceful cafes and narrow lanes where the only sets of eyes belong to curious cats that peer out of windows, following you. It's the start of a tour with a difference. Swept into a carefully curated adventure that uncovers the secret side of this country with Inside Japan on their Hidden Zen itinerary, I'm seeing what many tourists miss. What's more I'm travelling solo for full immersion. Still in Kanazawa, Omicho Market is another highlight and a much more relaxed experience compared to Kyoto's Nishiki Market. Here, I take my time exploring without being rushed by crowds. Oden Miyuki is a cozy eatery serving Kanazawa's best oden – a hotpot of umami-rich dashi broth, simmering vegetables, kurumafu (a wheat ball which soaks up the flavour) and tofu. It's possibly one of the most deliciously ugly meals I've had in Japan, accompanied by creamy potato salad, savoury miso, and a refreshing yuzu-flavoured beer. On this wintry day, locals line outside the restaurant at 4pm, signalling just how beloved this place is. A 15-minute train ride south of Kanazawa is Kaga Onsen, the 1300-year-old town famous for its healing springs and I'm staying at KAI Kaga, a ryokan housed in a 400-year-old former tofu shop. The converted building with its red facade is filled with Japanese art and has a particular focus on Kutani porcelain.