Latest news with #Kyoto
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Travel + Leisure
7 hours ago
- Business
- Travel + Leisure
This Spacious Organizational Travel Backpack Is the Best Carry-on I've Ever Owned
When I first discovered the travel bag brand Dagne Dover, it was love at first sight. I've become obsessed with the brand's thoughtful organizational systems, sleek and modern designs, and rugged construction methods. For years—even as many other bags tried and failed to replace it—the Dagne Dover Landon Carryall remained my absolute favorite carry-on bag, and had been my go-to for just about every trip. Flash forward to last summer, when Dagne Dover released its first-ever luggage line, complete with rolling carry-ons and checked suitcases as well as accessories and other travel bags. I immediately stocked up on tons of pieces from the collection, including the Brooklyn Backpack: a flap-top travel backpack that's decked out with functional details. Since then, this Dagne Dover backpack has become my new go-to, knocking my previous favorite, the Landon, off of its esteemed perch after years of loyal service. I've owned it for almost a year, and in that time, I've taken my Brooklyn backpack everywhere—from Tokyo to Kyoto, Dublin to London, and tons of cities in between. It's proven to be tough as nails, effortlessly holding up to overhead bins, chaotic train stations, and a wide range of weather conditions. Plus, the switch to a carry-on backpack has made travel days exponentially easier on my shoulders than a heavy tote or duffel. Even when sprinting through airports or navigating train platforms, this bag is tops at distributing weight evenly and comfortably. What really sets this bag apart is the thoughtful organizational components. There are padded compartments for a laptop (well, two laptops, actually), plus enough pockets and sleeves to keep cords, snacks, and chargers exactly where I want them. There's an exterior pocket for easy access to smaller items while on the go. I especially like that the side pockets have bungee cord closures, to keep a reusable water bottle—or sunscreen spray, an umbrella, or anything else, really—secure and easily accessible. This Brooklyn travel backpack opens up with a wide top that closes with a drawstring bungee cord and is covered with a flap top, which you then secure with two adjustable, substantial buckle straps. I always feel reassured that these buckles won't snap—the hardware is undeniably tough and sturdy. This bag is deceptively roomy, too. It's big enough to pack for an entire weekend, but not so bulky that it feels overwhelming or tough to wrangle, even when stuffed to the brim. The four color options are another bonus: They're chic, elevated, suited for all styles, and they coordinate beautifully with the rest of the brand's luggage line. Speaking of the other brand's offerings, the trolley sleeve makes it a breeze to slide over the handle of my matching Dagne Dover roller bag. At $300, the Dagne Dover Brooklyn Backpack is definitely a splurge—but it's built to last, with premium materials and a sturdy structure that holds up to real-world use, and reviewers seem to agree. 'This bag was worth saving up for,' wrote one five-star reviewer, adding that they intend to replace their other travel bags with Dagne Dover styles. Another shopper wrote, 'I was holding off on buying this for so long because of the price—I am OBSESSED and so happy I got it,' while a third reviewer wrote, 'I just know it's going to last forever.' For a seriously rugged travel bag that also works overtime as a weekender, work bag, and personal item, it's absolutely worth the investment. My beloved Landon still lives in my closet, but these days, it's the Brooklyn that stays stocked with my toiletry set, so it's always ready for the next adventure. Looking for more spacious travel backpacks to shop? Keep scrolling for more reliable backpacks below, starting at just $24 at Amazon. Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week.
Condé Nast Traveler
a day ago
- Business
- Condé Nast Traveler
On Japan's Rural Coast, One Sleepy Town's Locals Are Vying For the Megacities' Travelers
This is part of Uncovering Japan, a collection of stories that spotlight the lesser known gems that belong on your Japan itinerary, offering everything from a wellspring of local craft and a vibrant street-food culture to traditional wellness. Read more here. There is a small and rather unremarkable city of 30,000 people in one of Japan's rather unremarkable prefectures, located around three hours due north by train from Kyoto, called Obama. It would have remained that way were it not for something strange and serendipitous that happened in 2008: On the other side of the planet, the United States elected a president who shares his name with the oft-forgotten destination—an event that would unbury this little burg from its hardened obscurity. The town of Obama is located three hours north of Kyoto and stretches out into the Sea of Japan. William Sean Brecht Obama, in Japanese, roughly translates to 'little beach'—a fitting moniker for a city that yawns along a protected cove facing the northerly Sea of Japan. And when American political happenstance lent its name new relevance, its citizens came up with a plan to capitalize on their good fortune—not only to stoke the embers of tourism but to give their home a fighting chance of staving off the depopulation that has plagued many of the country's minor metropolises. Without the glittering towers of Tokyo, or the palaces and pagodas of Kyoto, Obama couldn't necessarily leverage its attractions, new or old. So locals made a bold bet on another cultural currency: its people. While soft smiles and polite words are the signature aspect of the Japanese hospitality experience, visitors can find it hard to pierce the veneer of 'omote'—an outward facing polish that can prove to be a major hindrance to the deeply connective experience many of us travelers crave. But this is not the case in Obama, where its citizens are focused on nurturing more genuine relationships with foreigners, duly inviting them into the fold. Without the glittering towers of Tokyo, or the palaces and pagodas of Kyoto, Obama couldn't necessarily leverage its attractions, new or old. So locals made a bold bet on another cultural currency: its people. And the wager is starting to pay off. With a soaring number of tourists—emboldened by the feeble yen—Japan's conduits of connectivity are already becoming clogged with the steadily accruing crowds. As a visitor, suddenly I craved the Japan I had discovered 20 years ago in my teens, and by the recommendation of a friend, I soon found myself at a rather unremarkable train station on a cold, snowless night late last December. Via MyTownObama, the author visited with geishas not for traditional dancing or shamisen playing; instead they talked for hours. Brandon Presser Obama's last remaining okiya, or geisha house, is inhabited by three generations who trained in Kyoto's illustrious hanamachi districts. William Sean Brecht I had arranged through MyTownObama for a locally based guide to pick me up, and not long after, we were ringing the doorbell of Obama's last remaining okiya, or geisha house, which is inhabited by three generations of these entertaining artisans. Although the grandmother of the house had retired, she briefly entered the salon in her house clothes to offer me an orange. Her daughter and granddaughter, both dressed in brilliant autumnal-themed robes, had trained in Kyoto's illustrious hanamachi districts, though there was no traditional dancing or shamisen playing tonight. Instead we talked for hours—no-holds-barred conversations that started with questions about life as a geisha before evolving into heated discussions about everything from favorite K-pop artists to post-Obama-era (the president this time, not the city) politics. Despite the late night I rose early the next morning to watch a fleet of fishing vessels bring in the latest catch and fill an entire depot with styrofoam boxes of crab, squid, and fish. Long ago, the fishermen explained, there existed what was called the saba-kaido, or mackerel highway, where local traders moved seafood from the port in which I stood across the mountain passes and down to feed the nobles in capital city Kyoto. This was also the channel through which many of Japan's major influences, including Buddhism, are thought to have reached the country's seat of power. Archaeological evidence proves that local merchants were trading with China as early as 300 CE; the elaborate pavilions Myotsu-ji temple complex were built contemporaneously with Kyoto's most storied—and most visited—places of worship, though you would never know it, as I had the entire campus to myself. The friendly abbot, on his break, walked me through. Fukui Hakusan Heisenji is in a valley an hour and a half north of us, about a 20-minute drive east of Fukui city. It's a great stopping-off point on the way into or out of Obama and/or as a day trip from Obama. William Sean Brecht Even today Obama is always looking beyond its borders. A walk down its main commercial streets will reveal a French-style bakery where staff serve the best croissants this side of the Pacific; a Thai restaurant that spins a mean curry (but only until 9:30 p.m., when the owner gets into his pajamas and crawls into bed upstairs); a chic vintage-eyewear boutique where the manager will let you try on every frame in the store; and an impossibly cool leathersmith who uses European techniques to craft one-of-a-kind wallets and satchels. He'll also brew you a thick cup of java from his proprietary batch of African shade-grown beans, if you ask nicely.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
The eerie secret hiding within Japan's magnificent temples
Demonic security guards are secretly watching Aussie tourists while they wander Japan 's thousands of magnificent temples. Travellers who explore famous religious sites in Tokyo, Kyoto or Osaka don't realise their behaviour is closely monitored by these creepy ogres. Aussie travellers are lured to Japan not just by it modern cities, elite cuisine, and distinctive culture, but also its array of splendid spiritual sites. Japan has more than 80,000 Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, including top attractions like Tokyo's grand Senso-ji, Kyoto's sublime Kiyomizu-dera, and Osaka's majestic Shitenno-ji. While visitors savour the commanding architecture and serene gardens of these temples, they unknowingly walk through wild tales from Japanese mythology. Every person who enters one of these Buddhist sites can look up and spot its Onigawara roof tiles. Although these ceramic artworks look like mere ornaments, they actually have a crucial role. Because each tile depicts an Oni ogre, whose job is to watch over the temple. For more than 1000 years, Japan's temples and shrines have been decorated by Onigawara carvings of these ogre demons, which provide them with cosmic protection. All of which sounds confusing. Until, that is, you learn about this country's deep connection to angels and demons. In Japanese mythology, this eternal Good vs. Evil battle takes place between Tennyo angels and Onryo demons. Tennyo are commonly depicted as beautiful women in flowing robes. Tourists can see them in mural or statue form at many religious complexes, or carved into a giant wooden sculpture inside the main Tokyo branch of the Mitsukoshi department store. Whereas Tennyo are pure and peaceful, Onryo are much more complicated in character. This class of demons, which includes the Oni ogre, are considered malicious, and capable of causing great harm not just to individual humans, but to Japanese society as a whole. Yet Onryo aren't just evil. They can also be a great ally to those humans who worship them and earn their favour. Which is why tourists at Japanese Buddhist temples may spot locals kneeling before a statue of a vicious-looking beast. They may be venerating any of the dozens of different types of Onryo demons. Some Onryo are shapeshifting beasts, like the Oni ogres. Others are ghosts of humans who were wronged during their life and have returned to haunt Japan as revenge. Tourist can see both of those styles of Onryo demon being respected at Tokyo's Oiwa Inari Tamiya Jinja. That pretty shrine, near popular Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, is dedicated to a demon named Oiwa, a woman who was murdered by her husband and now prowls Tokyo as a vengeful ghost. Meanwhile, the roof of this shrine hosts another type of Onryo, the Oni. Several of these ogres sits on its roof in sculpture form, peering down through the trees at local worshippers and foreign tourists. Just as it does at tens of thousands more Japanese temples. Oni are easy to identify, once you know what to look for. Most commonly, these ceramic artworks have two horns, wide eyes, a bulbous nose, and a gaping mouth bearing sharp teeth. Typically, they are positioned at the end of the ridges on a temple's roof. This tradition is at least 1400 years old. Onigawara roof tiles have been traced back to the 6th century, when a Korean artisan landed in Japan and pioneered the concept of tiles. This new style of roofing was then used at Asuka-dera, a brilliant Buddhist temple in Nara, which was the capital of Japan at that time. Remarkably, Asuka-dera is still standing. Perhaps due to the protection offered by its Onigawara tiles, which visitors can spot atop each corner of its roof. Elsewhere in Nara, tourists can admire especially menacing Oni ogres atop colossal Todai-ji temple and graceful K�fuku-ji temple. Or travellers can admire outstanding demon tiles in the nearby tourist hubs of Kyoto and Osaka. In Osaka, Oni ogres stand sentry at the photogenic Sumiyoshi Taisha shrine, the sprawling Osaka Tenmangu shrine, and historic Isshin-ji temple. Kyoto, meanwhile, is even more laden with Oni, due to being the most traditional of all Japanese cities. Onigawara tiles sit atop its memorable Kodai-ji, and golden Kinkaku-ji temples, among many more landmarks. They are also are positioned on the roofs of old-fashioned Kyoto homes, to protect the inhabitants. Aussies can learn to make their own Onigawara tiles while visiting Kyoto, Japan's former capital city and its modern day hub of traditional crafts. Kawarakoubou is a Kyoto art business run by a veteran Onigawara craftsman, who teaches tourists how to take lumps of clay, and hand-mould them into devilish shapes. These artworks are then baked in his kiln, before being delivered to the tourist's hotel for them to take home as a unique keepsake. Just make sure, upon landing back in Australia, that you declare to customs you're carrying a demonic security guard. That may take some explaining.
Japan Times
2 days ago
- General
- Japan Times
Traditional home experts to gather at MinkaMeets event
Against the stunning backdrop of Miyama, Kyoto Prefecture, a location famed for its traditional thatched-roof houses, the Minka Preservation Society will host a two-day event focused on heritage architecture and thoughtful approaches to renovating kominka (traditional wooden houses). On June 7 and 8, the nonprofit Minka Preservation Society will hold the second iteration of its MinkaMeets@Miyama event, bringing together experts and enthusiasts to discuss the future of minka (literally, 'people's house'). As the number of Japan's akiya (abandoned houses) rises, many are falling into disrepair, but the Minka Preservation Society is dedicated to generating awareness for these beautiful, historic buildings. With tickets starting from ¥2,000, MinkaMeets@Miyama invites guests to discover and celebrate the charm of these old buildings through workshops and a town hall-style panel discussion titled, 'Restoration, Renovation, Redesign: Preserving Minka in the 21st Century.' While the event aims to look at the restoration of minka in general, one particular property scheduled for destruction has found itself at the forefront of the discussion thanks to Haruo Nishio , an expert in Japanese thatching and traditional building restoration. Through his work, Nishio discovered a 200-year-old thatched house owned by Ooi, Fukui Prefecture. Having been relocated to its current site in 1978 by the local government, the kominka was unfortunately left to languish in recent years, leading to the order for its demolition. A tradtional thatching expert, Haruo Nishio is scheduled to speak at the June event. | COURTESY OF HARUO NISHIO For Nishio, the thought was unbearable, so he offered to find a new owner and a new site for its relocation. 'Many Japanese people may think it's normal to tear down old things,' Nishio says. 'I'm unsure if what I'm trying to do is the 'right' thing, but I want to do the best I can right now — for the people of the future. I'll leave it to them to decide whether it was the right thing to do.' Nishio's next step was to reach out to the Minka Preservation Society to ask for help. 'We were already in the midst of planning the MinkaMeets@Miyama event before Nishio-san discovered that property,' Minka Preservation Society board member Lauren Scharf explains. 'He reached out to us and expressed a desire to feature it in the event. It's in such a beautiful location and conveniently not too far from our event space.' The Ooi kominka will now serve as the event panel's main topic of discussion. 'We have asked the panelists to come prepared with their own ideas,' Scharf says. 'If this were their own project, or if it were to end up in their own backyard, what would they do with it?' Storied "minka" preservationist Yoshihiro Takishita is scheduled to appear as part of a panel discussion on conserving the properties amid modern pressures. | COURTESY OF YOSHIHIRO TAKISHITA Along with Nishio, the panel is made up of experts from across the preservation community, including Yoshihiro Takishita , who is considered the godfather of minka renovation (his book, 'Japanese Country Style: Putting New Life Into Old Houses,' is a must-read for minka enthusiasts). The panel is rounded off by Nils Wetterlind, a Swedish conservationist with a background in sustainable design, and Felix Conran, a British product designer and grandson to London's Design Museum founder, the late Sir Terrence Conran. The panel and workshop sessions will be held on June 7, with guests initially making their way to Hotaruan Royal Garden Suite , a minka renovated and owned by Nishio. Hands-on demonstrations will also be available alongside a marketplace featuring local arts and food. For those staying overnight, the following day's event will be a tour of the Ooi kominka (about 1 hour by car from Miyama) with continued discussion on its future. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Spurned by Trump? Global universities now wooing foreign students as US administration ratchets up pressure
Universities around the world are stepping in to welcome students affected by US President Donald Trump's recent actions against academic institutions. They are aiming to attract students, researchers and part of the international education market that has long been a major source of revenue for the United States. Osaka University in Japan is offering support for those looking to move from US universities. This includes waiving tuition fees, providing research funding and helping with travel arrangements. 'We see this as a loss for all of humanity,' said Masaru Ishii, dean of the graduate school of medicine at Osaka University, according to Reuters. Other universities in Japan, including Kyoto and Tokyo, are also exploring similar offers. In China, Xi'an Jiaotong University is actively encouraging students from US institutions such as Harvard to consider transferring. It has promised simplified admissions and full support for those who move. Hong Kong's government has told its universities to attract skilled students and researchers from the US as well. The move comes after President Trump's administration made cuts to research funding, limited visas—especially for Chinese students and proposed higher taxes on top universities. Last week, the US government revoked Harvard University's ability to enrol foreign students, although a court later overturned that decision. According to Jessica Turner, head of London-based analytics company Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), other countries are quickly trying to fill the gap. 'Germany, France and Ireland are becoming more attractive options in Europe,' she told Reuters. 'In Asia-Pacific, students are also looking at New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan and mainland China.' The crackdown has hit Chinese students particularly hard. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the government would 'aggressively' tighten visa rules for Chinese nationals. There are over 275,000 Chinese students currently enrolled in US universities. Their presence contributes significantly to university income and helps feed talent into US tech firms. In 2023, international students—mostly from India and China added more than $50 billion to the US economy, according to the US Department of Commerce. Many students are now rethinking their plans, just as the academic year nears. Dai, a 25-year-old student from Chengdu, told Reuters she may now choose to study in Britain instead of the US. 'The various policies (by the US government) were a slap in my face,' she said, asking to be identified only by her surname. 'I'm thinking about my mental health and it's possible that I indeed change schools.' Students from the UK and the European Union are also becoming more hesitant about studying in the United States. Tom Moon, deputy head of Oxbridge Applications, a consultancy that supports university applicants, said his firm had been contacted by international students in the US who want to transfer to Canada, the UK or Europe. He said a recent survey found that 54% of clients were now 'less likely' to study in the US compared to earlier in the year. British universities have reported more interest from students currently in the US, according to Universities UK, a group that promotes British institutions. But it's still too early to tell whether this will result in more actual enrolments. Some students, like 18-year-old Canadian Ella Ricketts, are worried about the financial cost of transferring. She currently studies at Harvard on a scholarship. 'When I applied, the only university I considered in Europe was Oxford,' she said. 'But I realised I wouldn't be able to afford the international fees and there weren't enough scholarships or aid available.' If she can't stay at Harvard, she said she would probably apply to the University of Toronto. Interest in US universities appears to be dropping. QS reported that visits to its 'Study in America' online guide had fallen by 17.6% over the past year, with interest from India down by more than half. 'Enrolment trends usually take six to 18 months to become clear,' Turner said. 'But reputational damage lasts longer, especially when students are unsure about visas and work opportunities.' Caleb Thompson, a 20-year-old Harvard student from the US, told Reuters that international students bring value to American universities. 'If America turns these brilliant and talented students away, they will find other places to work and study,' he said.
