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Condé Nast Traveler
6 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Condé Nast Traveler
Going Off-Grid in Japan's Uncrowded, Otherworldly Goto Islands
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. It's so stormy and rough when I walk onto the tarmac of Fukuoka Airport that my umbrella is blown inside out, and I wonder whether my flight will even take off. Once onboard I nervously buckle up, and we take off into an uninviting sky. But just 20 minutes into our 40-minute flight from Fukuoka to Fukue—the largest and most populated of Japan's Gotō Islands, population 38,000—the skies clear. When the small twin-propeller DHC-8-400 dips its wings to start its descent, shafts of sunlight beam down and I catch my first glimpse of this fabled, subtropical Japanese archipelago, also called the Islands of Prayer. It's fitting for the moment, since I was uncharacteristically pleading with the gods at takeoff. Strewn below, towering green peaks rise from the choppy but shimmering Sea of Japan. There are lush swaths of forests, wind-bent palms, isolated golden-sand beaches, and basalt coves and sleepy ports peppered with bobbing boats and wooden fishermen's shacks. In recent years the Gotō Islands have drawn urban transplants from Osaka, Tokyo, and Fukuoka who are seeking a more relaxed pace of life, in tune with the rhythms of nature. The result has been new cafés, izakaya, galleries, and inns across the area. But the Gotō Islands are not just a picturesque destination for visitors seeking reinvention; they've served as a cultural bridge to cosmopolitan mainland Asia ever since they became a sanctuary from insular Edo-era Japan in the 1600s. From the trail's lookout spot, the treeless and green Mount Onidake looks perfectly symmetrical, like its summit was lobbed off by a giant samurai sword. It's just one of 11 monogenetic basalt volcanoes and last erupted 18,000 years ago, but like so many volcanic landscapes I've been to, the energy of the land was alive and palpable. To really decipher the Gotō Islands requires understanding two things: their history and geography. Located just 50 miles off Japan's southwest coast in Kyushu's Nagasaki prefecture, Fukue is the largest of the 150-plus islands and home to their biggest port and city (just 146 miles west of Jeju Island, South Korea). It's 200 miles closer to Shanghai than Tokyo, and it and the other four inhabited Gotō islands have their own volcanic, subtropical flavor that's like nothing else in the Land of the Rising Sun. Fukue, the biggest island of the subtropical Gotō archipelago, has many Christian religious historic sites dating to the 1600s. Naoki Ishikawa The island is now home to around 50 Christian churches, many of which were granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 2018. Naoki Ishikawa When Japan banned Christianity in 1614 at the dawn of the Edo era, persecuted devotees, both Japanese and foreign, sought refuge in these far-flung islands. Over the years a network of hidden Christian sites emerged, and today Fukue is home to around 50 Christian churches, some of which received UNESCO World Heritage status in 2018. But don't think for a minute the islands are not Japanese; there are also numerous Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples, and plenty of izakaya and Japanese minka (farmhouses)—all things I love about Japan that have kept me coming back to the country for the last 15 years. Long before the Edo era, the Gotō archipelago was an important stop for the maritime traffic of China, Korea, and Japan between the seventh and ninth centuries during China's golden-age Tang dynasty. Back then, Japan's political and cultural envoys to prosperous China would stop on the island of Fukue before crossing the threshold onto the Asian continent. And new ideas from Asia would first land here: Japan's famous eighth-century-born priest Kukai (Kōbō Daishi) was one such passerby; he founded the Shingon school of Japanese Buddhism, which helped spread the religion to Japan. A statue of him can be found on Kashiwazaki Cape on the north shore, and in 806 CE he is said to have visited Myojoin Temple in Gotō City, the oldest wooden structure on the island and prized for its ceiling decorated with 121 paintings of flowers and birds. Shops along the street sell all manner of Gotō specialities, from local sweet potato mochi and local camellia oil especially prized across Japan to yuzu salt and flying-fish dashi stock. Like Kukai, I was only passing through. I spent three nights in Gotō, a decent amount of time to visit the main island of Fukue, though you could easily spend a week or more. For the first night I stayed in Fukue's biggest city, which was renamed Gotō in 2004, after Fukue port merged with the towns of Kishiku, Miiraku, Naru, Tamanoura, and Tomie. Just across from the port where the 30-minute long jetfoil ferries from Nagasaki drop passengers is the Goto Tsubaki Hotel, an ideal spot to get a lay of the land. Unlike many of Japan's small towns on the mainland, densely packed with historical buildings, Gotō's sites are scattered across the island. Naoki Ishikawa A short walk from the hotel took me to Ishida Castle, one of the last castles built in Japan, completed in 1863. Only its gate and moss-covered fortified walls remain, and the site now houses the Gotō Municipal High School, a cultural center, Gotō's tourism office, and a public library, all located within the former castle's walls. Next door is the former Lord Gotō Residence, a traditional house built in 1861 with tatami mats, fusuma sliding doors, a Japanese garden, and a pond shaped into the Chinese character for 'heart' (心) designed by Zensho, a Kyoto monk.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SUGIDAMA Introduces Draft Beer Set Featuring Suntory The Premium Malts - in Hong Kong from May 12
HONG KONG, May 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Japanese sushi izakaya chain SUGIDAMA is proud to debut Suntory The Premium Malts draft beer at all Hong Kong locations starting May 12, 2025. As one of the few venues in Hong Kong to serve this renowned beer on tap, SUGIDAMA enhances the izakaya experience with a limited-time set menu designed to showcase the beer's flavor at its best. A Premium Draft Beer, Now Available at SUGIDAMA While Suntory The Premium Malts is beloved in Japan, it remains a popular find on tap in Hong Kong. SUGIDAMA is proud to be one of them—and uniquely, all seven of its Hong Kong locations now offer the beer as part of a limited-time, value-focused set menu.*The Premium Malts draft beer is also available for individual order outside of the set. This precious access positions SUGIDAMA as a leading destination for enjoying premium Japanese beer in an authentic izakaya setting. The Perfect Pairing The addition of Suntory The Premium Malts draft beer to the menu is a natural extension of SUGIDAMA's dedication to quality and authenticity. This pairing highlights the synergy between expertly brewed Japanese beer and the restaurant's well-crafted dishes, offering guests a unique dining experience in Hong Kong's competitive dining scene. Launching the Suntory The Premium Malts Draft Beer Set To commemorate the launch, SUGIDAMA is introducing a limited-time "Suntory The Premium Malts Draft Beer Set" curated to pair harmoniously with the flavors of its signature small plates. Set Details: Date: From May 12, 2025 （Monday） Price: HK$98 One mug of Suntory The Premium Malts draft beer A choice of one appetizer from the following: Adult Potato Salad with Shiokara – A rich and savory twist on the classic potato salad, featuring salted squid, pickled daikon and mullet roe for a burst of umami. Deep Fried Jack Mackerel (2 pieces) – Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside. This dish is served with tartar sauce and highlights the natural flavor of the fish. Nanban Chicken with SUGIDAMA's Special Sauce –Featuring fried chicken topped with SUGIDAMA's original tartar-style sauce with a tangy-sweet finish. Guests may upgrade to a 500ml beer mug for an additional HK$22. Starting May 12, this set will be available at all SUGIDAMA Hong Kong branches for a limited period. *The set menu is available in limited quantities and may end once sold photos are for reference only. Note: At Shatin Centre, Whampoa, Citywalk 1, and Aberdeen branches, the set will be available from 11:00 a.m. At all other branches, the set will be available from 3:00 p.m. Discover why Suntory The Premium Malts and SUGIDAMA make the perfect pairing—not only through the rare opportunity to enjoy this premium draft beer in Hong Kong, but also through a thoughtfully curated set menu that showcases the rich flavors and playful spirit of Japanese izakaya cuisine. Available for a limited time only at all SUGIDAMA locations in Hong Kong. Branding book (PDF): Press release (PDF): (EN) (ZH) Facebook: Instagram: Link to Images Image Files: All Branch Address Hong Kong Island・Wan Chai Branch：Shop B & C, G/F, The Hennessy, 256 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong・Quarry Bay Branch：Shop Nos. 3-5, G/F, Westlands Gardens, No. 12 Westlands Road, Hong Kong ・Aberdeen Branch：Shop 1, G/F, Aberdeen Centre Site 2, 7-11 Nam Ning Street, Aberdeen, Hong Kong Kowloon・Whampoa Branch：Shop G, G/F, Ho Wing Building, Whampoa Estate, 53-57C Man Tai Street, Hung Hom, Kowloon・Lai Chi Kok Branch：Shop G01, G/F, D2 Place TWO, 15 Cheung Shun Street, Lai Chi Kok, Kowloon New Territories・Citywalk 1 Branch：Shop G72-73 & G75B, G/F, Citywalk 1, 1 Yeung Uk Road, Tsuen Wan, New Territories・Shatin Centre Branch：Shop 32A & 69A, 3/F, Shatin Centre, 2-16 Wang Pok Street, Sha Tin, New Territories About SUGIDAMA：Founded in 2017 by FOOD & LIFE COMPANIES, SUGIDAMA is a modern Japanese sushi izakaya that blends tradition with playful creativity. The brand's name is derived from "sugidama," a cedar ball traditionally hung at sake breweries to signify freshly made sake. SUGIDAMA now operates over 100 stores globally, including in Japan, the United States, and Hong an emphasis on high-quality dining, eye-catching interiors, and a diverse selection of sushi, sake, and izakaya dishes, SUGIDAMA offers a multi-sensory dining experience that resonates with local and international guests. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Food & Life Companies Hong Kong Limited. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Bloomberg
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Bloomberg
Team Behind Hong Kong's Yardbird Opens New Izakaya Always Joy
The team behind perennial favorite Yardbird is back with a new izakaya called Always Joy following the closure of the group's snack bar Ronin. The focus is on using fresh, daily ingredients in a menu of shared plates that are always changing. Like Ronin, there's an emphasis on contemporary Japanese cuisine, but this latest iteration also has a confident dose of Cantonese influences and a more experimental mix.
