Photo: Stefaan du Pont and Sarah Murphy, Courtesy of Juliana Rudell Di Simone1/21Riding through Yanaka with the Skytree in the background.
Photo: Stefaan du Pont and Sarah Murphy, Courtesy of Juliana Rudell Di Simone2/21The Tokyobike flagship store in Yanaka, which is a destination for coffee, tea, Japanese beer, sake and, of course, bicycles.
Photo: Stefaan du Pont and Sarah Murphy, Courtesy of Juliana Rudell Di Simone3/21The International Library of Children’s Literature is a special discovery for kids and adults. In addition to shelves and shelves of children's books, the building is beautifully designed with special details.
Photo: Stefaan du Pont and Sarah Murphy, Courtesy of Juliana Rudell Di Simone4/21Whenever I arrive in Tokyo one of the first meals I have to have is an Omakase dinner or a lunch. Kajiwara in Yanaka is an intimate 10-seat bar that is a must.
Photo: Stefaan du Pont and Sarah Murphy, Courtesy of Juliana Rudell Di Simone5/21Maison Hermès by Renzo Piano in Ginza, one of my favorite buildings in Tokyo.
Photo: Stefaan du Pont and Sarah Murphy, Courtesy of Juliana Rudell Di Simone6/21The incredible staircase at the Thom Browne store in Aoyama, designed by Wonderwall. Japan’s luxury stores take architecture seriously, and the Thom Browne store is one of my favorites in Tokyo.
Photo: Stefaan du Pont and Sarah Murphy, Courtesy of Juliana Rudell Di Simone7/21Jimbocho and its amazing book stores. Komiyama is my favorite and their selection of vintage books, art, and magazines is incredible.
Photo: Stefaan du Pont and Sarah Murphy, Courtesy of Juliana Rudell Di Simone8/21Tatemichiya is one of the best and most fun izakaya restaurants in Tokyo.
Photo: Stefaan du Pont and Sarah Murphy, Courtesy of Juliana Rudell Di Simone9/21Making friends at the Meguro River Hanami Festival—the area was so packed with locals and tourists alike looking at the blossoms!
Photo: Stefaan du Pont and Sarah Murphy, Courtesy of Juliana Rudell Di Simone10/21Meguro River covered in sakura, with over 800 trees on its banks.
Photo: Stefaan du Pont and Sarah Murphy, Courtesy of Juliana Rudell Di Simone11/21Sakura gifts from these two little girls outside Kaneiji Temple.
Photo: Stefaan du Pont and Sarah Murphy, Courtesy of Juliana Rudell Di Simone12/21Asaba, which is two hours South of Tokyo, has only one cherry blossom tree on the property, which lived in front of our window. We had no idea when booking it, and took it as a sign of good luck!
Photo: Stefaan du Pont and Sarah Murphy, Courtesy of Juliana Rudell Di Simone13/21Asaba has special details throughout the whole property, from ceramics to fresh flowers.
Photo: Stefaan du Pont and Sarah Murphy, Courtesy of Juliana Rudell Di Simone14/21Soaking at the outdoor bath at Asaba became a morning routine.
Photo: Stefaan du Pont and Sarah Murphy, Courtesy of Juliana Rudell Di Simone15/21Asaba’s lounge room—the afternoon light was our favorite reading time.
Photo: Stefaan du Pont and Sarah Murphy, Courtesy of Juliana Rudell Di Simone16/21Kanazawa Castle Park is grand and stunning.
Photo: Stefaan du Pont and Sarah Murphy, Courtesy of Juliana Rudell Di Simone17/21The beautiful Higashi Chaya district, which has a maze of two-story wooden houses (Chayas), which are the traditional houses where geishas entertain people by dancing and performing music. The entire district has been named a Japanese Cultural Asset—the only Chaya district in the country to receive that designation.
Photo: Stefaan du Pont and Sarah Murphy, Courtesy of Juliana Rudell Di Simone18/21The view of Nagano from the Shinkansen train, one of the high-speed rail lines in Japan.
Photo: Stefaan du Pont and Sarah Murphy, Courtesy of Juliana Rudell Di Simone19/21Back in Tokyo, looking out at the view from our 31st-floor room at the Cerulean Hotel.
Photo: Stefaan du Pont and Sarah Murphy, Courtesy of Juliana Rudell Di Simone20/21Decorations in Tokyo’s Yoyogi Park during Sakura celebrations
Photo: Stefaan du Pont and Sarah Murphy, Courtesy of Juliana Rudell Di Simone21/21A rug of cherry blossoms on the ground at Yoyogi Park as cherry blossom flowers were starting to fall.
