Jim and Fiona Banks are a British couple living with their two teenage daughters in the heart of Kyoto where they run private guesthouses, 'Kyoto Holiday Homes'. We talked about their favourite hidden gems around Kyoto and Japan's largest lake, Lake Biwa.

We talked to Alex Davies who has spent the past 5 years in Japan's historical capital working as the head distiller at the award-winning The Kyoto Distillery, the first craft gin distillery in Japan. Alex shared with us his favourite places for tasting Japanese alcohol and his tips on how to experience the other, less ventured, side of Kyoto. 

Dorothee Eshin Takatsu, originally from Germany, is an ordained Zen Priest in the Rinzai Tradition. In 2004 she established her Zen Retreat Center, Horakuan, in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture where she now offers Zen retreats with a creative touch to Japanese and foreign visitors. We talked about how she became a monk in Japan and what kind of experiences await visitors to Horakuan.

The Kii Peninsula south of Osaka and Nagoya is a treasure trove of sacred places waiting to be discovered in its three prefectures – Wakayama, Nara and Mie. We talked to Alena Eckelmann of Kii Monogatari about the still unknown area of southern Mie and asked for her top trip recommendations. Alena has been living in Hongu, a small town in the southern part of the Kii Peninsula for over ten years now which makes her a seasoned local. 

Shizuoka prefecture, located a short high speed train ride away from Tokyo, is famous all over the world for its top notch onsen hot springs and being one of the best spots to see Mt. Fuji. What many people aren’t aware of is that Shizuoka is also Japan’s largest green tea producer, 40% of green tea comes from here! Covered with stunning tea fields creating an unforgettable landscape, it’s the mecca of Tea Tourism. That’s where you want to head for hands on experiences while visiting one of many plantations or simply enjoying a cup of this locally produced goodness. Find out about the best tea destinations for the new normal!