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In 2009 I drove from Tokyo to Shikoku and stayed at Chiiori, a three hundred year old thatch roofed house in the Iya valley. It was a step back in time to an era when Japanese people mainly lived in rural villages and worked the land. Chiiori as the house is now named was bought by Alex Kerr, a well known author on Japan, in the 1970s. Over time the house has slowly evolved from a backpacker experience into more sophisticated accommodation. If you are looking for an alternative experience in Japan this is the place. You can find out...

Collapsible silicone drink bottles are a new product that offers consumers the convenience of being able to fold them up after the contents are consumed. The original version of the bottle won a "Good-Design" award in Japan in 2012. The product is designed in Japan and made from silicone and a mold made there though the actual manufacture is done in China on behalf of the Japanese company. So why would you want a collapsible silicone water bottle? The short answer is convenience, if you are a hiker, sportsman or traveller space in your bag comes at a premium and...

A bowl is a bowl or is it? HACHI (large) and KOHACHI (small) are colourful stainless steel bowls designed to be equally at home in the kitchen or dining room. They are made from stainless steel in Japan and designed by h-concept a well known Tokyo based design house. I've been using my bowls to prepare and serve food. The large bowls are a great way to serve a salad and the small bowls make an interesting vessel to eat fruit, yogurt or even a cold soup. In 5 colours, lime green, aqua blue, orange, black and white. There is...

I am excited that Zakka Japan has just taken delivery of Mosquito Coil Cases made by Isurugi a Kanazawa based company that specialises in traditional plastering that uses diatomaceous earth formed from plankton millions of years ago. You might say so what but before you do ask yourself why castles and temples built hundreds of years ago and still standing use this material in their construction. They use it because it has natural moisture absorbing characteristics that make it ideal in the hot, muggy and very humid Japanese summer. A natural eco-friendly construction material. The mosquito coil cases are an...

If the walls at Bar 238 could talk they would have a lot to say. Established in August 1948 not a lot has changed over the years in this "retro" Osaka hot spot. The long wooden bar made from "keyaki" is a fine piece of timber that has graced 238 since it was established in the post WW11 ashes of Osaka. You might ask why its called Bar 238. The 23 represents the 23rd year of the reign of the Showa emperor and the 8 August. If you happen to be in Osaka and wish to take in a piece...