NATURAL JAPAN

Ever wanted a brush made with gray squirrel fur? With 180 years of history, the town of Kumano is the largest producer of calligraphy and artist’s brushes—as well as makeup brushes—in Japan.

Here's a selection of places that are beautiful in the warm weather, but in the winter, that beauty is multiplied!

In addition to being home to the major port city of Yokohama and the famed hot springs of Hakone, Kanagawa has developed a number of distinctive crafts that are unique to the region.

While travelers tend to be drawn to Japan's major cities, there's much to be savored in its quiet countryside, where a different, deeper kind of beauty awaits.

Once used for salad bowls and decorative plates, lacquerware has found a new shape to wrap its sleek exterior around—iPhones.

There are many different types of bento boxes that vary in shape and material, each with its own unique history.

Choose from large spas, private family baths, mixed-gender onsen and more!

Hokkaido is a must-visit place for nature lovers. After its harsh and snowy winters, the land shows off tulips in spring, lavender fields in summer, cosmos in autumn, and many more colorful flowers throughout the year.