Discover the quiet luxury of the season. From charcoal-grilled matsutake to mature sake, savor the finest autumn food Japan offers and experience authentic autumn food in Japan at an unhurried pace.

Discover the pinnacle of winter food in japan. From michelin star winter kaiseki to the coveted snow crab season, explore the country’s exclusive culinary art.

Few distilleries anywhere in the world make an impression quite like Ontake. Situated 400 metres above sea level in the Satsuma mountains of Kagoshima Prefecture, surrounded by lush forest and overlooking Sakurajima volcano, Ontake was built with little expense spared. It is, in every sense, the epitome of whisky luxury. Since releasing its first single malt in 2023, the whisky world has been paying attention.

Japanese whisky is widely regarded as one of the most refined whisky categories in the world. For those looking to engage more deeply, Japanese whisky cask ownership represents the next step, moving beyond collecting bottles to participating directly in the whisky’s journey from maturation to bottling.

Sake, or nihonshu (日本酒, “Japanese liquor”), is much more than just an alcoholic drink in Japan. It holds deep cultural and spiritual significance and is often used in Shinto ceremonies to unite people and the gods. But for me, sake holds a very personal meaning—it connects me to memories of my late grandfather, who introduced me to its rich world when I came of age. Before we dive into my story, allow me to add some insight into a common misconception surrounding the term 'sa

Japanese Rice Wine, often referred to as Sake, is something that excites many visitors to Japan. However, requesting a Sake at a local Japanese bar might cause some confusion. The word "Sake" itself is the Japanese term for various alcoholic beverages, including wine, beer, whiskey, cocktails, and, of course, the renowned rice wine. My sake of choice is wine. Raised in New Zealand, I was surrounded by vibrant green vineyards from a young age, and I grew up seeing local wine o