Travel stories, unexpected encounters and the crafts that make Japan worth going back for.

Every piece in the shop started somewhere.

Here is where I write about the travel, the people, and the crafts behind it and how to take care of them.

Sourcing diaries from regular trips. Warm encounters with collectors and makers. And the beautiful landscapes.

Deep dives into the traditions I keep returning to: urushi lacquerware, kokeshi, chawan, haori…. And the quiet details that make Japanese craft worth seeking out

Stories from my journal

A vibrant scene at the Tenjin-san antique market at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in Kyoto, featuring colorful vintage silk kimonos with floral patterns hanging in the foreground, with the large stone torii gate and market stalls blurred in the background.

Hannah 04/03/2026 Hannah 04/03/2026

Sourcing in Japan Day 2: Meeting my favorite chawan supplier in Osaka

Some supplier relationships take years to build. In Osaka I have a meeting over tea and chawan pieces that never reach any public market. Day two of my Sourcing Week in Japan series in Kyoto and Okayama.