Pocket List: 5 ways to experience Japan by Tatler Best co-jury head Kyoko Nakayama
Japan rewards curiosity. Its essence is found not only in celebrated restaurants but in breakfasts that whisper of ritual, coffee served like ceremony, cocktails steeped in tradition and crafts shaped by centuries.
This instalment of Pocket List comes from Kyoko Nakayama, Tatler Best co-jury head for Japan. A journalist and former news anchor, she has worked as a taster, moderator and jury member for luxury dining, hotels and lifestyle awards—both anonymously and by name.
With nearly 70 countries under her belt, Kyoko brings a global eye to Japan, distilling her home country into five experiences that span Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.
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Tatler Best co-jury head Kyoko Nakayama, journalist and global traveller, shares her Pocket List of essential experiences across Japan
Start the day with a Japanese breakfast in Tokyo
A traditional Japanese breakfast, where every detail is designed for calm and balance (Photo: Yakumo Saryo)
At Yakumo Saryo in Meguro in Tokyo, breakfast is served with quiet intention. In its hushed, minimalist dining rooms, guests enjoy a traditional morning meal: rice, miso, grilled fish, pickles and seasonal sides, designed for calm and balance. It’s a reminder that in Japan, food is about rhythm and ritual as much as flavour.
Yakumo SaryoAddress: 3-chōme-4-7 Yakumo, Meguro City, Tokyo 152-0023, Japan
See also: Best sushi restaurants in Tokyo, according to Tabelog
Experience Japan’s innovative coffee culture in Tokyo
A reservation-only coffee omakase at Cokuun in Omotesando (Photo: Cokuun)
Japan’s specialty coffee scene is as inventive as it is meticulous. At Cokuun in Omotesando, a reservation-only space, world champion barista Hidenori Izaki offers a course-style coffee ceremony in a cocoon-like space, reimagining the tea tradition with beans instead of leaves.
CokuunAddress: Omotesando, Tokyo, Japan (exact address shared upon reservation)
Buy Kyo-yaki in Kyoto
Handcrafted Kyo-yaki ceramics in Kyoto that connect centuries-old artistry with modern design (Photo: Tokinoha)
Kyoto’s ceramics tradition is alive and thriving, especially in Kiyomizu-yaki. Studios such as Tokinoha and Hotoki allow guests to browse collections and often host workshops, offering both artistry and hands-on connection to centuries of craft.
Tokinoha Ceramic StudioAddress: 8-1 Kawata Kiyomizuyaki Danchicho, Yamashina Ward, Kyoto, 607-8322, Japan
HotokiAddress: 17-2 Iwakuranishi Godacho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-0006, Japan
Visit a knife factory in Sakai, Osaka
Blades forged with samurai heritage in Sakai, Osaka, one of Japan’s most respected knife-making regions (Photo: Fujii Hamono)
Sakai remains legendary for its cutlery, carrying on the legacy of samurai sword making. Makers like Fujii Hamono, with over a century of history, sometimes open portions of their workshops to visitors, revealing why Japanese blades remain among the most coveted tools for chefs.
Fujii Hamono SeisakushoAddress: 1-2-21 Kitahatagochonishi, Sakai-ku, Sakai-shi, Osaka, Japan
Discover Japan’s creative bar scene in Tokyo
Cocktails inspired by Japanese traditions at St Louis Bar by Kei in Ginza, a refined collaboration with wagashi artisans (Photo: St Louis Bar by Kei)
Tokyo continues to lead the world in cocktail craft. St Louis Bar by Kei, located in Ginza, blends contemporary Japanese aesthetics with refined drink-making. With its garden-inspired setting and cocktails rooted in Japanese flavours, it turns a nightcap into cultural immersion.
St Louis Bar by KeiAddress: 12F, Toraya Ginza Building, 7-8-17 Ginza Chuo-ward, Tokyo, 104-0061, Japan
See also: The Tatler Best bars in Hong Kong 2025
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