Manami Okazaki

In an age when so much of our time is spent staring at screens, it is easy to understand why the warmth, intimacy, and idiosyncrasies of hand craftsmanship should seem alluring...the term Mingei describes useful, unobtrusive, beautifully crafted objects - Alice Rawsthorn, New York Times The Mingei Folk Crafts movement, founded by philosopher and art historian Soetsu Yanagi and potters...

An inside look at kokeshi dolls: from the skilled woodworkers behind their design to their important cultural significance. Kokeshi are the simple and charming traditional Japanese dolls characterised by their cylindrical shape and lack of arms and legs. Historically made as children's toys in Japan's northern region of Tohoku, they have now become a popular collector's item and have even...

Lonely Planet's local travel experts reveal all you need to know to plan the trip of a lifetime in this latest edition of our guide to Okinawa & the Southwest Islands. Discover Okinawa & the Southwest Islands's most popular experiences and best-kept secrets from heading to Kame Kame, an old-school neighbourhood noodle shop, for a bowl of hearty ramen; to...

Discover twice the city in half the time as Lonely Planet's local travel experts reveal all you need to know to plan the ultimate short trip to Tokyo. This latest edition uncovers the city's most popular experiences and unexpected surprises from spotting style trends past and present along Harajuku's signature shopping street Takeshita-dori; to catching the salt-slinging, belly-slapping ritual of...

Lonely Planet's local travel experts reveal all you need to know to plan the trip of a lifetime in this latest edition of our guide to Tokyo. Discover Tokyo's most popular experiences and best kept secrets from wandering the maze-like streets of Shimo-Kitazawa for atmospheric cafes and artistic hideaways, to watching belly-slapping sumo wrestlers at Ryogoku Kokugikan in January, May...