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Ashiyu: Effortless Relaxation from Japan's Hot Spring Towns

September 25, 2019

Ashiyu are foot baths that are found in some of Japan’s hot spring town. They are beloved for their lighthearted atmosphere, as they are an easy way to enjoy Japan’s mineral-rich waters with little...

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A Healing Lesson from the Cherry Blossoms

March 19, 2019

As you are reading this journal post, I will be en route to Japan. One of the highlights of this trip is that I will arrive right in the middle of the beautiful sakura season. Cherry blossoms are a...

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Japanese Bathing Wisdom for the Entire Family

March 13, 2019

In a traditional Japanese home, the bathwater is shared among family members. This practice perhaps comes from the Japanese tradition of the sento (public bathhouses) or bathing in public hot sprin...

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Creating Ryokan-Style Comfort In Your Home

November 06, 2018

One of my greatest hopes with Amayori is that it will pique your interest and inspire travel to Japan. Should you ever make the journey, I highly suggest spending at least part of your trip at a ry...

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What “Japanese Beauty” Means to Me

October 08, 2018

Recently, after a long vacation on which I did lots of meditating, I felt the call to go deeper and share my passions and journey more with you. From now on, please join me for more intimate conver...

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The Japanese Wellness Ritual of the Daily Soak

September 19, 2018

Earlier this August, I had an experience in Japan that shifted my perception on bathing. I was staying at the house of a friend’s family and, as in true Japanese culture, I was offered to use the b...

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The Legend of Empress Kōmyō

July 02, 2018

From Japanese bathing culture, there is one woman whose name I have come across again and again: Empress Kōmyō. As with all women, there are many facets to her life story, but I have been particula...

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The J-Beauty Trend

May 08, 2018

Over the past six months I have seen a huge amount of interest from beauty editors in the Japanese beauty, or J-beauty, trend. People are comparing it to the K-beauty (Korean beauty) trend which ag...

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