Monthly Letters

Reading Japan: From Hokkaido to Okinawa

Letters from Japan, September 2025: selection of books to accompany your trip to Japan, categorized by city/region.

Sep 11 •

Istanbul to Tokyo: Famously Connected, Proudly Isolated

Letters From Japan, August 2025: between my two homes, from Istanbul to Tokyo.

Aug 21 •

Okinawa, the Reluctant Paradise

Letters from Japan, June/July 2025: a trip to Kerama Islands, arguably the best waters in the world, a tragic history, and a little arrogant, yet…

Jul 14 •

The Rainy Season Edition: Japan Travel Recap

Letters from Japan, May 2025: Japan destination recap, cities, islands, hikes and seasons.

Jun 8 •

Walking Shikoku (and Biking the Shimanami Kaido)

Letters from Japan, April 2025: a walk along the southern coast of Shikoku, one night in Matsuyama and biking Shimanami Kaido.

May 6 •

Sakura in Bloom, Spring Still in Waiting

Letters from Japan, March 2025: A three-day sakura trip to Kyoto—and a perpetually delayed spring.

Apr 10 •

Snow Falling on Cedars

Letters from Japan, February 2025: winter trip to Kanazawa, Shirakawa-go and Takayama.

Feb 21 •

Going South: Islands Off an Island

Letters from Japan, January 2025: islands of Kyushu—Yakushima and beyond.

Jan 25 •

Tokyo: the Giant with a Big Heart

Letters from Japan, November/December 2024: daily life in Tokyo and new travel diaries series.

Dec 14, 2024 •

The Very Questionable Beauty of Japan

Letters from Japan, October 2024: autumn—the only season when Japan feels effortlessly beautiful.

Oct 24, 2024 •

Letters from Japan: One Year Substack Anniversary

Letters from Japan, September 2024: the long-overdue introduction post.

Sep 27, 2024 •

End of Summer and a New Phase for Letters from Japan

Letters from Japan, August 2024: end of summer and a new print shop.

Sep 1, 2024 •

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