Melinda Joe

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Hannah Beech |Kenji Hall |Melinda Joe |Joanna Kawecki |Vivian Morelli |Hiroko Yoda

T 25Six Japanese food professionals - including four acclaimed chefs - took on what seemed to all of them like a near-impossible task. Credit... Yoshinori Mizutani More than 200 types of fish and other edible seafood species inhabit Tokyo Bay, and many more live in the waters off Japan. There are delicate, darting fish like isaki and sea squirts like hoya (also known as sea pineapples): things rarely seen on American menus.

Jan 13, 2025 | cntraveler.com | Melinda Joe

Deciding on the best things to do in Tokyo depends how much time you have—and for your sake, we hope you have a month. The city’s streets can feel like a game of soccer that's being played at hyper speed; meanwhile calmer attractions range from temples, museums, and gardens to origami classes and bohemian sojourns. This megacity has more than enough going on to put you in a tizzy, so a word of advice: Arrive with a game plan, but give in to getting lost along the way (in a good way).

Nov 29, 2024 | japantimes.co.jp | Melinda Joe

In the minimalist tasting room at Leaves Coffee Roasters in Tokyo’s Sumida Ward, my host leans in close to a cup of Panama Geisha, inhaling deeply. "When it's hot, you'll find aromatic compounds like jasmine," she explains, guiding me through the tasting of Lamastus Estate's Elida Falda. The first whiff reveals candied ginger and warm spices like nutmeg.

Oct 11, 2024 | japantimes.co.jp | Melinda Joe

I'm supine on a padded mat as waves of sound wash over me. The vibrations of a gong reverberate through my chest, intertwining with the ethereal melodies of singing bowls, chimes and the gentle flutter of a rainstick. As the symphony of tones ebbs and flows, I feel the stress of a grueling week of work melting away. It's my first sound healing experience, one of the treatments available at the recently opened Six Senses Kyoto hotel.

Oct 8, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Melinda Joe

The sprawling new Azabudai Hills complex rises from Tokyo's skyline like a gleaming vision of the future. The most ambitious development project to date by mega-developers Mori Building, this "city within a city" was 30 years in the making and seeks to redefine urban living with a blend of luxury and convenience. In the central square, art installations by Takeshi Murakami punctuate meticulously landscaped greenery.