Do What You Love

Housed in an old bath house in the north of the Nishijin textile district, Cafe Sarasa oozes character. The old wash taps remain on the walls, which still bear glossy mosaics from a time when they would be splashed daily.

The Imperial Palace gardeners have brilliantly designed the garden so there is always something in bloom. These late summer flowers made me smile as I took a final stroll through the grounds…

The Japanese word for brush calligraphy – shodo – literally means ‘the way of writing’, which I think perfectly captures the essence of it.

When I went to the kimono design studio to work on my noren curtain (more on that soon), I was not expecting to have a geisha come in for a spot of shopping…

I am thrilled to share this interview with a warm and generous soul who has inspired me for some time. A fellow retreat organiser, Ali DeJohn started The Makerie in her hometown to give people the gift of uninterrupted creative time shared with a loving community that is often hard to carve out of our everyday lives. Aliread more >>

Although we have just left Japan, I still have a lot of adventures to share with you here on the blog so I will continue to share these over the next few weeks, starting with Ohara…

Do you ever go into a particular cafe and feel all the tension leaving your shoulders as you give a sigh of happy comfort? That is how I feel when I go into Sagano-yu cafe in Arashiyama, a beautifully restored old Japanese bath house which is now a cafe and shop.

It has been amazing. There are so many people and places to thank for making it such a special experience. Here are just a few of them.

Any bold move, big change or great adventure requires a sacrifice of some kind. This is true in business, life and travel. It’s simple economics – every choice you make has an opportunity cost. Every dollar you spend on a plane ticket is a dollar you can’t spend somewhere else. And the bigger the challenge,read more >>

When I look back on my time in Kyoto, one of my fond memories will be of time spent wandering around the cities many tiny shops. There is something very special about the way in which Japanese people lay out their spaces, present products, and create an experience for guests (which is what you feelread more >>

This little place – Amuca - is tucked away on Kamidachiuri, just West of Karasuma-dori. I go for the arched windows, big table, tiny handmade goods and great coffee, but the lovely owners also sell donuts, have racks of magazines and like to chat.

Six months. 180 days. Half a year. It seemed like such a long time back then. Now it is hard to believe our Japan adventure is nearly over. As we pack up our things, empty our flat, fold up our memories and tuck away our plans, we head out, hand in hand, for a new adventure.

It’s hard to imagine I’ll be touching down in London a week today. While I run around soaking up the last days in Kyoto, I can’t helping thinking of some of the things I am looking forward to when I get back (in no particular order):

  What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘Japan’?

Next to the river, on a bench, staring up at the sky,

*** Today’s *shared story* comes from Carrie Schmitt in Seattle, USA, who shares how a life threatening allergy forced her to do what she loves ***

“I was stuck in my comfort zone, every new thing was not welcome, scary and I just didn’t embrace it at all… but I did it with the help of this amazing course, I stepped out and learned how to be bold and brave… and my small steps out of my comfort zone have made me feel soread more >>

Nijo Castle – an inspiring way to start the day Here in Japan I don’t really have a schedule. The days are wide open, and each morning I sit down and work out how to spend the precious hours of the day ahead. Now we are more than half way through our adventure this timeread more >>

“Aside from being the best e-course as far as content and presentation that I have ever taken, the Bloom True course was a roller coaster ride of elation, trepidation, sheer bliss and honest fun!” Marian Ostrowski More wonderful paintings from the June class of Bloom True… Find out more and join us for the nextread more >>

Arriving in Tokyo back in March without much of a plan I like to think of myself as a very organised person. I love lists, notebooks, getting things in order. But that is only one part of my personality. Another part – the bohemian wandering part – has no interest whatsoever in being organised. Andread more >>