Kohei Take
Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen’s new Supreme Class: Japan’s bullet train gets private cabins
After 60 years of speedy service, Japan’s bullet trains are being rerouted towards luxury – with new, hi-tech cabins aimed at passengers seeking privacy.
19 kitchen and tableware gifts for keen cooks and hospitable hosts
From hand-forged Japanese knives to mouth-blown French glassware and appliances that look as good as they work, here are 19 kitchen and tableware gifts to delight any keen cook or generous host.
Listen up! For cities to thrive, they need to sound as good as they look
Noise pollution in urban environments is on the rise but better acoustic planning could help to silence the issue.
Japan’s beloved FamilyMart reimagines the convenience store at its new Tokyo flagship
“Konbini” are ubiquitous in Japan but FamilyMart’s next-generation concept, Famima Park Azabudai, directed by Nigo, transforms the everyday retail category into a bold queue-worthy destination.
How Tokyo made it to the top of Monocle’s 2026 Quality of Life Survey
Our Tokyo bureau chief tells us about daily life in the calm, clean and ambitious Japanese capital.
Japan’s resort industry hits new heights at Nagano’s Karuizawa T-Site
The collaborative project between books giant Tsutaya and Mitsubishi Estate in the mountain resort of Karuizawa offers a template for rethinking premium rural retail and hospitality.
The collapsible electric Tatamel Bike is changing how cities can move
Tokyo-based start-up Icoma makes this electric two-wheeler that can be collapsed to the size of a suitcase. This Monocle Design Award winner shows that the best design solutions emerge from everyday frustrations.
Step into the revamped Yaeca Home Store – a Tokyo shop and café offering a chance to slow down
The latest bricks-and-mortar venture from Japanese brand Yaeca Home Store offers a retreat from the everyday, expanding its presence beyond a simple retail outlet.
Exploring Japan’s most original retailers: Six in-person concept stores with delightful offerings
We celebrate the businesses whose imaginative concepts are re-energising Japan’s in-person retail sector, from the small football hub with an original pitch to the cookware company that’s inviting customers into its kitchen.
The commute: Step aboard Takaoka’s city tram with Mayor Yuzuru Demachi
We join the mayor of the coastal Japanese city of Takaoka, Yuzuru Demachi, on his morning tram ride to city hall, which he uses as a daily opportunity to communicate with his constituents.
