Selena Hoy

Chasing powder? Check out these spots for your snowy getaway in Japan.
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Fluffy powder, hot springs, and cold sake — if that sounds like a good day on the mountain, then Japan is a perfect ski destination for you. The country is ridged with volcanic mountain ranges, and its latitude and weather patterns mean it's blessed with plenty of fine, dry powder — and the ski resorts to go with it.
The season runs from December to April or possibly beyond,...

A longtime Tokyo resident shares her tips for 7 of the city’s best museums.

Sure, I’ve lived in Tokyo for more than 15 years, but I'll never run out of museums to check out here. The city's museums have almost every theme and subject covered, from contemporary art to anime to history to eye-popping digital works. And while there’s no shortage of fancy, multi-story galleries worth visiting, I also love the tiny ones showcasing niche obsessions.
But bef...

Using Story Circles, Art, and Play to Support Children’s Responses to Stress and Trauma

This flavorful soup—made with alkaline wheat noodles, a rich broth, and a seasoning sauce known as tare (plus a variety of toppings)—has quickly become one of the country’s most famous foods. Ramen can be eaten as a quick lunch, a satisfying supper, or a late-night snack, and there are a variety of ramen shops in every part of the city. Tokyo’s signature style is flavored with a soy sauce (shoyu) tare, but look around the city, and you’ll also find versions from pretty much every other part o...

Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines are everywhere in Japan. Selena Hoy reveals her pick of 9 deservedly famous holy structures you have to see for yourself.
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Shrines and temples are an integral part of Japan’s history and culture and visiting them is a wonderful way to understand important aspects of Japan. Even for Japanese people who aren’t overtly religious, Shinto and Buddhism are woven into everyday life, and influence aesthetics, diet, holidays, rituals, and celebrations. For me,...

Where to eat in Fukuokua, Japan, for Cathay, Cathay Pacific Airways' inflight magazine.

Kimpton Shinjuku: Relaxed, Contemporary, Stylish
The Kimpton Shinjuku opened its doors in 2022 and brings a contemporary, stylish offering to Tokyo’s hotel scene. District, where afternoon tea is served, has a relaxed vibe, including a breezy balcony with rattan furniture.. Rather than including savories in the presentation, guests are given a salad starter and invited to choose a main dish from a brunch/lunch menu as an alternative to the usual mini quiches and cucumber sandwiches, before th...

It’s cliché to say you could spend forever in Japan and not get bored. What I will say is that two weeks in Japan will never feel like enough, but makes for a great introduction to this endlessly fascinating country. Using the Japan Rail pass, you can take in the lights and buzz of Tokyo before experiencing the country’s rich local culture.
This two-week Japan itinerary takes you on a round-trip from Japan’s delightfully disorienting capital, whisking you from castle towns in the north to the...

In modern Japan, tea is a cornerstone of society. It’s part of the daily routine, enjoyed at mealtimes, break times, and after dinner, and served to guests. In cafeterias and business hotels, it’s often complimentary, while coffee is nowhere to be found. Beyond casual consumption, tea is often part of more formal, ritualized routines. It’s offered to the dead on the altar, given as a seasonal gift, and studied as an art.
Japan has a long history with consuming tea. | Photo Credit: Beykov Maks...

Japanese convenience store culture
Japanese convenience stores may have been born in the United States (two of the three biggest chains in Japan, 7-11 and Lawson, are originally from the US), but they came into their own in Japan. While convenience stores in the US are known mostly for beef jerky, Red Bull, and not much else, konbini in Japan are actually convenient, offering a wide array of products and services for only a slight premium over what they might cost in bigger, less convenient s...

Though convenience stores, or conbini, might be the realm of overpriced candy and tired sandwiches back home—depending where you’re from, that is—conbini in Japan are actually convenient. You’ll find loads of fresh, cheap food, ATMs, copy machines, freshly ground coffee, package delivery service, and much more. 7-11, Lawson, Family Mart, Mini Stop: each chain has its devotees. With so many treats to discover, you’ll soon find your favorite.
Do wear good socks and slip-on shoes
When you're in ...

Don't forget to pack your camera.
Japan is renowned for its delicate cherry blossoms and mesmerizing bamboo forests, but that’s only the beginning of the country's charms. From the snowy wilderness of Hokkaido to the tropical forests of Okinawa, Japan has enough natural wonders to keep you in awe. Come explore some of the most stunning places across the country’s 47 prefectures.

Now that Japan is open to tourism after more than two years, visiting skiers and snowboarders will find updated ski resorts and brand-new properties. Japan local Selena gives you the scoop on what’s new and shares her picks for the best places to ski in Japan.
Living in Tokyo, I’m never too far from a snow-laden mountain. Options abound for powder hounds in the archipelago, ranging from day trips from the capital to more remote areas that have enough to explore over a long weekend or more.
Ja...

Walking into the Reversible Destiny Lofts in suburban Mitaka, Tokyo, is a disorienting experience. Next door to a McDonald’s and some uniform beige apartment buildings, the complex appears as a sudden burst of colors and shapes, improbably stacked three stories high. It looks like a pile of children’s blocks writ large. Inside each loft, where you must proceed sock-footed, the floor is pitched, bumpy and undulating. A sunken kitchen stands at the center of the circular space, a hammock hanging