Kissaten Culture: Exploring Tokyo’s Vintage Coffee Shops

Tokyo’s kissaten offer a slow, nostalgic escape from the modern city—with strong brews, velvet booths, and Showa-era charm in every cup. Text and photos by CK Japan’s kissaten are more than just coffee shops; they are cultural artifacts, reflecting the nation’s complex history of Western influence and domestic reinvention. Born in the Meiji era (1868–1912), […]

France’s Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Uncorked: Sip, Hike and Savour

From the vineyards of Beaujolais to the trails of Alpe d’Huez and the kitchens of Lyon, France’s Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region is a destination for wine, food, and culture. By Leyna Poh In the southeast of France, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region offers a compelling cross-section of the country’s most defining pleasures – wine, cuisine and nature – each […]