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This is what happens when you plan a ski trip around moss season
Japan - Niseko, Kyoto, and Tokyo
We just got back from two weeks in Japan. Sometimes it was great, sometimes it wasn’t - which isn’t the rave review everyone wants to hear but that’s why we have influencers.
The Good
Even billionaires eat cheap ramen - Jensen Huang, the CEO of NVIDIA, walked out of a small, local ramen shop in Kyoto as we were near the front of the line. He looked at the line of mostly-locals from the top of the steps and said, “That was really great. Worth the wait.” Okay, Jensen. But hey - even a well-known billionaire couldn’t get into the Michelin spots and that’s worth celebrating. At least this one isn’t taking over our government (yet).
Brodism - Hip gardening meets slow-made Japanese workwear. Gabe left with 5 pairs of pants, and they’re Saquon Barkley-approved.
Coffee - You could focus an entire trip on the coffee and donut shops in Japan. Bird Coffee, Higuma Doughnuts, 8 Black Birds Cafe, Koffee Mameya, and the shops at the hostel (Nui and Len) were all great.
Truck Furniture - We went out of our way to go to this showroom in Osaka. In a world of awful millennial gray, hot sexy farmhouses, and cheap shit, Truck is almost more of a feeling than a furniture company. Whether that feeling is nostalgia or nausea after spending $6k on chair will vary.
Evening in Arashiyama - We wandered around without much of an agenda until sunset. We stopped in a few of the less-touristy temples, like Seiryōji Temple and Shokaku-ji Temple, which were pleasantly empty after the chaotic crowds in the bamboo grove. Even the Saga Toriimoto Preserved Street was totally dead in the evening.
Meiji Macadamia Chocolates and cultured butter.
There are more photos on ~1.5 other rolls of film but it’s going to take me a while to get to those.
Writing
Cincinnati Travel Guide - US News and World Report (won’t blame you if you skip this one)
Reading
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead - Olga Tokarczuk
On Freedom - Timothy Snyder
Follow me on Goodreads and join Meg in liking my 1-star ratings. The NYT “100 Notable Books of 2024” is just a long list of letdowns.
Heather recommended Story Graph over Goodreads (Amazon, y’know) so I’m in the process of importing my library there. TBD.
Hyping
Finally took my Moment Deathwish Tour skis out.
I still think double boa is just a money grab, but the K2 Cortex boots are surprisingly well-made for K2.
I don’t really understand why approach shoes are suddenly cool but I bought a pair of Keen Jaspers anyways.
