Located in a tranquil riverside neighborhood at the heart of Kyoto, GENJI Kyoto is a contemporary interpretation of Machiya townhouses, marrying traditional concepts with modern amenities. Inspired by the Japanese masterpiece Tale of Genji, the story of which took place in the vicinity, the hotel’s designers took motifs from the novel to create a wabi sabi world of beauty and harmony.

The Trunk Hotel Yoyogi Park boasts an exposed raw concrete facade, a collaborative creation of Japanese studio Keiji Ashizawa Design and Danish firm Norm Architects. This boutique hotel, the third installment in the Tokyo-based Trunk hotel trio, embraces the concept of “urban recharge,” seeking harmony between tradition and modernity, nature and the city, and the fusion of Japanese and European craftsmanship.

From Salzburg to Tokyo, Edwina Hörl unites fashion, art, and culinary culture into a concept that understands clothing as a social and cultural intervention. Her collection “listen to the soup” reflects this philosophy – while also pointing to her life beyond fashion: running her late husband’s ramen bar in Tokyo.

Like a pebble in the hand, the sleek, light-colored box with a single button feels both simple and refined. It opens up to reveal two ergonomically shaped pieces, securely held in place by magnets. But this innovation isn’t meant for your ears, as one might assume; it’s designed for the area underneath your eyes. What at first glance resembles Apple’s wireless earbuds are, in fact, high-tech eye pads from Temprastones: a piece of design artistry, honored with the European Design Awards and poised to become a favorite beauty gadget for eye care.

With over 35 years at the forefront of fashion, UNDERCOVER fuses the raw power of punk culture with avant-garde aesthetics and masterful craftsmanship. At the heart of it all is Jun Takahashi – a designer whose creative philosophy, “making art, not clothes,” defines the brand’s USP: clothing as a visual and cultural signal – a pleasant noise in everyday life.