A Brazilian Jabuticaba tree branches elegantly from a square-based planter, taking centre stage in the minimalist Ito-Biyori café in Osaka. Utilising a warm palette of oak and Southern Japanese Hemlock, the interiors, by local architect Yasuo Imazu of Ninkipen Studio are earthy and stripped-down, reflecting the clean, organic and seasonal food on the menu. A large, circular mirror in the centre of a wall breaks up the space’s straight edges while Wishbone chairs by Danish furniture designer Hans J. Wegner suggests and undertone of comfort to the otherwise deceptively simple room. Sliding window panels connect the cafe’s interior to the patio outside, a former parking lot converted into a garden by designer Akemi Hatta, allowing guests to enjoy homemade pastries and cakes with a side of nature.
ADDRESS
Chome-27-6
Midorigaoka 1
Toyonaka-shi
Osaka 560-0002
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Ralph Steadman has worked with everyone from Hunter S. Thompson to Travis Scott and Quavo – now, the Gonzo illustrator is celebrated in LondonA new exhibition provides a rare opportunity to experience the inimitable work and creativity of Gonzo illustrator Ralph Steadman up close. Just don’t call it a ‘style’.
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The artistry of Japanese wineFine wine from Japan may not yet register highly on the radars of most oenophiles, but for those who know, it's a hugely rewarding and rich tapestry of flavour. Drinks expert, Neil Ridley visits London's Luna Omakase for the launch of a new dedicated Japanese wine pairing menu
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Will the revamped Park Hyatt Tokyo keep its cinematic soul?As Park Hyatt Tokyo prepares to reopen after an extensive transformation, film fans wonder: will it still evoke Sofia Coppola’s dreamscape?
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Stay at Patina Osaka for a dose of ‘transformative luxury’ in western JapanFrom nature-inspired interiors to sound-tracked cocktails and an unusually green setting, Patina Osaka is a contemporary urban escape that sets itself apart
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Tune into the rhythm of Tokyo’s most ambitious record shopVinyl Delivery Service in east Tokyo’s Skwat Kameari Art Centre is spinning a new narrative for the traditional record store model
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Wallpaper* checks in at Waldorf Astoria Osaka‘It’s rare to work on a brand new hotel of this scale in Japan in today’s landscape,’ says designer Andre Fu about Osaka’s newest luxury hotel. Wallpaper* paid it an early visit
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A new book captures the kitschy allure of Japanese ‘love hotels’For his latest project, French photographer François Prost documents the whimsical façades that characterise these erotic roadside venues.
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Wallpaper* checks in at Hoshino Resorts KAI Akiu: a soothing onsen hotelIn Japan’s bucolic northeast, Hoshino Resorts KAI Akiu breathes new life into a sleepy hot spring village without betraying its ancient roots
