Interview

Tokyo Travel Tips from Yukie, Blogger of Tokyo Mode Addict

Conversations with Locals

You would know Yukie Shaw from her UNIQLO/Rosebullet-esque getups and her blog Tokyo Mode Addict. This Singaporean-Japanese blogger has her roots in Japan and is a regular in Tokyo. Yukie talks about navigating the busy city, Tokyo’s best dry ramen, and a traditional teahouse you just can’t miss. 

Photo: Tokyo Mode Addict

What should travellers know about Tokyo before heading there?

Rely on google maps with your life when in Tokyo! The city’s train map is as crazy as the people are. It really is best to have mobile internet when commuting in Tokyo.

What do you feel defines Japanese cuisine?

I would describe Japanese cuisine as homely. Considering that I was raised by a Japanese mother, I know that sounds like I am tooting my own horn. But the people there are gentle with their flavours. And no matter where you eat, you can feel a sense of pride on a plate.

What is the one local dish you feel travellers can’t leave Tokyo without trying? 

Abura Soba! Hands down. It is basically a dry version of ramen, and better!

What about your favourite restaurants?

Omotesando is the best area to find Tokyo-style café food with its Japanese-Western menus. I really miss sitting in a pretty cafe and having things like negitoro-don or a loco moco with friends over lunch on a weekend. Some of my favourites are Bills, BOWLS Café and Madosh! Café. 

What is a typical Japanese breakfast for you? 

Grilled salmon, soup and white Japanese rice! And it doesn’t get any better.

Name one Japanese dining etiquette most travellers miss

Do not leave your chopsticks poked in to your rice! It resembles as joss sticks in Japan, even for a short while. If you need to put your chopsticks down, place them back on the rests or on top of your bowl.

Name one best kept secret of Tokyo

There is a quiet and quaint breakfast/tea house in the middle of Nakameguro, called Yakumo Saryo. By reservation only. 

Yakumo Saryo. Photo: Tokyo Mode Addict

Name your favourite local labels  

I do love young, modish brands like MURUA and The Dayz Tokyo.

Name some tourist traps travellers should avoid in Tokyo

Convenient stores. Try not to let them take all your money. 

What’s your favourite day trip to take from the city? 

I went on a drive to Lake Kawaguchi once with fellow blogger Andrea Chong, two hours away from the city. It was breathtaking!

Describe the perfect way to explore Tokyo

For me, it depends which season of visit. Japan’s obvious secrets glisten with her seasons. My favourite time in Tokyo is Christmas. Some of my must-dos are shopping around Ginza or Shibuya, going to restaurant that serves fresh winter produce, and taking a long night walk at illumination spots in Tokyo. 

 

WHERE TO EAT IN TOKYO


Aruba Soba
Where: 3-10-20 Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo Prefecture
For: Dry soba noodles 

Yakumo Saryo
Where: 3-4-7 Yakumo, Meguro 152-0023, Tokyo Prefecture
For: Breakfast

Bills
Where: 4-30-3 Jingumae, Shibuya 150-0001, Tokyo Prefecture
For: Fluffy pancakes

BOWLS Café
Where: 2-5-16 Shinjuku, Shinjuku 160-0022, Tokyo Prefecture
For: Donburis

Madosh! Café
Where: 5-28-7 Jingumae, Shibuya 150-0001, Tokyo Prefecture
For: Avocado dishes
 

WHERE TO GO IN TOKYO


MURUA
Where: TOKYO Solamachi, 1 Chome-1-2 Oshiage, Sumida, Tokyo 131-0045 Japan
For: Shopping

 

The Dayz Tokyo
Where: 〒150-0042 Tōkyō-to, Shibuya-ku, Udagawachō, 16−16
For: Shopping

 

Omotesando
Where: Jingumae, Shibuya 150-0001, Tokyo Prefecture
For: Tokyo-style cafés

Umbria Travel Tips from Paolo Villani, Italian Blogger

Conversations with Locals

Umbria, Italy’s Green Heart, is fast becoming Tuscany’s rival for its lush rolling hills and medieval towns. Gubbio-based blogger Paolo Villani shares his favourite hiking trail in Umbria, the villages to go, and where to find the world’s largest Christmas tree. 

Photo: Paolo Villani 

What should travellers know about Umbria before heading there?

Before coming to Umbria, you should know that it is the paradise of medieval villages. To enjoy it, equip yourself with sneakers and get ready for some good food!

What are some local dishes you feel travellers can’t leave Umbria without trying? 

There are so many local dishes that you absolutely must taste in Umbria, such as cappelletti, which is a closed pasta stuffed with minced meat. It’s a delicacy! Also, do not miss the friccò di pollo con crescia, which is chicken in tomato sauce with bread.

What about your favourite restaurants?

One of my favourite restaurants is here in my city, Gubbio. I’m talking about the restaurant Contessa, where you can taste all the Umbrian specialties without spending too much.

Photo: Paolo Villani

Name one best kept secret of Umbria

Umbria is beautiful, but if you want to admire it in all its glory, you have to go up! I intend to go hiking in the mountains and enjoy the great valleys that contain several small villages. 

What are your favourite hiking trails? 

Gubbio is famous for having the largest Christmas tree in the world, which covers the whole of Mountain Ingino. You can find the best path right here. Once you reach the Basilica of Saint Ubaldo at the top of the mountain, you can take a path that will take you up to the fortress, located at the highest point of the mountain. In winter, the star of the tree is mounted there.

We heard that Umbria is famous for its wines. Where do you go for this?  

My favourite place is located in the city of Gualdo Tadino, a few minutes from Gubbio. It’s called Vineria dei Re.

What about your favourite hilltop towns? 

My favourite Umbrian town are the safe bets – Gubbio, Spello, Assisi, Perugia, and all the villages surrounding Lake Trasimeno. They are a wonder to behold! 

Spello. Photo: Paolo Villani

Photo: Paolo Villani

Umbria is often being compared to Tuscany. What are the biggest differences between these two regions?

They are compared because they are very similar. The biggest differences are the dialect, the food, but otherwise – they are very much alike. Maybe in Umbria, there are more medieval villages. 

Where can we go to see your favourite view of Umbria?

I could never say where my favourite view is, because in Umbria, there are so many. I could tell you about the Carducci Gardens of Perugia, Spello’s alleys, the Church of San Francesco in Assisi, or the Palazzo dei Consoli in Gubbio. The views are wonderful in all these places. 

Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi. Photo: Paolo Villani

WHERE TO EAT IN UMBRIA


Ristorante Contessa
Where: Strada Contessa, 6, 06024 Gubbio PG, Italy
For: Umbrian specialties 

Vineria dei Re
Where: Via Camillo Benso Conte di Cavour, 15B, 06024 Gubbio PG, Italy
For: Wine

WHERE TO GO IN UMBRIA


Mount Ingino
Where: Via della Piaggiola, 06024 Gubbio PG, Italy
For: The world’s largest Christmas tree

Carducci Gardens
Where: Corso Pietro Vannucci, 06121 Perugia, Italy
For: A view of Perugia

 

Spello
Where: Spello, 06038 Province of Perugia, Italy
For: A charming hilltop town

Marche Travel Tips from Andrea Sopranzi, Italian Graphic Designer

Conversations with Locals

Graphic designer Andrea Sopranzi hails from Marche, an under-the-radar Italian region with no lack of Renaissance towns and mountain ranges. Andrea reveals where to get Marche’s favourite salami, the place to see sunsets and sunrises over the sea, and the winery to go for Rosso Conero wines. 

Photo: Andrea Sopranzi

What do you feel defines the cuisine in Marche?

Tradition, love, taste and colour. Marche food, just like the region itself, is varied and delicious! It produces a varied and seasonal cuisine and truly distinctive wines.

Is there a particular winery that you like? 

There is a very special winery in Ancona called Cantine Moroder. The location is pretty suggestive, it is located in the middle of the hills of the region and they produce one of the most famous wine of Marche – the Rosso Conero. 

What makes the Rosso Conero wine so unique? 

This red wine takes its name from Monte Conero. The conditions here are special – the coast is near and being close to the sea gives a milder climate. Temperatures are not so high and the soil is calcareous. It has a deep red colour, intense aromas and flavours of black cherries intertwined with Mediterranean herbs and firm tannins.

Photo: Andrea Sopranzi

What is the one local dish you feel travellers can’t leave Marche without trying? 

I would say ciauscolo, which is a variety of Italian salami. It is very soft and can be spread on bread, with a tasty slice of cheese. Delicious!

Where should we look for ciauscolo? 

I would recommend Azienda Agricola di Maggi e Vecchioni in Serrapetrona. 

Where do you love to eat in the region?

Just to name a few, Le Clarisse in Sarnano, Osteria dalla Peppa in Fano, Ragno D’Oro in Urbino, and Casa Tintoria in Urbania. There are so many good restaurants in my region, especially in the hinterland, hidden in beautiful little villages! 

Ancona. Photo: Andrea Sopranzi

Name one best kept secret of Marche 

Definitely not a secret… But many people do not know that in some cities of Marche’s coast, you can see both the sunset and the sunrise over the sea! You can always see the sunrise over the sea in every city of the coast. But if you visit Baia Flaminia in Pesaro or the Cathedral of San Ciriaco in Ancona, you can also enjoy a beautiful sunset over the sea! 

What about the perfect itinerary to explore the region? 

Marche is a vast and diverse region. I would recommend a visit to the National Park of Sibillini Mountains, and then move to the coast and admire the Monte Conero and the beautiful surrounding beaches. Going to the north, there are many villages in the hinterland to see: one of my favourites is Urbino, a place rich in culture, history and good food – a cradle of the Italian Renaissance. 

Monte Conero. Photo: Andrea Sopranzi

Urbino. Photo: Andrea Sopranzi

Where can we go to see your favourite view of Marche?

Before arriving in Mezzavalle, a beach near Ancona, you can admire the Monte Conero and the surrounding sea. A breathtaking view which, every time, leaves me speechless!

WHERE TO EAT IN MARCHE


Le Clarisse
Area: Sarnano
Where: Via Mazzini, 240, 62028 Sarnano MC, Italy
For: Red wine pasta

Osteria dalla Peppa
Area: Fano
Where: Via Vecchia, 8, 61032 Fano, Province of Pesaro and Urbino, Italy
For: Handmade pastas

Ragno D’Oro
Area: Urbino
Where: Viale Don Giovanni Minzoni, 2/4, 61029 Urbino PU, Italy
For: Pizzas

Casa Tintoria
Area: Urbania
Where: Via Porta Mulino 4 Urbania – 61049 (PU)
For: Dining in a garden

WHERE TO GO IN MARCHE


Cantine Moroder
Area: Ancona
Where: Via Montacuto, 121 60129 Ancona (AN)
For: Wineries

Urbino
Where: Urbino, Province of Pesaro and Urbino, Italy
For: An Italian Renaissance town

Sibillini Mountains
Where: Sibillini Mountains, 63088 Montemonaco, Province of Ascoli Piceno, Italy
For: Mountain views

Azienda Agricola di Maggi e Vecchioni
Where: Località Case Sparse Borgiano, 10, 62020 Serrapetrona MC, Italy
For: Ciauscolo salami