Author: Sébastien Duval

  • With Canadian Journalist Carla Bragagnini In Tokyo

    With Canadian Journalist Carla Bragagnini In Tokyo

    In Tokyo, I accompanied Canadian journalist Carla Bragagnini covering crafts in Asia, introducing her to a 435 y.o. shinise business, a World Expo award winner, Purveyors to the Imperial Household, a Hello Kitty partner, an antenna shop with vegan certifications… blessed with a blue sky and rows of cherry blossoms. These sustainable, resilient and surprising…

  • ミヨコ・シナー氏と共に日本でヴィーガンツアー成功!

    ミヨコ・シナー氏とともに初めての外国人ヴィーガン(菜食主義者)団体ツアーが茨城、高知などを巡り無事に終わりました。私はジャパントラベル㈱のガイドとして成田空港から伊丹空港までずっと一緒に過ごしました。 Blueskyで写真とショート動画をたくさんシェアしました(スレッド)。線香や醤油の工場見学、味噌や酒造りの体験、ヴィーガン寿司の料理教室、護摩たき供養、蓮根農家で食べ比べなどなど🙂

  • Voyage végétalien au Japon avec Miyoko Schinner

    Belle réussite de notre voyage végétalien au Japon avec l’activiste culinaire Miyoko Schinner ! Guide pour l’agence de voyages Japan Travel KK, j’ai accompagné le groupe de 22 américains durant tout le voyage de l’aéroport de Narita à l’aéroport d’Itami. Découvrez photos & vidéos dans mon fil sur Bluesky : repas, activités uniques…

  • Rotemburo — Outdoor Hot Springs In Japan

    I’m a big fan of rotemburo (露天風呂) outdoor hot springs in Japan, and warmly recommend them especially after hiking or cycling. Rotemburo views vary with: Some rotemburo are just “ponds in nature” but those part of facilities are typically partly roofed and thus suitable during rain & snow. In Kurokawa-onsen village, I even discovered an…

  • Winter In Japan

    Winter is wonderful in Japan; probably my favourite season here! It’s perfect for slow & rejuvenating baths in hot springs surrounded by snowy mountains, gathering with friends (+ random encounters) at seasonal bars, photos with huge statues at e.g. Sapporo Snow Festival, frozen lakes, the gravel-like sound of waves in partially-frozen seas… And for all…

  • Vegan Japan Tour — Guiding Now

    From 16 February to 01 March 2025, I’m guiding and interpreting for a vegan group across Japan. We explore the Japanese countryside (Ibaraki, Kochi, Wakayama prefectures) in addition to the usual current & past capitals (Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara). I’m excited to make Japan travel more inclusive, to connect Japanese producers to world gourmets (including an…

  • Kura Sushi — With Plant-Based Foods

    Surprisingly, the standard menu of Kura Sushi chain restaurants in Japan includes diverse plant-based sushi and desserts. We just savoured: Kura Sushi operates 543 restaurants in Japan. Its 61 restaurants in the USA and 56 in Taiwan have different menus. In the frame of the 2025 world expo in Osaka, Kura Sushi launched an Expo…

  • Expo 2025 World Cuisines — Everywhere In Japan!

    Today, world cuisines of 70 countries appeared at Kura Sushi chain restaurants all over Japan as part of a 2025 World Expo campaign. For practical reasons, each restaurant only features one world cuisine in addition to the standard menu. You’d currently have to eat at 70 restaurants to taste all the dishes… Still, that’s great…

  • Expo 2025 — See You There!

    Woohoo! I just got asked to work at a pavilion of Expo 2025, the world expo taking place in Osaka from 13 April to 13 October 2025 🎉 Like during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, I’ll be dispatched by my company Japan Travel KK. I’m so glad that I live in Japan, acquired successful customer…

  • Male Geisha Met In Tokyo

    The flurry of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) discussions following the start of the 2025 Trump presidency reminded me of my most surprising encounter in 20 years in Japan: a male geisha! Respect to him for overcoming stringent Japanese traditions, respect to his community for making it happen, and respect to Tricolage travel agency for…