I know many of you love Japanese culture, and if you aren't able to travel to Japan this summer, I wanted to share a few of my favorite ways to bring a little of its beauty into your own days.

One of the things I love most about Japanese culture is that it doesn't have to be experienced only in Japan. Sometimes a quiet afternoon, a beautiful garden, or a cup of tea is enough to transport you.

Visit a Japanese Garden

If there's one place I'd encourage you to seek out, it's a Japanese garden.

There are so many beautiful ones throughout the country. If you're in Philadelphia, don't miss Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center. Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, Hakone Estate and Gardens is one of my favorites. If you're in Portland, be sure to visit the Portland Japanese Garden, often considered one of the finest Japanese gardens outside Japan.

And don't assume you have to live in a major city to find one.

Even my family's town of Fresno, California, has the remarkable Shinzen Japanese Garden. The first time I visited, I honestly expected to be underwhelmed. Instead, I found one of the most peaceful gardens I've experienced in the United States.

I also discovered something I never expected: an entire community of cowboys with a deep appreciation for bonsai. Who knew?

Sometimes the most meaningful discoveries happen in the places you least expect.

Summer Reading

There are two books I return to again and again during the warmer months.

The first is The Sound of Waves by Yukio Mishima. Set on a small fishing island, it's a simple, beautiful coming-of-age story filled with sea breezes, quiet romance, and the rhythms of coastal village life. Every time I read it, I feel as though I've escaped to a slower, gentler world.

The second is The Inland Sea by Donald Richie. Part memoir, part travel writing, it's a thoughtful portrait of Japan's Seto Inland Sea and the communities that surround it. Richie's observations are quiet and deeply human, making it one of those books you linger with rather than rush through.

I recently stumbled upon a wonderful gem on YouTube inspired by The Inland Sea. It isn't exactly a documentary or a drama. Rather, it's a beautifully narrated journey through the region accompanied by tranquil footage filmed decades ago. I believe it dates to the 1970s, so don't expect modern cinematography. What it does offer is something much rarer: stillness.

If you need an hour to simply unplug, pour yourself a glass of tea, or perhaps a chilled sake, settle into a comfortable chair, and let it carry you away.

Summer Beverages

As I mentioned above, chilled sake is always one of my favorite summer indulgences. There's something wonderfully crisp and calming about enjoying it on a warm evening.

I'm also partial to hojicha. Its roasted character makes it comforting whether served warm or over ice.

But my favorite summer drink is iced barley tea.

To me, it simply tastes like summer.

I usually add a squeeze of fresh lemon or a few thin lemon slices, and somehow that flavor becomes permanently tied to long, warm days. Every year, the first sip instantly brings summer back.

I'll link to my favorite source below. They produce exceptionally high-quality Japanese teas, and it's the one I return to again and again.
https://naturalimport.com/inc/sdetail/7293

Summer Cooking

If you love to cook at home, summer is a wonderful time to explore everyday Japanese cooking. While elaborate kaiseki meals certainly have their place, I find myself drawn to the simpler dishes that are enjoyed at home during the warmer months.

There are countless recipes for refreshing cold noodle salads that are perfect on hot days, and one cookbook I return to often is Japanese Farm Food by Nancy Singleton Hachisu. It's filled with fresh, seasonal recipes that celebrate simple ingredients and the quiet beauty of home cooking. Many of the dishes are surprisingly approachable once you have a few Japanese pantry staples on hand.

One recipe I make again and again is her chilled tofu with sesame and cauliflower. It's simple, nourishing, and somehow manages to become one of those dishes I crave every summer.

End the Day with a Warm Bath

As many of you know, I'm an enormous fan of warm-weather baths.

If you've never tried taking a warm bath on a summer evening, I can't recommend it enough. It may sound counterintuitive, but I find it to be one of the most restorative luxuries imaginable. It gently eases the body after a long day outdoors and leaves me feeling remarkably refreshed.

Rather than reaching for bath salts during the warmer months, I often add a little Hikaru Body Oil to the water instead. It disperses beautifully, feels lighter on the skin, and offers just the nourishment my skin appreciates after a day in the sun.

I hope you're enjoying every ounce of summer, sunshine, and the sense of freedom this beautiful season brings.

Warmest wishes,
Françoise