Today, I wrote three new articles for this blog.
This diary page is a place where I can write freely, just as thoughts come to me. That is why I want to always write my honest feelings and true thoughts here, without pretending.
First, the article I wrote this morning was about the wonder of staying at a countryside ryokan (traditional Japanese inn)—something I have experienced many times myself. I often travel to quiet country towns to stay at hot spring inns, taking it easy and sometimes staying for several weeks at a time. Living in the city, I value keeping a cool head and working very hard. But spending time in a quiet countryside inn, soaking in the hot springs, and eating simple, delicious local food always helps me return to my true, honest self. I wrote that article straight from my heart, hoping to share those warm feelings and offer something truly helpful about how to spend peaceful days at an onsen town in Japan.
You can read that morning story here: Quiet Luxury Travel: The Exquisite Time of Staying at a Historic Ryokan (Traditional Japanese Inn) in an Old Japanese Onsen Town.
After finishing that article, I took some time to relax and went out to see the sea.
At first, it was very cloudy, and a heavy fog hung over the air. Right now, I am visiting Okinawa, a southern island in Japan. It is far away even from Kyushu, and the climate is very close to tropical. In June, local markets are filled with sweet mangoes and lots of colorful tropical fruits.
The air here is often very humid. On cloudy days like today, the humidity can reach 90 percent. It was hot, and the heavy dampness was everywhere. Even so, standing there and watching the sea quietly made my feelings feel so completely natural and calm again. As always, I just relaxed, sipping my favorite matcha latte by the water.
On the drive home, I felt completely refreshed. I decided that I wanted to write another matcha article in the afternoon. I wondered what kind of story would be good, and I thought it would be best to write something genuinely helpful for beginners—an easy guide on how to make your own matcha to carry outside.
This is something I do every single day, so I really wanted to share it first. In the morning, I quickly whisk a matcha latte in an everyday travel mug, chill it nicely, and pop it into my bag. It has a completely airtight lid, so I never have to worry about spills. I always carry it with me when going out. I wrote about that simple routine, the exact way to make it, and how I quietly enjoy this kind of life. I feel it turned into a really lovely, grounded post.
Once that was done, I started wondering what a beginner would want to know next. I sat down with my notebook and began writing down ideas. I wrote down about 50 different thoughts, and finally, my direction became clear.
I realized that what people new to tea truly want to understand are the cultivars—the quality, the distinct varieties, and just how delicious they can taste when you bring them home.
Once I sat down to write it, it took a full three hours. I worked on it with all my care. To make sure I didn’t miss anything important, I read through many Japanese tea resources and articles, noting down things I remembered and new details I learned. I also remembered the times I traveled to tea fields in Shizuoka for my writing. Looking back at the photographs in my personal album, I remembered the exact feelings of those days—the dedicated farmers, the local shops making traditional sweets with fresh green tea, and the kind words of the gentle woman who helped me at the tea shop.
As I poured my whole heart into writing, those three hours flew by. Before I knew it, the clock had already passed one in the morning.
Even so, I feel deeply content having finished it. I truly believe I wrote a wonderful guide, and I hope with all my heart that it helps someone somewhere in the world.
At the end of the day, I believe a life that is warm, cozy, calm, and gentle is the very best kind of life. I always want to be surrounded by gentle, peaceful hours and keep kind, meaningful things around me. That is the kind of home I want to build with this blog.
I hope I can write another good story tomorrow. I am sure good inspiration will come again, and I will be able to write something that helps someone else. I want to make tomorrow another good, gentle day.
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