The excellent 2011 documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi, about 85-year-old sushi master and Michelin 3-star chef Jiro Ono, has many takeaway lessons. One that explicitly emerges, however, is the single-minded meticulousness of purpose that seems to drive Japanese artisanship and craftsmanship. It is a national and cultural sensibility that fetishises delicacy, refinement and the pursuit … More

Over 3,000 tonnes of fish pass through Tokyo’s Tsukiji Fish Market every day and to say it’s a sight to behold is putting it mildly. Arguably the world’s biggest wholesale fish market, the action begins at 5:00 a.m. with the live tuna auctions. It’s a forklift, gumboot and gesticulation laden spectacle to be sure – … More

From the stratovolcano landscapes of Sumatra to the kinetic streets of Singapore, beach bliss of the Maldives to UNESCO World Heritage temples, discover a dream itinerary to cure New Year’s wanderlust.

I start a new job in January that will involve a lot of travel: Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo, Dubai, Mumbai, London, New York. Name a big city and I will probably be there at some point. Aside from jet lag tips, do you have any advice on how to make the most of a good hotel … More

Animal parks are fun and, at their best and most honourable, educational and conservation-centric. Alas, while not always an easy-to-find mix in much of Asia (not to malign an entire continent), these ten zoological attractions make the grade.

Canny motorsports fans long for the taut drama that often shadows the Japanese Grand Prix. The F1 season is a slog, make no mistake about it, but more championships have come down to the wire at Suzuka than any other circuit over the last two decades. While South Korea, India, Abu Dhabi and Brazil now … More