Melinda Joe
Contributing Writer
Contributing Writer
Melinda Joe is an American journalist based in Tokyo, Japan. Her food writing has appeared in publications such as Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, and Departures Magazine and has been translated into four languages. She writes about Japanese drinks in her column for The Japan Times, "Kanpai Culture." A certified sake and wine specialist, she is a panel chair for the sake division at London’s International Wine Challenge.
Japan Has Reopened for Tourism—Here's What to Know for Your Next Visit, from Visa Requirements to New Hotels
The latest in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hokkaido, and the southern paradise of Okinawa.
26 Best Things to Do in Tokyo
How to let the wonderful, sometimes frenetic, energy of the city take over.
teamLab Planets
An endlessly Instagrammable, sumptuous, and surreal collection of art installations.
Kuge Crafts
A ceramics studio specializing in kintsugi, the traditional technique of mending pottery with lacquer sprinkled with gold dust.
Azuki to Kouri
Japanese shaved ice taken to new, delicious heights of refinement.
Kyu Asakura House
If you need a break from the urban intensity of the Japanese capital, this former government residence is the place.
Sakurai Tea Experience
A minimalist sanctuary dedicated to sado, the Japanese “way of tea.”
The 23 Best Sushi Restaurants in Tokyo, from Michelin Star Omakase to Conveyer Belt Bars
Our recommendations for where to eat in the birthplace of sushi.
Udatsu
And art-filled sushi spot tucked into a quiet residential pocket of Nakameguro.
Sukiyabashi Jiro
Famously stern Jiro Ono spent decades of trial and error developing the techniques to create the perfect balance of rice and fish.
Sushi Kokoro
A sushi hideaway where the chef equates preparing raw fish and rice to performing a live show.