editorial

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				<a href='https://staging.destinasian.com/hakone-autumn-leaves-traditional-ryokan-yukata-fire-pit-3/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1800" height="1200" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/hakone-autumn-leaves-traditional-ryokan-yukata-fire-pit-1.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full" alt="A serene autumn scene in Hakone, Japan, featuring a traveler in a traditional yukata sitting by an outdoor fire pit at a luxury ryokan, surrounded by brilliant red and orange maple leaves with mountain views in the background." srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/hakone-autumn-leaves-traditional-ryokan-yukata-fire-pit-1.jpg 1800w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/hakone-autumn-leaves-traditional-ryokan-yukata-fire-pit-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/hakone-autumn-leaves-traditional-ryokan-yukata-fire-pit-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/hakone-autumn-leaves-traditional-ryokan-yukata-fire-pit-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/hakone-autumn-leaves-traditional-ryokan-yukata-fire-pit-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/hakone-autumn-leaves-traditional-ryokan-yukata-fire-pit-1-1568x1045.jpg 1568w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px" style="width:100%;height:66.67%;max-width:1800px;" /></a>
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				<a href='https://staging.destinasian.com/hakone-autumn-shrine-torii-lake-ashi-foliage-3/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1800" height="1200" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/hakone-autumn-shrine-torii-lake-ashi-foliage-1.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full" alt="" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/hakone-autumn-shrine-torii-lake-ashi-foliage-1.jpg 1800w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/hakone-autumn-shrine-torii-lake-ashi-foliage-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/hakone-autumn-shrine-torii-lake-ashi-foliage-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/hakone-autumn-shrine-torii-lake-ashi-foliage-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/hakone-autumn-shrine-torii-lake-ashi-foliage-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/hakone-autumn-shrine-torii-lake-ashi-foliage-1-1568x1045.jpg 1568w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px" style="width:100%;height:66.67%;max-width:1800px;" /></a>
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				<a href='https://staging.destinasian.com/hakone-autumn-foliage-waterfall-natural-landscape-japan/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1800" height="1200" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/hakone-autumn-foliage-waterfall-natural-landscape-japan.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full" alt="A small, gentle waterfall flowing over dark rocks in Hakone, partially framed by vibrant orange and red autumn maple leaves in the foreground and lush green foliage." srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/hakone-autumn-foliage-waterfall-natural-landscape-japan.jpg 1800w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/hakone-autumn-foliage-waterfall-natural-landscape-japan-300x200.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/hakone-autumn-foliage-waterfall-natural-landscape-japan-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/hakone-autumn-foliage-waterfall-natural-landscape-japan-768x512.jpg 768w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/hakone-autumn-foliage-waterfall-natural-landscape-japan-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/hakone-autumn-foliage-waterfall-natural-landscape-japan-1568x1045.jpg 1568w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px" style="width:100%;height:66.67%;max-width:1800px;" /></a>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="dropcap">A</span>s the steam rose gently from the onsen, a single crimson maple leaf settled on the water, a fitting seasonal symbol of Hakone, famous for its vibrant fall foliage.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Just an hour from <a href="https://destinasian.com/travel-guide/japan/tokyo">Tokyo</a>, in the shadow of Mount Fuji, this mountain hamlet is lauded not just for its foliage but for its onsens. Here, time marches to a more relaxed beat. The feeling of serenity is intrinsic from the restorative waters to the impressive Hakone Shrine, its Torii lakeside gate a spiritual and photographic attraction, framed by the area&#8217;s legendary maples and enormous cedars.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There is a specific golden alchemy that takes place in Japan as fall settles. The light turns honeyed, the foliage ignites in shades of red and ochre, and the air carries a newfound crispness. In <a href="https://destinasian.com/travel-guide/japan/tokyo">Tokyo</a>, it feels as if the metropolis is finally exhaling the sweltering weight of summer, bracing itself for the quiet of winter. For the traveler, this is a season of reflection—a time to trade the frenetic pace of sightseeing for the restorative embrace of Japanese Zen culture.</span></p>
<figure id="attachment_151388" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-151388" style="width: 1800px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-151388 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/jw-marriott-tokyo-serene-space-meditation-room-takanawa-1.jpg" alt="A tranquil interior view of the Serene Space meditation room at JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo, featuring minimalist wooden walls, soft ambient lighting, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Tokyo city skyline." width="1800" height="1200" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/jw-marriott-tokyo-serene-space-meditation-room-takanawa-1.jpg 1800w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/jw-marriott-tokyo-serene-space-meditation-room-takanawa-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/jw-marriott-tokyo-serene-space-meditation-room-takanawa-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/jw-marriott-tokyo-serene-space-meditation-room-takanawa-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/jw-marriott-tokyo-serene-space-meditation-room-takanawa-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/jw-marriott-tokyo-serene-space-meditation-room-takanawa-1-1568x1045.jpg 1568w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-151388" class="wp-caption-text">A haven for reflection: The Serene Space on the 30th floor of JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo offers a dedicated sanctuary for meditation and quiet contemplation above the city&#8217;s kinetic energy.</figcaption></figure>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So it was fitting that I checked into the newly opened <a href="https://destinasian.com/tokyo-hotels-jw-marriott-tokyo">JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo</a> for a weekend of mindfulness, a respite from the neon-lit activity of the city, cocooned above the city’s soaring skyline, for a more intentional stay.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Located on the same floor as the expansive spa, the nine dedicated mindful rooms and suites are designed for quiet respite from the urban hum</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Dimmed lighting and a hushed, contemplative atmosphere add to the air of relaxation. Bounding children and noisy neighboring guests are not on the menu here.</span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-151390 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Sound-Healing-1.jpg" alt="Sound Healing" width="1800" height="1200" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While the architecture mirrors the hotel’s contemporary luxury, the </span><a href="https://www.marriott.com/offers/jw-mindful-room-off-199967/tyojw-jw-marriott-hotel-tokyo?DestinAsian"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mindful Rooms</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> are distinguished by a curated suite of amenities designed to ground the senses. A crystal singing bowl sits ready to resonate, offering a focal point for meditation. In-room yoga mats and weights allow for private movement, if the lure of the expertly equipped gym with its view of Mount Fuji is not enough of a lure.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Perhaps the most poignant touch is the television shrouded in darkness. In an age of digital noise, a cloth cover serves as a prompt to question whether you truly want to fill the void with mindless media.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This gesture also nods to deeper Japanese traditions; in Shinto beliefs, an unused or reflective surface is said to attract unwanted spiritual energy. Covering the screen offers a sense of protection and spiritual cleanliness, ensuring the space remains entirely yours.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Japan in particular lends itself to this mindfulness approach, particularly relevant in Tokyo, where an antidote to the fast pace is all about balance. But this is not a new idea, JW Marriott founder John Willard Marriott believed that caring for yourself is the foundation of caring for others, so it’s a fitting realization of his vision.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">From sound bath healing to yoga nidra, designed to reset the nervous system, and expert massages on heated beds, it doesn’t take long to return to a slower pace. For the dedicated student, each sunrise brings an opportunity to be more mindful and carve out time each day to work on inner peace.</span></p>
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				<a href='https://staging.destinasian.com/traditional-kintsugi-workshop-artisan-meditative-craft-japan/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1800" height="1200" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/traditional-kintsugi-workshop-artisan-meditative-craft-japan.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full" alt="Two people in traditional Japanese attire participating in a kintsugi workshop; an artisan in a dark patterned robe meticulously repairs a small ceramic piece while a student in a blue kimono works alongside him at a dark studio counter." aria-describedby="gallery-2-151396" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/traditional-kintsugi-workshop-artisan-meditative-craft-japan.jpg 1800w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/traditional-kintsugi-workshop-artisan-meditative-craft-japan-300x200.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/traditional-kintsugi-workshop-artisan-meditative-craft-japan-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/traditional-kintsugi-workshop-artisan-meditative-craft-japan-768x512.jpg 768w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/traditional-kintsugi-workshop-artisan-meditative-craft-japan-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/traditional-kintsugi-workshop-artisan-meditative-craft-japan-1568x1045.jpg 1568w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px" style="width:100%;height:66.67%;max-width:1800px;" /></a>
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				A traditional kintsugi workshop, where participants learn the slow and soulful art of repairing broken ceramics with gold.
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				<a href='https://staging.destinasian.com/kintsugi-workshop-display-japanese-craft-tools-materials/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1800" height="1200" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/kintsugi-workshop-display-japanese-craft-tools-materials.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full" alt="A curated display of Kintsugi materials featuring wooden trays with gold dust, fine brushes, small ceramic shards, and glass tiles used for practice." aria-describedby="gallery-2-151392" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/kintsugi-workshop-display-japanese-craft-tools-materials.jpg 1800w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/kintsugi-workshop-display-japanese-craft-tools-materials-300x200.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/kintsugi-workshop-display-japanese-craft-tools-materials-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/kintsugi-workshop-display-japanese-craft-tools-materials-768x512.jpg 768w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/kintsugi-workshop-display-japanese-craft-tools-materials-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/kintsugi-workshop-display-japanese-craft-tools-materials-1568x1045.jpg 1568w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px" style="width:100%;height:66.67%;max-width:1800px;" /></a>
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				A showcase of the tools and materials essential to the Kintsugi process, including gold powder, artisanal brushes, and ceramic fragments.
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				<a href='https://staging.destinasian.com/japanese-kintsugi-pottery-repair-gold-lacquer-wabi-sabi/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1800" height="1200" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/japanese-kintsugi-pottery-repair-gold-lacquer-wabi-sabi.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full" alt="A close-up of a ceramic bowl repaired using the Japanese kintsugi technique, featuring prominent gold-colored veins or seams that rejoin broken shards against a dark ceramic background." aria-describedby="gallery-2-151391" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/japanese-kintsugi-pottery-repair-gold-lacquer-wabi-sabi.jpg 1800w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/japanese-kintsugi-pottery-repair-gold-lacquer-wabi-sabi-300x200.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/japanese-kintsugi-pottery-repair-gold-lacquer-wabi-sabi-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/japanese-kintsugi-pottery-repair-gold-lacquer-wabi-sabi-768x512.jpg 768w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/japanese-kintsugi-pottery-repair-gold-lacquer-wabi-sabi-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/japanese-kintsugi-pottery-repair-gold-lacquer-wabi-sabi-1568x1045.jpg 1568w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px" style="width:100%;height:66.67%;max-width:1800px;" /></a>
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				Discover the beauty in imperfection with kintsugi, a centuries-old Japanese craft that uses gold-dusted lacquer to transform broken ceramics into unique works of art.
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				<a href='https://staging.destinasian.com/kintsugi-workshop-finished-pottery-group-display/'><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1800" height="1200" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/kintsugi-workshop-finished-pottery-group-display.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full" alt="An overhead shot of several people standing in a circle, each holding a small ceramic bowl or dish repaired with kintsugi gold and silver lacquer, showcasing various pottery styles and repaired fractures." aria-describedby="gallery-2-151393" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/kintsugi-workshop-finished-pottery-group-display.jpg 1800w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/kintsugi-workshop-finished-pottery-group-display-300x200.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/kintsugi-workshop-finished-pottery-group-display-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/kintsugi-workshop-finished-pottery-group-display-768x512.jpg 768w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/kintsugi-workshop-finished-pottery-group-display-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/kintsugi-workshop-finished-pottery-group-display-1568x1045.jpg 1568w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px" style="width:100%;height:66.67%;max-width:1800px;" /></a>
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				Celebrating imperfection together: Participants display their unique kintsugi creations, each piece telling a story of repair and renewal through golden joinery.
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With its calming rituals from kintsugi to tea ceremonies, Japan continues to call on its heritage to provide yesteryear peace amidst the modern frenetic pace, combining traditional with modern in a purposeful culture that will forever captivate.</span></p>


Two people in traditional Japanese attire participating in a kintsugi workshop; an artisan in a dark patterned robe meticulously repairs a small ceramic piece while a student in a blue kimono works alongside him at a dark studio counter.

Japan’s Season of Mindful Reflection