SEEKING SPLENDOUR
Homes & Antiques|April 2023
For a taste of Japan’s rich cultural heritage, Sarah Riches returns to her former home to dine in temple restaurants and stay in traditional inns while on the hunt for antiques
Sarah Riches
SEEKING SPLENDOUR

From Buddhist temples to Shinto shrines and castles to historic homes, Japan is rich in national treasures. It's also home to riches ranging from hand-thrown pottery and lacquerware to ancient calligraphy scrolls and one-of-a-kind paintings depicting classical scenes of cherry blossom, koi-filled ponds, geishas and samurai culture. While you'll easily find these prized possessions on display in museums across the country, to buy them for yourself, you'll need to delve into markets and antiques shops - and you need to know where to look.

Tokyo

Tokyo has been inhabited since 300 BC, long before the first Europeans - Portuguese traders whose ship had blown off course - landed in Japan in 1543. Threatened by foreign influence, Japan's rulers imposed a 250-year-long period of isolation. During this time, the economy and arts flourished, as documented in Tokyo National Museum in Ueno Park, which provides comprehensive exhibitions ranging from Palaeolithic times to the samurai period and beyond.

If the museum offers a snapshot of the city's history, the park provides an overview of its culture, with museums dedicated to art and science. So while you need at least four days to explore Tokyo, if you're short on time, Ueno gives a taste.

Meander east to Asakusa, home of Tokyo's oldest temple, Sensō-ji. Dip beneath an enormous lantern to enter Nakamise, an alleyway flanked with stalls selling parasols, fans and ceramics.

Esta historia es de la edición April 2023 de Homes & Antiques.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición April 2023 de Homes & Antiques.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE HOMES & ANTIQUESVer todo
Lisa Coppin
Homes & Antiques

Lisa Coppin

The Cotswold Company’s chief creative officer shares the pieces that mean so much to her

time-read
2 minutos  |
December 2024
TRAVEL
Homes & Antiques

TRAVEL

Six of the best pineta, plus a festive trip to Covent Garden. Review of The Orange, Belgravia by Katie Pike, travel stories

time-read
2 minutos  |
December 2024
OLD SHEFFIELD PLATE
Homes & Antiques

OLD SHEFFIELD PLATE

Stumbled upon by chance, this ingenious material was a more affordable option than solid silver, and well-preserved examples are particularly desirable today

time-read
3 minutos  |
December 2024
Merrily on high
Homes & Antiques

Merrily on high

Summoning servants since the 1700s, bell boards create instant English country-house style (even if you don't have any servants). Emma Longstaff dons her pinny

time-read
3 minutos  |
December 2024
Let it snow
Homes & Antiques

Let it snow

Nostalgic, magical and highly collectable, snow globes are curious objects of wonder that never fail to instil joy

time-read
7 minutos  |
December 2024
Velvet Crush
Homes & Antiques

Velvet Crush

Once the preserve of the wealthy, velvet finally touched all levels of society, thanks to advances in its production process

time-read
3 minutos  |
December 2024
Celebrating in the Stable
Homes & Antiques

Celebrating in the Stable

Antiques dealer Julia von Hülsen specialises in Gustavian pieces - all of which look perfectly placed in her German home

time-read
2 minutos  |
December 2024
THE SHOW MUST GO ON
Homes & Antiques

THE SHOW MUST GO ON

Victorian toy theatres charming and exquisitely designed miniature worlds have inspired theatre royalty for decades. Today, the tradition is being kept alive by a small but talented network of makers

time-read
6 minutos  |
December 2024
NICHOLAS LEES
Homes & Antiques

NICHOLAS LEES

The ceramic artist talks to Dominique Corlett about new ways of working with clay and blurring the edges of solid objects

time-read
4 minutos  |
December 2024
Candy CHRISTMAS
Homes & Antiques

Candy CHRISTMAS

Pastel hues, vintage decorations and bowls of sweet treats: the festive run-up is gloriously joyful at Bettina Færgeman's historic Copenhagen apartment, where there's an emphasis on entertaining...

time-read
2 minutos  |
December 2024