Fiona Wilson
Despite its enormous scale, Tokyo remains a city where good manners thrive
Depending on how you count it, Tokyo is a city of nine million (the central 23 wards), 14 million (Tokyo Metropolis) or 37 million (the Greater Tokyo Area). A densely populated urban area of…
A shore cure for urban fatigue: How Sydney, New York and Kobe are rethinking their waterfronts
A fish market revelling in theatrics, an amphitheatre-inspired hill uniting the sea and mountains, and a park acting as a flood defence. Smartly designed spaces are bringing people back to the water.
Japan’s resort industry hits new heights at Nagano’s Karuizawa T-Site
The collaborative project between books giant Tsutaya and Mitsubishi Estate in the mountain resort of Karuizawa offers a template for rethinking premium rural retail and hospitality.
Nine highlights from Salone del Mobile 2026 and the rest of Milan Design Week
This year’s Milan Design Week was buzzing with optimism despite the challenges facing the sector. We toured the city’s halls and stalls to glean the insights on the opportunities in the industry today.
Meet the Japanese-Italian collaborators who treat furniture as an ‘expanding landscape of daily life’
The rather attractive partnership between Design Studio S and Flexform connects Italian industrial production and traditional Japanese craftsmanship to make covetable products for the home.
Culture in bloom: Three museums to visit in Tokyo this spring
The Edo-Tokyo Museum, Mon Takanawa and Nonlecture books/arts all feature exhibitions worth exploring this spring.
Three exceptionally stylish people on the art of dressing well
Atsushi Hasegawa, Maria Lemos and Hirofumi Kurino on creating a personal style and choosing clothing that lasts a lifetime.
Minimalism but make it meticulous: Eight Japanese fashion labels to know and love
Auralee, Kaptian Sunshine, Setchu and Sans Limite are among the brands on Monocle’s shopping list.
The Monocle Design Awards 2026: The best homeware and equipment
The year’s most ingenious tools and objects, designed to enhance your everyday living.
Hoshino Resort’s OMO7 Yokohama hotel gives new life to the former city hall
A new hotel in Yokohama’s former city-hall complex makes striking use of its spacious building designed by celebrated architect Togo Murano, preserving an old-school charm rarely found in contemporary builds.
