Inside the Symphonic Sculpture by Gabriel Loire at the Hakone Open Air Museum (彫刻の森 in Japanese) in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The museum opened in 1969 as the first open-air art museum in Japan. The spectacular grounds set against the backdrop of Mt. Fuji are the permanent home for hundreds of works by well-known modern and contemporary sculptors and artists, including Picasso. Rodin, Bourdelle, Miro and Moore. There is also a series of installations where children can play, a footbath fed by natural hot springs, and a variety of other facilities including restaurants and shops.

I left tropical Southeast Asia for Japan in the dead of winter for one reason - to see snow monkeys. I'd always seen pictures like the one above, of zen macaques in steaming hot springs surrounded by snow, and had no idea how accessible they were but was determined to find them. Turns out, it's just an hour bullet train to Nagano from Tokyo, and then another train to Yudanaka, a sleepy winter wonderland offering onsen galore... and the Jigokudani Snow Monkey park! A morning encounter with these primates, the only ones other than humans known to thrive in a snowy environment, is not to be missed. While the adults soak in the springs, appearing to follow a strict code of conduct surrounding this activity - much like their local human counterparts do! - the mischievous youngsters practice acrobatics and start snowball fights.

Rokurinsha’s original shop was in the suburbs of Tokyo, a considerable hike from the nearest train station, and patrons still waited for over three hours for a bowl of soup. Neighbors complained, and when the store was given a chance to open up on the Tokyo Ramen Street, a collection ramen shops in Japan in the basement of Tokyo Station, Rokurinsha closed their suburban location and moved in. Customers still brave massive lines to taste their tsukemen style ramen, where the noodles are served separately from the soup. The thick, saucelike broth has deep pork and roasted fish flavors, and the noodles are thick and chewy—perfect for soaking up the soup. Tokyo Ichiban-gai B1, 1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku. Photo by Hirotomo/Flickr.

For the best yakitori I go to Toritama in Ebisu. They specialize in rarely served, unique parts of the chicken. There’s one dish in particular, a premature egg that’s still connected to ovaries, which they grill. —David Myers Photo by Marina Oliphant/Fairfax Media. This appeared in the May 2013 issue.

The museum was built to house the private collection of a railroad company mogul. Works by the Buddhist artist Ogata Kōrin are on display in April and May. —Kashiwa Sato 6-5-1 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, 81/(0) 3-3400-2536. Photo by Marie Takahashi. This appeared in the January/February 2013 issue. Read more about Kashiwa Sato’s Higashi neighborhood of Tokyo.

The new T-Site shopping complex is home to the flagship store for the Tsutaya chain of video and book megastores. I made the logo for them. There’s a beautiful garden next to the bookstore where I like to read. —Kashiwa Sato 17-5 Sarugaku-cho, Shibuya-ku. Photo by Marie Takahashi. This appeared in the January/February 2013 issue. Read more about Kashiwa Sato’s Higashi neighborhood of Tokyo.

This shop on the Tokyo Ramen Street, a set of ramen shops in the basement of Tokyo Station, is one of the best in the stretch, and the short lines outside make it a great stop before you catch a train. Shichisai serves a clean delicious shoyu, or clear, soy-based soup, made with organic ingredients and topped with some of the best chashu, or pork, in Tokyo. Photo by Darin Dines/Flickr. Tokyo Ichiban-gai B1, 1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku

My first glimpse of Fushimi Inari was from the movie Memoirs of a Geisha. Yes, I admit it. I was smitten by the scene of Chiyo running along the Shinto shrine's paths surrounded by vermilion torii, or gates. I had a chance to visit on a brisk, sunny, winter day in January 2009. The Fushimi Inari shrine is a quick train ride two stops south of Kyoto Station on the JR Nara line. I traveled solo, and my ascent through the shrine's paths and up Inari mountain brought warmth to my fingers and toes, and respite from the crowds at the base. I spent hours exploring and snapping photos of torii and stone foxes. Despite opportunities to return and visit Fushimi Inari, I have not. I can't bring myself to let go of my first impressions and treasured memories of the winter day I spent there. On my ascent, the unmarked sides of the torii imbued an inward serenity to my walk. On the descent, those same torii, now marked with the names, dates, and wishes of their donors, were a humble reminder that I am only one among many in this world, each of us desiring happiness, love, health, and prosperity.

I go here when I want a really good burger or steak. They dry-age their meat, and steaks are charcoal grilled. —Kashiwa Sato 3-16-10 J Park, Ebisu Biru, Higashi, Shibuya-ku, 81/(0) 3-5447-0536. Photo by Marie Takahashi. This appeared in the January/February 2013 issue. Read more about Kashiwa Sato’s Higashi neighborhood of Tokyo.

Imagine a whole flea market crammed into one small space. That’s Hollywood Ranch, where I’ve shopped since college for jeans, T-shirts, and even incense. —Kashiwa Sato 81/(0) 3-3463-5668. Photo by Marie Takahashi. This appeared in the January/February 2013 issue. Read more about Kashiwa Sato’s Higashi neighborhood of Tokyo.

Honmura An in Roppongi is famous for its housemade soba [chewy buckwheat noodles]. Owner Koichi Kobari uses a sobabocho [soba knife] to cut the noodles each day. I always get the soba with tororo, which is grated mountain yam, and a cold beer. —David Myers Photo by Christinab/Flickr. This appeared in the May 2013 issue.

One of the highlights, albeit a cold one, of visiting the world-famous Tsukiji Fish Market at 5 a.m. is getting to watch the tuna auction--only the frozen carcasses; the fresh tuna auction is held in another warehouse room, closed to the public. The tails of this huge fish have been sliced open so the bidders can examine the flesh. Another benefit of an early morning visit: The sushi restaurants in the neighborhood open for breakfast, serving up what they've just procured from the market. For more about the market: www.tsukiji-market.or.jp/tukiji_e.htm

This restaurant was recommended by the Tokyo guide iPhone app I was using. It looked great, and I love dumplings. When we walked in, we were a bit worried because everything was in Japanese, even the menu. Donna, who knows chinese, was trying to make sense of the characters when the waiter brought over an English menu, phew! The gyoza were amazing, I believe they had two flavors, and you could choose fried or boiled. The side dishes were simple but delicious as well.

View of Tokyo at dusk as seen from the 54th floor observation deck of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Nishi-shinjuku. Admission to the observatory is free and well worth it for a fantastic, sweeping view of the Tokyo skyline.

This is the best sushi place I've ever been to in my life so far. Sushi Chef Jiro Ono is a 85 years old hardworking person, whose specialty is the Nigiri Sushi due to the form and the method of making it. Very traditional and simple. For me, I felt that eating there is not only about food, but also the experience - there are much more story and history behind sushi than just the fish and the rice. Expensive place, must make reservation ahead of the time, but a must go if you are a true sushi lover. However, after eating there, you might not like your neighborhood's sushi place anymore...

The soup at Ikaruga is so thick and creamy that you might believe it contains milk or butter. In reality, the wonderful texture of the tonkotsu broth is the result of pork bones simmered for hours upon hours. Among the restaurants on the Tokyo Ramen Street, a collection of ramen shops in the basement of Tokyo Station, Ikaruga is the most upscale. The staff are dressed in sharp uniforms and speak in (relatively) gentle tones. Photo by Shibainu/Flickr. Tokyo Ichiban-gai B1, 1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku