Jenn_Haggerty_Travels, Needham, MA (2026)

05/22/2026

One of the most important pre-trip details for Japan is also one travelers can easily overlook: what is packed in the medicine bag.

Japan has strict rules around certain medications, stimulants, and cannabis products. Something that is legal, prescribed, or easy to purchase in the U.S. may not be permitted in Japan.

A few important examples:

Common cold and allergy medications can be restricted.
Some products containing pseudoephedrine, including certain versions of Sudafed, may not be permitted or may require advance review. Japan regulates by ingredient, not by brand name.

Some stimulants are prohibited or tightly controlled.
This can include certain ADHD medications and stimulant-related ingredients. Some medications cannot be brought into Japan even with a valid U.S. prescription, while others may require advance permission.

Cannabis and THC products should not be packed.
This includes ma*****na, edibles, oils, gummies, and other cannabis-derived products. Even if they are legal where you live, they are not treated the same way in Japan.

The safest approach is to review every prescription, over-the-counter medication, and supplement well before departure. Keep medications in their original packaging, travel with prescriptions when applicable, and bring a doctor’s letter stating what each medication is for.

This matters. Bringing restricted or prohibited medication into Japan can have serious consequences, including arrest and criminal prosecution, even if the medication was legally prescribed at home.

These are the details that are much easier to address well before departure.

A smooth trip starts before you leave home.

Travel. Eat. Explore.

05/21/2026

Tempura Mizuki at The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto is a Michelin-recognized tempura experience, but what makes it so memorable is how intimate and precise it feels.

The tempura counter is small, with only a handful of seats, so the entire meal unfolds right in front of you. Before the cooking begins, they show you the ingredients they will prepare and make sure everything works for you. In our case, that included a live shrimp, still moving in its box, which made the level of freshness and immediacy very clear.

Then the chef begins, and it is art to watch.

The wasabi is hand-grated on a traditional sharkskin grater, called a samegawa oroshi.

Ingredients are sliced with extraordinary precision, often with a long Japanese chef’s knife such as ayanagiba, and each piece of tempura is cooked one at a time.

There is a selection of salts to pair with each piece, which adds another layer to the experience. The batter is light, the timing is exact, and everything is served the moment it is ready.

This is what makes tempura in Japan feel so different. It is not heavy or casual. It is technical, graceful, and deeply satisfying.

For clients staying in Kyoto, this is a special dinner that feels polished, personal, and distinctly Japanese.

Travel. Eat. Explore.

05/19/2026

Some places are beautiful, and some places make you exhale the moment you arrive.

Asaba Ryokan, in Shuzenji Onsen, is breathtaking in the quietest way. The setting is all stillness, water, mountains, onsens, and that deep Japanese sense of calm that is hard to describe until you are there.

A friend had recommended it to us, and when we checked in, I texted him to say how beautiful it was. His response was, “Wait until dinner.” He was right. Dinner was exceptional. Then he said, “Wait until breakfast.” Also right. Out of this world.

The meals are served in your room, which makes the experience feel even more intimate and traditional. You settle into the rhythm of the ryokan, change into the provided yukata, slip into tabi socks, and let the evening unfold without needing to go anywhere.

This is one of the reasons ryokans can be so special in Japan. The food is not an add-on to the stay. It is central to the experience, deeply seasonal and carefully paced.

The town itself is lovely too, with riverside walks, waterfalls, mountain views, and small details that stay with you, including soft serve ice cream with wasabi.

Asaba is not about doing more. It is about feeling everything slow down.

Travel. Eat. Explore.

05/15/2026

One of the best ways to understand Italy is through the food.

Not in a “check every famous dish off the list” way.

More in the way a long lunch in Tuscany, an espresso at the counter in Rome, or a seafood dinner on the coast can tell you exactly where you are.

Food in Italy is deeply regional, and that is what makes it so interesting.
What you eat in Sicily is not what you eat in Piedmont.
A meal in Florence feels different from a meal in Naples.

Even the rhythm of the day changes depending on where you are.

This is why I love building culinary moments into Italy itineraries.

Not just cooking classes and wine tastings, although those can be wonderful when chosen well. But also market visits, neighborhood walks, aperitivo, small restaurants, and the kind of meals that give structure to the day without making the trip feel overplanned.

The best Italy trips leave room for both.

The reservation you planned months in advance.

And the little place you find because you had time to wander.

That balance is where the trip starts to feel effortless.

Save this for your future Italy planning.

Travel. Eat. Explore.

05/13/2026

Italy is one of those places people think they know.

Rome. Florence. Venice. The Amalfi Coast. Tuscany.

But the real strength of Italy is that every region feels completely different, and the best trips are rarely the ones that try to do too much.

A well-planned Italy itinerary is about pacing.
A few nights in the right hotel.
A private guide when context matters.
A lunch reservation that is actually worth planning around.
Enough unscheduled time to wander, sit, shop, or have another glass of wine.
That is where Italy really starts to come together.

It is not just about seeing the major sites. It is about knowing when to slow down, where to stay, which experiences are worth it, and how to avoid turning a beautiful trip into a rushed checklist.

Italy is layered, regional, and very personal.
That is why thoughtful planning matters so much here.

What part of Italy are you most drawn to right now?

Travel. Eat. Explore.

04/29/2026

One of the biggest surprises for first-time travelers to Scandinavia is how much daylight there is in summer.

In June and July it can stay bright well into the evening, especially in Norway, which changes how I like to structure each day.

It means you can take the funicular up Mount Fløyen in Bergen after dinner, walk through the forest trails, and still head back down the mountain around 11 pm in full light.

That extra time outdoors makes it easier to combine scenic travel, city exploration, and relaxed meals without feeling rushed.

If Scandinavia is on your list, summer is one of the most rewarding times to experience it.

Scandinavia is one of my favorite regions to design alongside Japan and the Mediterranean because the pacing, food culture, and landscapes create such a distinctive travel rhythm.

04/24/2026

One of my favorite ways to experience Copenhagen is through its bakeries.

There is a real craft tradition here, from slow-fermented rye breads to cardamom buns and beautifully laminated pastries that reflect the same attention to detail you see across New Nordic dining.

I usually include my favorite bakery stops on the custom Google Maps I prepare for clients so if hunger strikes while exploring the city, they are never far from something excellent.

Stops like Juno, Hart, and Andersen & Maillard are easy to weave naturally into a day as you move between neighborhoods.

Is visiting local bakeries part of how you like to explore a city?

04/21/2026

Bergen is one of my favorite places in Norway to either begin a trip or gently slow down at the end of one.

It also works beautifully in the middle of a Norway itinerary, especially when paired with the scenic Bergen Railway between Oslo and Bergen before continuing on to Copenhagen for an easy nonstop flight back to the U.S.

It’s easy to take the funicular up Mount Fløyen in the evening, wander through the forest trails and troll forest, and still be walking back down the mountain at 11 pm in the summer light.

The city is also a great base for a short fjord excursion, or even a harbor swim if you’re feeling brave.

Between the waterfront setting, surrounding mountains, and relaxed pace, it’s a place that feels distinctly Norwegian right away.

04/12/2026

Set around the historic Shakusui-en pond garden, Four Seasons Kyoto feels quietly residential rather than hotel-like, which is part of what makes it such a comfortable base for exploring the city.

One of my favorite spots on the property was the small coffee house along the water where you can pause with a drink and feed the koi.

The food across the hotel is excellent, and the setting in Higashiyama places you within easy reach of temples and neighborhood walks that are especially rewarding in the early morning.

It is also an easy walk to Myōhō-in, a lesser-visited temple that offers a quieter experience than many of Kyoto’s better-known sites.

Would you choose a garden setting like this in Kyoto, or prefer to stay closer to the busier downtown areas?

04/06/2026

For anyone who loves to cook, or who simply loves beautiful objects, Kappabashi in Tokyo is dangerous. This stretch of shops has supplied Tokyo’s restaurant industry for generations, and every store feels like it means business.

Knife shops line the street, some sleek and modern, others traditional and unhurried, with blades displayed like they belong in a museum. I had to talk myself out of buying another knife because I had only carry-on luggage. (Reader: I almost bought the knife anyway.)

And then there are the sampuru shops. Those are the hyper-realistic food models you see displayed in restaurant windows across Japan. At Kappabashi, you can buy them. Whole dishes, single pieces, tiny charms. I picked up an edamame keychain as a gift and deeply regret not buying more.

Pairs beautifully with time in nearby Asakusa, where you can also stop at Iyoshi Cola in the Rokku district for a craft cola made from a blend of spices rooted in traditional Japanese herbal medicine. It is nothing like what you are expecting, in the best way.

Travel. Eat. Explore.

04/01/2026

We were seated at the counter at Sushi L’Abysse on the 37th floor of the Four Seasons Osaka. At some point, the staff noticed how engaged we were and moved us directly in front of the chef. From that moment, he served only us for the entire meal.

We watched the sun set over Osaka while he worked through each piece with quiet precision. One moment that stopped me: he took a small piece of charcoal and seared the ends of the tuna. So deliberate. So beautiful.
At one point he looked up and shared the word yabai. It’s Japanese slang for when something is so extraordinary that the usual word for delicious, oishii, no longer covers it.

That was this meal. Close-your-eyes good. Yabai.

Jenn_Haggerty_Travels

05/22/2026

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