{"id":268925,"date":"2025-11-26T12:30:28","date_gmt":"2025-11-26T01:30:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.russh.com\/?p=268925"},"modified":"2025-11-26T11:26:51","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T00:26:51","slug":"postcards-from-japan-with-lexus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.russh.com\/postcards-from-japan-with-lexus\/","title":{"rendered":"‘RUSSH’s Kirsty Thatcher sends postcards from Japan with Lexus"},"content":{"rendered":"

I had never been to Japan<\/a>, but have long wanted to visit, so when Lexus invited me to join a trip marking its 35th anniversary in Australia, I couldn’t say no. The five-day itinerary was shaped around the idea of synthesis \u2014 the meeting point between advanced technology and traditional craftsmanship \u2014 a belief at the core of the Lexus philosophy and one that runs deep in Japan. It also informed LANDMARK by Lexus at this year\u2019s Melbourne Cup Carnival, but being here in person made it easier to understand: how thoughtfulness shows up in design, in hospitality, and in the smallest everyday moments.<\/p>\n

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Day one<\/h3>\n

After a 10-hour flight from Sydney, I arrived in Tokyo in the early evening, just as the city began to glow. Our driver was waiting for us as we stepped out into the (surprisingly humid) September air \u2014 a small detail, but it set the tone for the week ahead. Lexus calls it omotenashi: hospitality so intuitive, you never need to ask.<\/p>\n

My home for the next two nights was Hoshinoya Tokyo, a modern ryokan in the city\u2019s financial district. The noise of the streets fell away as soon as we stepped inside. You’re asked to remove your shoes upon arrival, one of the many traditional hospitality relics that reign supreme here. It’s a welcome request, given all the floors in the hotel are gently tatami-matted.<\/p>\n\n

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