One of the things I enjoy most about staying in Japan is taking a bath. We're staying at my parents' house, and I can take a bath every day. Even in the middle of a hot Japanese summer, I still enjoy it. And I usually add bath salts. Japan has so many different kinds of bath products, with different scents, colors, and effects. Choosing one is part of the fun. One day, I dropped a bath tablet into the water and noticed something fascinating happening on the surface. It create

Exploring Kurashiki, Okayama on a day trip from Osaka, discovering traditional architecture, crafts, denim, and Japanese beauty through fresh eyes after living abroad.

How familiarity can make us stop seeing things—and how someone else's perspective lets us rediscover them.