To begin, we wanted to lay out the "roadmap" for the kinds of content we'd like to share - so you can locate things without too much trouble, and you can have a say in the priority and/or sequence in which we present information over time.
FOOD
Most cooking websites seem to be organized by ingredients, courses, or maybe methods. We want to be different. Our plan is to talk about meals as a whole - why you would eat certain things together, and when you would eat them - based on the seasonality of the ingredients, or the associated cultural meaning. We'll use the 24 major seasons from the ancient Japanese calendar, and relate them as much as possible to the conditions at our inn (southern New England) - weather, plants, local food offerings, etc.
At least once per month, Yumi will introduce a featured recipe and example "meal plan" in accordance with the current season.
Certain ingredients do form the foundation for Japanese cuisine, and Yumi has gone to great lengths to find better quality and unique offerings for use in the meals served at our inn. As promised, we've provided a listing of the most important ones, with links to online shops/reference as available. Yumi will introduce additional posts on particular ingredients or methods as the seasons dictate. This will also form the basis for our "group purchasing" offers throughout the year, so that you'll have the opportunity to use the same ingredients in your home cooking.
DESIGN
We did a ton of research in order to find both products available within the U.S., as well as products from Japan, that were essential to the experience we wanted to create. So, similar to food ingredients, we've provided an initial listing of materials, furnishings, fixtures, etc. with web references as available.
At least once per month, Glenn will write about the process of creating the inn and garden. Again, your feedback will be welcome in terms of determining the sequence and priority of topics.
TRAVEL & CULTURE
Yumi was a tour guide when she was younger, and she's advised many of our guests on their itineraries or searches for things to see and do all over Japan. She worked for a small tour agency with a very unique chief executive - he was instrumental in promoting unique/important properties and other destinations. At this point we're a bit partial to Hokuriku, a less-traveled region along the Japan Sea coast where we've decided to make our second home, and where Yumi's grandfather was born - suffice it to say we plan to specialize in "off the beaten path".
AVAILABILITY
We'll use this category to communicate upcoming opportunities for booking, as well as updates on our plans for expansion and renovation both at the inn and at our home in Japan. For cancellations or other urgent notifications, we'll use email.