Contemporary style in the design capitals

Whilst the spotlight has faded on the catwalks of Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks, the compass of contemporary style is pointing eastwards. Japan continues to be a hotbed of vibrant ideas outside the traditional circuits, drawing on a tradition that combines fine craftsmanship with a unique visual imagination, ranging from the conceptual avant-garde of great masters such as Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto and Rei Kawakubo, right through to the pop influences of manga and urban streetwear. Choosing to visit in November means experiencing the country at its most aesthetically striking: Japanese autumn offers the fiery foliage of ‘koyo’, a triumph of warm, amber hues that provides the perfect counterpoint to the colour palette of the new collections and traditional textiles. The autumn colours arrive in Hokkaido and then gradually spread southwards: Nikko and the Japanese Alps are the first to turn colour, around the end of October, followed by Hakone and Mount Fuji in mid-November. You can organise a tailor-made itinerary through the design capitals, as suggested by the Omio platform, by booking high-speed trains, buses and domestic flights, transforming journeys between destinations into a comfortable and relaxing experience.