I’ve been dreaming about illustrating a map of Japan for a long time. And if I’m being honest, I’ve tried drawing Tokyo more than once, but I always end up setting the brush down. The city is complex. Every neighborhood is nuanced in its own way, with its own personality, its own rhythm. And I refuse to paint it from a distance. 

So instead of painting from a distance, I’m going. Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. All three cities. And when I come back, I’m turning those memories into art. I don’t know what each city will inspire, but I know it’s about time By Aleisha went international. 

Join the waitlist for my first-ever international collection here

I’ve found the best maps I’ve ever made came after I’d actually walked that city’s streets. When I’m on the ground, talking to locals, getting lost down side streets, stumbling into neighborhoods I hadn’t planned to visit, I pick up details Google Maps simply can’t convey. 

And I want this collection to feel like a piece of Japan you can carry with you when you leave. 

What I’m Looking For (As an Artist and a Traveler) 

As a map maker and travel photographer, I’ve spent years building saved collections on Instagram–one for every city I dream of visiting one day–filled with unique coffee shops, hidden gem restaurants, hotels with character, or landmarks worth the detour. 

Japan has been one of my most-researched lists for years. 

I’m anti tourist-traps, pro anything that allows me to experience the essence of a city. Unique, intentionally designed hotels. Local restaurants with traditional dining experiences. And moments that capture the city’s culture in a single frame. 

If you want to see exactly where I’ll be going–every hotel, every restaurant, every neighborhood on my list–I’ll be sharing my full itinerary in my next newsletter. 

Subscribe to my newsletter here!

Got a Japan Rec? I want to hear it!

My research runs deep, but nothing beats a personal recommendation. Whether it’s a hidden ramen spot in a Tokyo backstreet, a ryokan worth splurging on in Kyoto, or a neighborhood in Osaka most tourists miss, drop it below. 

More updates, and lots of travel content, coming very soon. Japan, I am so ready for you. 

In art and adventure,

Aleisha