20th Feb is Passport Day, so this week some of the Candlewick members are introducing which countries you should visit as soon as you can! First up is Kimata, who is a big fan of international travel.

I would like to visit the passionate city of New York. I stayed there for a few months interning when I was a student and it’s a city that fills me with energy! Maybe it’s because there are so many people that leads to competitiveness,  but people in New York all have dreams and are great at expressing their feelings and thoughts. When I see them, I am inspired to do the same! Perhaps this is why they are always at the cutting edge of current trends?

Recently, there is a Japanese craze in Brooklyn, and a sake brewery in called Brooklyn Kura, which produces Junmai Ginjo pure sake in Brooklyn. I’d like to go to New York to see first-hand how New Yorker’s are appreciating aspects of Japanese culture. I would also like to see the skyscrapers and try to recover some of the passion that has been lost due to the pandemic.

Next is Yokoyama, who has a lot of experience in the travel world!

The country I want to visit is Türkiye! I knew little about the country until the other day when I did some research on it and was surprised by its wide range of charms. It’s a fascinating mix of European and Asian cultures and there is so much I want to see and do.

First of all, I would like to go to the Roman ruins of Pamukkale Thermal Baths and watch the sunset. Türkiye is home to many archaeological sites and world heritage sites, but I had never imagined that you could sit on a marble pillar from ancient times and enjoy a dip in a hot spring!

I also want to enjoy the authentic taste of Turkish food, which is one of the three most important cuisines in the world. And I want a taste of the special food from each region of Türkiye!

I would also like to stay in a cave hotel, where the rooms are ancient dwellings carved into the strange rocks, and explore the city of Istanbul to find modern art and exotic goods. And of course, there’s the Blue Mosque! Being a cat lover, I also want to get up close with the cute Turkish kittens!

I’m not sure if even 10 days would be enough to see it all, so I’ll have to see if I can get long break off work.

Last is Candlewick’s CEO, Silvester.

I was asked about the first country I want to visit when we can go abroad again, but honestly, thinking too much about where I want to go when I can’t stresses me out.

I think I need to go to Finland to help me with a project I’m working on. Finland is a country where gender equality and happiness is very high.

I would love to visit, meet and talk to the people. My dream is to visit Lapland in the winter, spend a few nights in Helsinki and try out the sauna culture in a luxury hotel.

I also want to go on laid-back trip, maybe staying in a hotel in the middle of a forest, where I can take my time and read.

Originally, the things that made me think of Finland were Moomin, Arabia cereamics and Iittala glassware. And then there’s Alvar Aalto, one of the most influential architects of the 20th century, who I saw last year at the Setagaya Art Museum. He has been a great source of inspiration for my next home. I would love to visit a house he designed.　

This question reminded me that there are still many things I have yet to do in my lifetime!!