Zen & Beans

Slow travel stories

From the peaceful towns and countryside of Japan to quiet corners around the world. While much of our content is rooted in Japan, we follow wherever curiosity leads — always with a slower, more soulful lens.

Coffee moments

Deep dives into coffee culture, roaster visits, brewing rituals, and the quiet joy of cafés — whether tucked in a Kyoto alley or found on a foggy mountain road somewhere else entirely.

Language and learning

Our journey with learning Japanese and how language becomes a bridge to culture, connection, and deeper travel.

Digital culture & Web3

Insights on digital ownership, NFTs, creative identity online, and how emerging tech can support slow, meaningful expression.

What inspired you to start Zen & Beans?

Zen & Beans came out of a need to slow down. After years of moving fast — across jobs, digital platforms, and physical places — there was a growing pull to simplify. To travel differently. To create without pressure. To live with more rhythm and less noise.

Spending time in Japan, especially outside the big cities, showed us how much meaning can live in small, quiet moments: a walk through a mossy path, the first sip of morning coffee, the way seasons subtly shape the day. We wanted to document that feeling — not just the places, but the pace.

Zen & Beans is a response to that — a personal, evolving space to reflect, explore, and share stories that feel intentional. It’s not about trends, reach, or content for content’s sake. It’s about presence. Curiosity. And a quieter kind of adventure.