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Jess Esa

Jess is the creator and editor of Books and Bao. She's passionate about the world, its literature, food, culture, and people. She enjoys sharing her travel tips with others and capturing those perfect moments.

Tokyo is a capital city that’s very much made up by its neighbourhoods. No two are alike and each area has a totally different vibe, and speciality making Tokyo one of the most interesting capitals to explore. While it is what makes Tokyo special among cities, it does make it difficult to conquer as a …

Read More about Where to Stay in Tokyo, Japan (+ Neighbourhood Guide)

From the moment you master the sprawling train network that governs this city, the vast metropolis of Tokyo starts to unfurl before you. This is the city where you’ll find ancient shrines just moments away from drip coffee stores and boutiques, where women in kimono brush shoulders with suited individuals rushing to work. It’s a …

Read More about 5 Days in Tokyo (The Essential Japan Itinerary)

Visiting Tokyo is always exciting, and deciding where to stay in Tokyo and which hotel to pick is one of the biggest challenges for anyone visiting the capital. Mainly because the city is unfathomably big and transport is particularly expensive. Central destinations are usually preferred due to it often taking over an hour to reach …

Read More about 20 Best Hotels and Hostels in Tokyo (Where to Stay)

A book blog is a great way to share your love of reading with the world. Not only will you be able to connect with other like-minded book lovers, but you’ll also get to share your thoughts and opinions on the latest releases — sometimes before those books are even available to the general public! …

Read More about How to Start a Successful Book Blog in 9 Easy Steps

Adventurers, explorers, travellers — whatever you wish to call them — have been documenting their discoveries and experiences for hundreds of years. Setting sail for uncharted waters and touching down on exotic lands, bold and brave men and women have explored every corner of the map and recorded what they’ve learned for us to enjoy …

Read More about 10 Immersive Travel Books (Chosen by Travel Writers)

Kyoto is a wonderful city and visitors to the area tend to have more than enough to see for a flying visit, like the famed Fushimi Inari, the geisha of Gion, and the majestic Golden Pavilion. That’s not to mention the thriving art culture that’s present in the city. From boutique shops to art galleries …

Read More about A Guide to Kyoto Prefecture’s 5 Secret Spots

Korean snacks are some of the most famous snacks in the world. Always with a sense of fun and eye-catching packaging, there’s so much to explore. Not to mention, unique flavours that you just won’t find in any other country. I have tried to include some of the most popular and best Korean snacks with …

Read More about 18 Best Korean Snacks (& Where to Buy Them Online)

Is there anything better than a bookish gift? So many of us grew up as bookworms: living in fantasy worlds, escaping reality through the pages of our books, and much of that was because the real world just doesn’t measure up. But these days, we have thousands of creative bookworms out there bringing to life …

Read More about 22 Unique Literary Gifts for Book Lovers & Writers (2023)

Treat yourself to one of these Japanese cookbooks and learn how to cook your favourites from ramen and sushi to delicious Japanese comfort food dishes. With Japanese cuisine being one of the most renowned, beautiful, and respected cuisines in the world, it’s easy to feel intimidated when attempting it yourself. Japanese cooking often looks impossible …

Read More about 13 Japanese Cookbooks 2023 (for Inspiring Home Cooking)