Hip Holiday Mama In Japan – Sonoko Obuchi
Sonoko is mum to Yoppy (7) and Haru (4). She is a theatre set designer in London and also a founder of Shepherds London distributing high quality traditional Japanese cotton trousers called Monpe in the UK and in Europe. She raises her children in London in both English and Japanese with her English husband.
What makes your ideal family holiday?
It has to be exciting for the whole family. So we naturally choose our holiday destination somewhere culturally rich with many fun activities for children.
Where is your favourite kid-friendly beach?
We have my in-law’s wonderful holiday villa in rural North Cyprus. There is a local beach in Tatlısu which is so calm, with shallow and beautifully clear water for children to swim and play for hours.
Bikini or swimsuit? Where do you buy your swimwear?
Mine is a bikini and tankini from Freya. After having two emergency C-sections, permanent stretch marks and breastfeeding for years, my body needs some nice support, especially lifting the breasts up and Freya swimwear can do the magic for me.
We recently visited Brighton for 4 days over the half term, staying in this lovely Airbnb in North Laine district. It was a cosy 2 bedroom house with a terrace. And there were so many cool shops and cafes just steps away. We had a wonderful time. I now have a 100% positive view of the Airbnb concept.
It is Japan. To see my children (born in London) experiencing its wonderful culture, foods and language is priceless. Japan has its beautiful traditional sides like Kyoto and those seen in the Japanese animated movie ‘My Neighbour Totoro’ yet it also has ‘Lost in Translation’ like urban cities also. Japanese rivers in the summer are great for swimming with kids.
Thailand, for it’s culture, beautiful and colourful sceneries, warm hearted people, beaches and foods. I love and have been fascinated by the country ever since my teens, but am yet to visit. Also my best Thai friend went back to Thailand from London a few years back. We must go and visit her!
Shu Uemura cleansing oil (travel size). This make up remover works perfectly for me. I will be scared if I forget to take this ace product with me!
At the moment, I love family holiday so much, I don’t think about going somewhere without our children. But maybe in 10 years time or so, I would like to go to Taketomi Island and other small islands in Okinawa with my husband in tropical southern Japan.
Swimming goggles, sun cream, buckets and spades. For the next North Cyprus holiday in May, I would like to invest in an underwater camera or underwater phone case.
