River of Crystals: A Meditation in Japanese Coffee Shops, Bars & Smoking Areas

In a country where speed is social security, places that are seemingly stuck in time somehow still exist to slow one's pace down to a contemplative crawl.

River of Crystals is one traveler's journey through Japan by way of some of its longest-running 20th century establishments - namely, old bars, coffee shops, and smoking sections - many from times long past.

Join the author for a drink and a smoke, and you might just realize you've needed a break all along.