The One Place in the World That Could Make Anthony Bourdain Give up Traveling

Photo: Instagram/@anthonybourdain

Anthony Bourdain never seems to sit still for more than five minutes. The chef travels around the globe for his show Parts Unknown, eating and drinking with locals everywhere from the Congo to Morocco. But of all the places he's ever visited—and there are a lot!—one in particular really stole his heart.

He says there's only one place for which he would ever ditch his wanderlust lifestyle and settle down: Tokyo. "If I had to agree to live in one country, or even one city, for the rest of my life, never leaving it, I'd pick Tokyo in a second," he said.

"It's something I really admire. The attention to detail, the perfectionism, the concentration on what are the most fundamental elements of beauty, pleasure, relaxation."

Bourdain has harbored a fascination with Japan for quite some time—and not just because of the country's food. Some of his favorite qualities about the culture are the notion of "beginner's mind," in which a master is constantly learning a craft "no matter how good they are at what they do," and the Marie Kondo–sanctioned minimalist lifestyle.

In Japanese flower arranging, for instance, "It's almost like stripping away the unnecessary to arrive at the absolute core beauty," Bourdain told Maxim. "I wish I could unclutter my life in that way, but I tend toward maximalism rather than minimalism. But it's something I really admire. The attention to detail, the perfectionism, the concentration on what are the most fundamental elements of beauty, pleasure, relaxation."

While Bourdain doesn't have any reported plans to hang up his chef apron or retire his passport (there's so much to see...and so much food to eat!), you definitely know where to find him once the time comes.

Check out these six amazing travel destinations perfect for a solo visit. But before you go, here are some expert-approved ways to feel put together on the road.

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