Dropping Knowledge: Secret Corners of Asia with Sophia Hatchett
Coffee omakase, a spa safari, and un-marked doors
I met Sophia in the most fun way; on a trip! She immediately felt like a kindred spirit; we hold a shared love of far-away travel along with a deep passion for interior design. While small in stature, Sophia is a true force; she now runs Komasa, a boutique representation company and has spent endless amounts of time all over Asia, really digging into the different regions of Japan, exploring the cool/not fancy hotels in Sri Lanka, and sampling the legendary street food of Malaysia. Sophia is the person I lean on when I want to know what’s new and what’s next in this area of the world.
What is your history with Asia - why are you so drawn to that continent?
My relationship with Asia started 11 years ago when I spent the summer working at a hotel in Okinawa, Japan. I was hooked immediately. Following that, I studied tourism in Hong Kong and then took a job in Singapore, where I escaped corporate life on the weekends by traveling all over the South East. Since then, I worked for luxury Asia-focused travel companies while being based in New York, which all led to me starting Komasa, an umbrella company for boutique representation. I happen to be in Asia currently (in Japan and Thailand), and do hotel consulting in Japan. I also just started a substack because I have so much to say about the entire region called East of Here.
Let’s talk Southeast Asia; where do you think is the most underrated country/area/region for Americans to visit?
Most definitely Laos (specifically Luang Prabang). I remember being obsessed with this country before the plane even landed. You fly through these incredible mountains which are shrouded in mist, and you see the mighty Mekong winding along these charming villages. There’s truly nothing more magical - in fact, the whole experience just feels visceral. You only need a few days to truly understand it, which makes it a perfect addition to any South East Asia experience. The perfect weekend would be spent visiting the central morning market (we literally had the best banana pancakes of our lives while sitting outside of our hotel door, which spilled into the most beautiful, colorful market). As for hotels, I recommend Amantaka, which is in town and the Rosewood, which is perched on a mountain just outside. I also love Satri House (a really great affordable option), and then always visit 3 Nagas Hotel Luang Prabang for dinner on their patio (if you don’t stay there). You also must take a long boat along the Mekong for the most stunning views.
Tell me about Malaysia and why it’s so special to you. How should we be thinking about this country and how to visit?
Ahhhh, I’m obsessed with Malaysia! Besides Laos, I think this is the most underrated destination. My sister lived there when I was in Singapore so I was able to visit often. There are so many different ways to explore it but I think the best combination would be Kuala Lumpur and Penang and Malaysian Borneo. My whole family stayed at the Mandarin Oriental in Kuala Lumpur and fell in love. It has epic views of the Petronas Towers and easy access to the Batu Caves. I also recommend Penang for the amazing food scene and historic shophouses. I had a really special meal in Penang on a food tour with my parents. It was so fun watching them try the different noodles, meats, and samosas at…9am. My favorite thing to do is to try all the different street food because you get a window into all the different cultures that exist in the region, and you really can’t go wrong with a food tour led by a trusted guide who will take you to all the right spots.
A quick flight will take you to Malaysian Borneo, landing in Kota Kinabalu, which has a really fun market to visit - full of homemade items and incredible food. And yet one more short flight from will take you up to Sandakan, which is the jumping off point to experience the orangutans and super cute sun bears. Along the way you’ll fly over the sacred Mount Kinabalu (my sister hiked it and highly recommends). From there, you have different options to experience the wildlife, starting with the easy to access Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre/Pusat Pemuliharaan Orangutan Sepilok which are next to each other. You can see the wildlife up close on boardwalks. This is a great way to get access to seeing animals while on a shorter trip. But if you want to spend more time exploring the wildlife and the jungle, I recommend adding on the Sukau Rainforest Lodge - welcome to incredible river safaris where you can spot (tiny!) Borneo elephants and huge river crocodiles. For even more immersive travel, deeper into the Danum Valley Conservation Area is truly the last best-preserved wildlife area (in my opinion) in Malaysian Borneo.
Japan....it’s my most requested trip. Outside of Tokyo and Kyoto, where should we be visiting?
There are so, so, so many options! I just got back from Izu Peninsula in February, which is where we caught early cherry blossoms. Izu is a great addition to a lot of Japan itineraries because it’s so easy to access from Tokyo. It’s just a 20-minute train ride to Itami to grab a rental car, and then you’re immersed in amazing nature and super charming ryokans. We stayed in a few different accommodations but the highlight was Ochiario, a ryokan founded in 1874. The level of detail there is insane. There were Noguchi lamps everywhere and some of the best traditional kaiseki meals we had the whole trip. Also their onsen is outside along the river, which makes for the dreamiest soak. I never wanted to leave! Outside of that, everyone is talking about Fukuoka. I’m visiting in the fall for the first time and I can’t wait. It’s known for being a really accessible, smallish city with a ton going on.
Any gems that we should know about in Tokyo/Kyoto?
YES! I love to start my trip by staying at Onsen Yuen Bettai in Tokyo. It’s a ryokan in the super cool neighborhood of Shinokizawa, which is filled with vintage stores. Nothing beats getting off the plane from a long-haul flight and soaking in an onsen, first thing. In Tokyo I also highly recommend doing a coffee omakase with Miki Suzuki, Japan’s First Female World Barista Champion. It changes seasonally so every experience completely blows your mind. The level of detail in each of the different coffees is amazing and so unexpected. For a design focus stay in Tokyo, I always recommend K5. It’s super close to Tokyo Station while feeling tucked away. The neighborhood has a lot of great bars and coffee shops.
In Kyoto, a ryokan I love is the historic SOWAKA, which is great if you want a traditional stay in the city (I also highly recommend Hiiragiya 柊家 - where Anthony Bourdain stayed). For something more central, I actually really love Dusit Thani, which is a Thai hotel. It’s in a great location and the rates are always much cheaper than other five stars in the area. A visit to the Renge-ji Temple on the outskirts of the city during fall is complete magic. While in town you also have to check out Otsu kei Kyoto, a clothing store stocking Japanese brands in a historic building. Also please, please, please visit the incredible Tonkatsu Shimizu which serves only tonkatsu (look for an un-marked door which is the entrance!
Where have you not been in Asia that is on your list to travel to? Any hotels you are dying to visit? I’m dying to visit Nihi Sumba. It’s such an iconic hotel and everyone who goes has the most incredible time. I especially wanna try out the spa safari which is an all-day wellness experience where guests can either take a jeep or trek through the jungle to get to the spa pavilion, and then you spend all day lounging and getting treatments - everyone needs to talk about this more because it seems like absolute perfection! I also really want to experience any property in the house collection, most notably Upper House Hong Kong, which is so legendary. As a student I couldn’t afford to even breathe in the same space and it’s been on my mind ever since!
You LOVE home design. Is there a region in Asia that’s really amazing for design finds?
There is nothing I love more than driving through the countryside of Cambodia and stumbling upon homemade woven goods. I’ve become so expert at stuffing as many as I can into my carry-on. The same goes for Sri Lanka - I brought home a dozen handmade woven bags and terracotta incense holders on the side of the road. We found this unmarked stahl that I stumbled upon on my way back from surfing! In Colombo, you have to go shop at Paradise Road. In each of the hotels I stayed, there were so many unique pieces - from the sconces to the soap dish. Each time I asked the team where they found something, they always said it was from Paradise Road. When I went back to Colombo, I spent a whole afternoon shopping there.
What are your favorite “Cool but Not Fancy” hotels in Asia?
Sri Lanka especially has a ton of Cool but Not Fancy hotels. Wallawwa by Teardrop Hotels is a great place to land in Sri Lanka - stay here before you start your adventure. It’s pretty close to the Colombo airport park. Book a spa appointment for when you land, and then lounge by the pool for the rest of your stay to adjust to the time. The Last House is a historic villa that’s stocked with books about the architect Geoffrey Bawa, and is situated on what feels like a private beach. I truly can’t recommend this place enough. Also every meal will be one of the best that you’ve ever eaten.
Outside of Sri Lanka, there is Raya Heritage in Chiang Mai - it’s a bit far out of the city but that’s the charm. Nestled along the river, you feel so tucked away and the hospitality is top tier.
In Cambodia, I’m totally obsessed with Zannier Phum Baiting in Siem Reap and I can’t even describe how incredible it is. The property is situated on stunning rice fields, and it feels like you have the whole place to yourself - especially when you’re lounging in your private pool.
What can you tell us about beauty treatments and/or products in Asia? I try to buy everything in Japan, from eye creams to moisturizer to sheet masks to toothpaste. It’s all the best. I would spend time in any of the department stores, using Google Translate to figure out which product works best for you. It’s something I look forward to each time, coming back with a top-tier product and beautiful packaging. Whenever I transit in South Korea I do a quick sweep of the airport pharmacies. They have so many products that will fix any ailment. Last time I landed with an eye infection (ew, sorry!) and was able to work with a pharmacist to find the right eye drops for what I needed and it went away right away. Find some K-pharmacy finds here and here.
Outside of Asia, where are you dying to visit? Any hotels on the bucket list?
Outside of Asia, Greece has my heart. There’s so much I still have to explore, but every time I go back I’ll see my friends in Athens or Rhodes, and then head to an island. I also wanted to stay at the Skinopi Lodge on Milos. My siblings and I did a road trip around the island a few years ago and fell in love with it. When I go back I want to stay here!
For complimentary hotel bookings on any of your trips, feel free to reach out to me for added amenities and priority status: zoe.schaeffer@fora.travel
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