There's only a few places I long to visit:

• Hawaii
• California
• Sicily
• The French Riviera, biweekly
• Japan

Short, sweet, glorious and sun-drenched. Well, maybe not Japan - that smog and all.

Maybe it's the evolutionary lifestyle of Japan, the beautiful, blossoming countryside or the mass-love of sashimi.

In reality, it's because Japan isn't very different from merry 'ol England. Frantic city meets peaceful hillside and a shared understanding of queuing and tea. I basically just need to learn the language, which will be a breeze, and I'm in.

Perhaps unlike England though, Japan has a highly evolutionary gene, drilled at mastering and perfecting each aspect of daily lifestyle. In some cases, frightful, but with clothing and style, delightful.

Renowned Japanese designers include Issey Miyake, Kenzo (Kenzo Takada) and Yohji Yamamoto, and all share a certain flourish for effortless, metropolitan chic.

The introduction of Japanese brands to the British high street, though, has been gradual and understated. Brands such as Muji and Uniqlo offer pleasantly sterile and 'essential' goods which modern-day Japan favours. Recycled,responsibly sourced cotton apparel. Subtle colour palettes. Perfectly folded stacks of shirts to satisfy those with mild to extensive OCD.

Uniqlo is one of my go-to, all time favourite, reliable, count upon shops. THERE.

I know I can find good Oxford shirts in 30 non-argumental colours, simple (but always refined) tees, underwear and even denim. The 'Heat Tech' line, keeps-you-warm-or-keeps-you-cool-tech, is quietly genius and almost renders you à la mode when tredding the pavements or swanning about the gym. Your wallet wouldn't bat an eyelid either, slipping between here, H&M and Zara.

With campaigns this year lead by Tom Odell and man of the flipping moment Pharrell, Uniqlo knows what it's doing and is never too much.

Japan, for that matter,knows what it's doing and we should take a leaf (or more) from its book. Maybe not socks and sandals, but everyone's taste rah rah rah.

Need a sterling addition to your wardrobe? Look east.