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Back when I was an active tennis player, I had the goal of attending the four Grand Slam events. I doubt if I will make it back to Australia, but one never knows? From Passing Thru Travel, about the Grand Slam of Tennis: Embarking on the Grand Slam circuit is way more than a journey through the world of elite tennis; it’s an exploration of diverse cultures, cities, and the spirit of competition that defines the sport at its highest level. Each tournament offers a unique blend of athletic excellence and cultural experience, reflecting the distinct character of its host city. From the sun-drenched courts of the Australian Open to the historic lawns of Wimbledon, the clay of Roland-Garros, and the hardcourts of the US Open, the Grand Slam tournaments are all about the trophies and ... read more

Everyone wants to experience the iconic Shibuya Crossing at least once, and for good reason: the pedestrian intersection is often hailed as the world's busiest. But to fully appreciate the magnitude of this organized chaos, you have to see the landmark from above, and the best place to do that is at the 11th floor Sky Lobby in Shibuya Hikarie. We had lunch up there, and the view was spectacular! This is not an observation deck, but with floor-to-ceiling windows, the Sky Lobby affords a panoramic view of Shibuya Scramble Crossing. Plus, it's free. Just take the B5 exit at Shibuya Station and hop on the elevator to the 11th floor. But there i more to Shibuya than the scramble crossing. Nine rail lines run by four companies converge here. Everyone meets at Hachiko, the statue ... read more

If there’s one thing Kyoto is famous for, it’s geisha (or geiko – which is the Kyoto dialect for geisha). If you’ve seen any pictures promoting Kyoto, you’ll undoubtedly have seen a woman wearing beautiful kimono, traditional hairstyles and her face painted in unique oshiroi make-up.Geisha roughly translates to “woman of the arts”. Their job includes performing traditional tea ceremonies while entertaining their guests by singing, playing traditional instruments (like the samisen), having conversations with them or even playing drinking games together. Becoming a geisha takes a lot of dedication and practice. The training of a maiko (apprentice geisha) usually starts when they’re 15 years old, and can last around five years. While they were much more popular in the past, there are still geishas in Japan today. Most of them live and work in Kyoto. ... read more

From 2009: Omiyage is the art of gift giving. It is a tradition that we follow here in the United States. Japan is a perfect place to finding something that's unique. More than in most places, the Japanese continue to excel at a wide range of traditional arts and crafts, with regional gift specialties, called meibutsu, renowned for their quality workmanship and aesthetic appeal. From Hokkaido in the north to Kyushu in the south, Japan offers distinctive, high-quality arts and crafts. Gift-giving is something of an art in Japan, where a gift, omiyage in Japanese, successfully given honors the recipient, starting with the quality of the presentation. Gifts are traditionally carried in beautiful, printed squares of fabric called furoshiki. Presented as a scarf, for which they double nicely, they make a uniquely Japanese fashion statement back ... read more

I am sure this was not the same village my Grandfather left in the 1800's, to find his way to the United States, and to build the future that my family enjoys now. He came to California as a 16 year old boy, and passed away in 1965 at the age of 84. Nagoya is now a very industrial city, and home to the largest automobile company in the world, Toyota. We are going to venture out on foot today, then perhaps take a tour to some castles and shrines tomorrow. Our first stop today is the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology. It is the site of the company's original weaving plant, part of its original mission as a weaver. Our second stop is the Noritake Garden. Noritake is Japan's best known porcelain maker. ... read more