From MSN Explore: Even as millions of tourists flock to Japan, keep in mind that Japanese people make up the vast majority of those dining at restaurants across the country. According to data from the CIA, a whopping 97.5% of the population is Japanese. Moreover, Japan ranked 87 out of 113 countries in EF's English Proficiency Indexlist, landing in the lower end of the "low proficiency" category. With this in mind, the owners and staff at some establishments may be reluctant to welcome guests they fear might misunderstand them and their culture. Restaurant workers might not have translated menus prepared, and they may not know how to explain their food to people who don't speak Japanese. That was the reason one Okinawa bar owner gave for posting a "Japanese only" sign, according ... read more

Lovefood lists these places in our fifty states as unforgettable places to eat. I agree! Here are a few we have visited over the years. What better place to dine in the Grand Canyon State than in the midst of the red rocks themselves? This fabled restaurant is tucked into the El Tovar Hotel, which has pride of place in Grand Canyon Village, and offers dramatic vistas of the surrounding landscapes from its large windows. On the menu are failsafe options such as steak, plus more unusual choices like oven-roasted duck with wild rice and a honey-bourbon chili glaze. The burger here is the BEST we have ever had!! It's not hard to guess the specialty of this celebrated mom-and-pop joint on Maui's North Shore. Mama's Fish House is one of the best-loved ... read more

I still miss the little boy (and girl) on this special day. May 5, formerly known as Boys Day in Japan, is now called Children's Day. (Written in 2009) Many of you think of May 5 as Cinco de Mayo. But May 5 is a big day in Japan as well, for it is an annual event, now called Children's Day, or originally Kodomo no Hi. It is set aside to respect children's personalities and to celebrate their happiness. It became a national holiday in Japan in 1948. It was always a special day when my son was a little guy. And of course, like most Asian families, the boys are favored with gifts, toys, sporting goods, and money. Originally, May 5 was called Tango no Sekku, or Boys' Day, and known as a Feast of ... read more

Despite the experts at Travel and Leisure, there are many walkable cities in the world. I would rank Seattle, Boston, Athens, Tokyo, Lisbon, Vienna, Belgrade, St. Petersburg and Vancouver as my favorite walkable cities. T & L says: "Munich is officially the most walkable city in the world, for several reasons. For instance, it has a huge 1,468,623km (912,560 miles) worth of bike trails – the second highest anywhere in the world – as well as 86% of the population living within 1km (.62 miles) of a car-free space – again, the second highest on our list," the findings revealed. "Despite Munich’s public transport being the third most expensive … it scores the fourth highest for safety, which is key when walking around, as well as the joint second highest for people living within a kilometer ... read more

You may have guessed that I use the airline lounges whenever possible. Often times, when I have used miles to upgrade to Business Class, a visit to the airline lounge is included. Short of that, I have a Priority Pass, which is part of the Chase Sapphire Visa card program. In moments of true desperation, with lots of time to kill at the airport, I have purchased a lounge pass. Usually, the foreign airlines have better lounges. I would place Singapore, Air New Zealand, and Turkish Air at the top of the lounges I have visited. But lately, some of the US airlines have improved immensely, namely the Admirals Lounges of American Airlines, and United Polaris Lounges. Why? For one, they pour complimentary champagne!! And the food is upgraded. One of my first and best lounge ... read more

In Tokyo, sushi on a budget normally means skipping the uni and fatty tuna rolls and sticking to imported salmon and dashimaki tamago(Japanese omelette) nigiri. This isn’t the case at Sushi Tokyo Ten Shibuya, where you can drop into the Shibuya Stream sushi restaurant for a generous omakase lunch for ¥4,400 (weekdays only) and dinner for ¥8,800. A peaceful oasis in the middle of bustling Shibuya, this sleek counter-style sushi restaurant will leave you feeling pampered, calm and most importantly, satisfied by the end of your lunch break. The restaurant doesn’t have any menus, but you’re in good hands as the chef behind the counter swiftly and seamlessly forms an array of perfectly shaped sushi, including opulent favourites like chutoro (medium fatty tuna) and a mini ikura-don (salmon eggs over rice). Looking for an omakase sushi ... read more