Travels With Mr Hewson

27/08/2026

13/08/2026

Travelled to The Forum Theatre this lunchtime to see the film adaptation of one of my favourite Japanese books
All the Lovers In The Night by Meiko Kawakami, along with my onigiri and donut as my support food…..

MIFF

11/08/2026

W😌O😌W
One of a Kind Experience
M🤘A👆🏻S🤙S👋I👌V🖖E
A🫴T💪T🫸A🤜C🤲K🫶
Tracey Ashcroft Paul FitzGerald
Rod Laver, Melbourne

04/08/2026

In a country of 123 million people, and 47 distinct prefectures, Japan can be an overwhelming experience for some tourists.
For the past 40 years I have visited Japan and have had the pleasure of finding places that are less-visited and beyond the ‘Golden Route’ of Tokyo/Osaka/Kyoto.

Thinking you might want to see less traveled and quieter places?
Join our small group travel adventures guided by Mr Hewson.

Art, Architecture, Gardens & History.

1. Garyu Sanso Villa & Gardens- Ozu City, Ehime Prefecture
2. Saito Pagoda, Danjo Garan Temple, Mt Koya, Wakayama Prefecture
3. Miyoshi Town, Higashi Ochiai, Shikoku
4. Nomura Ke Old Samurai House & Garden, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture

30/07/2026

Back at RMIT..‼️

I have tutored Australian Architecture History at my Alma mater since 2012, and took a break to show others Japan last year.
We have an amazing selection of lectures which are open to all, not just students.
All lectures are held in the Lyons Architecture-designed building on Swanston Street (080.01.002)
During the semester I take the students on a meandering walks of the city and inner suburbs connecting them with each week’s lectures, which for many, is the first time they have been up close to significant buildings.

RMIT Architecture

03/07/2026

Winter is here 🥶

Who doesn’t love a bath?🛁 ♨️

The Japanese have been bathing indoors and outdoors for over 1300 years with connections to both the samurai culture and the wellness/leisure movement during the Meiji late 18th century period.
Onsens need deep thermal fissures to create the hot springs known for healing & relaxation.

Too shy to bathe naked?

Don’t worry- try a visit during the day when hardly anyone is around.
You can have it all to yourself.
I encourage participants in my group to at least try it once.

Here are a few of my favourites.
1. Ryokan Nanki Tabist Shirahama
2. Kawayu Onsen in Honguchi
3. Tanabe River Rocks Rotenburo
4. Kawayu Onsen - Rotenburo Pool
5. Yunomine Single Person Bath
6 & 7. Hoshi-no Yu - Karuizawa
8. Iyakei Onsen Hotel - Miyoshi
9. A beer after bathing - Koganeyu Sumida-ku Tokyo

07/06/2026

The Teshima Art Museum (2010) by architect Ryue Nishizawa could be described as an artistic sculpture in itself.
Instead of building traditional wooden formwork, the construction team dug a massive, hand-drawn, teardrop-shaped mold directly into the hill’s soil.
After letting the concrete dry for five weeks, workers spent six additional weeks digging and removing all the dirt from beneath the inside of the hardened shell to create the open museum space which leaves 25cm thick concrete shell that is 60 metres wide, resembling a white pod shell. There are no pillars here, the buildings design is freestanding ingeniously.

It’s one of the unique places on our October 2026 that takes in the many ‘art islands’ of the Seto Inland Sea.

05/06/2026

Putting together a plan for those who like a taste of Art Island Magic.
This Japanese Autumn, hit the road with our small group taking in the Art Islands off the coast of the Seto Sea.
A flourishing of contemporary art, performance and architecture set against spectacular scenery.
We will visit Naoshima, Teshima, Inujima, Oshima and Awaji Islands to experience the uniquely contemporary along with the rustic ordinary traditions of the Japan Inland Sea.

We will base ourselves on Teshima home to one of a kind impossible engineering of Teshima Art Museum and venture out daily, like locals, via ferry across the clear blue sea, soak in the ambience of a enchanting location now transformed by art & creativity.

Reach out if this sounds like your idea of travel.
Tentative Dates:
28 October to November 5

07/05/2026

残念だ
Zan’nen’na
It’s disappointing 🙇

Our May Old/New Tokyo tour has been postponed due to the fact many of our participants were concerned about travel or where travelling via the Middle East to Japan for the tour.

I will be run the tour later on in the year along with another tour that takes in the Art Islands of the Inland Seto Sea.

Stay tuned for the updates.

In the meantime if you are travelling to Japan and need help with your itinerary please feel free to reach out.

I will continue to post Japanese related content from now until November.
Fingers Crossed the world stays safe until then.
🤞

25/04/2026

My father was one of ten children, 7 boys and three girls.
6 of the 10 joined the AIF/WAF during World War 2.
My father travelled the furthest for King & Country, to Palestine, Syria, Greece & Crete, back to Brisbane, then to Papua New Guinea.
His older brother, Charlie put up his hand but due to ill health went as far as Paddington Barracks in Sydney.
His younger brother, Bernard or ‘Brusher’ saw service in Papua New Guinea. Uncle Edward’s dates in service coincided with the bombing of Darwin, their 21yo sister Mary donned her WAF uniform and did her bit back here in Australia.
My uncle Horace, Dad’s older brother paid the ultimate sacrifice as he was captured during the fall of Singapore in 1942 and his life, ended at 36 while working on the Thai-Burma Railway.
He left a wife & three children back home in Harden New South Wales.
This post does not glorify war.
It’s a reminder of a time that re-wrote our history & nation.
I cannot see the point of defacing war memorials.
If I did, I would be defacing the memory of what my father & his family did, especially my uncle Horace who never saw his birth place or family again.