Travels With Mr Hewson

02/10/2026

Today’s C*D walk with students of architecture at RMIT captures the spirit of the late 1990’s/early 2000 that coincided with the changing planning codes, the revised liquor laws, and Postcode 3000 which foreshadowed the revitalisation of the C*D and the arrival of apartment life in the city.
We focused on the work of NKA (Fender Katsalidis) who were the leaders of this type of work back in the day. You couldn’t open a magazine and not see the off-form hulking concrete & interlocking cubic forms of this firm.
We stopped off at the 1919 Nahum Barnet designed ‘The Canns’ building once the home of fashion & fabric manufacturing now the home of RMIT alumni Shelley Roberts Architects , where the students got to experience from the inside what’s it like to live in the C*D.
This afternoon they have a lecture on this period that brought about so much of which we take for granted in this decade.

19/09/2026

Jesse Thomas
Nick Doolan
Melissa Natalizio
Gavin Woolfe
Matthew Jones
Ellie Spinks
Jane Cameron Architects
Will Smart
Gili Constructions
Shaun Carter
ilion
Kate Shackell Shacks
Eckersley Architects
John Mercuri
Zac Snowden
W A L A
Joshua
Sustainable Homes Melbourne
Simon Clark
MMAD Architecture
Sibbel House
Karen Batchelor
MGA+D | Interior Design
Nicholas Gurney
Mitch Lyons
David Goss
Andrea Ibbott
Healy—Ryan Architects

If you haven’t been living under a bus, this is Adelaide furniture maker James Howe.
He and his wife Dr Joanna Howe are born again Christian activists who produce a podcast which focuses on anti-abortion posts and the ‘indoctrination of children with perverted ideas’
Their most recent post concerns consent between men and women.
They also mocked consent advocate Chantel Contos which is the bridge too far me.
I have named you all here as you follow my page on Japan Travel but are following his follow his instagram page that espouses architecture and design ‘advice’.
He is now crowd funding to pay for litigation against those who have spoke out against their abhorrent and their ‘marriage cures all dogma’
I am encouraging all of you to review whether you wish to remain one of his followers, and thereby lend legitimacy to he & his wife’s rather narrow view of the world we find ourselves in.

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 b**r 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