I'm writing this edition of my Tourist Take from Sydney, Australia. Three weeks ago I was approached by Liberta Inc's CEO, Keijiro Sawano, to assist with a regional revitalization initiative called Heartland.

The Japan Tourism Agency (JTA) had more good news to share last week, when they announced that Japan had attracted 28,961,000 foreign travelers in calendar year 2017, up 19.3% on 2016. They spent a record JPY4.416trn (US$40bn).

For a foreign customer who doesn't know the JTB name, it's a surprise when the Japanese web site suddenly demands a pre-payment and often with severe penalties.

I took a second look at the view and realized he was right, there was trash everywhere, particularly white plastic shopping bags, food and chemicals containers, bottles, and pretty much everything in between.

It's all too easy to forget that what makes money is not just the barebones offering but also the value-added services that inspire or stimulate the customer.

Noto Peninsula is a wonderful part of the country, with dramatic cliff roads, forests, and fishing villages facing the crashing surf on the western side, and quiet bays, oysters farms, orchards, and retirement homes on the eastern side.

I'm writing today's Terrie's Take from the coffee lounge of the Yashio onsen in Wajima, Noto peninsula (Ishikawa-ken). Outside are wind gusts of over 100km/hr causing the floor-to-ceiling windows to flex and yet not break.

The concept began in Sonoma Valley, with rides and food experiences called Gourmet Centuries. These are immensely popular, bringing in up to 300 riders per event.

Awajishima is popular with cyclists because it has a road system that mostly hugs the coastline, offering great views of Osaka's Kansai International Airport, and flaming red sunsets in the late afternoons.

There is one inland gem, though, and that is Kakunodate, home to one of the best preserved samurai residential districts in the country. Kakunodate is an oasis of tranquility and beauty.