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Sakura Golf in Japan 8 courses to consider this Cherry blossom season

Nothing heralds that spring has arrived along with the new golf season like the cherry blossom. Each year, as soon as the national flower appears in late March and early April, the Japanese golfers hit the fairways to enjoy the new season and indeed life, which the blooms remind them is both precious and fleeting.

The blooms came a little early this year, but if you are planning on heading out this week or next, here are eight courses in eight prefectures that are within driving distance from Tokyo, that are open to the public, and that celebrate the Sakura in style!

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Gordon Ramsay at the Conrad Tokyo

Gordon Ramsay at the Conrad Tokyo A culinary experience beyond compare

Among the definitive pleasures of the Conrad Tokyo in Shiodome is dining at the Michelin-starred Gordon Ramsay at Conrad Tokyo, a French restaurant providing everything you expect of such a master under the expert supervision of Chef de Cuisine Maeda.The moody ambience of the Conrad Tokyo, ultramodern but with an emphasis on wood and natural tones, is carried seamlessly into the décor of Gordon Ramsay. Seven-meter-high windows remove the need for artificial lighting during the day and make possible low-key illumination after dark, allowing guests to enjoy a stunning meal while taking in the breathtaking light show that is Tokyo after dark.

Japanese golf legend Isao Aoki speaks to CNN

This month ‘Living Golf’ is in Japan, a country that can boast the second largest golf market in the world behind the United States. It’s a country that has fallen in love with the game and its traditions. But also where the economic recession in the 1990’s threatened the survival of many clubs. With the emergence of cash rich regions such as China and the United Arab Emirates dominating where the game is played in the East, some say Japan has become the forgotten land of golf.

It’s not all doom and gloom however. CNN presenter Shane O’Donoghue travels around the capital of Japan, Tokyo, to showcase how the game is starting to prosper once again. Thanks to the emergence of Hideki Matsuyama as a world star, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics that will feature the game; and the expansion of...

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Sakura Golf in Japan 8 courses to consider this Cherry blossom season

Nothing heralds that spring has arrived along with the new golf season like the cherry blossom. Each year, as soon as the national flower appears in late March and early April, the Japanese golfers hit the fairways to enjoy the new season and indeed life, which the blooms remind them is both precious and fleeting.

The blooms came a little early this year, but if you are planning on heading out this week or next, here are eight courses in eight prefectures that are within driving distance from Tokyo, that are open to the public, and that celebrate the Sakura in style!

The Cool California Coast

When golfers think of the California Coast, they think of Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill, The Olympic Club, and the most recent PGA Championship course, Harding Park among others. These are some of the best golf courses in the USA and all have one thing in common: the California coastal climate.

When winemakers and wine lovers think about California Pinot Noir, they think Sonoma, Monterey and Santa Barbara. These coastal wine regions are some of the best for growing and producing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir due to the proximity to the coast.

Image by: Hari Nandakumar

Big Easy On The Course And In The Winery

I am very excited about AIR Golf allowing me the opportunity to write about 2 of my favorite things: Golf and Wine. Golf and Wine complement each other in so many ways and in this quarterly column we will be exploring the intersection as well as how each can be enjoyed on their own.

Several South African PGA golf professionals have had great success on the course as well as catching the wine bug and starting their own wine brands in their native land. With some of the most picturesque vineyards in the world, almost perfect Mediterranean climate and a diverse food and wine scene, there is no wonder why these South African’s got involved in wine.

David Frost (29 professional victories) and his family have been in the wine business for over 60 years. David has been in and...

Maduro Lounge Premium booze and all that Jazz at Tokyo Grand Hyatt.

It had been a fair few years since I had visited Maduro- the Tokyo Grand Hyatt’s plush Jazz bar located in Roppongi Hills. The entrance is a little hidden, its large wooden doors tucked away in between floors of the plush five-star property.

It’s a Thursday and the bar has just opened its doors, no band yet and it’s relaxingly quiet. Besides me, 3 suits are finishing off the day's business over a drink and two couples are having an aperitif before dinner.

The interior is exactly what you would expect for a luxury jazz joint. Tastefully backlit, comfortable chairs and round candlelit tables are around a typical jazz band stage. To the right is the bar, boasting a hefty selection of rare whiskeys-more on that later. I settle into a back table and peruse the menu.

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The Tavern - Grill & Lounge Brilliant creative food in a casual upscale atmosphere

An area that has undergone a remarkable transformation over the last few years is Toranomon 1-chome. This classic Tokyo business town has evolved into a modern, youthful promenade, thriving around Kanata Street. Towering over the district is yet another remarkable Mori Building Co. creation, Toranomon Hills. On the top 6 floors, nestled over a plethora of blue chip companies and the JOC, is the Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills hotel, which is the focus of our attention. In particular the newly conceptualized The Tavern - Grill & Lounge, which under the creative brilliance of Executive Chef, Shaun Keenan, and his dedicated team, has come into its own.

BMW X7

There has been a buzz with BMW owners since the unveiling of the BMW Concept X7 iPerformance at the Frankfurt motorshow, the BMW Group is not only pulling back the covers on a new model concept for the luxury segment, it is also introducing a whole new take on luxury for the BMW brand. The Concept X7 iPerformance is it's largest SUV to date. It's striking exterior composed of intently focused lines with simplified accents. The interior offers 3 rows of luxurious comfort and cleant elegant design. The BMW TwinPower Turbo petrol engine to create an exceptionally efficient and dynamic plug-in hybrid powertrain that excels in all driving situations – including running with zero local emissions.

The X7 will join the 8 Series, the 7 series, the BMW i8 and new BMW i8 Roadster in the...

Volvo XC90 Review Fantastic styling takes Volvo to top of the SUV offering in Japan

I grew up in Europe, where car manufacturers have a distinct design and style and target distinct demographics. Volvo has always been a family car... safe, reliable and built like a tank... when we talk about stylish good looks and sex appeal, well let's just say, traditionally, Volvo would not get a look-in. In recent years though Volvo has started to move in a different direction- starting with the XC90 SUV.

Volvo started looking at a completely different styling and design, gone were the clunky tanks, and in came the innovation that forced everyone to look at Volvo cars and the Volvo brand, in a new light.

The XC90 came onto the scene with a lot of heavy hitters in the backdrop: BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Lexus as well as the uber-luxury models like the Cayenne and Levante...

Il Figo Ingordo Cosy Italian, in the Roppongi neighborhood

On a brisk January evening, I made my way through Roppongi’s lesser traveled streets to find what can only be described as a cozy neighborhood eatery not out of place on the streets of Milan or Rome. This encounter was not by chance though, on a recommendation from a seasoned Italian expat friend, who said with a wink “Carne Fantastico” I decided to come and see for myself.

Il Figo Ingordo has been in Roppongi for 10 years now and has a sister location in Daikanyama, the restaurants' owner studied in Italy before returning to Japan and building his team of chefs all of whom share his passion for Italy and their take on the Italian classics which keep you coming back for more...

Can Matsuyama Be Japan's First Major Winner? PGA Championship Preview

According to the current World Golf Rankings, Japan's Hideki Matsuyama is the third ranked player in the world, and after his emphatic victory yesterday at Firestone, he is now No.1 in the FEDEX Cup standings too. To date, the Japanese suerstar has chalked up 13 wins with 5 of them on the PGA tour, and three of those in 2017. Add to this 6 top ten finishes on tour this year, two of them at majors, including a runner up at the US Open (Matsuyama had the day's lowest round, a six-under-par 66, to finish four shots adrift of winner Brooks Koepka) and you can see both his pedigree and consistancy.

The under-hyped Matsuyama is often forgotten about by the international media, which seems to suit the quiet Ehime native, who has yet to conduct an interview in English, preferring to...

Tesla's Model 3 To Take Electric Motoring To The Masses

After ten years of waiting, Tesla has revealed the Model 3, the vehicle that CEO Elon Musk hopes will take the electric car to the masses.

At the unveiling of the Model 3 at the company's design studio in Hawthorne, California, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the car will deliver at least 215 miles of range beginning at just ¥4,000,000— that's a bold claim, and an important one for Tesla to meet. Musk is "fairly confident" that deliveries will begin by the end of 2017, and "you will not be able to buy a better car for $4,000,000 even with no options." And it will be one of the safest cars in the world, according to Musk.

GinzaSix The newest in Tokyo luxury

Just this past April, a new department store opened in Tokyo after much anticipation. GINZA SIX is located in Ginza’s sixth district and, unlike other shopping centers, is built with international clientele in mind. Ginza, one of the most luxurious shopping districts in Tokyo and the world, attracts visitors from all over with everything from the latest tech to exclusive runway pieces. Now, GINZA SIX promises to further delight and better assist discerning visitors.

Photo: By GinzaSix

Hot Jazz in Tokyo-- The City’s 5 Best Music Makes Magical Memories

New Orleans, Harlem… Tokyo? While Japan and jazz may not immediately go together in your mind, on any given night in Tokyo, there are hundreds of clubs playing vinyl jazz classics and dozens with live jazz band performances. Now ubiquitous to Tokyo nightlife, jazz was introduced at the beginning the 20th century by American soldiers via the Philippines. It’s been popularized in novels by Haruki Murakami, who ran a popular jazz bar in the 1970s. Although Murakami’s bar is long gone, while you are here on your golf holiday, you can check out these five spots to experience real Tokyo jazz nightlife!

More on Air

What happens if your ball strikes another players ball? Golfing Rules, Seriously!

On the course this past weekend, I putt from just off the green and my ball struck my playing partners ball, knocking it closer to the hole.

After a quick giggle, we began to discuss the ruling, 'I'll play from there and its a one-shot penalty for you' my friend said. 'I was off the green' I said, 'Doesn't matter' he said. Right, I said. 'Hang on, and I'll consult the rule book'.

Luckily, I had The R&A's Rules of Golf on my phone (Well worth a download and it's FREE)

Without quoting the book verbatim, there are basically three scenarios which you should be mindful of:

On the Fairway If your ball strikes a fellow players ball on the fairway by accident, both players will play from where their balls lie. There will be no penalty...