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This week’s B ME Bites Trivia Question:

Welcome to Edition #78 of B ME Bites!

Our final few days in Japan were less about ticking off famous landmarks and more about pyjama days, a mountain that almost didn't show up, a private onsen, and a goodbye we weren't quite ready for.

This week: Mount Fuji through the clouds, a traditional onsen, some emotional goodbyes, and the last lesson Japan had to teach us.

(Reminder: B ME Bites is now landing in inboxes fortnightly... well, mostly 😉... while its sister newsletter, Effortlessly Organic Living, arrives on the alternate weeks.)

B ME Bites 78: Japan Adventures Finale - Until Next Time, Japan

Mount Fuji, heartfelt goodbyes, and one final lesson before flying home

Here's how our last days in Japan actually went.

The Perfect Ending to an Unforgettable Adventure

There comes a point on every holiday where your body tells you it's time to slow down. My body had told me that many times over the entirety of our time in Japan. So after everything we'd packed into the previous week, that's exactly what happened.

Pyjamas, Work and Recharging

Instead of rushing off to another attraction, we stayed in our pyjamas, put our feet up and caught up on a bit of work. It wasn't particularly exciting. But it was exactly what we needed.

Mount Fuji Finally Revealed Herself

The following day we joined a tour to Mount Fuji, led by our wonderful guide, Tsubasa, whose humour kept everyone thoroughly entertained throughout the day. I have to say that he was the best tour guide I've ever had. On the bus ride out, Tsubasa taught us how to fold a little origami Mount Fuji. Mine's still sitting on my desk at home.

On the way to Mount Fuji, we stopped for lunch at the Oshino Ninja Village. We enjoyed a lovely buffet lunch. Once we had finished eating, we had a bit of time to explore the rest of the grounds. It was beautiful and so interesting and I would have loved to have spent more time there. If there was anything that I thought could be improved on this tour, that would be the only thing. More time to explore and experience more ninja stuff. Unfortunately, we had to be in and out quick…we had to be ninja!

Off to Mount Fuji! Like many visitors, we'd been warned that seeing the summit wasn't guaranteed. The weather marches to the beat of its own drum. Clouds completely covered the mountain for most of the morning, and it looked as though we might indeed miss out.

Then, almost as if Mount Fuji decided we'd waited patiently enough, the clouds slowly parted. For just a few precious minutes, the summit revealed itself. We quickly grabbed our cameras while everyone around us did exactly the same thing.

Sometimes timing really is everything.

We picked up lucky bells from the gift shop before continuing our adventure. We hadn’t needed them to catch a glimpse of the summit that day, but you never know when we might need some extra luck.

A few other things caught our eye at the fifth station too, including a post box so you can post a letter from Mount Fuji.

Next on the tour was a ride on the Hakone Ropeway and a cruise across Lake Ashi aboard one of the most impressive pirate ships we've ever seen. It was such a wonderful trip and we loved every minute of it.

To finish the day, we caught the Shinkansen back to Tokyo. Not a bad way to spend a day. This was definitely one of the best tours I have ever been on.

Family Time

Our next day was wonderfully simple.

We met up with Ririko, her husband Yohei, her brother Kento and her three daughters, Hanako, Aiko and Mako, at a Korean BBQ restaurant in Sengawa. We hadn’t experienced Korean BBQ before and have to say that we loved it.

After weeks of sightseeing, it was lovely to simply sit around a table, enjoy great food and spend time together.

One Last Tokyo Adventure

Our final full day in Japan included a few things we'd been looking forward to.

First stop was a Shiba Inu café. Needless to say, Nataasjia was in heaven.

We had originally planned to visit an otter café afterwards, but after reading the information sheet explaining that otters can bite, Taasjia decided she'd rather admire them from a safe distance. Probably a wise decision.

Instead, we enjoyed lunch before heading to one of Japan's most iconic experiences.

An onsen.

Because Taasjia has tattoos, we'd booked a private bath so we could relax together without needing to worry about tattoo restrictions. There are many onsens where you can’t enter at all if you have tattoos, so if you have any tattoos, it’s definitely something that you want to check beforehand if you can.

It was peaceful. Quiet. And the perfect way to unwind before the long journey home. Our bodies definitely needed a soak and the extra minerals in the water could only be of benefit.

That evening we returned to Sengawa one last time, enjoyed dinner at a local Chinese restaurant, and soaked up our final evening in the neighbourhood that had begun to feel like home.

One Last Lesson

Departure day arrived far sooner than either of us wanted.

After packing our bags, we said goodbye to Ririko's parents, Taruho and Reiko, before Ririko helped us navigate Tokyo one last time, even waiting patiently with our mountain of luggage while we attempted one final sightseeing stop.

Our goal was to see the Imperial Palace.

We made it to the right spot. Imperial Palace Park is exactly where you go for that view.

What we hadn't realised was that walking through the palace grounds themselves requires a guided tour, one that only runs at set times on set days, with bookings that close well before you arrive.

With no reservation and a flight to catch, there wasn't enough time to sort out same-day tickets.

One final travel lesson: knowing where to go isn't the same as knowing how to get in.

Until Next Time, Japan

As we boarded our flight home to Australia, I couldn't help thinking about everything we'd experienced over the previous five weeks.

We'd celebrated my 50th birthday. We'd celebrated Taasjia's 30th birthday.

We'd watched sunrises and sunsets. Visited temples, castles and markets. Explored tiny villages and busy cities. Travelled on bullet trains. Experienced Disneyland for the very first time. Made lifelong memories.

And most importantly, we were welcomed into the home of one very special family.

Ririko, along with her kind and generous parents, opened not only their home but their hearts to us. Their kindness, generosity and hospitality shaped our experience of Japan in ways no hotel ever could. Because of them, we experienced everyday Japanese life, shared meals, laughed together, and created memories that simply wouldn't have been possible as ordinary tourists.

We'll never be able to thank them enough.

Japan gave us far more than a holiday. It gave us friendships, unforgettable experiences, and memories we'll treasure for the rest of our lives.

Until next time, Japan. We’ll be better prepared next time. We hope!

🌏 Travel Lessons So Far

🇯🇵 Sometimes slowing down is exactly what you need (rest days are part of the adventure too)

⛰️ Patience is often rewarded (sometimes the clouds really do part at just the right moment)

♨️ Local experiences are worth embracing (even if they take a little extra planning)

🗺️ Research is never really finished (booking ahead matters as much as knowing where to go)

❤️ The people you meet often become the highlight (long after you've forgotten the itinerary)

😄 And every great adventure leaves you wanting just one more trip

✨ Looking Ahead

Our Japan adventure may have come to an end, but B ME Bites certainly hasn't.

🧠 Personal growth
🌿 Wellness hacks and self-care
💛 Your weekly bite of betterment, same as always

In Case You Missed It: B ME HQ Weekly Recap

🌿 Effortlessly Organic Living – Edition #16

Not everything at the shops needs to be organic.

But there's a list of twelve where it genuinely matters, and another fifteen where you can save your money instead.

📍 Read it here: Effortlessly Organic Living 16: The Dirty Dozen - Which Produce to Always Buy Organic

🌅 B ME Sunrise Bites – Day 89

Grey skies over Sengawa, a pair of borrowed thongs, and birdsong that made up for it all… turns out even a letterbox can have serious charm.

📍 Watch here: Day 89 B ME Sunrise Bites – Japanese Charm in the Grey Skies

📺 Explore the full journey on the B ME Sunrise Bites YouTube Playlist
(Remember to hit subscribe!)

Resource Roundup

Below is a resource list that has been created with you in mind. Whenever something new that could be helpful is discovered or created, it’s added to the list, so check it out from time to time. If you’re strapped for time, once you open the page below, click on Resource List in the top menu, then click on the “Health Tools” link for a list of items that could be helpful on your path to a better you.

The answer to this week’s trivia question is:

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Shari Ware Chief Encouragement Officer at B ME Bites

PS - Here’s your Saturday Snickers! (Watch on YouTube)

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