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This week’s B ME Bites Trivia Question:

Welcome to Edition #75 of B ME Bites!

Sometimes the places you remember most… are the ones you almost missed.

The first time in Himeji, this temple wasn’t even on the radar.

Not planned.
Not considered.

Just… unknown.

By the time our amazing Airbnb host mentioned it — a mountain temple used in The Last Samurai — there simply wasn’t enough time to add it in.

That one stung.

So when the Shinkansen return trip came together, this went straight to the top of the list… alongside the Pokémon Centres we had missed the first time around.

We were NOT missing this twice.

(Reminder: B ME Bites is now landing in inboxes fortnightly - well mostly 😉 - while its sister newsletter, Effortlessly Organic Living, takes the opposite week.)

Japan Adventures Part 12 – The Temple We Weren’t Missing Twice

Could have done this once… but no 😅

Some return trips happen by accident.

This one didn’t.

It was the “go back and do it properly” mission.

Nagoya.
Fukuoka.
And this.

Shoshazan Engyoji Temple.

Not because it was convenient.

Because we had found out about it too late the first time…

…and that wasn’t happening again 😄

🚄 Bullet Train, Round Two

Another bullet train.

Still efficient.
Still impressive.
Still making it very easy to question why trains at home can’t behave like this.

From Tokyo to Himeji, luggage came with us — but not for long.

We had learned our lesson in Osaka….

Straight to the coin lockers at the station - one of Japan’s best inventions ever!

No dragging suitcases up mountains.

No unnecessary suffering.

Just lock it up and move on.

Highly recommend!

🚡 Up the Mountain

From Himeji Station, we caught the bus to the Mt Shosha Ropeway.

You can buy the round-trip ropeway ticket from the bus station ticket office near the train station, which makes life much easier.

Less confusion.
Less standing around pretending to understand signs 😄

Inside the ropeway station building, there was also something completely unexpected — autographs from Tom Cruise and the cast of The Last Samurai, which was filmed up here.

Slightly random… but also a nice reminder you’re standing somewhere that’s been part of more than just history.

While we were waiting for the ropeway ride, someone showed up with a dog… on a ropeway mission of their own.

Not something you expect to see — but no one seemed surprised. Just another day on the mountain 😄

The cable car ride up the mountain was quick, but the view from the top made it feel bigger.

There’s an observation deck right at the top with incredible views stretching right across the area.

One of those moments where everyone quietly stops talking for a minute.

Always a good sign.

🏯 The Temple We Came Back For

At the entrance to the temple grounds, there’s another decision to make.

Walk… or take the temple bus.

Both get you there.

One just involves significantly less sweating.

There’s also one more thing to know.

You’ll need to buy an entry ticket here — after the ropeway, not before.

Easy enough… as long as you know it’s coming. You can buy a ticket that includes the bus or one that doesn’t.

Since time was, once again, not exactly on our side, the temple bus won.

No regrets.

If you have more time, walking gives you the full experience through the forest and smaller temple areas along the way.

But if your schedule is tight and your mission is clear… take the bus.

Protect the knees. Respect the timeline.

And then… Engyoji.

Quiet.
Huge.
And somehow even more impressive because of where it sits.

Hidden up in the mountains, surrounded by trees, it feels completely separate from the city below.

This is the temple used in The Last Samurai, but even without that connection, it would still be worth the trip.

The scale of it.
The stillness.
The feeling that you’ve stepped into somewhere much older than yourself.

Definitely worth going back for.

If you’re short on time, the bus gets you close — but there’s still a bit of walking once you’re up there. Comfortable shoes are your best friend.

🚡 Back Down, Back Again

After exploring the temple, it was temple bus back, cable car down, and bus back to Himeji Station.

Luggage collected.

One more bullet train.

Back to Tokyo.

Back to Sengawa.

And yes… back to the Izakaya again.

Because once you find a good place, there’s really no need to start taking unnecessary risks 😄

Dinner, familiar faces, and one more night at Ririko’s parents’ house.

A very good ending to a very full day.

💡 Travel Lessons So Far

🧠 Not everything worth seeing is obvious
(sometimes the best places are the ones you hear about from the locals)

🚡 There’s usually more than one way to get there
(and not all of them involve that much walking)

⏱️ Time disappears quickly when you’re trying to fit things in
(and somehow… faster than expected)

😅 Doing it “properly” often takes more effort
(and occasionally… a second trip)

😄 And sometimes… the plan wasn’t wrong
(it just didn’t have all the information yet)

✨ Looking Ahead

The journey was about to shift… whether we were ready for it or not.

Next up in the adventure:

✈️ Leaving the mainland behind
🌺 Heading south to Okinawa
🧭 Figuring things out as we went… again

A different place.

Not necessarily a slower pace.

Just… a different kind of chaos.

In Case You Missed It: B ME HQ Weekly Recap

🌿 Effortlessly Organic Living – Edition #13

Raw honey vs supermarket honey… it’s not just about taste.

How it’s processed can change what’s actually in it — from nutrients and enzymes to what’s been removed along the way.

A simple breakdown to help make better choices, without overcomplicating it.

📍 Read it here: Effortlessly Organic Living 13: Raw Honey vs Supermarket Honey

🌅 B ME Sunrise Bites – Day 83

Wrong Balcony, Right Sunrise

A Fukuoka morning that didn’t quite go to plan.

Set up on the wrong side… quick dash to the other balcony… and a sunrise that showed up anyway.

Not the view expected…

Still worth it.

📍 Watch here: Day 83 B ME Sunrise Bites – Wrong Balcony, Right Sunrise 🌄

📺 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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Warm regards,

Shari Ware Chief Encouragement Officer at B ME Bites

PS - Here’s your Friday funny! (Watch on YouTube)

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