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This week’s B ME Bites Trivia Question:

Welcome to edition #64 of B ME Bites! This leg of the Japan adventure was all about contrasts — peaceful shrines and emotional moments, maple-leaf cakes and mischievous deer, and one very memorable “closed” Pokémon Centre that taught us that not everything goes to plan (and that’s half the fun!).

PS: B ME Bites is now landing in inboxes fortnightly while its new sister newsletter, Effortlessly Organic Living, takes the opposite week.

Japan Adventures Part 4 – Floating Gates, Fluffy Deer and the One That Got Away

Sweet discoveries, solemn moments, and travel curveballs in Japan’s south

🏯 Floating Gates and Maple Leaf Magic

We began our day at the Miyajimaguchi Ferry Terminal, bound for Miyajima Island, home of the famous floating torii gate. The short ten-minute ride was smooth, and if you ever go, make sure to ask for the ferry that takes you closer to the gate — the view is breathtaking!

Once on the island, we wandered through streets lined with shops, shrines, and scenic views that feel straight out of a postcard. But Miyajima’s charm isn’t just the torii gate — it’s the deer that roam freely, happily posing for photos and begging for pats. Curious, gentle, and completely unfazed by people, they’ve clearly made the island their own. It’s tempting to offer them a treat, but feeding them isn’t allowed (and honestly, they’re doing just fine finding snacks of their own!).

And then came the Momiji Manjū (maple-leaf cakes). These sweet little treats are everywhere on the island, and each stall has its own twist — from classic red-bean to chocolate, custard, and even deep-fried versions. Of course, we had to sample more than one (for research, obviously).

A quick stop for a lemon probiotic soda — perfect for my recovering head cold — rounded out the visit. Miyajima Island could have filled a whole day — but even a few hours were enough to leave our hearts full and our smiles wide.

☮️ Reflections in Hiroshima

Back on the mainland, we made our way to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.
No words truly capture the emotion of standing in that space. The exhibits are confronting but essential — a stark reminder of resilience, loss, and hope.

Afterwards, it was time for something uniquely local — Hiroshima Okonomiyaki, the city’s layered savoury pancake. We didn’t realise just how big they were and ordered two to share. Let’s just say we left with very full bellies and enough leftovers for another meal… or 3 — a “delicious disaster” worth repeating.

Before heading back to camp, we grabbed some sushi and fresh-squeezed orange juice from a tiny Italian café — clearly, the universe knew I still needed vitamin C!

When we checked in at our campsite, the staff warned us (again) about bears — and when we nervously admitted we’d been scared the night before, one staff member replied, deadpan:

“I’m scared too.”

So reassuring.

🦌 The One That Got Away

Morning brought relief — we survived another bear-free night! Onward to Fukuoka, home of Pokémon Centre #5. Except… it was closed. Moved. Renovating. Opening again ten days later. Talk about bad timing!

After a few choice words and a deep breath, we pulled up our big-girl pants and went hunting for something else to explore. That “something” turned out to be Ōhori Park — a beautiful lake surrounded by gardens, bridges, and swan-shaped paddleboats. We found a food truck selling Japanese-style hot dogs, wandered flower-lined paths, and even spotted a turtle sunbathing on a rock. Fukuoka truly lived up to its nickname — the Flower City.

The drive to our next campsite at Lake Ōhara Fureai Park was stunning but stressful — think narrow mountain roads and a motorhome that barely fit. By the time we arrived, the gates were locked for the night. Thank goodness for Airbnb — we found a cosy spot in Shūnan to rest instead.

Even the Michi no Eki roadside stops had their own charm — many with fresh flowers in the bathrooms! Japan’s attention to detail never stops amazing us.

🌸 Travel Lessons So Far

✨ Every mishap makes for the best story later — especially the ones that start with, “It was supposed to be open…”
✨It’s funny what stays with you — flowers in restrooms, kind smiles, and a campsite host confessing he was scared of bears too. Comforting? Not really. Memorable? Absolutely.
✨ Sometimes “Plan B” ends up being better than Plan A — especially when it involves turtles and hot dogs.

💬 What’s one unexpected twist that turned into a favourite travel memory for you?

🕊️ Next Up

From Fukuoka to Nagoya to Hokkaido — it’s time to head north!
We’ll tackle long drives, surprise discoveries, and a few winter-in-summer moments in Japan’s cooler regions.

In Case You Missed It: B ME HQ Weekly Recap

🪴 Effortlessly Organic Living – Edition #2: Low-Tox Mythbusters – 5 Myths Busted

Cut through the noise of “clean,” “green,” and “natural” with simple, budget-friendly truths anyone can use.

➤ Read it here

🌅 B ME Sunrise Bite of the Week:

After all the grey mornings, Japan finally delivered a splash of colour — and a little adrenaline. This sunrise came with breathtaking hues and bear warnings. Proof that beauty and fear can share the same space (if you don’t linger too long 😉).

🎥 Watch Day 65 – Found the Colour… But Also Bears?!

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

🎯Weekly Challenge

This week’s stories were filled with courage, curiosity, and just a touch of fear — from bears in the forest to finding beauty in unexpected places.

Your mission for this week, if you choose to accept it, is to do the following:

Find something that both excites and scares you a little — and do it anyway. Growth rarely hides in comfort zones.

If you need some help, feel free to hit reply - let’s help you get started if you’re stuck!

B ME Bites is deliberately sent on a Friday morning (Aussie time) so that where ever you are in the world, you have the weekend to give yourself the gift of implementing a small change towards a better you. What will that small change be? Is there a change that you have been trying to make and haven’t yet succeeded? Give it another go, applying the above - you can do it!

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:

Thanks for reading and the hope is that you found something helpful inside this issue. If you did, remember to share it with others whom could also find it helpful, using this link: https://bmebites.beehiiv.com

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Hit reply and answer either 1,2 or 3, and, if the answer is 2 or 3, give the deets on what would make it a 1 for you!:

1. Loved it!

2. It was OK

3. Meh!

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Until next week, keep taking one S.T.E.P.S step at a time! (If you missed the issue explaining The S.T.E.P.S Formula, you can check that out here)

Warm regards,

Shari Ware Chief Encouragement Officer at B ME Bites

PS - Here’s a little Friday funny for you!

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