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This week’s B ME Bites Trivia Question:

Welcome to edition #62 of B ME Bites! Castles, coffee, and quirky cafés — Japan kept the surprises coming this week, and I can’t wait to share the highlights with you.

P.S. These Japan adventure editions are packed full of stories, tips, and photos (and let’s be honest — they take a little longer to pull together!). So instead of weekly, I’ll be sharing them fortnightly. That way, each edition has the space it deserves — and you’ll know exactly when to expect the next one.

Japan Adventures Part 2 - Kyoto Charm, Osaka Magic and A Birthday to Remember

Castles, coffee, and the quirkiest cafés Japan has to offer

From waving farewells to new friends in Nose to chasing puppies in Kyoto, this next instalment delivered heartfelt moments, quirky finds, and a birthday evening that sparkled.

Farewell Nose, Hello Osaka

Leaving our inn in Nose wasn’t easy. Even their humble mailbox in a wire basket seemed charming! Shohei and Mami, our wonderful hosts, not only picked us up when we arrived but also dropped us back at the station for free, making sure we knew every step of the train ride back to Osaka. As the train pulled away, they were still waving — and we waved back like crazy until they disappeared from view. They started as hosts but became friends, and we truly hope to see them again one day.

Back in Osaka, we made a pit stop at the second Pokémon Centre (because apparently one isn’t enough!) and lunch at the Pokémon Café. Think themed everything: plates, glasses, cutlery, desserts, and even a Pikachu dance show while you eat. Pro tip: go with a friend so you can order different meals and share — more variety, less FOMO. The souvenir cups were too tempting to resist — so we didn’t.

👉 Reservations are strongly recommended — without one, you’ll likely face a long wait, or even miss out completely during busy times.

Then came Osaka Castle. The park surrounding it is huge — beautifully green, with its own Starbucks tucked inside. Rookie mistake? We didn’t find luggage lockers, so we ended up dragging our bags through the park in the summer heat. At least we caught the little train up to the castle… though by the time we left, it had stopped running, so we hiked back down (still with luggage in tow).

The castle itself was worth every step. From the outside it looked like a fairytale fortress, while inside it was a full museum. Accessibility is mixed — there’s an elevator inside, but some levels are stairs-only, so plan ahead if mobility is a concern. On the way out, the day delivered one of those small joys you can’t plan for: a Japanese “cat lady” surrounded by a swarm of adorable kitties. Totally made up for the sweaty trek.

Dinner was a happy accident: a Nepali restaurant we stumbled across. My first taste of Nepali food — spicy, hearty, and delicious. Nataasjia wasn’t convinced, but I was all in. We even tried the local beer. As a non-beer drinker, the fact I didn’t hate it says a lot.

The night ended in pure magic. Back at our Airbnb, fairy lights twinkled in the garden, soft music played, and for once, the rain stayed away. Surrounded by cushions, we sipped French wine under the lights. Who knew my first taste of French wine would happen in Japan — and on my birthday? A perfect way to end the day.

Kyoto Charm

The next morning, Kyoto was calling. First lesson of the day? Always carry cash. Some buses only accept transport cards or coins, and we saw tourists turned away for not having either.

Our first stop: the Golden Pavilion. Rain or no rain, it sparkled like a dream, glowing across the water in a way no camera can quite capture.

By the time hunger hit, we stumbled on Yakiniku Marutomi — a yakiniku spot (Japanese BBQ with Korean-style influences). While many tables were set up for grilling your own meat, we were short on time and ordered straight from the menu. The dishes came sizzling hot, rich and full of flavour, and honestly some of the best we had in Japan.

The setup itself was memorable too: raised seating with space for your legs tucked underneath the table, making it surprisingly comfortable. They even had soft, fluffy blankets on hand if you felt chilly — such a thoughtful touch. Between the hearty food and cosy atmosphere, it was one of those meals that stays with you long after the trip.

From there, we wandered through the traditional Geisha district streets. Drizzle made the cobblestones shine, adding even more charm. Along the way, Black Cat Coffee gave us something we’d been craving since arrival — our first proper western-style coffee. Until then, most cups had been hit-or-miss, so this was a heavenly win.

Kyoto brought plenty of quirks too: a puppy café full of ridiculously cute dogs (worth braving what we dubbed “death stairs”), browsing through Kiddyland and Animate for anime treasures, and of course, another Pokémon Centre to tick off the challenge list. On the way back, we cracked up over a restaurant called Eggslut — apparently a US chain, but brand-new to us.

The day ended with one of the highlights of the trip: the beautiful Kyo-Train Garaku back to Osaka. Each car was decorated for a different season — cherry blossoms, summer, autumn, snow. We wanted to walk the full length just to admire them all, but first things first: claim your seat! Comfortable, whimsical, and absolutely unforgettable.

We wrapped up our last night in Osaka at the Airbnb, feet tired but hearts full. Next up? Road-tripping Japan in a motorhome 🚐✨

🌸 Travel Lessons So Far

• Goodbyes don’t have to be sad when they come with gratitude — sometimes waving from the train window is the best kind of send-off.

• Not every new taste will be a hit, but trying it anyway is part of the adventure (Nepali beer included!).

• The best highlights are often unexpected: fairy lights in a garden, a cat lady at a castle, or a train decorated like the seasons.

💬 What’s a “little moment” from your travels that ended up being unforgettable?

Next Up

🚐 Road Tripping Japan – Motorhome Adventures. Japan Part 3 will arrive in two weeks — because adventures this big need room to breathe!

In Case You Missed It: B ME HQ Weekly Recap

🌅 Sunrise Bite of the Week:

After days of grey, the faintest glow broke through — and it felt like the biggest gift. This little sunrise moment reminded me that sometimes it’s the smallest wins that move us the most.

🎥 Watch it on YouTube:

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

🎯Weekly Challenge

This week’s stories were about kind hosts, unexpected delights, and the magic of small details (like fairy lights in a garden or spotting a “cat lady” at Osaka Castle).

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

👉 Notice and celebrate one small kindness or surprise at least 3 days this week. Write it down or share it with someone. You’ll be amazed how these little moments stack up into something unforgettable.

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

How did you like the content in this newsletter?

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!

If you have an inspiring story, or a helpful tip or strategy to share, or if there is something specific you would like covered, please fill out the form below so that it can be shared with the community. Please note that this is a subscriber survey, so you may have to subscribe first (hint, hint…… 😉) : https://bmebites.beehiiv.com/forms/8d0dfdd1-4290-4e40-bff9-1f61b812c661

(Or you could also hit reply and give the details that way if it’s easier for you 😄)

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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