Lake Biwa

I made my Spirited Away dreams come true in 2025, just without the angry demons. I stayed at a swanky hot spring hotel on Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan, which is in Shiga prefecture. I took not one but two baths in their outdoor hot spring.

This is not a hotel you stay in every night of a trip, unless you have a lot of money to spend. This is an “experience” you splurge on for a rare treat.

Not being used to such luxurious hotels, the line of staff members waiting by the entrance to bow and greet you was a surprise to me. I kept wondering if they could sense I was not used to the high life as I bowed awkwardly back at them.

I was also not used to the variety of food offered at the breakfast buffet. They had seafood you could grill at your table, fresh fruit, brick oven pizza, assorted dumplings, and trays of pastries. I could not have left hungry if I tried.

I was sad to leave but my wallet could only handle one night there.

Hokkaido

This was my first time visiting Hokkaido and it was more of a brief introduction because I was only there for 3 summer days. I stayed in Sapporo, which is a bustling city known for beer, seafood, and hearty meals during the long snowy winter.

On the day I arrived in Hokkaido, there was a massive earthquake in Russia that sent almost all of Japan into either a tsunami watch or evacuation. I was planning to go to the coastal city of Otaru for a day but decided to stay away from the ocean just in case.

I spent my time at a sculpture art park, a seafood market with a delicious salmon bowl, and strolled downtown with a fancy latte. I also ate incredible crepes and a Hokkaido beef hamburger, which Sapporo is not known for but I am definitely glad I tried them.

Yoshino

I went to Yoshino to see the autumn leaves, but apparently more tourists flock there for the cherry blossoms. There was not an overwhelming amount of tourists when I was there so maybe the fall foliage is not as famous.

There are trails and one cable car going up the mountain outside of the small town of Yoshino. Along the trails, you can stop and see many temples and shrines.

I stayed in a guesthouse run by an older Japanese couple and was able to have tea and chat with a friendly couple from the Netherlands and a solo traveler from Turkey.

Accommodation with a shared bathroom or kitchen is always hit-and-miss so meeting lovely people always makes me feel relieved.

The town of Yoshino is pretty sleepy. I saw one convenience store, one grocery store, and the few restaurants seemed to have sporadic business hours. I did see several people at work Sunday morning at a lumber mill so the timber industry must be doing well at least.

I am already planning to visit new places in 2026