Japan may not have The Great Lakes, but she does have a pretty great lake of her own: Lake Biwa. Lake Biwa is the largest lake in Japan, and you can see it from space, nestled in central Japan near Kyoto and many other very famous cities. I’ve been to the lake a few times, and it’s always breathtaking. It’s kind of shocking to see this flat lake hemmed in by towering mountains so close to the shore. Lake Biwa is a place of contrasts, and I’m here for it.

On the particular trip pictured below, we summited a small mountain via cable car, which is always a treat. At the top of the mountain, we were treated to this amazing view. Not pictured was the small colony of shockingly tame wild cats that are quite happy to be fed, pet, and pampered by any and all visiting tourists. Or the love temple haha. If you aren’t recognizing all these little details, I’ll just say it out loud: this trip was to Omi-Hachiman. The lead-up to the ropeway was also lined with all these old-timey Japanese buildings housing famous wagashi shops, a pickled goods shop, souvenir shops, cafes, restaurants, micro-breweries, and so much more. It’s a really cool place. The part that most captures my attention, though, is that view at the top of the mountain. When I think back on that trip, I always fall into the memory of the brisk wind, the looming mountains, the breathtaking vistas… I can feel my heart slowing as I settle into my happy place.

Travelling is so much fun, especially when you can spend your time perched on mountain tops admiring the natural geography of a place. Such a venture is always worthwhile, in my opinion. Go see Japan, go see the world, go see everything. You won’t regret it.