Then it was four towns along Biwako and the Sea of Japan.

Biwako (Lake Biwa) is Japan’s largest lake.

It was created about four million years ago, making it one of only a dozen lakes worldwide officially classified as an Ancient lake.

My first stay was in Otsu on the southern part of the lake.

I could take a subway and train here in less than an hour from Kyoto, but I felt like I was on a different planet!

A lake view hotel seemed necessary for my recovery from temple and shrine overdose.

Japanese hotel rooms are typically small so this felt luxurious.

All hotels have provided pyjamas and a good assortment of amenities.

Because all the rooms faced the lake, the hallway had these cool windows on the back.

The morning I travelled from Kyoto had torrential rain.

I had a raincoat. My backpack had a raincoat. My daypack had a raincoat. And an umbrella.

It is the rainy season.

I found a covered arcade for a break.

Robot cleaning the grocery store.

But the next day was 25 and gorgeous. That has been the normal on and off weather!

Long walk along the promenade.

I loved the modern water fountain with a bottle filler next to the old shrine.

What you won’t find are public trash bins. After the Tokyo subway Sarin gas attack in 1995, bins were seen as a potential risk.

So you take your garbage back home or to your hotel.

Convenience stores will take garbage, like a cup or wrapper, from you if you bought the product there.

I went out on the paddle wheeler for a 90 minute cruise around the lake. It was a beautiful day for it.

Met an American woman, and enjoyed speaking English! Yet another American who apologized for their government.

Then lunch in a little coffee shop that I found open on a Sunday. The sandwich was like a meatloaf on super soft white bread, which is popular here. Toasting the bread was a good touch.

Then a short three train ride up to Nagahama, on the north east side of Biwako for two nights.

The canals were everywhere.

The area around Kurokabe Square had some interesting shops.

Glassblowing is a local tradition.

Shop in an old bank (1900) where an owl (symbol of good luck) whispered my name. Of course it weighs a kilo🙄

And a castle, reconstructed in the 1980’s.

And Lake Biwa.

Nagahama Biwako Daibutsu Temple

28 m Buddha

Nagahamabetsuin Daitsu-ji was a lovely old temple where I was alone.

The railway and a museum in the old station.

Keiunkan was a house built in 1886 for the Emperor’s visit. Lovely gardens with bonsai.

Then lunch. I had a local specialty ‘yakisaba somen’ with local mackerel. 2000 yen (Cdn$20)

But sitting on the floor is not my most elegant move! But I wasn’t going to ask for the little stool and riser table like Gramma.

Then Tsuruga for a night because I had to change trains there anyway. Though I did arrive by 9:30 in the morning so I had a full day to explore. It’s not a big town.

I had a fellow from the Okanagan notice my Canadian flag and he asked how I had ended up in this backwater too!

But judging from the train station and businesses around it, it’s a major hub of different trains.

Tsuruga was the first city on the Sea of Japan to build a railway and it became the bridge between Japan and Europe.

Passengers would arrive, transfer to a ship headed to Russia, and transfer to the Trans-Siberian Railway.

Instead of a one month ship voyage, they could reach Paris is 17 days.

Railway Station Museum.

An old warehouse (1905) by the harbour turned to food.

Kehi Jingu Shrine (702) had red wooden Torii gates that are one of the three largest in Japan.

And back to usual sized Japan hotel rooms.

Then lunch!

Enriched chicken broth ramen with slow cured pork. 880 yen (Cdn$8.80)

Then because it was 27oC, I continued the chicken theme with a drumstick for dinner!

Looking towards the train station. Ramen trucks set up every evening until 2 am.

Sake!

Then Kanazawa for three nights.

I caught a Shinkansen bullet train so it was 51 minutes instead of almost three hours.

But the view was usually a tunnel.

Kanazawa is on the Sea of Japan as well, but it wasn’t close to the city centre.

But many canals that were lovely to walk beside and listen to the water.

The train station was my favourite. And I read after that it was chosen one of the world’s most beautiful stations.

There is a huge glass dome to provide shelter from the rain and snow.

And a castle!

Not original but reconstructed using traditional methods.

Next to the extensive castle grounds, there was Kenrokuen Garden.

It is listed as one of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan. I spent a very nice morning there before it got busy.

Oyama Jinja Shrine

And of course, a food market. Omicho, a famous seafood market with a 300 year history.

I’ve had so much sushi that I opted for eel.

And a giesha area with tea houses and tourists.

From up on the castle grounds I could see the coloured pavilion of the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art.

Rain again today but I took advantage of it for indoor things. And finishing to this blog before I head to Tokyo in the morning.

I have a ticket for the 09:07 Shinkansen bullet train. I chose the Kagayaki, the fastest with minimum stops. It which reaches 260 km/h and takes 2.5 hours.

See you in Tokyo!