Day 7: Kyoto – A Snowy Surprise and a Cozy Ending
We had two full days planned in Kyoto, a city famous for its ancient temples, peaceful gardens, and traditional streets. But for us, the real mission was snow—we wanted to experience that magical, powdery white winter wonderland. After taking a train from Osaka, we arrived in Kyoto just as the sun was setting. Our capsule hotel near Kyoto Station was clean and futuristic, but there was one tiny problem—no space to pray. Not ideal, but we made do. After a much-needed shower, we were all set to sleep and recharge for the next day's adventure.
Or so we thought.
As we settled into our capsules, our phones buzzed with live updates from Miyama Village—our original plan for the day. The goal was to visit its thatched-roof houses covered in snow, straight out of a fairy tale. But thanks to YouTube live streams, we quickly realized something heartbreaking: No snow. Zero. None. Nada. A collective sigh filled our tiny capsule room. But disappointment lasted only a moment before the wheels in our heads started turning. Snow wasn’t optional—it was a must. So, with the speed and efficiency of last-minute travel planners, we searched for another destination.
That’s when we found Biwako Valley Ski Resort.
The only downside? The tickets were pricey, but at that point, we didn’t care. We booked them instantly and fell asleep, dreaming of snow-covered slopes.
A Journey Through a Winter Wonderland
The next morning, we jumped out of bed like kids on Christmas Day. Dressed in layers, gloves, and beanies, we grabbed a quick breakfast from a nearby konbini—rice balls, warm drinks, and snacks stuffed into our bags—then raced to Kyoto Station to catch the train to Shiga.
The train ride itself was unexpectedly breathtaking. On one side, we had the vast, shimmering Lake Biwa, stretching endlessly like a silver mirror. On the other, majestic mountains dusted with snow stood proudly under the winter sky.
As we got closer, the rooftops of houses turned white, then the fields, then the trees. By the time we reached Shiga Station, we were bouncing in our seats. Snow was everywhere!
Then, something even more magical happened.
It started snowing.
Not just a few flakes, a soft, steady snowfall, swirling gently around us. It was our first time seeing snow fall from the sky, and we couldn’t contain our excitement. We laughed, we twirled, we tried (and failed) to catch flakes on our tongues. Other travelers at the station looked at us with amused smiles, but we didn’t care.
At the bus stop, the snow kept falling, creating a real-life snow globe moment. The 40-minute bus ride up to Biwako Valley Ropeway felt like a dream—every tree, road, and rooftop completely covered in white.
Reaching the Snowy Peak
Once we arrived, we saw a long queue of people waiting to take the ropeway to the peak. It didn’t matter—we were too excited to complain. When it was finally our turn, we stepped into the gondola, faces pressed against the glass like children seeing Disneyland for the first time.
As the ropeway ascended, the world beneath us transformed into a snowy paradise. Trees bent under the weight of the snow, the ground looked like it had been dusted with icing sugar, and the distant mountains disappeared into misty white clouds.
When we reached the top, the view was beyond magical.
Snow was still falling, and everywhere we looked, people were sledding, snowboarding, building snowmen, and having the time of their lives. Naturally, we rushed in—grabbing a sled rental, flopping onto the ground to make snow angels, and launching ourselves down the slopes like we were in an Olympic competition (spoiler: we were terrible).
We built a snowman—or at least tried to. The result was a lumpy, wobbly thing that barely resembled a snowman, but we loved it anyway. Nearby, some people had crafted a perfect life-sized Olaf from Frozen, and we couldn’t resist taking pictures with it.
At some point, our faces turned red, our fingers went numb, and our whole bodies trembled from the cold. But did that stop us? No.
Food did.
Lunch With a View (And a Price Tag)
Shivering, we ran into the mountain restaurant, where we were greeted by the smell of warm ramen and curry rice. The prices, however, were outrageous—but we were freezing, starving, and desperate for something hot.
So, we reluctantly handed over our yen and sat by the window, watching the snow fall as we devoured our overpriced but heavenly hot meals.
And because we clearly hadn’t had enough cold things, we decided to have matcha ice cream. Outside. In the snow. Because why not?
We took a moment to pray, then played in the snow a little longer. But exhaustion soon took over, and we knew it was time to say goodbye to our snowy paradise.
Back to Kyoto – A Cozy Night In
Descending back down, we caught the train back to Kyoto, still shivering but completely satisfied. Our day wasn’t over yet, though.
We took a bus to Shijo, wandering through a mall, and stumbled upon a Southeast Asian food stall. The moment we saw instant ramen, soft-boiled eggs, and Korean tteokbokki rice cakes, a light bulb went off.
“Let’s cook dinner at the hotel.”
We gathered our ingredients like contestants on a cooking show and made our way back.
At the hotel, we boiled noodles, added eggs, mixed in the spicy tteokbokki sauce, and made ourselves the coziest, most comforting meal. Sitting in our small hotel space, eating steaming ramen, and reflecting on our snowy adventure, we couldn’t have been happier.
After another hot shower, we collapsed into bed, exhausted but content.
What a day.
Snow, laughter, adventure, and homemade ramen. Kyoto was already proving to be unforgettable.
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