We stayed at a wonderful ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) called Sakura, which offered vegetarian food (difficult to come by in semi-rural Japan!). We experienced full Japanese hospitality, including lovely meals, their onsen (private rock bath), tatami-mat floor, futon beds...
Our room had a beautiful view of the mountain too, so I woke up early to see the solstice sunrise on the mountain. As you can see, there wasn't much sunshine available, but it was still beautiful.
Down the road from our hotel was the 'natural living centre' which grows a wide range of plants and herbs, as well as selling lots of natural products (and other souvenirs). There were pretty flowers growing on the lake shore so I got some pics of the flowers and mountain too... I have some bracketed images that I will one day learn how to stack!
