You may have noticed a jump in a few days from the last entry. Well, after Himeji we had church on Sunday morning and Bob spoke. Then in the afternoon we introduced Bob to Onsen (Hot Spring Baths). During most of the week I was busy with kindergarten and my own business' English classes. The Walkers also got to help out in some of the classes. In order to give Ritsuko and I a break the Walkers looked after our house, while Ritsuko and I went to Shiga on the 3rd and 4th of July. The last time I visited Shiga was in 2007.
Shiga is the one place in Japan, especially on the west side of Lake Biwa, one can actually escape the crowds of Japan and get out in to nature. Unless you go there on public Holidays in the summer when half of Kyoto and Osaka think that going for a swim in Lake Biwa is the thing to do!
So Ritsuko and I stayed at a hot spring resort in Ogoto in Shiga. Although I'm a fan of hot springs, it wasn't so fun in the Summer as it is in Autumn, Winter, or Spring. The fresh air and open spaces however were a refreshing change.
If you want to get a taste Shiga check out these photos from my week there in 2007:- http://www.pbase.com/jameslclarke/bsk07