New Year With One Other Person

Our plan is simple: we’re not looking for a trendy destination or an exciting adventure. All we want is a quiet escape from Tokyo to unwind, share meaningful conversations, and reflect on the past year. So, we chose something easy—a cozy little cottage in Yamanakako, Yamanashi Prefecture.

To be honest, seeing Mt. Fuji wasn’t what excited me the most about this trip. Yes, it’s breathtaking and undeniably iconic, but the idea that it’s always there, accessible to anyone at any time, that makes it feel a little less special to me.

Still, we didn’t skip it entirely. We stopped by the famous landmark and took a few obligatory pictures. It felt like something we had to do, almost like paying a quiet respect to the mountain. Just a few quick snapshots, though—we weren’t trying to capture anything extraordinary, just a memory of the day to keep in our pockets as we moved on to the next part of our trip.

Guys, it’s just a mountain :)

Exploring a few local events.

🍖 BBQ With One Other Person

Even with the biting cold of midwinter, we went ahead and reserved a BBQ set at the cottage. About an hour before we got there, the host called with a kind suggestion to cancel, worried that grilling outside in such extreme weather might not be the best idea. But we decided to stick with it. For one, the BBQ was the highlight we’d been looking forward to the most. And second, we’d already treated ourselves to the most premium beef—our once-a-year splurge—so there was no turning back :)

I’m glad he already knows how to BBQ, because my grilling skills are absolutely non-existent.

Talking About Past Relationships

The conversation turned to our past relationships — a subject that’s often tricky to navigate. But this wasn’t about comparisons or jealousy; that was never the point. What we really wanted was to approach the topic with respect and openness, reflecting on what those experiences taught us. What worked? What didn’t? And, above all, what did we learn? It felt meaningful to share those stories, not as a way to dwell on the past but as a way to better understand each other and ourselves.

What started as a slightly awkward atmosphere was completely transformed by the incredible flavor of the beef we grilled 😊. It’s amazing how good food can shift the mood entirely—it made the conversation feel so much easier and more natural. Instead of sitting there with reflective expressions, we found ourselves laughing together, letting the warmth of the moment take over.

In the middle of the woods, braving the freezing, sub-zero weather, fanning the BBQ to keep it going. I don’t BBQ often, but I’m absolutely sure that it tasted a hundred times better than it ever could on a hot summer day

The photo makes it look like I was fine but in reality, I was freezing!!! ❄️🧣🌬️

A Morning Wrapped in Warmth

The next morning greeted us with warm sunlight, a stark contrast to the previous day’s gloom. Before checking out, we asked the host if we could stay a bit longer to capture photos of every cozy corner in the cottage, and she happily agreed. By the way, the host was Chinese and didn’t speak English or Japanese, but thanks to a voice translation app, communication was effortless

When Plans Don’t Matter

With no specific plans for the second day, we simply went with whatever was available. The rest of the trip wasn’t filled with exciting activities, but that wasn’t the point. That year, we often only met once a week or sometimes even just once a month. With that kind of schedule, all we really needed was some quality time together, and the New Year holiday was the perfect excuse to make it happen.

Just barely managed to book the last available strawberry-picking slots that day! 🍓

We ate so much I literally thought we had enough strawberries for the rest of our lives :)

The last stop of the trip is Mishima Skywalk, where we stood high above the trees to watch the sunset. The golden light over Mt. Fuji and Suruga Bay was breathtaking—a perfect way to wrap up the year with gratitude and welcome the New Year with open hearts.

Just A Quietly Different New Year

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Heading back to Tokyo now—hopefully catching up on sleep during the ride. This New Year was a little different for me, as I spent it with someone from another culture, which added such a beautiful perspective to the celebration. I hope my simple trip wasn’t too boring.

Happy New Year!