This summer, Sophia traveled to Japan on the Journey to Japan: Past and Present faculty-led program. Sophia is a Communications major with a minor in Japanese language, and she spent eleven days exploring the history of Japan in three of the country’s major cities: Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. After her return, we asked her a few questions about her experience.
What made you decide to study abroad?
I think I have always been interested in studying abroad but prior to this trip, I had no concrete plans to do so. I am pretty shy and introverted, but I have always wanted to experience traveling. I think that for those who have the opportunity and/or ability to study abroad, they should consider it, if possible. I feel that the act of immersion when studying abroad is really impactful; it allows people to develop new perspectives and expand their existing ones as they learn more about the world. I actually think that people can find out a lot about themselves through traveling as they try new things and test the limitations of their comfort zones.
What made you choose the Journey to Japan: Past and Present program?
As I started taking Japanese language classes during the spring semester of my freshman year, it has now been a little over two years that I have been studying. I have since discovered my genuine passion for learning the language and hope to work in the field of translation someday. Prior to this trip, I had never been out of the country or ridden a plane. When I found out that my Japanese professor whom I’ve had for all but two Japanese courses, Eriko Tanaka, would be leading a short trip to Japan, I just felt that I needed to do whatever I could to go. Having her as an instructor has meant everything within my experience thus far in learning Japanese; she has been nothing but encouraging and supportive, allowing my curiosity and love for the language to grow more than I ever would’ve thought was possible. As soon as I knew taking a trip with her to her hometown of Osaka, Japan was a possibility, I had really hoped to go!
What was the coursework like?
As the trip was only eleven days in length and during a summer intersession, there wasn’t classwork during the actual trip itself. We had to turn in a paper before the trip regarding our expectations and what we hoped to take away from it, and a paper after the trip about our experiences and takeaways, in addition to a detailed survey.
What kinds of activities did you do on this program?
Although the trip was only eleven days, we visited three major cities, Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. To make the most out of the short periods of time we were in each city, our itineraries were packed with various activities and experiences. While in Tokyo, we were able to visit a few different districts such as Shibuya, Harajuku, and Shinjuku. My favorite thing that we did in Tokyo was attending the exhibitions at teamLab Planets, a modern art museum. The exhibits combined elements of nature with technology in ways that were interesting, sensual, and beautiful. My favorite one consisted of a room surrounded by mirrors on all sides, with hundreds of live orchids suspended from the ceiling, moving up and down. Throughout the course of the trip, we also visited a variety of temples and shrines. While in Kyoto, we went to the Fushimi Inari shrine known for its thousands of red gates and hiked up the many stairs to the top of Mount Inari, seeing beautiful scenery along the way. Also while in Kyoto, we visited the Arashiyama district, and we able to see its well-known bamboo forests. Another activity I enjoyed was going to the Ryoan-ji temple, a Zen Buddhist temple also in Kyoto. There, we were able to visit its famous rock garden that was beautiful and serene. Throughout the course of the trip, we were able to combine aspects of the past and present by visiting both historical and modern sites within each city. Not only were we able to visit ancient landmarks, but we also got to see modern landmarks such as Shibuya Sky and the Umeda Sky Building in Osaka.
What was your favorite thing you learned as part of the course?
In taking this course, I was able to gain insight into both Japanese history and modern culture. I just enjoyed getting to experience the cultural differences that exist in Japan in comparison to the United States, especially through seemingly simple things like riding the subway and visiting convenience stores. It was interesting to see what daily life and routine look like for those living in another country.
What was your favorite thing you experienced in Japan?
It is so hard to pick a single favorite experience from the trip in its entirety but one of my favorite things we did was taking a day trip to Nara prefecture. Deer are considered sacred and symbolic within the prefecture as Nara Park is home to over 1,000 deer that roam freely and are accustomed to human contact and interaction. I really enjoyed getting to explore the scenery of Nara Park and interacting with the deer there. I was so surprised to see that the deer often bow at passerby in hopes of receiving a snack!
Which was your favorite city that you visited while in Japan? Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka?
I think my favorite city that I visited would be Tokyo. Tokyo was the city I was most nervous to travel to just because of its large size and population, but I ended up really enjoying it there. Something that surprised me was that despite the city’s modern landscapes, I was still able to see elements of nature everywhere. I also liked the fact that traveling to different districts within the city was easily accessible.
What was it like traveling with other Kent State students and your faculty members?
Something that I enjoyed about the trip was that I had people to share my experiences with. I was very grateful to have gone on the trip with two of my friends; we had a great time together and now have lots of positive shared memories! And like I mentioned earlier, one of the main reasons I wanted to do this study abroad program was to have the opportunity to travel alongside my professor, Eriko Tanaka. I found it meaningful that we got to visit her hometown with her. We were able to visit places where she grew up going to frequently, and I enjoyed learning more about her.
Did you try any new foods or dishes and what did you think? What is your top food recommendation for students studying abroad in Japan?
I know this may sound a bit silly, but my friends and I got most of our meals from different convenience stores throughout the trip! Japanese convenience stores are known for the wide variety of drinks and snacks they have available to purchase. I enjoyed trying different kinds of onigiri (Japanese rice balls) and Japanese sweet breads with filling inside, but I enjoyed trying Japanese ice cream most of all! My favorite was the Baskin Robbin’s flavor unique to Japan called “popping shower”; white chocolate and mint ice cream with popping candy mixed inside.
How do you think this experience has impacted you personally?
As I am someone who likes to live within the parameters of their comfort zone, I had felt nervous to travel overseas and without my family for the first time. However, by the end of the trip, I had felt very grateful that I had taken the opportunity when I did. I think that this trip allowed me to realize that I am braver and more willing to try new things than I previously thought I was.
Do you think this experience has impacted your future studies at Kent State or your career?
Being in Japan was inspirational as I was able to be immersed among the language I have been learning for the last two years; I think immersion is a very important aspect when it comes to studying foreign languages, and I feel so grateful that I had the opportunity to do so. I really enjoyed being in Japan and will be considering going back to work or study there after I graduate. Being able to visit Japan has not only inspired me to keep working hard, but it has also allowed me to feel as though I am continuing to travel on the right path in terms of my future aspirations.
Is there any advice you have for future study abroad students doing this program?
I think I would just advise future study abroad students to appreciate the small and simple things, and to try to remain present as much as possible. Because time traveling can be very overwhelming and fleeting, I think it’s important to find the value in just remaining present.