Study Abroad Blog
Reflections Through Culture, Nature, and Discovery, Part 3
As we wrap up our first week in Japan, I’m excited to share a collection of reflections written by our students. Each one captures a unique and personal view of what it’s been like to step into this rich, vibrant culture. From peaceful temple visits and lush gardens to the energy of Tokyo’s streets and meaningful cultural exchanges, their words offer a glimpse into how this journey is already shaping their perspectives.
It’s been a joy to witness their curiosity, thoughtfulness, and growth—and I hope you enjoy seeing Japan through their eyes as much as I have.
Cindy Ludlam, Assistant Professor of Ceramics
My First Week in Japan—Ethan Lofgren
t has been four full days since we arrived in Tokyo Japan, and I have seen so much. I am experiencing the fascinating wonder of this country’s culture everywhere we go.
Nature is truly a deeply implemented component of said culture, as displayed by this park we visited that had multiple stone walkways across a pond. I also personally enjoyed the sight of turtles and catfish in the pond, as well as the birds all around.
The temple/marketplace we went to today is somewhere everyone goes to buy various goods, showing the unity of this culture’s society. If we have seen these many amazing things thus far, I eagerly await whatever else is waiting for us during the rest of this course.
Peaceful Class Trips in Japan—Emily LIghthall
While in Japan, we have taken several trips together as a class, all of them having been centered around visiting important locations—the Kiyosumi garden, Meiji Shrine, and Sensō-ji Temple. Each of the locations we visited was significant, from a simple garden to the most famous temple in Tokyo.
Since Monday’s activities centered around our orientation, we headed to the Kiyosumi gardens on Tuesday—a beautiful and tranquil garden located a few blocks away from where we’re staying. The garden features a tea house, wooded walkways, and a lake with a small island. There were pathways around the lake that were made from large stepping-stones – a few turtles were seen in the water, swimming around these rocks.
Wednesday was spent at the Meiji Shrine, where we were able to watch the daily Nikku-sai ritual that happens at 2pm. After taking a ten-minute walk from the city streets to the shrine itself, we headed to the temizuya, a water basin, to wash our hands and purify ourselves. We explored the shrine in small groups, passing by booths where we could buy amulets as well as purchase a stamp book (known as a Goshuincho) and get a temple stamp (a Goshuin).
On Thursday we visited the Sensō-ji Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo. The pathway towards the temple was long, small shops lining both sides, crowded with people. Incense was being burned outside of the temple – the surrounding area serene despite the many groups of tourists and locals alike. This location was the busiest by far, with food stands and shops drawing attention. To the left of the temple was another location for getting a Goshuin.
The Japanese Local Experience—Dylan Yamaguchi
Spending my first week here in Japan has been a hectic adventure, everywhere I looked there were new stores, sights, and places to explore! What really stood out to me though, is the real magic of wonder when entering a place that’s welcoming with authenticity…rather than commercialism.
Here, an unsuspecting shop that you can pass on by has an interesting piece of history tucked into the sign. During the Edo period it was common for Japanese to be read left to right, instead of being read right to left today. So, the shop owner of this shop decided to paint the word: “Mazui” (まずい) upside down to reverse its meaning. Here’s the best translation of the sign I can come up with using Google translate:
しめごで煮佃まずい一本日
(Today's dish is not tasty?) Reading from left to right.
日本一いずま佃煮でごめし
Enjoy the best Tsukudani (Seafood) in Japan. Reading from right to left.
There are also cute animal cafes, one which I really enjoyed near Asakusa, Nekoen Rescue Cat Cafe. This was a locally owned business, basically a hole in the wall cafe. Not even a cafe where they served drinks, which I didn’t mind because I got to pet cats.
All the cats were well taken care of and friendly, which gave me a better experience than another animal cafe in Harajuku called “The Hedgehog Cafe”, (Not pictured here), because it felt more organic and less pandering to wallets. (When I told the owner of the cafe where I went, she let out a big sigh). Overall, I found these experiences to really exemplify what’s at the heart of Japan: Heart. A powerful desire to be authentic and to take care of people, that’s what I learned through my experiences so far in Japan.