By Bryce C.

Published Jan. 2, 2024

A lot has happened in the last month! I climbed a mountain with some friends from a student organization, which was a ton of fun. We also had a training camp for the same group, which was fun but uniquely challenging— the university itself has programs in English, but this camp was entirely in Japanese.…

By Bryce C.

Published Nov. 25, 2023

It has now been two months since I arrived in Japan, and compared to the first month things have become so much easier! That is not to say that I am not learning things every day that I am away from home. What I mean is that living here has become a new norm. Where…

By Christopher H.

Published Nov. 22, 2023

For a class project, my friend and I were tasked with creating a pamphlet showcasing unique aspects of a city of our choice. I had the idea of trying sweets shops, but wasn’t sure where to go. My friend chose Ikebukuro, a place known for its entertainment industry, and not so much for its sweets.…

By Bryce C.

Published Oct. 26, 2023

Japan is a fascinating place! You can be on a train platform with advertisements written in English at one moment and in front of a hundreds of years old shrine the next. The contrast between these ancient and modern elements of the culture are part of experiencing Japan you could never understand without being here.…

By Christopher H.

Published Sept. 26, 2023

Among the parks in Tokyo, Ueno Park is certainly not one to miss. This massive park houses a myriad of flowers and trees, but also several cafes, museums and temples. Thanks to this, its charm evolves along with the season. In spring, Ueno boasts cherry blossom trees and spacious areas for hanami. Folks would bring…

By Christopher H.

Published Sept. 12, 2023

One of the local stops along my daily commute would be Gotoku-ji, known for its maneki neko temple. One day, on which I had some free time, I decided to stop by. The temple is within walking distance from Gotokuji Station and in spring, the temple bustles with life. Trees and shrubberies are accompanied by…

By Cheyenne L.

Published Aug. 22, 2023

As I write this, I've been in Tokyo for about a week now, and so this city and my abroad life is just beginning! Needless to say, everything right now is wildly exciting, stressful or a little bit of both. But overall it's been super positive! My hometown is a pretty small town in Missouri…

By Christopher H.

Published Aug. 11, 2023

Cats certainly play a part in Japanese culture. From maneki neko to Sailor Moon’s "Luna," cats permeate culture through various mediums. There is a particular establishment that can testify to the importance of cats in Japan: cat cafes. Japan has a multitude of cat cafes, each boasting its fluffy feline friends (and sometimes food and…

By Christopher H.

Published July 27, 2023

During winter, I went to Sapporo for a week-long trip. Immediately after landing, I was greeted by three-inch of snow that did not exist back in Tokyo. Sapporo in February was cold but lively. People mainly came for the same reason as I did: to visit the Sapporo Yuki Matsuri and see the sights. [caption…

By Christopher H.

Published June 2, 2023

Christmas in Tokyo is a festive garden of reflecting lights through which friends and couples come together to enjoy each other's company. I was fortunate enough to have a friend who had booked us a ryokan (Japanese-style inn) in Koto for a few days including Christmas weekend. Our plan was to take trains around to…