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…

By Christopher H.

Published May 31, 2023

During my day off I took a short trip to Yomiuri Land, an amusement park in Inagi, Tokyo. What I was not expecting to find there was a supposed Sacred Buddhist Forest. On the same grounds as Yomiuri Land sits another park called Hana Biyori which is dedicated to the cultivation and presentation of flower…

By Christopher H.

Published May 29, 2023

Back in November of 2022 some friends and I decided to spend a few days in Asakusa and Sumida. When we arrived, we were fascinated by how the traditional and modern seemed to blend together seamlessly there. From the ancient sanctity of Sensō-ji temple to the captivating beauty of the Sumida Aquarium. All the while…

By Christopher H.

Published Nov. 3, 2022

Recalling my first time exploring Tokyo after living in Tokyo for a month, I’ve made a habit of wandering through its thin streets and alleyway paths aimlessly, taking in the atmosphere and searching for novel experiences. At first, however, I remember being quite overwhelmed by it all, but I wasn’t going to let my nerves…