As an architecture student, I’ve spent much of my education learning how to analyze buildings through drawings, models, and photographs. While those tools have shaped how I understand space, they’ve also made me aware of what’s missing: direct experience. As I am preparing to study abroad in Kyoto through Temple University’s architecture program, I’m realizing that this opportunity represents a shift in how I learn architecture: not just as an academic subject, but as something lived, observed, and embedded in everyday life.
Kyoto stood out to me as more than just a destination. It is a city where architecture reflects centuries of cultural values, craftsmanship, and care for continuity. The way traditional wooden structures coexist with contemporary design highlights a balance between preservation and adaptation that I’ve only encountered in theory. Studying architecture in Kyoto offers the chance to understand how buildings respond to time, climate, ritual, and community, lessons that can’t be fully captured in a studio setting alone.
What drew me specifically to Temple’s architecture program in Kyoto is its emphasis on experiential learning. Rather than studying architecture from a distance, the program encourages engagement with the city itself. Walking through neighborhoods, sketching spaces as they are used, and observing how people interact with their built environment feels like a natural extension of my architectural education. Kyoto becomes not just the backdrop for learning, but an active participant in it.
Despite my excitement, choosing to study abroad has also come with uncertainty. Navigating a new academic environment while adapting to a different culture and language feels intimidating at times. Studio culture is already demanding, and doing that work abroad introduces additional challenges, balancing independence, responsibility, and unfamiliar routines far from home. I’ve also thought about how I will exist in a place so deeply rooted in traditions different from my own, and how important it will be to approach this experience with humility and respect.
Over time, I’ve come to see these uncertainties as an essential part of the decision. Studying architecture abroad isn’t about feeling fully prepared; it’s about being open to learning in unfamiliar ways. I don’t expect this experience to be easy or perfectly structured, but I do expect it to be meaningful. I hope to develop a deeper awareness of how materials age, how space influences behavior, and how cultural values are reflected in everyday design decisions.
More than anything, I hope studying in Kyoto reshapes how I observe and think. Architecture is often taught through speed, productivity, and final outcomes, but this experience is encouraging me to slow down, to notice details, listen more carefully, and consider context before design. These are lessons that will shape not only how I approach architecture, but how I move through the world.
For other architecture students who may be unsure about studying abroad, especially within a demanding major, I hope my experience shows that hesitation doesn’t mean you don’t belong. It often means you’re stepping into something that will challenge and expand you. As I prepare to leave for Kyoto, I’m carrying both excitement and uncertainty with me, ready to learn from the city, its spaces, and the stories they hold.
Starting my study abroad journey has inspired me to encourage other students to take advantage of Temple’s many programs. Check out their website to learn more about the Temple Architecture Program in Japan.