It’s been a year now since I spent a semester in Japan, and whenever I want to reflect on my trip, I scroll through the thousands of photos I took while I was there. As a journalism student interested in photojournalism, I highly value the stories that can be told through taking photos of your surroundings. Not only does it paint a visual picture, but it reminds me of everything I was doing at that exact moment in time.
Enoshima Island
My first stop when I arrived in Japan was Enoshima Island. My roommate and I went with a group of students organized by TUJ and explored all of the wonderful sights the island had to offer, including a beautiful view of Mount Fuji. Looking at these pictures, I remember the brisk wind circling around us on the island that day, but also the feeling of finally being able to take in the beautiful environment in a new country after two incredibly long travel days.
Shinjuku and Shibuya
The next assignment on my agenda was simply to get to know the city around me. When I first arrived, I took lots of trips to Shibuya and Shinjuku. Both prefectures were only a 10-20 minute train ride from my dorm, Kamikita House, and once I learned the train system, I went all the time. Having a big city to get lost in helped me feel connected to the big cities I love so dearly in America.
Maxell Aqua Park
A few weeks into my stay in Japan, my friends and I went to Maxell Aqua Park in Shinagawa. Japan has a lot of beautiful and unique aquariums, so getting to visit them firsthand was an incredible experience. We saw hundreds of sea creatures of all varieties and even got to watch a dolphin show before we left for the day. Although during this trip I was facing a pretty bad illness, getting to see all of the lively sea life around me helped me feel better.
Tokyo Disney Sea
One of the next biggest things I did when I was in Japan was visit Tokyo Disney Sea. I’m the biggest geek when it comes to amusement parks, and going to the Disney and Universal parks in Japan was the number one thing on my bucket list. The park was beautiful even though we went on a slightly rainy and very crowded day. When I reflect back on these photos, though, I think about the amazing time I had spending my 20th birthday here with all of my new friends in Japan instead of the four-hour line we waited in for the Indiana Jones ride…
Tokyo Dome and More
One of the best weeks I spent in Japan was when my partner visited me, and we got to explore tons of places I hadn’t yet been to. We went to a baseball game at Tokyo Dome (and rode a rollercoaster on the roof), met a capybara and fennec fox in Harajuku, rode an elevator to the top of Tokyo Skytree, visited the Meiji Jingu shrine, and went to Tokyo Disneyland on an incredibly rainy day. On top of all of these adventures, I brought him to all the places I frequented as well, so I could share little pieces of the new life I had in Japan with a pivotal person in my world back home in the states.
The Imperial Palace
I was also lucky enough to have my dad visit for about 5 days while I was there. Somehow, he managed to explore the Imperial Palace before I did, so I made it my goal to go there next, and I did. Although some areas weren’t yet open for the season, my friends and I walked around the Palace’s perimeter and saw all of the beautiful sights that we could. Getting to experience the rich history of Japan right in front of me was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Okinawa
Near the end of my time in Japan, I flew to Okinawa with one of my friends. Getting to experience a tropical island after spending all of my time in the bustling city was a much-needed escape from my everyday academics. We explored all throughout Naha, the area we stayed in, and got to see American Village and Naminoue Beach. We even saw a fish tank with an eel at the Don Quijote near our hotel! Okinawa gave us a much-needed sea breeze after living in a very congested city.
Osaka
For my last big excursion in Japan, I went to Osaka for five days with two of my friends. While in Osaka, we went to the Osaka Aquarium, Osaka Tennoji Zoo, Universal Studios Japan, Orange Street, and lots more. We ate tons of great food and even got to see the famous Osaka Running Man sign. By far, the best day I spent in Japan was going to Universal. We went on every ride we wanted to, and even some twice! Going here at the tail end of my study abroad experience was the perfect way to wrap up my trip.
Leaving Japan
While not all of my pictures are accompanied by just one story, they each hold a special place in my heart. All the trips I was able to go on, no matter how small, will stay in my camera roll forever. From visiting Tokyo Tower and having it incorporated in the tattoo I got in Shinjuku, to trying cream puffs at Shiro-Hige’s Cream Puff Factory, there was something to look forward to every day during my time abroad.
If you want to capture incredible memories during your time abroad as well, check out our Temple Japan program page to get started on your study abroad journey.