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Final "Unexpected Japan" Video

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Day 25: Nishiki Market, Okazaki Shrine, and Farewell Dinner (Media Reflection)

So sad it's the final day. To start the day, I went to Nishiki Market and spent hours exploring all the shops. My main motivating factor for going was the Snoopy Chaya store. That was truly my second heaven (after the Snoopy Museum). I could have spent a day just appreciating all the cute things the store had to offer. I later went to a chopstick store and got custom engraved chopsticks. There were a lot of candy stalls, so I bought candy for my roommates. There were so many other things I would have bought at the market, but I had to restrain myself. I love these kinds of markets as they remind me of when I go visit my family in Colombia and go to similar markets there. I also explored around the area surrounding the market and got some other essentials for the rest of my time in Japan.

When I was done in the market, I went to the Okazaki Shrine, which is a rabbit themed shrine. This was another shrine I found off of social media, and was expecting it to be more like the Gōtokuji Temple, but it was actually pretty small. Nonetheless, it was very cute and peaceful, with not many tourists visiting.

The way I was introduced to shrines in Japanese culture was through the anime Kamisama Kiss. This anime is about a girl Nanami who becomes the land god of the Mikage shrine, and has the job of maintaining the shrine along with the help of her familiar Tomoe. In the anime, the Mikage shrine is small and run down, with very little visitors and money being brought in. The anime shows how the god of the shrine must try and fulfill the wishes and requests of its visitors, along with maintaining the integrity of the shrine in order to ensure its success. While this is of course an anime, it shows the basic function of a shrine and the lore behind them.

While I later learned the Mikage shrine from the show is based on a small shrine in Saitama, I visited the Okazaki shrine to somewhat compare the representation of the shrine from the show to the actual representation of shrines in Japan. The basic structure and organization of the two shrines was very similar, though there were a few more structures to the Okazaki shrine, likely because it is a more popular shrine. This comparison really highlights how public support is really important in maintaining a shrine. In Kamisama Kiss, Nanami really struggles with her shrine because of the lack of visitors. But, Okazaki seemed to be a more popular shrine, with many people there praying and a lot of ema posted up.

Ultimately, I think that if you look at the basic representation of the Mikage shrine in Kamisama Kiss, it is a very accurate representation of shrines in Japan. It really highlights how important the attention and donations from visitors are in maintaining the shrine.

To end the day, I went to the farewell dinner and had shaved ice with my friends afterwards. I am sad that the trip is over, as I will miss all the friends I have made. I am grateful for this experience and all the kindness everyone has shown me.

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Day 24: Osaka

Once again, I was sick and did not go :'( RIP x2

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Day 23: Nara

Spoiler alert: Nara was another one of my top 10 Japan experiences. Nara was always something I saw on social media and really wanted to do, but never had the time or ability to do on my past trips to Japan. So I was super excited to go today. When we got to Nara, I immediately started seeing deer everywhere. In my head, I thought the deer were contained in park or particular area. But, to my surprise, they free roam everywhere as if they are people. They also go CRAZY for the crackers you can buy for them. Like, being bit in the butt for a cracker was not something I was anticipating. However, without the crackers, they were very chill and kind, almost like big peaceful dogs. I have never experienced something like this before, and am so glad I got to. I honestly would live in Nara just to experience this everyday.

After feeding the deer, we went to Kasuga Taisha Shrine. This shrine was super cool because of the room they had full of lanterns. I think the walls had mirrors which made it look like there were tons and tons of lanterns. The omamori at the shrine were also super cute, as they had deer on them.

Later, we went to Tōdaiji and saw the giant Buddha statue. I tried to fit through the nostril of the Buddha but I fear my body was too tea and I did not fit.

This reading was interesting because it totally changed how I see Japanese cities like Osaka and Kobe. I never realized how different their urban planning is compared to Western cities, as I really don't pay much mind to what surrounds me (until it bothers me lol). The mixed use aspects ties back to our previous discussion regarding Odaiba, which expands my understanding of its impact in Japanese society. For being such a dense country, the continued implementation of mixed use spaces maximizes land use which makes sense for larger cities like Osaka and Kobe.

The part about buildings being torn down and rebuilt so often was surprising. In the U.S., we’re used to houses lasting forever, but in Japan, it’s all about adaptability. In the US, if something is torn down, it won't be rebuilt for years (shoutout UF construction). It’s cool how this keeps the city evolving, but it’s also sad how much history gets lost in the process. The "hard shells and soft yolks" idea was unique and something I hadn't heard of before.

The paper’s model of Osaka’s layout, with its mix of hyper-compact traditional areas and modern high-rises, really helped visualize how the city works. Overall, it’s a reminder that cities don’t have to follow one linear path of progression.

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Day 22: Kimono Rental and Sanjo

The last time I came to Japan, my host mother put me in a kimono and took me to a famous temple. I cherish the experience and had such a good time that I wanted to do it again! We went back to Kiyomizu and went to a kimono rental shop. There they had so many options for kimono, but I was most drawn to the lace kimonos, as they were very different from what I wore before. The actual process of putting on the kimono was actually a lot faster than last time. When I was with my host mom, it took about 30 minutes to out on the whole kimono. However, the women at the rental shop were pros and got me dressed in less than 10 minutes.

From the rental shop, we walked throughout Kiyomizu and took cute photos. The one complaint I have about the kimono is how uncomfortable it happened to be that day. The shoes were very slippery and the kimono itself was a little warm. When I last wore a kimono, it was winter so it actually kept me pretty warm. But with the summer heat, it was a little sweaty. However, the pictures came out beautifully and I had an amazing time getting to explore Kiyomizu more.

To end the day, we went to Sanjo and ended up in a whole in the wall bar. It was a really chill and unique bar, with an awesome atmosphere. All in all, my day was very chill.

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Day 21: Kiyomizudera and Gion

I started the day with heading to Kiyomizudera. I hiked up to the temple and got to experience going through a womb! Ok, not really but that's what the experience was called. I went through a pitch black tunnel and touched a rock that would grant me a wish. This is honestly not something I ever expected to do and made this temple a lot more different than the other temples I have been to. Honestly, this temple had a lot of unique things to offer. There were these poles that you would attempt to lift, however nobody was ever successful in lifting the second pole. I didn't even attempt to lift them, as I know my strength. There were also these 3 streams that you could pick one to drink from. The water from each offered a different advantage: luck in romance, ventures, and health. I think I drank from the ventures one but who knows?!

Afterwards, we walked through Sannen-zaka and Ninnen-zaka. There were so many stalls with souvenirs and candy, it was almost overwhelming. I wish we had more time there, as I discovered the Ghibli store and Peter Rabbit store as we needed to leave.

Later, we saw an android incarnation of Kannon. I am not even gonna lie, this kind of freaked me out. It reminded me of the movie Ex Machina.

We then headed to Gion to see some traditional performances, which I was mesmerized by. I really enjoy seeing traditional Japanese dance, as you can see all the effort and control that goes into every moment.

We ended the day in Gion, where I got to go to the Miffy store!!!

The reading surprised me in regards to my impressions of geisha in Japanese culture. I always thought of them as these elegant performers totally separate from politics or social change, more for show than anything, but the reading shows they were way more involved in shaping ideas about women’s roles in Meiji Japan. In the 1870s, geisha and even prostitutes were opening schools, donating to education, and calling themselves “enlightened” to fit into the whole civilization and progress trend.

What stood out the most to me was how the sex trade was kind of trying to clean up its image by promoting education and “good mother” ideals, basically trying to prove they had value in a modern society. It’s kind of ironic and sad that by the 1880s, all that effort got pushed aside, and the same women were once again excluded from society’s idea of proper femininity. The way newspapers used to highlight “enlightened” geisha, then suddenly stopped, really shows how quickly public opinion can shift. Honestly, this reading gave me a whole new perspective on how complicated and strategic people in the sex trade had to be just to survive.

I wish Western representations of Geisha included more detail into their impact on society rather than just using them as a symbol for Japan.

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Day 20: Himeji-jo and Kōko-en Garden

Today we went to Himeji-jo. Now being completely honest, I wasn't super looking forward to this activity. Prior to this trip, I had already visited Osaka Castle and Wakayama Castle, which both honestly looked exactly the same. So I thought today was going to be just like those previous experiences. It was also raining which didn't help my impression of the trip. When we got off the train, I had some ramen that used a broth that was apparently a local delicacy, which was pretty delicious. It was also cheap which I was happy about. Once we got to the castle, we got to go inside and explore, which is not something I had the experience of doing in the past. It was awesome how everything on the inside was preserved so you could see how things were in the past.

After the castle, I went to the Kōko-en Garden that was next door. It was way more grand and expansive than I expected. The more I explored, the more I discovered and got to enjoy. Traditional Japanese gardens are one of my favorite things to visit, since they are so different from the gardens in the US. The koi fish were especially wonderful to see. If I become rich one day, I want to have my own koi fish pond.

I was surprised by how much thought and control went into building cities like Kanazawa during the early Tokugawa period. I always kind of assumed cities just grew naturally over time, but it turns out daimyo were very involved in shaping everything. They picked the location, organized where people lived, and even moved temples and entire villages to make things fit their plans. It was all very strategic, especially for defense and keeping control.

What I found interesting was that even though the daimyo had a lot of power, regular people like merchants and craftsmen still had a big influence on how the city developed. Some were officially invited to settle there and given benefits like free land or tax breaks, but others just came on their own, hoping to find work or open a shop. That mix of planning from above and natural growth from below gave the city a unique shape and energy.

Overall, the reading helped me see how cities in Japan back then were carefully built but still full of life and change. It was not just about military needs but rather it was about creating places where people could actually live and work.

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Day 19: Kinkakuji and Daitokuji

To start the day, I went to Kinkakuji. Now, I'm going to preface this review with saying that this is what I was most looking forward to doing in Kyoto. Last fall semester, I took a class called Tales of Kyoto and one of the books that we talked about was called The Temple of the Golden Pavillion. Because we talked so much about Kinkakuji in that class, I really wanted to go to the real landmark and see what it was about. Being completely honest, I was pretty disappointed. There were SOOOOO many tourists. It was nearly impossible to get a good picture in front of the temple. The temple itself was also not super cool. Like, yes it was gold, but that was all. I was happy that the omamori had Hello Kitty on it, but that doesn't make up for the whole experience itself. I guess I can say I went but I don't think I would ever go back.

Later, we went to Daitokuji. This temple gave me the opposite reaction. Honestly, I thought I wouldn't enjoy this temple much, only because it was a real place for worship and I felt like I was intruding. I didn't quite know how I felt about it being nearly silent. But, I was pleasantly shocked by how much I enjoyed the atmosphere. The zen gardens were very impressive with how clean and uniform they were, along with the meaning they held. The silence was actually quite pleasant after being at such a busy temple.

Having taken a class where one of the units was centered around the golden pavilion, the reading really resonated with my previous understanding of the novel

The Temple of the Golden Pavilion is a dark and powerful story about a young man named Mizoguchi who becomes obsessed with beauty. He is especially drawn to the Golden Pavilion. Instead of feeling inspired by it, he feels small and unworthy. Mizoguchi is lonely, awkward, and has a stutter, which makes it hard for him to connect with others. The temple becomes a symbol of everything he feels he cannot have or become.

Over time, this obsession with the temple turns toxic. Mizoguchi starts to believe that the only way to escape its power is to destroy it. Setting fire to the temple feels like the only way for him to feel in control. I think it was interesting how the author turned a real life event into a narrative, attempting to assign meaning to such a destructive act.

I honestly think visiting the pavilion made me understand the main character less. Maybe I am hard to impress but I don't see the temple as THAT beautiful.

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Day 18: Osaka Aquarium

The night before, I traveled to Osaka with some friends from home and spent the night at a hotel there. So, I immediately started the day in Osaka with getting breakfast at this super cute bakery. The baked goods were so pretty and delicious. This was the second time I went to a bakery and had carrot cake, which was something I wasn't expecting to eat in Japan.

Afterwards, we went to the Osaka Aquarium. I can without a doubt say this was the BEST aquarium I have ever been to and one of my top 10 experiences in Japan. The aquarium was huge, with so many unique animals that I don't normally see in the US. The animals were naturally super playful and entertaining. I found myself spending 4 hours at the aquarium, just staring at the tanks and appreciating the animals. I was most impressed by the otters and the whale sharks. I was so so happy just watching them swim around. I had always heard good things about the aquarium, but I never expected it to be so so cool.

After, we went and had dinner and just walked around and explored Osaka. We went to Dotonbori and took photos with the famous Glico man sign. All in all, I really enjoyed the atmosphere of Osaka. It reminded me a lot of Tokyo, which I like a lot better than Kyoto. I think Osaka in general is very underrated. I can't wait to go back once the trip ends!

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Day 17: Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and Monkey Park

I hate to admit, I was sick and did not go :( RIP

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Day 16: Kyoto International Manga Museum, Kyoto Imperial Palace, and Kyoto National Museum

I started the day at the Kyoto Imperial Palace. I'm going to be honest and say this was one of my least favorite things to do, not because there was anything wrong with the palace, but the atmosphere was awful. It was HOT, like so so hot I was going to melt. The tour was also wayyy too full, so it made it hard to get close to the guide to listen. I was surprised by how expansive the palace was. It being so close to the hotel made me think it was smaller than it actually was. I also was surprised by the pond that the palace grounds had. I liked the fun fact the tour guide gave about how the pond was used for boating occasionally. This surprised me because of how small the pond was. But hey, it was probably fun to do at that time, before yacht clubs became a thing.

After, we went to the Kyoto International Manga Museum. Here, we saw a kamishibai, which is a paper play performance. The guy was pretty funny, and even with the minor language barrier he faced, all his jokes landed pretty well. While I am a fan of anime, I don't often find myself reading manga. However, I enjoyed seeing the physical copies of the manga for my favorite shows and animes, like Good Morning Call, Fruits Basket, and Kamisama Kiss.

The final thing we did today was go to the Kyoto National Museum. Again, being real, I don't really enjoy museums. But, I did note one particular piece to talk about. Unfortunately, I could not get a picture so let me describe the piece to you. The piece is a red under kimono (shitagi) that has a tree of life on it. It is a textile that was made in India between the 17th and 18th century. The shitagi itself was tailored in Japan during the 18th to 19th century. Indian chintzes were a popular import during the age of exploration. Despite being so beautiful, the shitagi was worn as inner clothes due to how sumptuary they were. Also, the print was pretty floral and feminine in my opinion, but it was meant for men (ayyy progressive kings). It was also made of cotton.

This piece stuck out to me because of the cultural fusion that went into its creation. Without the exhibit, I would not have known how Indian culture influenced Japanese fashion, especially centuries ago. My impression of Japan was that they were very closed off and often borrowed cultural aspects from China, so learning how the reach of other Asia countries made it to Japan really shocked me.

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Day 15: Fushimi Inari Shrine

A shrine so nice I went twice (in one day)! So before I went on the excursion with the class, some of my friends and I went to the shrine at 5am to get nice photos without people being there. We also hiked up the whole mountain together, which was tiring but very rewarding. This place is a huge instagram spot, but instagram doesn't show you just how many tori gates there are. There were so so many gates, I cannot imagine the process of putting the this whole shrine together.

When we went back to the shrine later, the amount of people there compared to the morning was insane. I am so so glad I went and saw the empty shrine, because the impression that I would have been left with would have been completely different. The second visit wasn't bad though. We were lucky enough to witness a kagura performance, which was amazing to watch. The dancer had so much control over her body and hit every beat perfectly, I was left very impressed. There were also so many yummy food vendors nearby. The best part were the local cats who had their own merchandise sold near the shrine.

Inari have been worshipped in Shinto shrines since at least the eighth century, and today about one third of all Shinto shrines in Japan are dedicated to these kami. While they are mostly worshipped at shrines, Inari can also be honored at Buddhist temples, which shows how flexible the worship can be. What is even more interesting is that Inari worship is not limited to formal religious spaces. People can worship Inari just about anywhere, even in places like hair salons as mentioned in the reading. You can also find big festivals dedicated to Inari that bring communities together in celebration.

What really stands out to me is how inclusive this kind of worship is. It is not just something for priests or religious leaders. Regular people, whether they consider themselves religious or not, can take part in it however they want. That kind of openness is very different from how religion often works where I am from. I usually do not pay much attention to religion in general, but learning about how Inari are worshipped by both Shinto and Buddhist followers is honestly pretty eye opening. It feels more like a cultural tradition that brings people together than a strict religious practice.

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Day 14: Shinkansen to Kyoto

Today was the chillest day by far. All that was planned was to take the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto. I have been on a Shinkansen before but I honestly don't remember much from the experience. Thankfully, for this trip, I didn't have to carry anything other than a backpack. Going from station to station with a large suitcase would have been a nightmare. Before getting on the train, I had to buy a lunch to bring with me to eat on the train. I was surprised by the options offered for Shinkansen bentos. They looked a lot more delicious than I thought and had a lot of different options. I got a mango smoothie, but out of all the mango stuff I have had here, this was the worst. It wasn't bad, it was just orange colored milk. I wonder why mango is so popular in Japan. I feel like I seldom see mango flavored ice cream and drinks being sold in the US.

I was shocked by how quick we were expected to get on and off the train. If you aren't prepared, you could miss getting off at your stop. I was also surprised by how smooth the ride was. My whole row slept for most of the trip, as it didn't feel like we were moving as fast as we were. Although I was disappointed by the wifi situation, as it really didn't work.

Once we got to Kyoto, we walked to an Indian restaurant for dinner. Best Indian food I have ever had.

The article about the shinkansen really delves into its history and impact. The Shinkansen ( aka bullet train) first started running in 1964. At the time, it was mainly seen as a fast and reliable way to travel between Japan’s major cities. Over time though, it became more than just a mode of transportation, instead turning into a symbol of Japan’s growth and modernization. Since then, the Shinkansen system has evolved, reflecting not only changes in transportation needs but also shifts in Japanese society itself. Interestingly, the Shinkansen has both been the driving force for change in transportation while simultaneously implementing changes.

The article focuses especially on the Hokuriku and Kyushu Shinkansen lines and compares them with the older lines that were built before the Japanese National Railways was privatized in 1987. The article also explores how different places have been affected by the expansion of the Shinkansen network. Some areas have seen growth and opportunity, while others have struggled with unexpected downsides.

Simply being a tourist and riding the shinkansen from point A to point B, you don't really grasp the importance of the shinkansen to Japanese culture and society. The article really made me consider the impact of this mode of transportation on the people, both those who do or do not have access to it.

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Day 13: Shimokitazawa, Shibuya 109, and Warp

Boooooo last day in Tokyo. To start this day, I went to Shimokitazawa, which is an area in Tokyo known for thrifting. Because it was raining, it was a little difficult to get around but I managed. I noticed a lot of the stores imported most of their clothes from Europe and the US, which was a little disappointing. Especially because the clothes were low key pretty expensive for being second hand. However, I did find some cute stores that had pretty unique clothes for good prices, so I ended up with two nice tops in the end.

After, I went to Shibuya, had lunch and got a sweet treat, then went shopping throughout 109. I LOVE the styles that so many of the shops carry in 109, but the prices had me dead. I did manage to find a cute top for a reasonable price, but I was kind of disappointed by the prices. If I could, I would redo my whole wardrobe in there. The trending styles here in Tokyo compared to trending styles in the US are very interesting to compare. I personally like the style here more, since I think it is more experimental. Everyone is always dressed so nice, so I think the US could take note.

To end the last day, I went out with all my friends to Warp, a club in Shinjuku. This club is the 32nd best in the world, and I can see why. It was so energetic and fun, with random performances coming out on the hour, including aerial performances.

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Day 12: TeamLab Planets and Odaiba

When I tell you I did this exact trip almost two years ago today, I mean it. First activity of the day was to go to TeamLab Planet. We had 1 HOUR to do the whole thing, which is diabolical. I only managed to go through all the parts I already did the last time. I barely spent any time in the new forest section. I wish I had know how cool it was, otherwise I would have skipped the first section and spent the whole hour in the forest part. I can't wrap my head around how people design these things. I am not super into art and honestly don't understand the symbolism behind a lot of it (I sometimes think it's just not that deep). But from a technological standpoint this place is lit.

Top is me 2025, bottom is me 2023

After, I went and did a group barbecue. This was very America core. There was so much food to be cooked, I was left so full. I was surprised the restaurant offered marshmallows as a dessert. They are honestly something I forget can be associated with grilling. I think it is interesting how the restaurant adopted the American style of cooking and dining and made it their gimmick.

From the perspective of a tourist, Japan is leisure. However, the reading shifts the perspective to be of a resident and how they relax in Japan. Mixed-use land isn't something I am familiar with, but the intention of creating a space specifically for leisure is not something I really take the time to think about when I do visit these spaces. Everything is done intentionally, for both tourists and residents to enjoy the space and relax. However, it is that intention that matters as these areas must be maintained and balanced as to bring vitality to a city. This leisure specific area was really easy to notice, as when we arrived in Odaiba, it felt completely different from where we were staying and had previously visited in Tokyo. It isn't as if there aren't leisure activities in other cities, but you can sense how Odaiba's main purpose is leisure. It is also interesting to consider how capitalism plays into the leisure spaces, as shopping and food areas are included. The reading made me think of mixed-use land near me, specifically downtown St. Pete and how those areas are more expensive compared to non mixed use land.

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Day 11: Hiking Mt. Takao

When I go on vacation, I like to stay in cities and shop and just explore popular areas. Rarely do I engage in athletic excursions, mostly because I just prefer to be indoors rather than outdoors. So when I read that we would be hiking a mountain, you can only imagine my dreadful expression. The area around the bottom of the mountain was nice, and we had some delicious tanuki soba. I had never heard of tanuki soba, but it was one of my favorite meals I have ever had in Japan. We also got these donuts afterwards that were heavenly.

Part of the way up the mountain is covered by chairlift. I don't know what I was expecting, but this chairlift was wayyyyy longer than I expected. It felt like it went on forever, but hey I'm not complaining. The view from the lift was incredible, especially seeing how tall the surrounding trees were. I was low key scared about falling off. There is a safety net below, but no lap bar.

Hiking up the mountain was something lemme tell you. I was DYING. Anytime I thought we were done, there were 5 staircases waiting for me. When we finally got to the top, it was satisfying as the view was very beautiful.

Prior to the reading, I had never really paid much attention to Japan's agriculture and landscape. Like I said, I am an indoors person. But the reading really surprised me with how it revealed how good Japan's landscape has been maintained considering its geography and history. Issues regarding the terrain and consistent natural disasters like earthquakes and typhoons do have an impact on the agriculture. Also, with the amount of people in Japan and the extreme consumption of materials that come with that population, the land should theoretically feed into the destabilization of the land. All of this combined should makes the terrain and agriculture bad, but in reality that hasn't happened.

As wood use became greater over time, the efforts to prevent the lack of supply for demand grew. I think it is interesting how some interest in protecting forests came from having wood supply for military use. I think it is sad though how these gestures to preserve forests were only gestures and actually left most of Japan without virgin forests. Learning of this history then hiking through the tall forests really makes you appreciate modern efforts to preserve nature.

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Day 10: Imperial Palace and Yasukuni Shrine

To nobody's surprise, I have already been to the imperial palace. I went back in January as a part of the Kakehashi project, before met the vice minister for foreign affairs of Japan (not to flex). But this time when I went, I was shocked to find out there was a whole garden next door that I didn't go to. I love Japanese style gardens, so I was very excited to go in and explore.

The garden had a lot to see, but being honest it wasn't the best garden I have seen in Tokyo. I was a little disappointed. I expected it to be super grand, since it is associated with the imperial palace. But hey, I can't complain as it is better than most gardens we have in Florida.

Afterwards, we went to the Yasukuni shrine. Now I understand the arguments that are for and against this place, but overall I felt kind of uncomfortable being there. It was one of the few shrines I didn't buy an omamori from because I wasn't sure if I wanted to keep the memory of going there. I feel the same about memorials in the US. I think history in general is uncomfortable to me (particularly surrounding war and colonization).

The controversy regarding the shrine is very political, which are we surprised that religion and politics have a crossover. Historically, Japan seldom owns up to past wrong doings, so the emphasis on the importance of honoring past war criminals and colonizers really highlights their deafness to their past. It is surprising how they choose to keep the "honor" of the men in the shrine rather than emphasize good relations with their powerful neighboring nations. However, I also think there is a point to be made regarding religion and how the US has similar memorials for historical figures who have also committed crimes and atrocities. It brings up the question whether Japan should be compared to other countries or not, because their historical behavior was their doing and they should own up to it rather than pointing fingers to other countries. I was surprised by the mention of comfort women as a part of the argument, as that is a point of Japanese history I have heard about but not really spoken about in detail. It helps to paint a bigger picture as to why there are issues regarding the shrine in relation to Japan's global image.