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Unexpected Japan: Final Assignment ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა

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Independent Excursion: Kimono Rental

I had always seen kimono depicted in various Japanese media, so when a girl from our group asked if anyone was interested in participating in a kimono rental, I was quick to voice my interest. It was a little pricey, but so worth it. I got to pick each part of my kimono from the main cloth to the belt to the bag and hair pieces. I believe it was a group of about 8 of us who participated. The process of getting ready was a little strange and something I wasn’t used to. I didn’t know that something that looked so flowy could feel so much like a corset. Regardless, once it was done, I had never felt so pretty. Truly, everyone in our group looked amazing.

We went to a local shrine to take photos and walk around in our kimonos. It was fun being gawked at for our outfits, thought if I was alone it would definitely had made me insecure. I was glad we chose to do it at the shrine we did, as all the other temples and shrines we visited in Kyoto were packed, and would have been made more miserable by shuffling around on tiny flip flops while wearing socks. We wore them for a little over an hour, walking around the immediate area and going into a family mart for some funny photos (of course). It was honestly really sad having to take the kimono off, despite how much my sweaty body had been begging for it. Those kimonos are so hot inside! It’s crazy! I was glad they let me keep my hairdo, and only took out the hair pieces. When I got home I smiled realizing that they had missed one of the pearls in my hair, a perfect souvenir for such a unique experience.

Academic Reflection

The article I chose for this independent activity was “A Study about Perceptions of Kimono among College Students and Kimono Enthusiasts: Is It Difficult to Move in a Kimono?” (Miyashiro et al., 2024). I thought this was a perfect article to have chosen going into it because it explores the possibility of kimono as more casual wear, discussing the benefits of the structure in easier production and more inclusive sizing. The caveat to this, of course, is the current image of kimono as a rather uncomfortable, traditional wear. The article points out that it will be necessary to acquaint younger generations with the kimono in order to make the use of them more casual. A major conclusion of the article was that with increased wear, the perception of kimono being less comfortable than western clothing may go away or lessen. This proves some truth to the assertion that younger people should become more acquainted with them.

I chose this article because I had also heard about the discomfort of kimono, even from other people on the trip. They had spoken about how hot they are to be in and how they feel much more formal than our usual wear. While I agree that it definitely feels more formal, that may be merely due to my perception of it based on a lack of exposure. I do think that especially after I wore kimono once, I noticed it less on others when we would visit shrines. As far as the discomfort goes, my group can attest to the fact that I couldn’t stop remarking how much more comfortable it was than I expected. Yes, it was hot. You’re wearing a full length cloth in the middle of summer. There’s no avoiding the heat. But generally, the fabric was rather comfortable and plush, it still was breathable due to the open bottom, and I honestly just felt padded all day which was a different type of comfort in and of itself. I can’t help but agree with the article. I truly think that if exposure to kimono in a casual fashion was seen as more common, the perception of a formality and discomfort would fade away.

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May 29 - Nara Day Trip

Today we went for a day trip to Nara, which is about an hour away from Kyoto. I was really excited for this day because, like most of us, I had seen all over social media the friendly Nara deer that bow for food. It did not disappoint at all. It was almost worth going to Himeji in the rain the day before. I didn’t end up feeding any deer, as I’m easily spooked by animals coming up to me, but I had lots of fun watching my classmates getting bumped and chased down. I saw multiple people get their clothes bit, and watched Zachary get bumped by a deer somewhere a deer should not be sticking his snout. I got a few obligatory 0.5 pictures of the deer also, of course.

After the deer, we went to see the giant Buddha statue. This was a statue I had actually seen in AP Art History in high school, so it was cool immediately recognizing it 4 years later. Sophomore Cadence would be proud. I watched a couple of my friends climb through a small hole in a log the size of the nostril on the Buddha statue, which is said to be good luck if you can fit. Don’t be fooled, the hole was incredibly small. Most people lined up were children and one guy nearly didn’t make it out without the help of some others in our group.

Academic Reflection

Last night we were asked to read about the Vairocana Buddha, which is said to be the Buddha that we saw in Nara. I had learned a bit about Buddhism in my Introduction to World Religions class a couple semesters ago, so I did remember the Vairocana Buddha. It’s thought to be the “original” Buddha. The statue we saw is the largest bronze image of Vairocana in the entire world, which I thought made it a really unique experience to be able to see it myself.

In regard to the type of Buddha, it was clear by the sheer size of the statue that it was an important figure. This makes sense in the context of our readings, where we understand how much Buddhism relies on Vairocana and how it’s really at the core of the religion. Other readings I felt didn’t have as much significance to my experience in Nara. I always think the readings on what god we will see venerated best help me to know the history behind a certain statue or image.

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Independent Excursion: Ghibli Park

The Ghibli Park was probably the part of the trip I was most looking forward to. The park only just opened up a year or two ago, so being able to go felt like such a treat. The tickets were a little difficult to get, but that was to be expected. Once getting there, my only wish was that I had gone with more die hard fans like myself. I could tell it wasn’t nearly as fun for my friends, as they hadn’t seen many of the movies. I think if I were in their situation I wouldn’t enjoy it much either. It’s really just a lot of exhibitions, photo spots, gift stores, and recreations of scenes from the movies. Which to me, is heaven, but to a non-fan, is incredibly boring.

Still, I enjoyed my day there. The travel was a little much for the amount of time we actually were able to spend, but I can’t help but still think it was a highlight of my trip. I mean I am truly in love with these movies. I got to do things there like sit next to No Face, run next to Ponyo, and hold my hands out to catch the falling Sheeta. I knew every reference, and recognized every cosplay. I hope to go back someday with ample time to explore, alone if I have to!

Media Reflection

Studio Ghibli is a famous Japanese animation studio producing movies primarily aimed at children. The music, animation, and elaborate plots have drawn attention from older audiences as well, though, making them widely popular. I grew up watching Ponyo, and widened my viewing to the other movies as I got older. I loved the way they represented the quieter aspects of Japan. Many of the movies take place in the countryside, highlighting the natural landscapes, as well as the architecture. Additionally, some of the stranger aspects of the movies draw from aspects of Japanese culture and folklore, making it a beautiful and colorful exaggeration of Japan.

In being in Japan, I noted many places that reminded me of the movies. On our rice farming day, our guide had even pointed out that the town we were in was used as inspiration for the film “My Neighbor Totoro”, which I easily believed, as I was already thinking the area felt familiar. The park itself was, of course, more of a replica of the films themselves. Scenes from the movies, towns inspired by them, etc. Despite this, I still definitely felt the areas were real. Yes they were recreations, but they were similar to aspects of Japan I had seen along our trip. I think I wasn’t at all disappointed in Japan after the Ghibli representation. If anything, it brought more wonder in everything I saw. I’m more of a city girl, but the Japanese countryside was exciting as well. Will there be soot sprites in the old walls of Kyoto? A Totoro hiding in the forests of Arashiyama? It was easy to feel transported.

Some clear differences would be in the more whimsical aspects. Giant heads and women turning into birds were not to be found anywhere along the way. This made it all the more fun to see them represented at the park, even for just a silly picture. Ghibli movies are some of the only “anime” that I consume these days, so it was important that my media reflection pertain to them in particular. While I’m not sure that it was everyone’s favorite day, I have no regrets. It was the perfect bridge between the Japan that I had seen and the exaggerated version on screen.

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May 28 - Himeji Castle

Today was just about the worst day I’ve had since being here. I’m not sure why we still went 2 hours to Himeji knowing it was absolutely pouring all day, but whatever the reason was, everyone was miserable for it. The rain was whipping around our umbrellas making it difficult to walk, and it was nearly impossible to enjoy any aspect of the castle due to being soaked from head to toe, stressed about the state of our passports, and barely holding together our (many broken) umbrellas. We basically did all the travel to just walk in and walk out as soon as we could, with over 40 minutes of walking in the storm.

After the castle wasn’t much better. It took a while to get back to the hotel, and I could tell I was snappy due to my poor mood so I just tried to keep quiet. I took a nap after a nice shower, but woke up to find out my group had all ordered dinner already. I’ll probably head out soon to find my own dinner, but I’m dreading leaving in the rain again. At this point of the trip, I’m just trying to get home. I miss my real friends, my cats, and good meals. I’m hoping Nara tomorrow is nice, and that I can have just a good solo day to end off the trip. To conclude, I’m tired, angry, and left out. Goodnight.

Academic Reflection

To be honest, it was hard for me to relate anything from today to the readings, as I really just wanted to go home all day. However a couple cool things that were pointed out were the woodwork in the castle being very expensive/sought after due to the large natural wood supports. Another thing was the different height walls which we read about as well.

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May 27 - Arashiyama

Today we went to Arashiyama. I was really excited for this day because there’s been a ton of stores in that area I’ve been waiting to go to and I also wanted to see the monkeys. The bamboo forest was a little busy (a theme here as you can tell) but it was still really pretty. I talked with some of my friends and didn’t take many pictures due to the crowds. We “hiked” up to the monkey park next which was probably my favorite part of the day. The monkeys were so cute and actually healed me from any stress. The little baby and mom monkeys made me miss my parents to be honest. I made sure to send a video of fighting monkeys to my siblings to let them know that they reminded me of us.

After the monkey park, we split up for the day. I went to lunch with my friends and then left to do my own personal shopping. I went to Rilakkuma tea house for some Rilakkuma-yakis and soft serve. I also went to Miffy Sakura Kitchen where I got some cute chopsticks, so that I can hopefully get better chopstick form with practice at home. Later in the evening, I went to a small bar with a larger group of friends. It was nice talking and relaxing with them, as the trip is winding down to its final days.

Academic Reflection

The readings last night focused on the land management of Arashiyama and tales of Genji. The tales of Genji I felt didn’t necessarily help me better understand the activities of today in the same way as the reading on land management. I thought it was really interesting the way in which appreciation for park preservation has changed so much over the years. I always wonder how these tourist spots are perceived because while they are historic and warrant respect, they also are great drivers of tourism and revenue. Being such a great spot in peak tourism times of spring (cherry blossoms) and autumn (leaves turning color), it has drawn many people to Arashiyama.

We learned that over the years, awareness of the need for preservation led to Arashiyama gaining new classifications as a park in need of conservation due to its cultural significance. I saw today how well kept the area was, with many parts of it even closed off to public. I was glad that tourism in the area was still permitted, as it really was a big item on my Japan bucket list. I’ve noticed a theme in Japan is the very widespread management of land. However, it often takes a while for this management to be enforced or may not be widely enforced.

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May 26 - Kiyomizudera Temple and Gion

Today we went to Kiyomizudera temple, Sannen-zaka and Ninen-zaka streets, and Gion. I had always seen the beuatiful Kyoto streets of Sannen-zaka and Ninen-zaka leading up to the Kiyomizudera temple on social media and the internet, so I was very excited to go. It’s basically the Kyoto you see in your head when you think of the place. The travel there was a little frustrating due to the tourists, but I’ve gotten a little more used to that at this point. After going up the streets we made it to the temple, where we did this really cool immersive experience. For 100 yen, we went down this pitch black tunnel, lead by a rope, representing a journey through the womb of a mother. There was an illuminated stone toward the end that we could place our hand on to make a wish. It was disorienting a bit, but really fun and unique.

I enjoyed exploring the streets leading to the temple, as it’s basically a tourist paradise. I got some nice matcha for my mom, some candied apple slices for me, and also some boba from a Sumikko Gurashi pop-up cafe! I may have to go back for the cute little Sumikko castella cakes. We went to Gion next, where we saw a traditional geisha dance. Unfortunately, we were unable to see any real geishas in the streets of Gion, as they’ve long since stopped walking around on their own due to tourists harassing them. Nowadays they’re driven around by car from function to function.

Academic Reflection

One of last night’s readings focused on the history of the geisha. This was particularly interesting to me as I really knew nothing about the past of geishas. I only knew them as cultural figures that were highly protected in Japan. Finding out they were once more of just highly trained prostitutes was shocking to me. I had no idea that their history was once less revered. I especially liked learning about the transition to the modern view of geishas. One aspect of this transition was the increase in eduction of geishas and prostitutes. Additionally, with the Meiji Restoration, monogamy became the norm, pushing the idea of prostitution out of a socially accepted light.

While being in Gion, I realized how much geishas are held in high regard. They are seen as preservers of culture, rather than sex symbols. Seeing the beautiful traditional dance that a geisha may perform for the upper class, it’s easy to see the draw. It was a dance unlike any I'd seen before. I only wish that the tourists hadn't ruined a possible experience to see a geisha while on the streets of Gion.

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May 25 - Osaka Day Trip

Today we took a day trip to Osaka, which is about an hour away by train (not Shinkansen). My friends and I made breakfast with each other before heading to the morning meeting. We were glad that we didn't have to wake up too early because the early mornings were definitely starting to get to us. Osaka was much bigger and more populated than I thought it would be. To be honest, I didn't really know much about Osaka at all before our reading. I only knew it was another major city, but lesser-known than Tokyo. We started by going to another observation tower. It was cool but I would definitely suggest maybe one tower in Tokyo and one in Osaka for future trips. We were all feeling a little observation decked out. It was still a pretty view, though, and I liked that this one was outside

We stopped by the Osaka Castle after, which was a little out of the way but was still cool to see. I wish we had gone inside or something, rather than just traveled 20 minutes there to sit outside for 5 minutes, but we were told it wasn't historically accurate inside. We were basically allowed free time after, which I used to shop (of course). My search for Sonny Angels was unsuccessful, but my search of things to spend money on was too successful. We came back to Kyoto in time for dinner and I plan to spend the rest of the night sorting my souvenirs and putting away clothes.

Academic Reflection

Our reading last night focused on the city planning of Osaka. This is referring to its urban structure and organization of its physical space (being regulations, demolition of buildings, etc.). The most interesting part of the reading to me was the frequency of destruction of different buildings, with hasty reconstructions after. This cycle of demolition and rebuilding is something that is not quite as intense in America, at least where I'm from. I think that In many parts of America, a strong emphasis on historical preservation maintains many older buildings in their original state.

In Japan, houses, buildings, or even entire city blocks need to be easy to demolish in order to make way for any new projects coming in. This fast-past reorganization, in my opinion, loses some of the charm found in a city's history. However, I acknowledge that Japan is constantly striving for productivity alongside tradition, so their priorities may just lie in other areas. I think that they try to maintain some history in certain well known sites, with a certain advertisement in Osaka remaining there for many years in some form or another, as our professor pointed out. Another example is the theater we walked by. It now does Kabuki, but was once the first theater in Japan that you could go to see a film. The outside of the theater was preserved, while the inside was refurbished.

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May 24 - Kinkaku-ji and Daitokuji

Today we went to the Kinkaku-ji temple (golden pavilion) and the Daitokuji zen complex. We started the day a bit early today so that we were able to ride the bus without it being too busy (the alternative was a 40 minute walk). I got myself a 7-eleven smoothie for the first time and it was $2 well spent. The Kinkaku-ji temple was incredibly crowded, as it's a well-known Kyoto tourist sight. It's listed on just about every "10 things to do in Kyoto" site. Sadly, this made it crowded and difficult to take pictures. Still, it was cool to see, as it was something I had even learned about in AP Art History over 4 years ago.

Daitokuji was much more relaxed, or zen. It was very quiet and there were hardly any tourists. Once we got to the garden we planned on touring I realized why. Most of the gardens, especially the most famed ones, don't allow photos. I don't think any allow you to post to social media. Tourists aren't quite as interested in visiting cultural sites if they aren't able to post about it. I appreciated the quiet, and meditated (meaning I nearly fell asleep while shutting my eyes). Afterward, I went back to the hotel, as I felt a headache coming on.

Academic Reflection

We learned last night in our reading a bit more about the golden pavilion, Kinkaku-ji. I had no clue that the version that stands now was actually built in the 50s as a replica, as the old one was burned down. I was happy to hear that the materials used in the recreation were authentic to the original. Apparently, the original was not aging well in the first place, with much of the gold leaf falling off. The Kinkaku-ji we saw today looked very much new, and gold as ever. I was glad we were still able to see it, despite it being a replica.

One thing that stuck with me in our discussion this morning about zen gardens was how methodical each aspect of it was. This was clear to see when we visited a couple of them. Each rock had meaning. At the first garden, there were a collections of rocks representing a mountain and waterfall, with the "waterfall" said to provide a water flow all around the garden. While the term "zen garden" supposedly is just a modern take on what the gardens were during westernization, it definitely felt "zen" and peaceful.

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May 23 - Ghibli Park

Today I went to the Ghibli Park which is just outside of Nagoya. It was a bit of a journey getting there, made more stressful by my group and I running behind. Luckily we made it there about 50 minutes after our entry window, which was alright given the hour of leeway they give you. The day was fun, but I can't say it lived up to my expectations. The park was much too big and busy to finish with the time we had. I definitely plan to go back some day and give myself an earlier entry time in order to fully explore the park. A couple girls in the group weren't feeling well today as well, which made it difficult to not feel guilty taking any more time than necessary. I am very appreciative of them making the effort to come though, as we found out we wouldn't be able to enter the park without them.

To sum up the day, it was a little bit of a bust. I spent a lot of money for not a whole lot of actual activity but as I said to the group: "you live and you learn". I've definitely learned from this experience and hope to use my knowledge to improve it the next time I'm in Japan. I'm still glad I went for this reason, as it provided a lot of insight to help me plan better in the future.

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May 22 - Kyoto Imperial Palace and Kyoto National Museum

Today we went to both the Kyoto Imperial Palace and the Kyoto National Museum. The palace was pretty but to be honest, all most of us could think about was finding shade. I definitely wish I were more prepared for the direct sunlight and heat for an hour outside. There was little to no shade at all during the tour. Any shade that was there was roped off, as the trees in the garden needed to be protected and no one was allowed into the palace. Still, it was a pretty place to visit and interesting to compare to the later Tokyo Imperial Palace.

After the tour of the palace, we took the train over to the Kyoto National Museum. We learned that the buses have recently become incredibly overcrowded with tourists since the collapse of the yen, which is why we've been taking the metro while in Kyoto, rather than buses. While the buses are more efficient here (as opposed to metro in Tokyo) we don't want to be a part of the rising tourism problem. The museum was filled with lots of Japanese art spanning over its rich history. I found it to be similar to the Tokyo National Museum, but a little more traditional. From what I saw it was a lot more scrolls.

Academic Reflection

Before going to the imperial palace, we read about old Kyoto and its architecture. The reading helped me to understand why the buildings in the complex of the place were so open. This is likely due to the heat, allowing breezes to flow through. The tour guide noted that the streams that flowed through the complex also helped to effectively cool down the area, or at least provide some relaxation with its noise. I also thought it was really cool seeing the cypress bark roofs that we had talked about earlier in class. These roofs are ideal for many kinds of weather, and durable over time.

Unfortunately, the art museum would not let us take photos inside. Still, I chose a piece that spoke most to me. Thirty-Three Forms of Kannon is made with ink on silk, and represents the 33 different forms of the Bodhisattva of compassion, Kannon, which are used to lead all to salvation. I felt like after the discussions we've had in this class on religion, it was cool to see such a large scale representation of the Japanese peoples' devotion to their gods. The painting was made in the 17th century, so before the Meiji restoration, when the emperor would have still been living here, in Kyoto.

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May 21 - Thrifting and Kimono Rental

Today was our first free day in Kyoto so I decided to spend it doing something I wasn't able to in Tokyo: thrift! I went to a few second-hand stores and found some cool items, but they were all a little out of my budget. I ended up getting a donut at a fancy shop near the shopping street I was on (in truth, it was more of a cake than anything else) and hurried over to the other part of town in order to make it on time for the kimono rental appointment with my friends. Navigating the bus system was a little difficult, but it was necessary to get to the shop, as the metro in Kyoto isn't as convenient as in Tokyo.

The rental place was so nice (so expensive too...) and we all enjoyed picking out the colors of our kimono, belt, and bag. It was actually really odd though that two of my friends were taller than 5'7ish and had to pay extra just for longer kimonos. At least those two got special belt decorations and collars. The kimonos were very hot, but also fun to wear to the nearby shrine and even the Family Mart, where my friends picked up some onigiri. It was an experience I'm really glad I didn't skip.

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May 20 - International Manga Museum and Fushimi-Inari Shrine

Today was our first full day in Kyoto. We started the day with bento breakfasts, which no one enjoyed or finished. Even the rice, a dish usually impossible to mess up, had meat chunks and was made in chicken stock, making it inedible for me. Most of us are going to opt our of the breakfasts from now on, which is a little frustrating since it is included in what we paid for the trip. For future trips, I would suggest offering breakfast money or an American style breakfast for at least half the trip. We went to the International Manga Museum first, where I got to see a lot of my favorite mangas in their original form, before translation. It was a fun place, but didn't take that long to explore.

We went to the shrine after lunch. Unfortunately, none of us were told that the day would include hiking/extensive walking, so we weren't dressed appropriately. With no time to change my clothes (unless I wanted to sacrifice my lunch time) I had to hike in jeans and uncomfortable shoes. My knees are still mad at me for this. The shrine was pretty but the tourists were everywhere. It took me until the walk back to snap that one picture with no tourists. Not a moment after that photo did more tourists show up. In all, today had some activities that definitely could be fun, but felt a little poorly planned, a sentiment shared by the rest of my group.

Academic Reflection

Last night, we read about the god Inari and their association with foxes. I had seen many foxes, or kitsune, while in Japan and thought them to just be general messengers of the gods. For this reason, it was interesting to hear to other side of a more special relationship with one god in specific. Inari is the god of rice and agriculture, which is now thought of as general prosperity, rather than farming success. The fox is the messenger of Inari and, for some people, is also a protector of crops.

As soon as we got off our train to get to the shrine, there were fox icons everywhere. This continued as we went up the mountain, with big fox statues at the front of the shrine, each holding some aspect of the god's power in its mouth. I was glad to learn a bit more about the specific god we were visiting today, as it really put together the scenery we were taking in. Even the little kitsune masks that I've always seen depicted in anime at matsuri-type festivals made sense in this context as a representation of Inari.

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May 19 - Traveling to Kyoto

Today we made the trip from Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen (bullet train). It was a bit of mayhem trying to pack up in the morning, as I had woken up later than I intended to. I had just enough time before class to run down to breakfast for a piece of toast. After class, we took the metro to Tokyo station, where we were given a little while to get any final snacks or souvenirs. I got my millionth coffee of the trip and a salad for the ride. Unfortunately, when I opened the salad it was covered in vinegar. Tasty, but not the fresh vegetable reset I was looking for.

The Shinkansen ride wasn't bad at all. In truth, I fell asleep for the majority of it (including passing Mount Fuji, whoops). It definitely didn't feel as fast as it was. It felt smoother than a car on the highway. Once at Kyoto station, we had some time to eat before our check in. My friends and I got food at a pub type of place and I wandered off on my own after to find kompeito, a candy I had been looking everywhere for (it's the candy that is a reference for a scene of my favorite Ghibli movie, Spirited Away).

Academic Reflection

The reading last night focused on the effects of the Shinkansen. I never gave the bullet train much thought, as I had never ridden on one and honestly didn't think I would in my life. But I realized through the reading how two-fold such a mode of transportation is. It of course has its benefits, as now more than ever people can move to a major city like Tokyo, and still be able to see their small town or visit family on weekends. This I'm sure brings more business to those smaller towns, which previously would have likely seen less visitors. Being on the train, I could see for myself how convenient it is to travel so far, so fast.

However, the most interesting effect that I hadn't thought about had to do with the way they are able to have such a fast train. Trains can't go that fast unless they are on straight railways. Being such an expansive line, this means there is no way to avoid every town on its way. It needs to go through some towns in order to maintain the straight line and its speed. This meant the relocation of a lot of people from their homes. Not only this, but the traffic of those towns would be changed, as you can't simply drive over a Shinkansen railway. There needs to be tunnels under or bridges over it. I saw this while I was on the train, as we got so close to some of the smaller towns on the way, which made sense when I looked at the map.

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May 18 - Free Day and Exploring Ikebukuro

Today we had a free day and since it was our last day in Tokyo, I wanted to spend it doing all the things I didn't get to do yet over the last two weeks. Since a lot of those things didn't get done because they didn't interest the others in the group, I felt I should go alone so I didn't feel held back from doing everything I wanted to. It was really fun freely exploring and navigating around the city, particularly in the Ikebukuro area, which I hadn't yet seen. I must have really been traversing everywhere, because a woman came up to me with her phone open to a translate app saying "I have seen you three times today in Ikebukuro" and we laughed at the coincidental encounters.

I hadn't been buying much for myself on the trip, so I made an effort to treat myself today to things I felt I may regret not getting. At the end of the day, despite feeling like I spent copious amounts of money, my total bill of what I spent was $130. This is still more than I've spent on any given day here. But, given that it includes all my food for the day and it made me feel really fulfilled, I think it's good to treat yourself every once in a while. This may have been my favorite day in Tokyo so far.

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May 17 - Odaiba

Today we went to Odaiba, an area of Tokyo that is made for tourists and businesses. There were plenty of malls and attractions to make it an interesting travel destination. We went to the Fuji Television museum but once there, we realized that the museum no longer existed and was only a gift shop and observatory. Still, we went in the observatory and the view was really pretty. Apparently you could even see Mount Fuji because the sky was so clear, but I didn’t see it when I was up there.

After the museum, we went to get a BBQ lunch together. Sadly, it was only meat, so the tour guide, Emi, and I went to Red Lobster, where they had more for me to eat. We talked a lot and actually connected on a lot of things, so I’m honestly really glad I did that instead of the BBQ. We went over to TeamLab Planets next, which is a sort of interactive art exhibit where a lot of people take photos. I had no idea how cool it would actually be. We ended up going through the exhibit twice, both to make sure we didn’t miss anything and to simply take it all in again.

Academic Reflection

From the reading, I was able to better understand Odaiba and why it was built. I had never heard of such a neighborhood/district made entirely to be a perfect fantasy for tourists both domestically and internationally. When we arrived, it was clear that everything in the area was carefully managed and built in a modern style. It truly had something for everyone, not only in the area of entertainment, but in business as well. This was seen in the Fuji building we visited, as well as surrounding office buildings and hotels.

It was honestly a little strange to see what was meant to be such an idealized version of Tokyo. It didn't even feel like a real place as it was so expansive and empty-feeling. In my opinion, it wasn't exactly achieving its goal. I think the real draw of a major city is the charm of that individual city. People visit Tokyo for the lights, the rush, and the vibes. I felt that was all missing from Odaiba. Maybe that opinion isn't widely shared, but I felt it was important to mention as I technically should be one of the ideal targets of such a complex (being an international tourist).

[cadenceventures]

May 16 - Hiking Mt. Takao

Today we hiked on Mt. Takao, which is about an hour and a half from our hotel in Tokyo by train. We took a lift about halfway up the mountain and hiked on paved trails from there to the summit. The trails were beautiful, and the misty weather only made it feel more magical. The shrine on top of the mountain felt like something out of a Ghibli movie, and there were plenty of flavors of rice cakes being sold at little stands going up the mountain. While the climb was a little tiring, we felt it would be worth it at the summit. Unfortunately, the weather was too misty for us to see the view.

We took a more advanced trail down, as the paved trail didn't satisfy the hiking need my friends and I had. The trail was scary, and we were pretty much a step away from falling down the mountain the whole time, but the danger paid off in the sights. It was so much prettier on the trail. We got a few photos along the way but, mainly, we just enjoyed each others company. After the hike down, we got some ramen and took the trip back to Tokyo, so tired that some of us fell asleep on the metro.

Academic Reflection

In our reading last night, we learned about the forest management over Japanese history. I thought it was so interesting how the vast majority of Japan's forests have been "tampered with" essentially to make them more ideal. I would love to see a direct comparison between Japan's few remaining natural forest areas and the forest seen on the mountain today. The main focuses are protection and production. Some forests are meant for protection, housing shrines, homes, villages, etc. Others are for production of timber, fuel or other resources.

I think that the management of natural landscapes is not something I would want normally, but given the way we currently treat our forests, it may be the only way to protect them. I hope that America starts treating our own natural landscapes with the same care because I feel like we either leave it untouched or demolish it for more urbanization. I could tell even by the way the trails were built that Japan puts more thought into their interactions with nature, which I really enjoyed seeing. I hope we get to spend more time enjoying nature on this trip.