During my stay in Japan, I had several opportunities to try new things and I welcomed these opportunities with open arms. Part of the reason I was so excited to embark on this journey was to be able to embrace a different culture and to immerse myself as much as possible. One new activity that made me feel very connected to Japanese culture was visiting public baths. By the end of the trip, I had visited four different public baths and each one was unique in its own way. The first public bath I visited, which ended up being my favorite, was located near Tokyo Skytree and was called Mikokuyu. Although my friends and I had done some research on different public baths, we were slightly nervous when we first got there. At first it felt very different to be naked in front of many strangers and I found myself trying to hide my body, but after about 5 minutes I felt very comfortable and greatly enjoyed the experience. Every person there was super kind and helped us when we were confused on what to do. One woman offered her hair tie when she saw we didn’t have an extra one to put our hair up and another told us not to be embarrassed. There were several different baths of different temperatures and minerals that all felt amazing, especially after a long day of walking. Surprisingly one of my favorite baths was the cold bath as I found the most peace and quiet while sitting there meditatively. Overall, using the public baths was unlike anything I have ever done before, but quickly became one of my favorite activities during the trip.
Mikokuyu Public Bath Sign
Additionally, I was able to try different makeup and skin care products that are popular in Japan. I really enjoy using and learning about different makeup and skin care products so I was excited to try some that are not available in the US. Luckily, I was able to go to the drug store with our TA, Miki, and she was able to show me her favorite products as well! Some makeup I purchased included mascara and a lip tint and for skincare I purchased an eye cream and several face masks.
Mascara
Eye Cream
During the trip, I also tried my best to follow fashion norms in Japan which differed significantly from my typical sweatpant and sweatshirt outfit that I wear to class every day. I was actually surprised by how much I enjoyed putting outfits together every day and it made me feel more mature and organized. I felt that I had my life more put together and I feel more motivated to continue to dress better once I’m back in the US. In addition, I was able to visit Shimokitazawa and see many of the vintage shops. It was really fun to see all the clothing items and I even found some Ohio State shirts!
Shimokitazawa Sign
Lastly, it would be impossible to talk about the new things I tried without mentioning all the delicious food I was able to enjoy during my time in Japan. Every time I was asked what my favorite meal was I struggled to pick so I was only able to narrow it down to about five dishes (in no particular order): beef tongue, Takoyaki, dipping noodles, conveyor belt sushi, and okonomiyaki. I was able to try beef tongue along with beef tail soup for the first time while in Sendai. The beef tongue was very flavorful and I was pleasantly surprised by the texture. I had the opportunity to eat Takoyaki twice: once during the first stop at the train station in Osaka and a second time at the same train station in Osaka. It was so good I had to go back! Takoyaki is a small dough ball with a small piece of octopus on the inside and topped with seaweed powder and special sauces. It was unlike anything I’ve eaten before and I absolutely loved it. Dipping noodles also quickly became a favorite after I tried them for the first time at the Tokyo Sky Tree mall. I ended up having dipping noodles three times and was very pleased with each experience. Since I eat sushi fairly often at home, I was excited to try conveyor belt sushi while in Japan and it definitely did not disappoint! I tried many different varieties of nigri, sushi, and hand rolls with fish such as eel, salmon roe, and crab legs. While in Hiroshima, I was able to try okonomiyaki which is a savory pancake consisting of several layers such as cabbage and seafood. It was very filling and satisfying after a day of traveling.
Beef Tongue Meal
Takoyaki
Sushi
Okonomiyaki
Dipping Noodles