Tokyo, the city that never fails to amaze me, was a wonderful place to visit. We were granted one free weekend in Tokyo during the study abroad, so I decided to take full advantage.

Friday Evening: Shinjuku Shopping Frenzy:
My first stop was Shinjuku, a vibrant district known for its pulsating energy and endless shopping opportunities. Armed with an empty suitcase and an adventurous spirit, I dove headfirst into the labyrinth of dazzling stores, uncovering hidden treasures at every turn. From trendy fashion boutiques to quirky vintage shops, Shinjuku had it all. I couldn’t resist indulging in a little retail therapy. I also just had to grab some bubble tea from Gong-Cha, a store that Mei recommended. That night I stopped at a restaurant with my friend Nyah to try some dumplings, and safe to say they were delicious. The bright city lights vaguely reminded me of the city that never sleeps, as it seemed that everyone was out that night.

Saturday:
Sunshine City Extravaganza: The next day, I ventured to Sunshine City on Miki-san’s recommendation. It’s a haven for anime enthusiasts and pop culture aficionados. My inner child rejoiced as I stepped into the Pokémon Store. As a Studio Ghibli fan, I couldn’t resist paying a visit to their dedicated store, where Totoro and other iconic characters adorned shelves filled with enchanting merchandise. And let’s not forget the One Piece Store, where I stopped to grab pirate merch for some family friends.

But the real surprise came when I stumbled upon an animal café, expecting bunnies but encountering playful otters instead. The sign outside Their mischievous antics melted my heart, and I spent the afternoon cuddling and playing with these adorable creatures. As if that wasn’t enough, I treated my taste buds to a delightful discovery – taiyaki! These warm fish-shaped pastries, oozing with delectable fillings, were a revelation. I tried one with custard and one with red bean paste. They were by far one of my favorite treats I tried in Japan.

Exploring Toshima’s Hidden Gems: In search of unique finds, I found myself meandering through the charming streets of Toshima. I quite randomly happened upon an antique store where I unearthed a pre-World War tea cup and plate set. I couldn’t resist taking a piece of history home with me, so, of course, I bought it. The shop owner was extremely kind and offered my friends and me some green tea as we waited for her to bag our pieces. As the sun began to set, I stumbled upon several local shrines, their peaceful ambiance providing a respite from the urban hustle. With a sense of tranquility, I paid my respects and soaked in the cultural richness surrounding me.

Evening Delights in Shibuya: The evening beckoned, and my path led me to Shibuya, where I took part in the infamous Shibuya crossing. A growling stomach guided me to a delightful Korean restaurant, where I savored the heavenly flavors of kimchi fried rice, a harmonious blend of spice and comfort. While wandering, I found my way to a cute mocktail bar and was treated to visually stunning concoctions that tasted as good as they looked.

Sunday: Exploring History and Feasting:
Sunday dawned with a cultural twist. I visited the majestic Imperial Palace, its grandeur a testament to Japan’s rich heritage. I spent quite some time watching over the koi fish as they reminded me of my pet fish that I had left behind in the States. The tranquil surroundings provided a serene escape from the bustling city, allowing me to immerse myself in the allure of ancient traditions.

After that, I journeyed the subway to UTokyo’s festival, which was in full swing, tempting me with a tantalizing array of street food stalls. I also watched several performances on the stage, and let’s just say they all killed it. The campus was abuzz with activity, with students proudly showcasing their talents and accomplishments. While the food stalls were good, I was craving a bigger meal, so I made my way toward a nearby restaurant. Luckily, I found a delicious Indian place with naan as big as my head. After refueling, I made my way to the iconic Senso-ji Temple, a spiritual sanctuary nestled in the heart of Asakusa. The vibrant red gates, known as “kaminari-mon,” welcomed me into a world of ancient wisdom and tranquility. As I strolled along Nakamise Street, lined with bustling shops offering traditional crafts and souvenirs, I couldn’t resist picking up a few mementos to commemorate my journey.

The evening approached, and with a satisfied heart and a slight pang of nostalgia, I made my way to a charming local eatery near my hotel. The aroma of sizzling dishes filled the air as I savored a delicious dinner that included filling gyozas and a noodle dish whose name I can’t recall. Reflecting on the whirlwind weekend, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the multitude of experiences, from the otters and shopping sprees to the cultural immersion and tantalizing food.

On one of our final days in Japan, we visited a hospital and the former site of the Okawa Elementary School, which, in my mind, highlighted the importance of emergency preparedness. We began the day by traveling by bus to the Ishinomaki Hospital, a hospital that was prepared for emergencies, like the earthquake and tsunami it faced in 2011. We heard from several staff members about how after the earthquake struck, they almost immediately started preparing triage and how to best help the patients who would be coming in soon. From what I understood, the hospital was the only one in the area capable of handling the patients, and that was prepared for the disaster. They set up triage with four colors. Red needed immediate attention and was life-threatening, yellow was serious but not immediately life-threatening, green was patients that had minor injuries, and black meant that that patient had passed away. I was surprised to learn that although the hospital practiced for emergencies, they said they only did it once a year. I had thought it would at least be twice, but that practice truly helped them navigate was disaster struck in 2011. We were shown equipment used during the disaster. One of the items they showed was cardboard beds which were utilized as it was helpful for those who were injured and elderly to get up. And tents that could fit cardboard beds to provide privacy and, if needed, isolation. In one of the tents shown, there was a battery-operated toilet with a bag at the bottom to catch waste as sometimes water isn’t available.

Next, we heard from a Nurse who described what it was like in the shelters after the disaster. She stated that the most common infectious diseases were norovirus and influenza. A way to combat this was hygiene practices that sometimes become overlooked in emergencies. She stated that one of the things that she wishes is different for the next is that individuals practice good hygiene and for there to be dedicated people to teach and promote good hygiene practices.

After visiting the hospital, we made our way to the former site of the Okawa Elementary School. The drive was scenic, as the river and mountains provided a beautiful backdrop. However, once we got closer to the site, it was clear that the area never fully recovered after the tsunami. Once we were there, the ruins of the elementary school were startling against the scenic views of the river in front of it and the mountains behind it.

We had an amazing storyteller tell us about the tragedy that happened at the site. And how the teachers had 51 minutes to decide where to evacuate the students after the earthquake, but because there was no plan in place for this situation, the teachers debated the best place to go, tragically wasting precious minutes that could have been used for evacuation. One of the difficult things about this disaster is that water would be coming from two places, from the river and the ocean, making deciding where to evacuate more confusing.

According to the storyteller, one teacher advocated for going up the hill behind the school with a few students to investigate to ease the other teachers’ worries, but then it was too late. She said that if the hill was chosen as the evacuation location earlier but would have taken less than a minute for people to climb up it. Tragically, seventy-four people lost their lives, including several teachers. Rightfully, some parents pursued legal action to understand what happened. Unfortunately, people in power tried to twist the words of the survivors, but the parents one their case. I can only hope that in the future, sufficient natural disaster plans will be in place as preparedness saves lives. I also hope that the teacher who survived can one day find peace because the storyteller said he was struggling and isolated himself from the community.

While we were in Hiroshima, we took a quick trip to a nearby island called Miyajima, also known as Itsukushima. I didn’t know this before going, but the island is known for its iconic floating shrine called Itsukushima Shrine and friendly deer. Our journey to the island was relatively uneventful as we took several trains to get to an area where we could access the island. To get to the island, we had to take a ferry; luckily for me, the ride was smooth, with minimal rocking. The weather that day was almost perfect, as the sun was out and it was neither too hot nor too cold. But the most impressionable part of the trip was the scenic views. They were stunning, to say the least, and the pictures I took do not do it justice at all. The picture below shows the iconic shrine and the island’s natural beauty.

Once everyone departed the ferry, we took a quick break at the station to get maps and prepare for the island. I was surprised to hear over the speaker that the deer were friendly but had no qualms about eating visitors’ paper, clothing, and other items they could reach. To be honest, I thought it was an exaggeration and that we would not really run into any deer, but within the first few steps, we saw at least three. They were just casually sitting in the shade as visitors went up to take pictures and provide a few well-deserved pets for their service. It took me a moment, but I did gather up the courage to pet one because who knows when my next opportunity to pet a deer will be. Our sensei told us that the deer are well taken care of and protected because they are believed to be messengers from the gods, which was helpful to know because, in the US, they would have likely become someone’s dinner.

After walking by some cute local businesses and more deer, we made it to the shrine. Because we arrived during low tide, the shrine did not appear to be floating, but it allowed people to walk under it. Safe to say, the shrine’s vivid vermillion color was a sight to see once we got inside. No wonder it’s included in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites. Walking through the shrine made me more appreciative of the cultural differences because despite not practicing the Shinto religion, it was a striking site that gave me more insight into Japanese culture. While at the shrine and a few classmates witnessed what I believe to be a Shinto priest practicing some rituals, and although I could not understand the language, it was very touching.

Afterward, my classmates and I were able to explore the island on our own time. I and a few others decided to walk to a park we saw on the map that indicated that many deers were there. We got a bit lost on our journey up the mountain, but we asked a shopkeeper for directions, and they kindly pointed us in the right direction. The striking green of the trees was comforting to see after spending quite some time in the concrete jungle of Tokyo. On the way up, we made a few stops at some souvenir shops along the way because who could resist cute deer merch? Once we reached the park, we were surprised to see there were no deer. We had a good chuckle about it because, of course, they would prefer to be near the tourist who are likely dropping food or just giving it to them. We made our way back down the mountain and into what I would call the shopping district. While shopping, I bought some Momiji Manju, a maple-leaf-shaped cake made of buckwheat and rice with many fillings. I got a variety set that included red bean paste, chocolate, and custard to try with my family once I returned. My day at Miyajima was amazing, and I learned so much. If you ever happen to find yourself in Japan, I highly recommend you carve out some days to visit the island.