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With much of Japan’s population being comprised of citizens over the age of 50 there is not only a big push to increase the birthrate of the country, but a new issue has arisen. The rising challenge is how to provide jobs and care for a rapidly aging population. During our trip we visited the Grundtvig in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture which provides in-home long-term for residents with a focus of ensuring independence and a life of normalcy.

Pictured: Fujisawa Prefecture from Grundtvig patio.

I had never seen an innovation like Grundtvig to battle such an issue. As we explored the grounds, we came to learn that many of the residents living there had various disabilities related to aging but were met with care that encouraged a continued quality of life through community. Grundtvig achieved this by having it be a live and work community for younger Japanese citizens where they would care for the older patients and in return receive compensation. Not only does this help both the long-term residents of the community but it also helps to provide affordable housing for the younger

Presentation on Grundtvig and in home care model.

population as well. Another net benefit is the increase in community that is established between the two generations living and working with each other. When visiting one of the caretakers shared a story with us about a resident who had recently passed but how she had created an extremely close bond with the young man and his child and how they mourned her loss not only because she was a resident there but because she became a friend and even more importantly, family. For many of these families and residents Grundtvig became more than place where one works and helps take care of their neighbor, it has become a home. Our first stop at the site was to a town center where there were spaces for kids to relax and for sweet treats to be purchased by both young and old alike! I got churro and then we walked inside of the processing building which is where all of the claims from the residents for healthcare are processed and taken care of. The interesting thing about this particular building was that it also serviced younger community members whether it be counseling,

View of Mount Fuji from in home care facility at Grundtvig.

health needs or a helping hand, the staff were always on deck to help out in whatever way they could. A little later into the tour we were allowed to go upstairs into a housing unit that saw patients for care. On our way up we were taken aback by the incredible view of Fuji that this particular part of Fujisawa prefecture had. Once we took in the view we headed in where there was a waiting room and also the places where residents can go for a checkup if needed. This lay out was revolutionary as it brought care to the residents instead of the other way around. I enjoyed Grundtvig because I found it to be innovation that I had not seen before and knowing the struggles the older US population has with loneliness, I saw Grundtvig as a first step in the right direction that could possibly utilized here at home one day!

Visiting Mijayima Island was one of the highlights of the program for me. Everything about the island was so beautiful, from the mountains filled with vibrant green trees, to the sparkling ocean water reflecting the sun, to the deer roaming through the island and the breathtaking Itsukushima Shrine. 

We started our trip to Miyajima Island on a train from Hiroshima, which took us to the ferry we would take over to the island. The majority of the ride was on the coast, so we got to see many of the coastal towns as we travelled toward the island.  Once we got on the ferry, we could see the Itsukushima Shrine in the distance, and as we got closer to the island with that view in the distance, I became more and more excited to get off the boat and explore Miyajima. On our walk over to the shrine, we were greeted by some of the indigenous deer, which were smaller than most species, and unafraid of people, which I thought was so fun. 

When we arrived at the shrine, I was amazed. The Torii gate was breathtaking out in the water and I made sure to take several pictures of it. In the shrine, I threw a coin and prayed, looked at the prayer plaques and saw people’s hopes and prayers, and I also bought some good fortune charms for my family members to bring home for them. 

The beautiful Torii gate.

We then left the shrine and explored a bit more of Miyajima Island. We walked down a street that had a stream running through it, lined with little shops full of trinkets and restaurants with fresh oysters and matcha ice cream. We shopped and bought some souvenirs and then a few of us decided to try the fresh oysters and matcha ice cream, which were both very good. After that, we sat by the river for a while and admired the beauty of the street and the quiet rush of the stream while the sun began to set. Before our time on the island came to an end, we went back to the shrine to take a few more pictures and noticed the tide was coming in very fast. When we left Miyajima Island, the sun was setting and it was shining beautifully onto the water and onto the Torii gate and I spent the whole boat ride looking out onto the water and the beautiful island in the distance. 

Fresh oysters.

When you think of Japan, I bet you naturally dream of Tokyo. I’m sure you imagine the bright neon city lights shining down on you in Shibuya or maybe the huge fashion and shopping scene in Shinjuku. You might also think of the nightlife and the way Japanese people love to party until the first train runs at 5am. You might even think about what I would consider “kawaii culture” —the cute little figurines like Hello Kitty and Miffy, the baby doll aesthetic in fashion and makeup, or cute establishments like puppy or capybara cafes. Trust me — before I went to Japan, this is what I was really expecting to fall in love with. And don’t get me wrong, I absolutely adore Tokyo. The food was everything and more. The fashion is actually on another level, like I’ve never seen such stylish and cool people in my entire life. And I couldn’t even count the amount of times I called something cute in Japan. Everything and everyone was just so cute, I couldn’t help it. But, none of what I mentioned are the first things that come to mind when someone asks me “How was Japan?”

Immediately, my mind begins wandering back to the natural landscapes that looked as perfect and unreal as Google stock photos. Japan is easily the most biodiverse country I’ve visited thus far — I just wanted to do a blog post dedicated to showing the natural beauty of Japan because I think tourists are too blinded by the city lights to see what they’re missing outside of Tokyo!

Before the trip, the professor recommended I skip Kyoto, and take a three hour train ride south of Tokyo to visit the Izu Peninsula. I took his advice and I wasn’t at all disappointed. We stayed in a town called Ito, which is settled on a volcano. I would recommend visiting the onsens and the fish market. The town is very mountainous with a beautiful view of the ocean at the bottom. We even had to hike up a mountain through a bamboo forest to get to the nearest 7/11. It was unreal.

During the trip, we made a stop in Miyajima Island, where you’ll visit the Itsukushima Shrine and see the giant Torii gate. I would’ve loved to have spent more time in this oasis. You get to the island by ferry and immediately upon entrance, you’re met with native deer casually roaming the streets. It was bizarre because deer in America fear for their lives everyday, but these deer are considered sacred so they casually walk right up to you because they know they won’t be hit by a car or hunted for sport. It was also super cool seeing the Torii gate at low tide because I got cool pictures and high tide because it gave the illusion that the gate was floating above the water. Here, I would recommend souvenir shopping, reading the prayers at the shrine, and getting some ice cream.

Another notably beautiful place in my opinion was Minamata. You visit the town to go to the Minamata disease museum, which was very sad and interesting. But make sure you head up to the third floor of the museum where you’ll find an observation deck. We didn’t stay for long but the air was fresh and the landscape view made you feel small in the best way.

I believe Tokyo does a phenomenal job at integrating nature into city planning, but if you get the chance, visit the areas of Japan where the city lights aren’t so bright. You won’t regret it.

Before entering Fukushima, we were taught the gravity and the extent of damage that occurred as a result of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. However, being there and seeing the extent of the damage firsthand outweighs any textbook or article I have ever read on the situation. Having the chance to visit Fukushima and view a city devastated not only by the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake but also by issues due to the failing infrastructure of the nuclear power plant serves as a reminder of the importance of timely emergency response and preparation. Located nearly 60 miles below the epicenter of the earthquake, this nuclear disaster is noted as being the second worst in history, following none other than Chernobyl.

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Museum

The bus to Fukushima was long, with winding roads and open fields of land with bright green scenery. As we reached closer and closer to the nuclear plant, it became more evident that the buildings we passed were completely abandoned. What was once an area of business and a means to create revenue for the city was now overgrown by grass and moss. Seeing the city abandoned hit heavy on my heart, knowing that evacuation was not planned but rather forced upon residents. I learned that the evacuation notice for Fukushima was only lifted in 2022, meaning many original residents have already settled and made homes elsewhere. Many current residents near the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant are employed by the plant, with the facility being one of the city’s main sources of employment and revenue.

Abandoned building near the Fukushima Daiichi Plant

The museum located near the plant provided necessary information and context on the causes of the nuclear disaster. The tour guide and storyteller gave key information about inner workings of the different nuclear reactors, and what specifically caused them to malfunction following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. I learned how factors such as excess heat caused the cooling systems to fail, leading to the exposure of nuclear material in air and water.

Diagram of a Nuclear Reactor

Following a tour of the museum, we were able to see the actual remains of the nuclear plant. No photos or videos were allowed, so my memory might be a little hazy. We went through many security clearances and checkpoints to be able to fully examine the nuclear plant. We wore various identification badges and a monitor that guaged levels of radiation, which was checked before and after our walking tour. I was thoroughly impressed by the level of safety and caution that was still intact at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant, despite nuclear energy no longer being produced at the site. Through efforts from TEPCO, workers on site are still actively cleaning up environmental damage, in hopes of bringing back what once was. These safety precautions serve as a reminder that even though a disaster occurred many years ago, its aftermath is still being felt by residents to this very day. Visiting Fukushima and learning about the impact of the 2011 earthquakes from a different lens was eyeopening and insightful. The information I learned about nuclear energy and it’s impact on local residents will stay with me for a long time.

Living in Japan for the month of May was easily the most life-changing experience I’ve ever had. When the program started, we were told that this class would be unlike any class we’ve ever taken before and Dr. Ibaraki certainly kept that promise. We visited a museum where we literally walked through the Edo period in Japanese history, and I learned from a volunteer tour guide about methods they used to survive off the land. We visited a trash plant, and learned about Japan’s comprehensive trash sorting process, and we got to see a large crane mixing the trash before it was incinerated. I saw ancient temples and learned about how Japanese religion relies on treating animals and the environment as something sacred. But, with the topic of environment and human health comes devastation and disaster, and I wanted to take a moment to talk about the hard things. The things that made me want to look away. The things that made my heart drop and my stomach turn. The things that left a different kind of impact on me. I think when we only talk about the good things, we miss out on opportunities to self-reflect, to learn, and to grow.

There were two places we visited that will probably stick with me for life: the Hiroshima Museum and the Okawa Elementary School.

Before applying to this study abroad and having to do my own research for the background paper, I knew a very watered down and Americanized version of Japanese history. I remember 9th grade honors work history when I first learned about the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and I remember being appalled. After seeing Hiroshima with my own eyes and walking through the museum, I realized that I knew nothing. I knew nothing of the horrors. I knew nothing of the bleeding and the skin peeling off of peoples bodies. I knew nothing. They taught us nothing. This museum was something I had to take in on my own. I walked alone at my own pace. I took photos of anything that ignited a strong reaction in me because I never want to forget what I saw.

The description of this photo was I believe a five year old boy went to school on this little bike. When these remains were later found, the kids skull was fused into the helmet from the heat.

Throughout history, wars have been fought over entitlement to land, resources, and foreign policy amongst other things, and I have always vehemently disagreed with the idea of sending the countrie’s poorest to fight the rich man’s war, but the people in Hiroshima weren’t fighting. It was just a normal day. I’ll never forget it and frankly, I’ll never forgive the United States for it.

I also remember hearing about the 2011 earthquake and tsunami on the news when I was in fourth grade, and being petrified for them when I saw the footage. While researching for the background paper, I watched clips and I felt that same fear. When I read about the tragedy at Okawa Elementary School, it disturbed my spirit. It bothered me that the teachers and the administrators had 51 minutes in between the earthquake and the tsunami to get everyone to safety. The inaction, lack of coordination, and poor disaster planning on the part of the administration bothered me deeply. The kids that died at that elementary school would’ve been my age, and that bothered me. But nothing affected me more than actually walking on the eerie school grounds. It felt like a grave yard. Learning that all of the tour guides lost a child in this tragedy broke my heart. The thing that did it for me though was walking up the hill behind the school where they should’ve evacuated to. It made me angry how close it was to the school and how little time it took for us to reach that point. I believe they told us the tsunami waters reached 8 meters. They had 51 minutes to walk maybe two minutes up that hill and everyone would’ve survived. It made me furious. And nauseous to stand where they could’ve. They could’ve all survived. But they didn’t as a result of administrative inaction and poor natural disaster planning.

Where I was standing was the distance the people at Okawa Elementary would’ve had to walk up to survive. It was an upsettingly short distance.

This taught me about the risk of hesitating. If decisive action cannot be made in an emergency, it will likely end in tragedy. It also taught me about controlling what you can control. Those teachers had no control over the earthquake or the tsunami, but they did have control over how to respond accordingly and it ended with everyone dead.

This is a before and after shot of the devastation of Okawa Elementary

This study abroad experience was very raw and real. I think I learn more about the world in these times of despair and discomfort. What I found to be beautiful in all of this was seeing how beautiful Hiroshima is today compared to how I saw it in the museum. After the Okawa tragedy, I saw the parents of the victims being able to honor their children every single day by teaching people about what happened and how to prevent anything like it from happening in the future. No matter how much tragedy we humans face, we recover, we continue on, and we rebuild. In these scary times in the United States and abroad, I keep these experiences as a reminder of hope.

I will never forget the day my friend and I arrived in Japan. Coming from a very car-centric United States, I felt pretty confident in my intuitive ability to navigate public transportation because of my successes navigating the New York subway system and the COTA bus. After watching tons of “what to do before arriving in Japan” and “how to navigate the train in Japan” videos on Tik Tok, I felt I was well prepared for anything. Before even leaving the country, I had Google Maps and the Suica app downloaded on my phone – I thought that I was ready. I was gravely mistaken.

After a straight 14-hour flight, we finally stretched out our legs in the Haneda International Airport around 3pm. We found a seat in the food court and began searching for the quickest route to our airbnb in Nakano City, an hour away. After about an hour of figuring out currency exchange, a physical suica card, and choosing which train to get on, we finally managed to get on the Keikyū Airport Line.

This was captured on the Keikū Airport Line before it got crowded.

Once we arrived at Shinagawa Station, we had to ride about 8 stops to Shinjuku Station, and this is where we got lost. We simply needed to leave the building and walk to another entrance to get to our final stop, but no matter how many times we turned around and took a different route, it’s like we were tethered to Shinagawa station. It wouldn’t let us leave. After running around the seemingly endless train station with two heavy suitcases and zero success, we stopped and used our limited Japanese skills to ask for help. A simple “sumimasen” to the right woman was a glimmer of hope in our dire situation – she stopped everything she was doing to talk to the help desk, to try and recruit other Japanese people to help us find the exit, and in the end, we finally made it out thanks to the kindness of strangers in the train station. Our final ride to Nakano station was absolutely packed to the brim and I, unfortunately, had gigantic luggage that was being pushed into the people behind me. The trains were packed like sardines.

Finally, we made it to our destination at 7pm, and it had me questioning if the $80 Uber would’ve been worth it.

This was captured as we walked to our airbnb in Nakano City. It was light out when we arrived to Haneda, and the street lights were on when we finally made it.

As the trip went on, our class rode so many trains, busses, and the Shinkansen (the bullet train/the coolest piece of public transportation I’ve ever been on), and I found myself questioning why we rely so heavily on cars in the first place in the United States. In that moment, an uber would’ve been more convenient, but it would’ve been significantly more expensive with a higher tax on the environment. Cars are one of the largest sources of pollution, they are one of the highest causes of death in the United States, and they’re expensive to fuel and maintain. Building cities around cars instead of people creates isolation and a lack of space for people to gather and foster community. Instead of building a town square or a green space, a giant parking lot will be constructed instead. Despite my troubles navigating the train station when I first arrived and the mistakes I made throughout the trip like not knowing exactly when to get off or being too late and having the doors to the train close in my face, I would choose Japanese public transportation a thousand times over sitting in Columbus rush hour traffic. Public transportation is more affordable and will increase access to reliable transportation for all in the United States. And it doesn’t hurt to see beautiful sights on your daily commute.

This was a still from a video on an hour long train ride where we could see the ocean, rural land, and residential areas all within minutes of each other.

Essentially, living in Japan for a month showed me what the United States should have. We should have high-speed bullet trains as an option to get around each state and from state to state. Amazing public transportation shouldn’t only be accessible in major cities like New York and Chicago. Lack of access to transportation is a social determinant that negatively affects health outcomes as it makes it difficult to get to work, get to medical appointments, or to get to the grocery store to buy healthy food. I propose a United States that prepares its citizens to navigate public transportation SO well that no other American has to go through the hardship I did when navigating public transportation in foreign countries. It’s embarrassing. I want better for us.

Throughout our trip in Japan we stayed at six different hotels. Each hotel had its own vibe and comfort levels and I felt a different level of serotonin depending on which hotel we were staying in. Some hotels were not so clean or had something I did not like, however I wanted to focus on the ones that I made the most memories at. Here are my favorite hotels and in this post you will read about why they are my favorite out of all of the hotels we stay at. 

National Olympics Memorial Youth Center (NYC):

     The National Olympics Memorial Youth Center is my favorite hotel. We stayed at this hotel for seven days and I have made so many great memories. My favorite part about this hotel was that it was so close to the train station and also a park. Yoyogi park was so beautiful and it was only a five minutes walk from NYC.  I also remember walking twenty five minutes to go to pandora and the walk was not as horrible as I thought it would be. This hotel was also close to Shibuya and that made it easy for us to get to know the city and try new food. I have had many matcha during my stay in NYC and because of its location it was easy to get around different parts of Tokyo. 

Tokyu Stay Hakata:

This hotel we stayed at for two days and it was incredible. I loved the layout of the room and it was very specious. The bed in my room was so comfortable that I actually had the best sleep. It was like sleeping on clouds and the best thing about this hotel was that it had a washer and dryer inside each room. I was able to wash all of my dirty clothes in one night and none of my clothes came out dirty or smelly. The laundry detergent that they provided smelled heavenly and my clothes felt very soft. The washer and dryer were all in one machine and I thought that was cool because I had never seen a machine like that. 

  Also this hotel was forty minutes away from the ocean and we spent an afternoon there. The travel felt short honestly because we were just yapping away. We did have to walk for about twenty minutes but the thought of seeing the ocean made us power through the walk and the ocean was so beautiful and totally worth the walk. 

A small part of our curriculum included visits to religious temples and shrines to view different aspects of worship. Being able to learn how different communities practice their own beliefs and spirituality is a part of travel that I hope to experience in every city I have the chance to visit. The Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines located throughout Japan were some of my most cherished memories. From the outside architecture to the beautiful displays of statues and practices found within, I was able to experience the traditions of Japan’s dominant religions firsthand. 

One of my most beautiful experiences came from a brief visit to the Fukugawa Fudo-do Temple, located in Koto City, Tokyo. This Buddhist temple was covered in Sanskrit letters, symbolizing history and how religion traveled through different cultures and times to be where it is now. The temple smelled wonderful as incense was used both on the outside and within for different practices. Before entering the temple, we were asked to wash our hands and mouth, remove our shoes, and not take pictures. It was nice to detach and to fully immerse myself in learning the practices. I remember being in awe after entering a dark room that displayed rotating images of different Buddhist deities. It was wonderful to learn of the different deities that were prayed to for different purposes and needs in daily life. 

Fukugawa Fudo-do Temple

Sanskrit letters that covered the Temple’s walls

During our visit to Miyajima Island, we were welcomed by the sight of the Itsukushima Shrine. The walls of the shrine were covered in a bright orange, and with each step, I found myself more struck by its beauty. The practices before entering the shrine were not much different than our temple visits; however, shoes were typically kept on in the public areas of Shinto shrines. In both instances, hands and mouth were purified, and respect was mandated. This shrine in particular is most known for its floating Torii entrance gate, but my favorite attraction came elsewhere. At Itsukushima shrine, visitors are able to write down their worries and wishes on wooden plaques, which are called ema. These plaques with various prayers written on them are displayed so that the Kami spirits can receive them. While looking at the different emas, you realize how many people traveled far and wide to leave their messages. I found messages written in many languages, with my biggest joy being when we found a plaque starting with “Bismillah,” which is a prayer said by Muslims to remember God before completing tasks. I found this practice to be beautiful and a display of the willingness to submit your worries beyond yourself.

Inside the Itsukushima Shrine

Floating Torii Gate

Ema messages in the Itsukushima Shrine

I simply couldn’t leave Japan without exploring my own religion. On the day after our programs concluded, I went to Friday prayer, Jummah, at the Tokyo Camii Mosque. The mosque was built and run for the large Turkish community living in Tokyo, and features Turkish-style architecture and mosque designs. It was absolutely stunning, and I couldn’t help but look around when I should have been focusing. The khutbah, or sermon, was done in Japanese, Turkish, and English. I was shocked and also amazed to hear a lecture in Japanese. Hearing the words I recite daily, followed by Japanese, was surreal, leaving me to nod along like I could understand it. The mosque was packed to the brim with little space to even move your arms. This served as a comforting reminder that Friday prayer is the same at home and abroad. Following prayer, I met two lovely friends, which emphasized the bonds of community through shared practices no matter where you are in the world.

Tokyo Camii Mosque

Each experience I had, whether that be in a temple, shrine, or mosque, allowed me to fully understand the beauty of cultural exchange and globalization. Practices that were spread years ago are still being utilized by the people and adapted by culture to create outlets and a means for spirituality.

Having lived in the suburbs of Columbus my entire life, I have always relied on car transportation. At 16, a driver’s license was handed to me. Not because I wanted it, but so my parents could be free from school pickup lines and early commutes. In the district I attended, school buses were defunded in a levy sometime in my early childhood. This left all students living within a 5-mile radius of their school to fend for themselves. Even if Mom or Dad worked in the afternoon, you were left to find solutions. This helps to provide some useful context about my normal here in Ohio. The United States is connected through a complex map of highways; however, in Japan, these highways are traded for a complex network of railways alongside those highways. For the month I was in Japan, being able to trade the commutes I knew of endless traffic was a relief and an experience I would gladly trade for again.

During our first 10 days in Tokyo, we stayed in the National Olympic Youth Memorial Center. This facility, located near Yoyogi Park, housed athletes from around the world during the 1964 Summer Olympic Games. This location was both our meeting ground and home base for that time. From NYC, the train station was a brief walk away, with convenience stores and places to eat lined along the path. The Shibuya and Harajuku city centers were brief walks away as well. So if you didn’t want to take the train, a shortcut through Yoyogi Park (and its endless stairs) could lead you to endless places.

National Olympic Memorial Youth Center

Yoyogi Park

I found myself enjoying walking as opposed to train transportation. There is so much to experience on foot, rather than being confined in a car, or in our case, a train car. Don’t get me wrong, I loved having the ability to ride trains within the city. If I could build my own reliable Shinkansen railway in the United States, I would. However, many of my experiences in Japan came from these walks. Walks that lead us to different hole-in-the-wall restaurants, shopping centers, and even public dance demonstrations. A singular wrong turn on foot in Shinjuku led me to a Godzilla statue. What more could I ask for?

Cultural Demonstration in Shibuya

While on these walks, I gained a newfound appreciation for Japanese architecture and smaller residential communities. Every alleyway and garden allowed me to learn more about everyday culture and customs than I would have from a train seat window.

Daienji Buddhist Temple, as seen from a residential neighborhood in Fukuoka

As someone with limited experience with public transportation, one of these experiences being our OSU Cabs buses, the trains intimidated me. I have used the subways both in Chicago and New York City, but Tokyo was different by a long shot. From getting lost and calling an Uber on my first day to traveling alone around Tokyo on my last day, I can easily say the public transportation system is made to be as user-friendly as possible. It was fun to learn a system that I was unfamiliar with. Trying to find the necessary exit in the Shinjuku station alone, especially, helped me build character. My intimidation quickly turned into admiration as I learned of dynamics different than the ones I was used to at home. Suddenly, the countless flights of stairs were okay, and I was no longer overwhelmed by a packed train car. I was able to learn to love that sense of silence that came with everyday commutes. Each day brought about an appreciation for accessible transportation, but also reawakened the dream to never have to get behind a wheel again. I woke up from that dream pretty quickly. 

Stairs on Miyajima Island

Natural disasters are incredibly common in Japan. Earthquakes, tsunamis, and floods are all a significant part of the country due to its geographical location and climate. While we learned of Japan’s preparedness for earthquakes and tsunamis, one area that truly fascinated me during my time in Japan was the country’s approach to flood prevention. Flooding is a serious concern in many parts of Japan, especially during the rainy season and typhoon months. We learned in lectures that the combination of dense urban development, low-lying areas, and heavy rainfall can quickly lead to devastating outcomes. During our stay in Tokyo, we had the opportunity to visit a water intake facility that plays a major role in the city’s flood management system. What we learned there gave me a whole new appreciation for the scale and sophistication of Japan’s infrastructure. 

Our visit to the water intake facility began with demonstrations that helped us visualize how quickly flooding can occur and how overwhelming it can be when not managed properly. Seeing simulations of heavy rainfall and rising water levels made it easier to understand just how rapidly water can accumulate in urban areas. Equally fascinating were the models that showed how the system diverts water away from high-risk zones. These visual presentations were engaging and informative, but nothing could compare to actually seeing the system in person. The most impactful part of the visit was when we were taken forty meters underground to explore the massive tunnels where flood water is diverted. We had just learned about the size and scale of these tunnels, but nothing prepared me for what it felt like to stand inside them. I was dumfounded by the magnitude of these tunnels. This hands-on experience allowed me to grasp the immense effort Japan puts into disaster preparedness. I was grateful that it hadn’t rained that day, which meant we were able to safely enter the tunnels. Had there been rainfall, the tunnels would have been off-limits due to their real-time flood management functions. 

Visiting the flood prevention facility was not only educational but sincerely impressive. It was a reminder of how essential infrastructure is in protecting communities from natural disasters such as flooding. It was fascinating to learn how Japan has engineered infrastructures to better protect their communities from natural disasters. A monumental takeaway from my time in Japan was that their predisposition to natural disasters was significantly combatted by these measures.