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Kyoto

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My residence in Hirakata was a prime location for students like me wanting to see different areas of Japan. Heading south will lead to Osaka and heading north will lead to the famous tourist city of Kyoto. Kyoto is the perfect city to get a crash course on Japanese culture, history, and food. Several million tourists visit every year for a brief taste of Japan without having to travel outside the city.  On each of my several trips to the city I always began the day by going to get sushi. There are countless areas to obtain the delectable dish but a college budget requires some creativity. My creativity led me to one of the chain restaurants called Sushiro. This chain offers a conveyor belt delivery system instead of waiters. On an electronic tablet guests can order a wide variety of sushi types; tuna, salmon, Anago eel, octopus, squid, roe, shrimp, and tempura. After orders are placed you can enjoy a cup of matcha tea while you watch the conveyor belts whizz by with full plates...
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Sakura Season

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Perhaps one of Japan's most unique items is the blooming of the cherry blossoms (Sakura). These trees bloom in breathtaking shades or red, white, and pink that outpace their relatives across the globe. Visitors from all over come to witness the beautiful yet brief season. Sakura season occurs for just two short weeks every year sometime between the months of March and May. The briefness of the blooms only adds to their beauty and fame. The season is so short in fact that when trees bloom in the northern regions, the petals are already falling on the southern side. The trees and blooms are so well respected by the Japanese that the trees are planted everywhere imaginable. Sakura are located in Castle grounds, parks, neighborhoods, river fronts, sidewalks, and schools. The blooms blown by the wind even land high up in the mountains, creating a pink polka dot texture on hillsides and mountain slopes.  The sight of the blooms everywhere cultivates an environment of peace and harmony am...
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Nara Park

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East of Hirakata is the city of Nara, home to the beloved Nara Park. This park is a popular location for foreign and local visitors alike. The park’s most popular attribute and official mascot is the Shika deer. Their spotted likeness has been merchandised successfully and displayed by all visitors entering the park. Shika deer are a species of wild deer native to Japan that have been domesticated in the area. Hundreds of deer, large and small, roam the park grounds sunbathing and looking for food. Due to their high level of domestication, visitors can hand feed and pet the adorable creatures. Many of the deer are so mild mannered that children can pet them without fear of being nipped. Some smarter members of the herd will bow their heads before receiving a rice cracker. The deer are by far the most eye-catching attribute of the park but there is a lot of history on the grounds trod by their furry guardians.   Todaiji temple is a 1,300-year-old structure that houses some of the bi...
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Setsubun Festival

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Setsubun Festival I arrived in Osaka Japan at the end of January 2023 for my study abroad experience. Three days after landing I was still fighting jet lag and the procrastination of unpacking my suitcase when I heard about an event. Talk amongst the other international students at the dorm was about the Setsubun festival taking place that weekend.  Setsubun is an annual celebration welcoming the spring season and casting out evil spirits. At Buddhist and Shinto shrines all across the country, people flock together to witness the shows and ceremoniously shed off the previous winter.  The prospect of attending my first big event so soon after landing made me forget the 30 hours of flying I had just completed. From my location at Kansai Gaidai University my travel group had to take a 30 minute train ride to the temple. As a country boy from rural Tennessee, the trains were quite a shock to me. I had never taken public transportation, let alone on a system in which I could ba...
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