Victoria Dickens
Study Abroad Experience
In 2023, I decided to go abroad for both the summer and fall semesters of 2024. I studied abroad for a total of 8 months in both the Kansai and Kanto regions of Japan. From touring national sights, exploring cultural cities, and experiencing life in a whole new world, this page contains the most significant moments of my journey abroad and so much more!
Below I have sectioned out my experiences in a chronological order and by location. As well, I have written a reflection of different aspects of my time abroad for you to read.
Please, enjoy.
Kyoto
Kyoto was my first proper introduction to Japan. Kyoto is the old capital of Japan and has a very unique history that is still preserved to this day through its tightly packed architecture and grid-based city structure. This was my first time having to take the public bus before! During my time in Kyoto, I was researching traditional Japanese fashion and visited many temples, a kimono museum, and even the traditional fashion district that almost transports you back in time.
Nara
Nara was one of the most fascinating cities to visit. Not only is it home to Nara Deer Park, but Nara contains many Buddhist Temples and even one of the largest Buddhist museums containing ancient scrolls, artwork, and some of the largest sculptures I have ever seen before!
As someone who comes from a young country, this was one of the ultimate experiences in observing history. The temples I got to visit and the history I was able to learn and experience blew me away and left me with this strange feeling that I can't quite describe: somewhere between total awe that something like this could exist like unlocking a secret of the world while also feeling like I know very little about the world around me. So tiny in this great big world and ignorant to more than I could've ever imagined.
This made the experience so much more rich, yet overwhelming. There were many times where I had to walk to a quite area and calm myself. When only a few years ago coming to Japan was nothing but a dream, I never could have imagined the impact just one town in Japan could have on me.
Kobe
Kobe was an interesting area as we stayed along the coast line instead of in the city area. We spent most of our time in Kobe relaxing for a bit in the hotel as we had been packing and traveling and unpacking and exploring again for almost a week. The had a wonderful Onsen that I got to try for the first time (highly recommend) and even saw alcohol vending machines! (Whoa!)
We took the time to visit Awaji Island and Himeji castle which were very unique areas.
Awaji Island is known for its Narutos (Natural Whirlpools) and is a very small town. Before our ferry to see the whirlpools my friends and I stopped at al local restaurant for Katsudon and while we were there we learned that it was a famous restaurant in the area and even were asked to be in photos which the restaurant front in order to help promote it to more tourists. It was very unexpected.
Later we go to take this huge boat to see the whirlpools which were amazing! I had never seen anything like it before.
The next day we went to Himeji Castle which was such a fun experience (minus all the uphill and ladder climbing). Himeji Castle is known for being one of the longest standing military bases and how effective their defense system was. Exploring the ancient castle made me feel like a kid again wondering what each level of the castle would be like and what was at the top! As well, getting to explore the inner castle walls was crazy! To think that people actually lived in walls - in the protective layer - would almost seem unheard of!
Hiroshima
Hiroshima was the last stop on my two weeks of major travelling during the summer. It was an amazing city to get to explore as it had a similar infrastructure to Kyoto of all places, despite it being rebuilt post WWII.
While I stayed here I got to visit Miyajima Island known for its "floating" Tori gate. It was a beautiful island that has interesting shrines and one of my favorite aquariums! While we were there however, it was low tide - meaning the infamous "floating" gate was not floating but could be seen in all it's glory. While it wasn't the typical experience, it was mind blowing to see all the same. Oh! and those crazy cute deer were on the island as well!
I also got to experience the A-Bomb museum and visit the many memorial statues within the Peace Park. The museum was an incredible and very solemn experience. I feel that Americans should experience this museum and the realities it displays more so than any other WWII Museum I have visited in America. The tragedies that are unfolded, the personal stories being told, the art, surviving photos and clothing pieces - left me with an unexplainable gut feeling that felt me feeling almost short of breath. You can try to imagine while reading these words, yet you don't have the flash of the bright white sun in your eyes as you leave the exhibit, the song of the children singing at the children's monument covered in colorful paper cranes. This haunting feeling following you to the exact spot where if the bomb had made it to the ground where it would've hit - and looking at the surrounding buildings on this teeny-tiny road as people walk to work, visit the local cafe, and enjoy life. The human race is persistent and determined and peace will win in the end. However, these horrors are apart of reality and history we should never forget. No More Hiroshimas.
To end this on a positive note, our last night in the excursion phase, our senseis took all of us to an izakaya for a group dinner (with all you can drink!). We had a great night telling stories about our last couple weeks and exchanging jokes formed within the friend groups while eating various delicious Japanese dishes and trying the different drinks. One of my favorite moments was right at the end. While the servers are getting our last drink orders, one of my friends was trying to "out drink" our sensei but didn't notice another friend in our group had had the same amount of beers as him. After they received their last pint for the night, in the middle of this izakaya, all these American students start encouraging them to drink faster to determine who was the winner. In Hiroshima Japan of all places, in the back of this small izakaya, all these American students chanting, "CHUG, CHUG, CHUG!" ahahaha You could say in a way, we embraced the Japanese drinking culture in our own way.
Osaka
After our excursion, we arrived to were we would be staying for the next month - Suita, Osaka. Here I attended Kansai University's International school and lived at the dorm within the same plaza. I really enjoyed living here as it was a short 5 minute walk away from the train station, convenience stores, restaurants, and the local bakery. It was extremely convenient living here. Not just because of it's location, but also being so close to class made college life a broad so much easier. My friends and I finally started to settle into a routine and get our first taste of living life abroad.
At the end of the program, our sensei spoke to us at the party the school threw for us and shared their love for us as they got to know us, but also how much they loved laughing at our lunch breaks. Every day our lunch break was only 45 minutes and most of us would leave for the local bakery as quickly as possible so we had more time to eat in the courtyard before our afternoon classes. I'll admit it was a funny realization, but also, the curry bread at Sunnyside Bakery was AMAZING for lunch. (I can't wait to eat it again one day).
While I lived in Osaka, I went and did many things such as going to Universal Studios Japan (USJ) and the Team Labs Botanical Garden. Both were wonderful experiences in their own ways as I have visited Universal in Florida but USJ offered so many different and unique experiences and as for Team Labs, I had never been to anything like a digital night time botanical garden before. It was beautiful and jaw-dropping!
One of places to visit in Osaka was Umeda and my friends and I often went for shopping, karaoke, dinner, and of course, 飲み放題! (Nomihoudai/All-you-can-drink). In America, many places don't have an "all-you-can-drink" feature, but in Japan (Umeda in this case) we found so many restaurants where 飲み放題 was as cheap as 900 yen per person for two hours! (in 2024 this is the equivalent of $6). America could never. Needless to say, we did end up missing the train a few nights and had to take taxis back but some of those nights are memories I will never forget.
To top it all off, living in Osaka gave me the wonderful experience of seeing an old friend for the first time in a long time. I had such a wonderful time getting to spend time with her and catch up as well as have her share part of her life and culture with me.
Shibuya, Tokyo
Living in Shibuya was a whirlwind I could not have prepared myself for. Even though I had been in the country for almost a month and a half at this point, living in one of the most populated cities, one of the largest tourist destinations in the world, was an experience I'll never forget for a multitude of reasons.This was a giant adjustment from the relaxed suburban/residential area I had gotten comfortable in to the bustling city that never stops going.
While I had access to more stores, restaurants, stations, events and more, local transportation was always heading AWAY from most places I needed to go which meant walking around 25 to 30 minutes just to go out for anything other than kobini food. As well, being a foreigner living in a tourist destination does come with its downsides. Some I had briefly experienced early on in Kyoto as some foreigners are ignorant to Japanese societal norms and unfortunately you get lumped in by association; however we were only in Kyoto for a few days whereas I lived in Shibuya for a full month. In Shibuya, often my Japanese would be dismissed and would only be spoken to in English and if I responded in English. As well, before coming to Japan I had heard of instances of xenophobia as Japan is a homogenous country, but it wasn't until I lived in Shibuya that I experienced it first hand (Many times my friends and I would be told that a restaurant was closed or reservation-only once they realized we spoke Japanese; however, they would continue seating other Japanese guests while turning us away). Lastly, July is known for being Japan's hottest month and it is absolutely brutal living in a concrete jungle with zero shade. In my case especially, I went to my internship in business casual outfits to Japanese office standards which meant I was mostly covered and melting as I took the bus and walked to work in the heat. I often kept wet wipes in my work bag to clean myself once I made it to the office. I just cannot emphasize enough the first time experiencing walking outside for a few steps, being unable to see because of how bright it is, and feeling your body sweat/melt as if you had stepped out of a pool. Even late into the night, the concrete radiated the eat - there was no escape.
HOWEVER! There were positives and advantages to living in this area. While I was here I had many opportunities I experienced. I was able to visit the Team Labs digital art museum that was visually incredible and left me in awe. I went to a once in a lifetime Jujutsu Kaisen event where I was able to see how the manga was created from start to finish back before the concept was created all the way up to the latest chapters of the manga's conclusion. I got to see a capybara for the first time ever in person at a cat and capybara cafe and feed it lettuce (they feel like giant coconuts!). I got to explore Akihabara and find some of the best deals on anime figures which I had always wanted since I was a kid. I explored Harajuku and was able to live out my fashionista dreams finding some of the most unique pieces to add to my wardrobe to this day. I was able to go to the Tokyo Skytree with my friends who would be leaving early (they weren't doing internships) and experience the beauty of the city from almost 1,500 feet in the air.
I was also doing my internship at this time and learning so much about the career field I have been working towards all this time. Find out more on my Internship page ->
Shibuya is still an amazing city that I would recommend visiting; however, I can't say I would ever live there again.
Totsuka, Yokohama
Meiji Gakuin
After a brief month in America, I made my return to Japan and began living my life in Totsuka, Yokohama (around one hour south of Tokyo). I started attending Meiji Gakuin and have been adjusting to "real life" in Japan. Through attending classes, writing papers and studying for tests, while going out with friends on the weekends and exploring our little city and surrounding areas. After living in Shibuya, I was grateful for the break and comfortable live Totsuka has been able to provide me while still being relatively close to both Tokyo and even closer to Yokohama. Often, my friends and I will hang out at the local Makudo (McDonalds) or eat our fill at Sushiro (conveyor belt sushi) while spending too much time at karaoke (making use of the university student discount) and 500 yen all-you-can-drink lemon sours on the weekends. It's even become a small contest of who can win the coolest things out of the crane game machines or get the best score on Taiko (drum rhythm game). All of this while learning more at school about Japanese culture, society, literature, history, economics, and more than I have gotten to in my previous academics years (this is more so due to my academic planning with my major, however I am enjoying my academics thoroughly!).
As I am staying abroad much longer this time, I have been taking the adventures slower to make the most out of my budgeted living expenses. However, each day I live in Japan, I look out over the traffic on the bridge - at school, in Totsuka, the local park, and take in this world around me and think of how grateful I am to get to experience this. While I am finally experiencing what life would possibly be like moving here after graduation, I realize how much I have to be grateful for and how my hard work is bringing my dreams to fruition. I can't wait to find out what else is in store!
