One of my favorite things about Japan is that there’s never a shortage of things to do.

For example, I recently spent the day on a bus tour with my host family. Early wake up aside, I had a great time trying out lots of fun things such as picking grapes in the countryside, taste testing locally made wines, and visiting a shrine on Mount Fuji. Though it was a long day, it was a really exciting experience.

Earlier this October, I also met with some friends and traveled to a part of the Tokyo prefecture called Asakusa. Known for their older architecture, Asakusa is a throwback to the more traditional Japanese style. As a result, it’s quite a popular spot for tourists such as myself who want to see something a little more historic. While there, I spent a good part of my Saturday exploring the Senso-ji Shrine, meandering through some souvenir stands, and having lunch at a ramen shop near Tokyo Skytree.  

https://flic.kr/p/2nVryWd – A photo of the walkway to Sensō-ji Shrine

https://flic.kr/p/2nVvC3N – Entrance of Sensō-ji Shrine

https://flic.kr/p/2nVwykw – A picture from the ramen shop

Most recently, I also spent an afternoon in Yokohama. Though my trip was fairly last minute, the weather was perfect for a day out. I spent time sightseeing in Yokohama’s vibrant Chinatown and had a very enjoyable lunch at an all-you-can-eat restaurant. Later in the day, I also went on a boat tour of Yokohama Bay and saw some really cool things such as a giant gundam robot and the Yokohama ferris wheel. 

Surmise to say, Japan certainly has no shortage of fun activities available to fill up my free time. These experiences have resulted in a number of great memories, photos, and souvenirs for me to bring back home. Though I’m often busy due to a mix of travel, class, and homework, I’ve been able to try out many new things, even when I least expected to. I’ve also started to realize the importance of making the most of my time. Now that my semester is close to halfway through, there’s much more incentive to do what I can while I still have the time.