Tokyo

Hello,

My name is Pablo Cisneros and welcome to part three of my series of blogs from studying abroad in Tokyo. I want to highlight my favorite experiences from Japan and inspire students to study abroad.

Yokohama

During the last weeks of the program, a couple of friends and I traveled south of Tokyo to Yokohama. It was my first time there and I noticed it had a more relaxing feel than Tokyo. Our first stop was Yokohama Chinatown. We browsed around the area seeing many of the Chinese-themed shops and restaurants. Then, we went to explore the other parts of the city. We ended up in the beautiful Yamashita Park. Before coming to Yokohama, people told me that the city is the perfect date spot. Now, I could see why. The scenery is beautiful and is accompanied by a relaxing ambiance. That night, we went to Cosmo World, a theme park in Yokohama. We rode on a couple of rollercoasters and boarded the Ferris wheel, which had an incredible view from atop. We ended the day by eating ramen at Yoshimuraya and taking a train back to Tokyo.

Edo-Tokyo Museum

A few friends and I decided to go to the Edo-Tokyo Museum. Although I don’t know much about Japanese history, I thought the museum was interesting and informative. The building was memorable because the design was so unique. The exhibits inside the museum, along with fascinating artifacts and models, gave us a look at life during the Edo period. My favorite part of the museum was seeing the evolution of Tokyo throughout the years. I recommend this museum to people interested in history and learning.

Ghibli Museum

Visiting the Ghibli Museum has been on my bucket list for a long time. Obtaining tickets to this museum was very difficult and stressful. Luckily, a few friends and I were able to get them. The museum building looked like it came straight from a Studio Ghibli film. The amount of detail that went into the design of the museum was remarkable. It was full of references to Studio Ghibli Films, such as My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Spirited Away, and more. It gave an in-depth look at the studio’s filmmaking and animation process. It showed things like storyboards, initial sketches, references, and more. At the end of our visit, we watched an animated short that was exclusively made for the museum. I recommend this museum for anyone interested in Studio Ghibli, animation, and art.

Departure

A few days before our departure date, IES Abroad held a going away party. The students gathered at the National Olympic Memorial Youth Center and enjoyed the festivities. The staff and teachers gave inspiring speeches reminiscing about the past weeks and motivating us to reach our goals. Students responded with a few words showing gratitude and appreciation to the staff and teachers. The last day was emotional. We said goodbye to the people we lived and spent time with for six weeks. We packed our things, cleaned out our rooms, and boarded a bus headed to Narita Airport. I was fortunate to make new friends and create unforgettable memories with them.

Conclusion

I genuinely enjoyed my time during the IES Abroad Summer Tokyo program. The staff were helpful, the field trip and homestay were great experiences, and the students were amazing. There are many things I didn’t cover from my time abroad, but what I really want to do is give students, who are thinking of studying abroad, an idea of what they could expect. When studying abroad, everyone has a different and unique experience. I think that is a beautiful thing. I’m thankful that I learned new things, spent time with amazing people, and had one-of-a-kind experiences.

Hello,

My name is Pablo Cisneros and welcome to part three of my series of blogs from studying abroad in Tokyo. I want to highlight my favorite experiences from Japan and inspire students to study abroad.

Nikko Field Trip

After a few weeks in Tokyo, we went on a field trip to Nikko, Tochigi. Our first stop was Nikkō Tōshō-gū shrine. Although it was a rainy day, the shrine was as beautiful as ever. You could see the importance and history radiate from the structures. It was enjoyable to walk around with friends and examine the details of the shrine. My favorite structure was Yomeimon Gate.

After Nikkō Tōshō-gū, we went to a Ryokan or traditional Japanese Inn. The rooms looked like a mix of traditional and modern hotel rooms. One side had our beds and the other had an area to relax with tatami mats. My favorite part about the hotel was the Onsen.

After departing from the Ryokan, we went hiking near Ryuokyo Canyon. It was refreshing to see nature around Nikko. It was a nice change of pace from the metropolitan scenery in Tokyo. Overall, this field trip was a great vacation from our studies and life in the city.

teamLab Borderless

Back in Tokyo, a few friends and I made a trip to the teamLab Borderless, a digital art museum in Odaiba. The museum looked futuristic and the rooms showcased a combination of technology, art, sound, and more. My favorite part was the level of interactivity. For example, there was a room where people colored a lizard or fish, scanned it, and saw it come to life in the exhibit. It was a one-of-a-kind experience and I definitely recommend people to visit. After the museum, we went to see the enormous Unicorn Gundam statue in DiverCity Tokyo Plaza. I was finally able to check this off my bucket list.

World Wonder Ring Stardom

After seeing New Japan Pro Wrestling live, I was eager to go to another pro-wrestling event. So eager that I bought tickets to Stardom’s Shining Destiny event. World Wonder Ring Stardom is one of Japan’s top Joshi or women’s pro-wrestling promotions. I was excited to go to this event because I followed the promotion for a while and it was held at the legendary venue, Kōrakuen Hall. Many of my favorite wrestlers have performed for the promotion, such as Kris Wolf, Io Shirai, and Hazuki. Before the event, attendees purchased merchandise, autographs, and took pictures with the wrestlers. I was happy to get an autograph and picture with Haru Kimura and Sumire Natsu. The event was fantastic. It felt like a mixture of a Japanese Idol concert and pro-wrestling. It ended perfectly with an amazing championship match between Arisa Hoshiki and Tam Nakano.

Mobara Homestay

Next on this adventure, was a weekend trip to Mobara, Chiba, for our homestay weekend. My friend, Jake, and I were paired with the kind Akiba family. The first night, we got to know the family over a delicious dinner. We also practiced calligraphy. The next day, a couple of family friends took Jake an I to a fish market at Ohara Harbor and the Katsuura Undersea Observatory. I thought it was enjoyable to be around the bay. The following day, we went to a relaxing spa and got to know their son. Our final day in Mobara, we ate a local Ramen restaurant. Then, we went to the IES Abroad homestay party. I enjoyed reuniting with the other students and hearing about their experiences. Overall, the homestay was a delightful experience. It was a great opportunity to learn about Japanese culture and practice what we learned in class.