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Post-year Reflection
By YiPin Wu, University of Tokyo, Japan It’s been a month since I left Japan. I still can’t believe how fast the year went. Before the year, I was nervous and genuinely unsure if I’d made the right decision. However, I didn’t go in with any expectations, like no vision of what the year should look like. I just wanted to see where life took me and experience whatever came my way, even if it wasn’t what I’d planned. And honestly, it was just so amazing :)) !!! Sure, there were moments where I felt homesick or just a bit low. But the good stuff so massively outweighed the hard…
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January in Japan
Three Weeks of Food, Culture and Friends Winter in Korea is cold. It’s so cold. Temperatures can get down to -20°C… so I decided to book a trip to Japan to escape the worst of it. Don’t get me wrong, I love cold weather, but two months straight and you begin to feel differently. I left Korea and its -11°C weather, and flew to Japan, landing in 11°C (still not warm, but marginally better – I’m not built for winter okay) wearing layers upon layers. Happy to be able to take off most of them and not get hypothermia, I left the airport and was picked up by my friend,…
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A day in my life as a Osaka University student
By Gloria Zheng, Osaka University, Japan I normally start my day by 9:15 on weekdays with an easy breakfast of a pasta pot with rice alongside a cup of green tea. Breakfast (~179 yen) Most of my classes start at 10:30, with this semester being much lighter than my previous one as I’m taking 12 credits now compared to 18 I took last semester (I would really not recommend taking this many and to split them 15/15 so you fufill the 30 credit requirement to pass the year). Study spot on campus I usually leave my dorm at 10:21 because even though the dorm is located next door to Minoh…
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Guide to Osaka University Minoh Campus
By Gloria Zheng, Osaka University, Japan Choosing Osaka University as my study abroad choice was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Osaka University comprises of the Toyonaka, Suita, and Minoh campuses of which foreign languages students study at the Minoh Campus. In 2021, the campus was completed comprising of 10 floors adding up to a total 24,896 square metres. The facilities are very new and shiny so you can look forward to that if you decide to come to Osaka Uni. Places to eat Around campus there is a wide range of restaurants you can choose from when you get tired of cooking. My favourites are the curry…
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Life at UTokyo: A Guide to Komaba Campus
by YiPin Wu, University of Tokyo, Japan If you’ve ever wanted to study at the University of Tokyo, let me take you on a tour of Komaba Campus — the main hub for exchange students. Nestled just two stops from Shibuya on the Keio Inokashira Line (about 20 minutes on foot), it’s also within walking distance of Nakameguro — known for its cafés and cherry blossoms — and Shimokitazawa, famous for vintage shops and curry. It’s hard to believe this calm, tree-lined campus exists in the heart of central Tokyo. Campus Life In my first semester, I had six classes a week — the minimum recommended. One thing that really…
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Living sustainably in Japan
By Gloria Zheng, Osaka University, Japan I really can’t believe it’s been over 2 months since I’ve arrived in Japan. It has realy been full of ups and downs and I’ve really learnt a lot over living by myself in a foreign country. I’ve also had some time to think about ways to live more sustainably in a country that seems to full of contradictions – where everything seems to be wrapped in plastic with an eco label stuck on- but I’ve managed to find some ways to make daily living more sustainable for the future and the planet. It seems that Japan is in love with plastic with everything…
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17 hours from London to Osaka: A guide to survive
By Gloria Zheng, Osaka University, Japan It has been over a month since I arrived in Japan, so I figured it was time to sit down and write about my experience travelling alone for the first time. I flew from Heathrow Airport in London to Kansai International Airport in Japan (if you’re studying in the Kansai region you’ll most likely be flying here). 1. Book everything in advance I booked my flight the same day I received my visa from the Japanese Embassy in London. This meant that I could get the best savings as as prices steeply rise the weeks following the date you’re planning to fly. I also…
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Bangkok and Shibuya
By Ayero Moro, Australian National University, Australia I booked the trip on a whim: Japan and Thailand, all in one mid-semester break. No spreadsheets, no daily plan. Just a vague outline, an empty suitcase (for thrifting of course), and an old friend who was equally up for the chaos. My friend Hannah had visited Japan a lot recently and at this point, she didn’t know she was going to stay. We started in Tokyo, staying in Shibuya. It was every bit as overwhelming and exciting as I’d imagined. Bright lights, huge crowds, busy and did I mention it was bright? I’d seen the famous crossing in films, but standing in…
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Christmas Break in Japan
By Anna Belsham, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong During my four week Christmas break from HKPU, I met my Dad in Japan for two weeks over Christmas and New Year, only a short 4 hour flight away. I have always dreamt of visiting Japan and it was everything I imagined and more. While I was there I spent 7 nights in Tokyo, 2 nights in Osaka, 2 nights in Kyoto and 4 nights in Fukuoka, I loved everywhere but I would say that my favorite places where Tokyo and Kyoto and if I went back I would spend more time in Kyoto. I have never been anywhere that is…
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Japan…. once again!
By Thatthep Sae-Lim. Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Every time I go to Japan, I always find myself thinking of going back again. I’ve never acted on this impulsivity of just booking another Japan trip right after one another, but I did it this time around. To me, Japan is a country I can visit a million times and still never get bored of. Unlike my previous Japan trip, it was late spring and not winter. So, the weather was just nice to walk around.
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Winter in Japan
By Thatthep Sae-Lim, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Since I was doing my exchange in Singapore, it’s given me the opportunity to frequently travel with my mom, who live in Thailand. Since I’ve always been obsessed with Japan and I was really longing to spend some times in a cold climate after living in Singapore for awhile, we decided to go to Japan for two weeks in January.
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More Trip Recommendations!
By Sofia Roche-Vidaurre, National University of Singapore Building on my previous blog post, I had to come back with more recommendations! Since there is so much to explore here are three more trip recommendations for both close and far away destinations.
A study abroad journal by students, for students.
