Cole Had Adventure in Japan That She’ll Always Remember

The following is an account of Melissa Cole’s recent trip to Japan.

In life there are memories that we will always cherish. My two-week adventure in Japan is one such memory. I was lucky enough to have the chance to tour Japan with a People to People Student Ambassador group. I met friends that quickly became like best friends and experienced things that I’ll never forget.

Tokyo was our first destination. For the most part, it seemed like any other city in the USA. There were even some English signs and many English-speaking people. However, when we went to the Emperor’s Imperial Palace and the local Buddhist Temple, I knew I was no longer in the USA. We spent the first four days of our trip in Tokyo, but after that we journeyed south. 

In Hakone, we hiked Mt. Fuji. They say that the view from the mountain is wonderful, but unfortunately, there was a heavy fog the day that we made the trip. So, all we saw at the top was a sea of fog. Then, in Gifu, we were able to pick green tea leaves. I saw the Peace Park and toured through the Peace Museum in Hiroshima. Although the city had been rebuilt, there was still a sadness that you felt going through the streets. I found the museum to be disturbing. There are graphic images and terrifying stories that I just didn’t have the stomach for. However, I would recommend a visit to Hiroshima as a must for anyone traveling to Japan in the future.

In Kyoto, I attended a tea ceremony and learned Japanese calligraphy. It was also in Kyoto that I was fortunate enough to run into a geisha. Our Japanese tour guide had warned us that we probably wouldn’t see the women, but my friend still had high hopes. I was trying to convince her that we weren’t going to see a geisha, when we saw the woman standing on the street in front of us. It was one of the most exciting moments of my trip.

Of all the things I was able to experience in Japan, the most memorable thing was being able to spend four days with a host family. It was through them that I was able to see the country through the eyes of the people. I was able to see the real Japan. 

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