Kia Ora & Konnichiwa! Welcome back to my 360 blog 🙂
As some of you may know, I have successfully completed my first semester abroad at Seoul National University in Seoul, South Korea, and now, I have officially started my second and last semester abroad at Keio University in Tokyo, Japan. When this blog post is published, I will have already completed my fifth week here — it’s hard to believe, but it’s incredibly exciting! Being in Japan for five weeks feels absolutely surreal.
Anywho, I departed from Korea on September 10th, and it took approximately two-and-a-half hours to reach my destination. The plane journey was smooth, and when I woke up from my beauty nap, I found myself at Narita International Airport by 10:30 AM. Stepping into the airport, I still couldn’t get around the fact that it had already been six years since my last visit.
My first week in Japan
Throughout my first few days before settling into my dorms, I explored bustling neighbourhoods like Shinjuku, Shibuya and Ginza. I was astounded by the changes since my last visit! Many buildings I recognized in Shinjuku had shifted, replaced by newer architecture. Shibuya provided a vibrant contrast to my preference for quiet places, but I still enjoyed the liveliness of the streets, the aroma of activity, the international diversity and the business of the Scramble Crossing, which exceeded my expectations in size. It reminded me of the teeming streets of Myeongdong or Hongdae in Korea, highlighting both similarities and differences from my previous exchange experience. On the other hand, Ginza brought out sophisticated vibes, with fashionable people, stylish architecture, elegant streets, and an overall delightful ambience, making it an aesthetically pleasing experience.
Cultural differences
Japan is a beautiful country where traditions effortlessly blend in with modernity. Since the day of my arrival here, I have noticed that the respect, politeness and kindness people have for each other is otherworldly. I have also realised that a deep sense of community is evident in everyday interactions.
A lot of you may know naturally or from word of mouth, but Japanese society is known for its meticulous attention to detail, and I have found this particularly evident in their art, architecture, and cuisine. Another aspect I find very beautiful is the importance of harmony, both in interpersonal relationships and with nature. I love the balance between tradition and innovation, which still fascinates me in every way possible.
Food
So far, I’ve explored a wide variety of dishes, including ramen, udon, an assortment of convenience foods, red bean paste pastries, matcha desserts, Tonkatsu, Kakikouri, conveyor belt sushi, raw horse meat, Omuraisu, Yakitori, and traditional Japanese Washoku. Among these, my absolute favourite has been the conveyor belt sushi — most especially the salmon belly, which literally MELTS IN YOUR MOUTH. Honestly, no words can articulate its exquisiteness, so if you ever visit Japan, it’s something you must experience.
Adjusting to the new environment & new dorm
The initial weeks of settling in have been overwhelming as I had to set up a new phone number, register my residence at the ward, and open a bank account, among other things. Now, I’ve comfortably settled in and am doing pretty well! I checked in on September 12th around 11AM, and the resident advisors were incredibly kind and helpful. I vividly recall my initial reaction upon entering my new room. My room is a single room with an individual bathroom and fridge, making the dorm both comfortable and convenient. I felt extremely satisfied with it. I particularly enjoyed having my own balcony for laundry, and overall, my new dorm exceeded my expectations.
My dorm is a 15-20 minute walk from Hiyoshi Station, and what’s great is that near the station, there’s a lovely community hub with local restaurants and a convenience shopping mall called Hiyoshi Tokyu. Although the morning commutes to school, which take about 40-50 minutes, can be a tad tedious, I find peace and tranquillity in simple things like people-watching, passing the Komagata Bridge, and observing the local streets during my rides.
Events
On September 25th, I attended the KIP Guidance Event, where we received instructions on course registration, including the courses available to us. On October 6th, I participated in the Welcome Event organised by KOSMIC – Keio Organisation of Student Members of the International Center. This was a fantastic gathering where I met a wide array of people from all across the world, engaging in conversations with both international and native students. I also had the chance to enjoy a beautiful Shamisen performance, in which the students showcased remarkable talent!
Uni Life At Keio
Here’s the part we’ve been all waiting for — uni life!!
Before I jump into the fun part, I want to tell you a bit of the nitty-gritty stuff about Keio. If you’re considering studying as an exchange student at Keio, it’s important to note that your classes will primarily be held at the Mita campus. However, if you’re taking specific courses related to your degree, you might study at Hiyoshi, Yagami, or SFC campus. Otherwise, most of the international centre courses for the Keio International Program (KIP) are based at the Mita campus. For full-time students, first and second-year students study at the Hiyoshi campus, while third and fourth-year students study at Mita. This did cause some confusion for me, as I assumed the same applied to exchange students. But as mentioned earlier, if nominated as a Keio exchange student, your classes will be based at the Mita campus.
Moving onto course registration — this was something I was hugely surprised about. At UoA, the registration process spans three months, with no fixed registration time and date, and you’re generally accepted into most courses unless there’s a scheduling conflict. In contrast, in Korea, there’s a specific date and time for registration based on a first-come-first-serve basis. Japan also has a fixed registration time, but it operates on a lottery system. I was concerned I wouldn’t get into the needed courses, especially since I applied for more than I initially planned. However, I successfully enrolled in most courses I intended to take.
I’ve been going on campus three times a week: twice at Mita and once at Hiyoshi. Both campuses have their unique charm: Mita is peaceful with its older buildings, while Hiyoshi has, in my opinion, a more bustling campus atmosphere, with more people and modern architecture. Both campuses are surrounded by trees and nature, and the greenery is truly refreshing and healing for me. I particularly enjoy spending time in the library, or media center, where I find peace and happiness for studying. The professors and classmates, whom I’ve gotten to know over the past few weeks, have all been very welcoming. I found it interesting how the school bell rang at the end of each period, reminiscent of my high school days, but it’s a nice way to keep track of time.
Cafeteria Food
One of the things I was most looking forward to trying was the school cafeteria food, and it didn’t disappoint at all. The cafeteria offers a variety of dishes such as Ramen, Curry, Katsu, salad, various types of Danbury, and of course, staples like rice and miso. I chose the dishes I wanted and then paid at the cashier. On my first day at Mita, I had rice, miso soup, potato-cabbage salad, a potato croquette and Hiyayakko (cold tofu), and it all came down to 488 JPY, approximately $5.55 NZD. For my second meal at the Hiyoshi campus, I had rice, miso soup, Hiyayakko again, grilled mackerel and seasoned okra. This meal costed 513 JPY, around $5.85 NZD. The food is not only affordable but also incredibly delicious and satisfying.
Japan has been a delightful experience so far, and I’ve cherished every second. The country’s cultural richness, the natural beauty of its streets, the delicious cuisine, and the safe environment have captivated me. Most importantly, the people I’ve met here have been the most impactful part of my exchange journey. I was overwhelmed with contentment to the point of tears… which shows how I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity and excited to share more about my experiences in my upcoming posts. Stay tuned for my next post here in Japan, and I look forward to having you accompany me on this journey!
Sending love from Japan,
Gina