The Best Side Trip From Osaka: Okayama

When people decide to take the plunge and travel to Japan, they start planning their trip with what to see and what to do when over there. Many people, especially those who will be going for the first time, make plans to only go visit the big three: Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto with a possible pit stop to Nara. Nothing is wrong with this travel plan. I even did this travel plan the first time I went to Japan (no regrets). But once you have already become familiar with these places, where else do you go?

There are so many places in Japan that are worth visiting. Out of the many places to choose from, may I suggest Okayama.

What Would I Miss if I Moved to Japan

I get asked some weird and random questions from people (at least they're weird and random to me). And I've expressed on my blog and in public to people that my chances of moving to Japan are slim to none due to the direction I've chosen for my life which I'm happy with. But I still get asked the weirdest questions even though I have stated several times that I will never be moving to Japan; it's just not in my cards. Well, that just doesn't seem to matter to some people because I just got asked by a friend a few days ago what I would miss the most if I ever moved to Japan.

Now, I've seen YouTubers from Japan talk about what they miss from their home country and that makes sense because they've been living in Japan for years, not knowing when they will or if they will be leaving. For someone like me who isn't living in Japan and does not plan to move to Japan, I'm not sure if I can really answer this question to the best of my ability. But today, I will try!

Note: I'm only going to mention things or places. Missing family and friends is a given if you have some kind of heart in your body.

What I Always Look Forward to in Japan

I don't go to Japan as often as I'd like. If it was up to me I would go every year, but sometimes the wallet and life just doesn't allow something like that. I get to go every other year, and at different seasons too. All of my family, friends, and coworkers all know I'm very happy when I get to go to Japan. But there are still people in my life who just don't understand my love for Japan, and that's okay because they've probably never felt the need to visit other countries.

But I'd like to take this time to list what I always look forward to the most when going to Japan.

The Food

I don't feel guilty when I'm eating over in Japan, even if it's fast food. In America all of our fast food chains are very unhealthy, even the ones that are advertised as healthy. And for me especially, where I live everything is fried. It tastes delicious but it's greasy and makes you feel disgusting after. In Japan I don't really have to worry about that. I don't think I've ever eaten anything greasy in Japan. And I have the biggest sweet tooth in the world, so I love how Japan loves their sweets too. The food not only tastes great, but it always looks so beautiful. I love food guys, even if I'm a picky eater.

Chef at a Japanese restaurant.

Nature

Now, in no way am I a nature person. My favorite thing to do at home is to stay in the house, but in Japan it's a totally different story. Where I live we have to seasons, hot and cold (summer and winter). There's really no fall and spring. In Japan I look forward to nature because I get to see so much beauty surrounding me, and that beauty is heightened by the history of the country.

The People

Whether they know us or not, I've always had great experiences with the people. They are helpful and kind. Even other foreigners in Japan are nice. And I've mentioned this in another blog but their work ethic is a lot different than where I'm from. Japan takes pride in everything they do, so you'll have a good experience just about anywhere.

Using my Japanese

It's hard to practice a language when there's not a lot of opportunities to use it. I could practice with a friend or two but I get really shy about my Japanese because I end up comparing my Japanese to theirs which makes me think I just suck at speaking Japanese. In Japan, that's not the case at all! These people know Japanese as their first language, but they still get impressed when they see foreigners speaking their language. That kind of reaction is really encouraging for someone with a low self esteem. It makes me want to continue practicing.

Visiting my Japanese Hometown

Last, but not least, is my Japanese hometown. For those of you who don't follow my blog or follow me on social media, I've studied abroad in Kyoto, Japan. I lived in Kyoto for 5 weeks on a short-term study abroad with my college during the summer of 2010. It was a great experience and definitely grew my love for Japan even more. I consider Kyoto my second home. Every time I visit Japan I have to go visit Kyoto no matter what; it's a priority! I love the nostalgia, natsukashii in Japanese, of walking the streets of Kyoto, visiting the spots I frequented and passing the university I studied at. There is no city like Kyoto to me, so I look forward to always going back home for a while.

On the streets of Kyoto.

Thank you so much for reading my blog. I loved writing this one, as I'm preparing myself for my trip to Japan in the next few days. To follow my adventures in Japan follow me on social media where I'll be posting many pictures and videos and even keep you updated on where I am in Japan and what I'm doing.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/japantherapynola 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/japantherapy        #japantherapy

Habits You'll Come Back with from Japan

The most time I've spent in Japan was when I studied abroad. When you study abroad in Japan, it's like you're living there. Once you're in a place for so long you start to pick up habits from the lifestyle. Now, if you weren't a big fan of the lifestyle you'll probably go home being your old self. If you enjoyed and respected the lifestyle, like I did, you'll go back home with the habits you've learned while living in Japan.

So without further ado, here are some habits I picked up in Japan!

Visiting Japan on a Budget While Becoming Fluent in Japanese

I'm super excited about this post! This post is done by my guest blogger, Japanese Talk Online. This is my first time collaborating with another blogger so I'm really happy to be introducing her to my readers. We met through a mutual reader/friend and our passion for educating people about Japan made it easy for us to work together. I hope to do more collaborations with her in the future. I'll have her bio and contact down below, but for now let's get on with the blog!

Fast Food Places to Try in Japan

When you travel to Japan you probably plan on eating more traditional, notable foods that are distinct to the country. Why would you spend money on a plane ticket to Japan just to eat food you can get in your own country? Well, that's because Japan does things differently with their food. Their own cuisine and culture influences other foods they've taken from other countries. So, is it worth visiting well-known fast food chains while in Japan? Yes, and I'll tell you why!

McDonald's

Probably one of the most well-known fast food chains around the world. McDonald's in Japan is an experience in itself. Not only does the quality of McDonald's food seems better in Japan, but they have menu items that are not common in other countries. On the Japan menu, they have teriyaki burgers which is always a nice option if you want a different kind of hamburger. And they also have a menu item called Shaka Shaka Chicken which is a thin fried chicken breast that comes in a paper pouch. You can order it with any of the available seasonings put pour into the bag and shake the chicken to coat it with the selected seasoning. Not only do they have different permanent items but McDonald's Japan has great seasonal items such as items available during cherry blossom season in the spring. So check out a McDonald's when you get to Japan, it's an experience.

Mos Burger

I said fast food chains, but I said nothing about American chains only. Mos Burger is a Japanese chain that sells typically items such as burgers, fries, nuggets, hot dogs, and onion rings. Of course it's not going to be just any regular hamburger. There are different kinds of hamburgers due to the use of Japanese ingredients. Mos Burger has a teriyaki burger, a spicy miso burger, and a katsu burger. These are just a few of their burgers on their menu that are distinct to Japan. If you ever get the chance to go to Mos Burger I suggest trying their onion rings. They have some of the best onion rings I've ever tasted. Here is my order at Mos Burger: A teriyaki burger with an order of onion rings and a melon soda. I get this all the time. It's so delicious!

KFC

The fast food chain for all chicken lovers. KFC is extremely popular in Japan. The chicken dishes are very good, with the chicken being very tasty and juicy (nothing is worse than dry chicken). But the reason for KFC's popularity in Japan is due to its Christmas dinners. On Christmas Eve it is customary to stand in a long line to get a chicken meal for Christmas. A long time ago, Japan didn't celebrate Christmas. It was two foreigners in Japan who were looking for a Christmas turkey substitute. Their best option was KFC chicken. This tradition spread across Japan as the holiday was beginning to be celebrated. Now Christmas is highly marketed in Japan with KFC as the face of Christmas.

Coco Ichibanya

This is another Japanese fast food chain that I highly recommend trying. Coco Ichibanya is a Japanese curry house. Japanese curry is a thick curry over rice. Coco Ichibanya has many different kinds of curry to try from the typical pork or chicken katsu to other kinds such as cheese curry and sausage curry. Not only do they have many curry options but another option to consider is the level of heat. You can get medium curry which has no level of spice. The scale of spiciness is from 1-10. Curry starts to get pretty spicy at level 3, but is still enjoyable. Level 5 or 6 will start to make you sweat. Level 10, well, it'll make you cry and probably go to the bathroom. You would be getting level 10 curry on a dare or something because you will not be able to taste the curry due to how spicy it is. Coco Ichibanya is available in the U.S., with chains in Hawaii and California.

I hope you'll try these fast food chains in Japan. It's a different experience than what you're probably used to. These are my favorite ones, so you'll definitely find something you'll like.

Thank you as always for reading my blog! If you liked this post please let me know. Also if you'd like more Japan related content follow me on social media.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/japantherapynola

Instagram: www.instagram.com/japantherapy
   #japantherapy

And follow me here to keep up with my blog!

Stories from Japan- Arashiyama's Bamboo Forest

While studying in Japan I made it my goal to experience as much of Japan as possible. Since the study abroad program was stationed in Kyoto it was pretty easy to explore all of Kyoto. One of the areas I explored and my favorite is Arashiyama. On this particular day that I was in Arashiyama a group of us were trying to go to Monkey Mountain where we could feed the monkeys but it closed early. So we decided to walk around the Arashiyama area to figure something else out.

If You Like New Orleans, You'll Like Japan Pt.2

So a long while ago when I first started blogging I did a really popular topic called "If You Like New Orleans, You'll Like Japan." If you haven't checked it out yet click here. This article drove it home for me because I consider New Orleans and Japan my homes. They are places that I hold dear to my heart. New Orleans is my physical home, it's where I live and build my life. Japan is my emotional home, where I connect well with society and the way of life (this will be another topic I'll talk about in the future).

I wrote the first part of "If You Like New Orleans, You'll Like Japan" as therapy, this is called Japan Therapy after all. I miss Japan all the time, so I decided to write a blog post for myself in order to cope with not being in Japan. I figured that writing similarities about Japan and New Orleans would help, and it did.

Now, I'm writing this part two for a lot more people than myself. I'm writing to those of you who went to Japan to visit and are missing it like I am. I'm writing to those who aren't knowledgeable enough about Japan to realize how amazing of a place it is. I'm writing to those of you who live in New Orleans like I do but don't know just how close your city is in relation to Japan. I started this blog as therapy for myself, but now I've been on this mission to educate people about Japan. And if you don't live in New Orleans but love Japan, maybe this will give you a reason to visit New Orleans sometimes. Both are very unique places.

Let's get down to business.

12 Places You Need to Go in Kyoto

If you follow me on social media, you know my favorite city in Japan is Kyoto. Having studied abroad in Kyoto has played a role in that decision, but I really do like how Kyoto has the best of both worlds. There's that traditional aspect of life in Kyoto due to it's history has Japan's old capitol and the more modern lifestyle that has grown has times have been changing. If you want to see nature, Kyoto offers some of the best sights. If you want to experience the city life, Kyoto has a great shopping district with entertainment, shops, and restaurants.

I'm going to offer you 12 places that should be experiences. It'll range from famous landmarks to places that aren't advertised as much. If I haven't been to a place then it won't be on this list. I'm only mentioning places I've been to and have found to be either fun or interesting. They are in no particular order.

1. Fushimi Inari

This is one of the most famous shrines in Japan. Not only is it beautifully set in the southern mountains of Kyoto but it can also be used as a great form of exercise. If you are an outdoors kind of person then you'll enjoy walking the whole path at Fushimi Inari that goes up the mountain and back down. As you're walking the path, you'll be going under a bunch of gates. Facing forwards the gates look ordinary but once you turn around you'll see Kanji written all over that are names of people who contributed to the shrine. If you're more of just a sightseer then you can just walk a bit of the path like I did and enjoy the shops located at the bottom

Planning a Trip to Japan

You could go the easy route and pay a travel agent to plan your trip but that'll cost you a lot of money, money that you may not even have. It's a lot of work, but planning your own trip to Japan is fun and affordable. I've been to Japan twice already and have announced my third trip on social media already. I'm not going until November, but I have a few friends who are going in the spring and summer so I thought I'd push this article up on my to do list. So here are the steps you need to take to plan a trip to Japan.

Step 1: Book Your Flight

I already did a blog post about the flight. You can check it out here. I discuss the cost, the length, and the food to expect. But I'll mention a few things again. Normally you'd book your flight as soon as your prospective date is available. I knew I wanted to go in November, around the Thanksgiving holiday. I checked the United Airlines website every month to see when November was available. I just booked my flight a few days ago, so you should be able to book your flight 8-9 month before hand. The flight can range in price. I find it ranges from $1,200-$1,500 for a two-way flight. This may be expensive to so people, and it is. The airfare can be the most expensive part of your Japan trip. There are ways to get cheaper tickets though. The first is to get a miles credit card. You know how some credit cards gives you point towards every purchase? Well, some airlines have credit cards that gives you miles. This is how I got my plane tickets to Japan. In two years my husband and I accumulated enough miles for free flights. Another way to get cheaper tickets is by following websites who have special offers. Websites I've heard of for this is Orbitz and Groupon. Now you would have to look for yourself every so often in order to catch these deals. The best way to be notified about these deals is by following bloggers who specialize in Japan airfare deals. They're out there and ready to use. If you use these tickets they will most likely come with a set date to be used. This may make your trip a little rushed so all these other steps I'm mentioning would need to be done as soon as possible.

Step 2: Planning Your Itinerary

What does this involve? Well, when you go to Japan where do you want to go? Do you just want to stay in Tokyo the whole time? (I'll be doing that in 2020). Do you want to see the main three cities of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka? Or do you want to see as many places as possible during your stay? Planning an itinerary will help with two other steps: buying a train pass and booking hotels. So plan out where you want to go. For example, my husband and I already have a game plan on what cities we want to visit: Nagoya, Nagano, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Matsue, and Tokyo. Since we plan to go to more than three cities and they aren't too close to each other it is beneficial to buy train passes. If we were only going to the three main cities we wouldn't need a train pass. Next is to plan how long you'd like to stay in each city. I haven't planned the exact days yet but I know what cities I'll be needing a hotel for. Finally, add detail to your itinerary by making a list of things you want to see and do in each city. If you're not sure where to visit or what to do visit a Japan guide website. I actually work as a freelance writer for a guide site called Japanistas. I liked their past work and decided they were a good fit for me than all the other websites. If you visit their website they have a ton of guides and articles on things to do in many of the cities in Japan.

(Optional) Step 3: Purchase a Train Pass

This is optional because, like I mentioned in the Itinerary section, if you're not planning to do much traveling in Japan it's not worth getting. But for those who will be doing a lot of traveling, like myself, it is in your best interest to purchase a train pass. By the time you use the pass three times you would probably already have used its worth. This train pass is called the Japan Rail Pass and it is good for all Japan Railway systems. This pass needs to be purchased before you leave for Japan. A voucher will be mailed to you and you'll have to present it to a major Japan Railway station once you've arrived in Japan. Once you obtain your pass, you'll have to use the manned gates for officials to look at your pass (some may ask for your passport as identification). Visit http://www.japanrailpass.net/en/ to see what pass will work for your trip.

Step 4: Book Your Hotel

Unless you're planning to travel to Japan in the next month or two, booking a hotel should be done about 4 months in advance or when the reservation is available. Now, there are two ways to book a hotel for Japan. You can either use a travel site such as Travelocity and Hotels or you can book a reservation with the hotel of choice directly. I won't go into detail on using the travel sites because those are pretty easy since many of you have probably already used those sites before. To book a room directly is a bit harder, especially for those who may not know the hotels in Japan. I will tell you all how I do it. First, I go to the city's website I'll be visiting. I'll use Kyoto as an example since it's my favorite city in Japan. So I would google search Kyoto, and their website should appear in the first four selections (http://kyoto.travel/en/). I'd go to their website and select the "plan your visit" section and choose accommodations since I'm trying to book a hotel. Japan has many kinds of hotels, but the ones that book reservations in advance are ryokans and and western style hotels. A ryokan which are traditional Japanese hotels will most likely be cheaper than western style hotels. If you're going for a cheaper route booking a ryokan would be in your best interest but research about ryokans before booking one because they are very unique hotels. For my trip, I'll be looking for a hotel. Once I click the hotel option it gives me names of all the hotels. Pick any hotel and it'll give you a link to that hotel's website. Tada! You can now book a room directly with the hotel of your choosing.

Step 5: Plan Your Arrangements

Do you have children or pets? You'll need a babysitter. Start asking friends or family members about house sitting or babysitting. House hitting usually requires someone who can stop by your house to make sure everything is okay, like no one has broken in, and to get your mail. Have a car? If you're leaving for two weeks or longer you might want to give your car keys to someone you trust. Let them have the responsibility of starting up your car every few days just so your car will work when you get back home from Japan. Have a job? Start giving your vacation notice to your manager. Pretty much get done whatever needs to be done before you leave for Japan.

Step 6: Make a Packing Check List

Start packing the week before the trip to decrease your stress levels. Trust me, if you wait until the day or night before you will be a very angry and stressed out person which will put a damper on your trip. If you need assistance in thinking of things to bring you can refer to my post on items to bring. 

Step 7: Double Check

I don't care if you made a list and already check stuff off, double check! Make sure you have everything, especially your passport and boarding pass for your flight.

And lastly, enjoy your trip! You'll have so much fun no matter if you are taking a solo trip or going with a friend or significant other. Take a ton of pictures to have as keepsakes and value your time in Japan.

Thank you for reading. I hope this helps many of you who are starting to plan a trip to Japan and for those who will plan a trip in the future. If you liked this post, please check out my other posts about Japan. Also follow me on social media for more things Japan related.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/japantherapynola

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/japantherapy/

And follow me here on Google+ to subscribe to my blog!

What to Bring to Japan

Will be be planning your trip to Japan soon? I know I will be! I'll be writing another post soon on how to plan a trip to Japan, but first I'd like to mention some things you should take to Japan. These are items that are obvious and then items that I learned I needed from experience.

Yen, Debit Card, Passport

These are your obvious items to bring. Just in case it's not obvious to some I'll explain in detail and give tips. Yen is the currency of Japan. I recommend getting $500 dollars worth of Japanese yen to go over with. Here's where the debit card comes into play. When you finally get to Japan, to go a convenience store like a 7/11 and take out more yen with your debit card as you see fit. Remember to also call your bank and let them know you'll be going out the country so they won't stop your card. If you can't get cash out then you'll have a big problem on your hands because Japan is still a cash based country even though some places do take credit cards now. And finally your passport. If you have an existing passport make sure in advance that it is not expiring soon. If you don't even have a passport you will be needing one. You can obtain a passport through the post office. Once you have filled out all the paperwork they'll mail you your passport in about 6 to 8 weeks, so don't wait last minute for this!

I've only got coin yen (1, 10, and 50 yen) on me.

Your Own Pillow

This sounds silly but it's really good advice. especially for those who are sensitive sleepers. Not all, but many hotels I stayed at in Japan had pillows with beans inside them. I don't know about everyone else but I can't sleep on bean pillows. They're just not comfortable in my opinion and it makes me lose sleep. I suggest bringing your own pillow so you won't have to worry about losing sleep. We want to make sure you have enough energy to explore Japan!

Medication

Another obvious item but it needs to be mentioned. If you are on any medication prescribed by your doctor please bring it with you. A hospital visit in a different country with a different language doesn't sound ideal. Not only prescribed medicines, but bring everyday medicines just in case. What happens if you get heartburn, a fever, sore throat, or an allergic reaction? You need to consider bringing other medicines for these circumstances. And if you think that you'll be able to get medicine from a store in Japan you may be facing a bigger problem. If your Japanese isn't good to where you don't know Kanji, then you won't be able to buy medicine because you won't be able to understand what the containers are saying. Make it easier on yourself by bringing your own medicine. But make sure the medicine is allowed in Japan because Japan has strict laws in drugs.

English to Japanese Dictionary

This item is for those unfamiliar with Japanese. Now, you can always just speak English the whole time and it might work out for you depending on what parts of Japan you'll be visiting. But for those actually wanting to make the effort should have a dictionary on hand. You will most likely want to say something to someone. You'll know what you want to say but not the Japanese word for it. An English to Japanese dictionary will help you. You'll look up what you want to say and it'll have it's Japanese meaning. Even if you don't know how to speak in full sentences just saying a word will get your point across.

Maps

Now when I say maps, I'm not talking about those boring maps you see of the country that just has a bunch a lines and arrows. I mean maps that are detailed and have pictures of landmarks. I don't know about you but I'm the kind of person that gets around by using landmarks, not street names. Using a map that shows where all the landmarks are in the city is very helpful. I usually use the city's bus map to do this and then I get double use out of it. Bus maps are super easy to read than those maps in guide books.

Comfortable Shoes

I can't stress this one enough. Bring comfortable shoes to walk in! You will be walking a lot while in Japan. Yes, you can use public transportation but you will still be doing a lot of walking if you plan to do some shopping, visit temples, or climbing mountains. As cute as boots, heels, and flats are they are not reliable. Tennis shoes are the way to go. You'll thank me later.

Clothes

This also seems obvious but you may think because you're going in the summer you won't need sweaters but I'm here to tell you that you will, and here's why. Some parts of Japan has crazy weather. The sun could be blazing one minute and in the next it could be raining. Not only that, but if it's hot outside stores may blast their air conditioning, making it freezing cold. The key to dressing in Japan is to dress in layers.

Toiletries

Bring your own toiletries that you love and are used to because they most likely won't be in Japan. That means pack your shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, and anything else you can think of. Definitely bring deodorant because Japan is a big fan of the spray and roll on types. 

Nintendo 3DS

This is for my fellow geeks out there. Bring your Nintendo 3DS with you! If you bring it to Japan you'll be getting a ton of regions in Japan completed for your streetpass maps. It's super fun to see all the people you'll pass on the streets with your 3DS. My friends and I call them "green people." This is because when you have people at your streetpass plaza waiting for you your 3DS lights up green. So have fun collecting your green people!

And that's everything I recommend you bring for your trip to Japan. I hope I helped in making your trip easier for you. You'll be hear from me soon on here but until then you can check me out on my social media pages.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/japantherapynola

Instagram: instagram.com/japantherapy

#japantherapy

And subscribe to me here on Google+.

Thank for the support! 

Taking a Tour in Japan

My first time in Japan I was a study abroad student living there for 6 weeks. I was going to school, blending with society, and taking in the culture. It was an experience I will never forget. Jump four years. I was going to Japan with my husband for our honeymoon. It was my second time in Japan and his first. The closest my husband ever came to experiencing Japan were from stories I've told him and things I've taught him about the culture. My husband's parents wanted to gift our honeymoon to us and the easiest way to do that was for them to pay for an all expense paid tour in Japan. I wanted to just roam around myself, but I decided to go with the tour for the first week and stay after for another week on our own. Best decision I've ever made.

I will be talking about the pros and cons of going on a tour in Japan. It had it's good and bad times but I still enjoyed it. And it may seem like it's super expensive but for everything you pay for it's not that bad, so you should give it a try or at least look into.

The Pros

1. No worries. With a guided tour there are literally no worries. Yes, they can get expensive, but everything is practically taken care of for you. These tour packages include meals, hotel costs, entrance fees to attractions, and possibly train fare. The only things you will need to worry about are the plane flights and shopping expenses.

2. Important sights. You are guaranteed a chance to go to the big name places such as Tokyo Tower and Osaka Castle in a guided tour. Depending on the package you get, you'll go to different cities in Japan and you'll go to all the well known sights for that area. The tour guide will even give you hints at what to take pictures of and will let you know what's important.

Tokyo Tower. We went in but I took more video than pictures.

3. Won't feel lost. Going to a different country can be a bit scary, especially if it has its own language and it's your first time there. With unfamiliar settings it can be easy to get lost. In a tour, you will have a guide who is native to that country to pretty much take care of you. The guide will make sure you're on the bus to go to the next city, make sure you eat, and will always make sure you're following. I personally loved my tour guide from Japan Tours. Her name was Mire. If I ever took another tour from that same company I would ask for Mire again. She was so funny and sweet.

4. Meeting people from around the world. One of the things that worried me was being so young and going on a tour. I always pictured tours to be for older adults, no one my age. I was totally wrong. There were quite a few people my age on the exact same tour. One young man was by himself, just wanted to see Japan. There were two young adults who were with their families on this tour for a family vacation to Japan.  There was a girl and guy on the tour that was my husband and I's age who were just on the tour because they both wanted to see Japan. My husband and I ended up hanging with them here and there during the tour. We'd go browse stores or go get food together. Even the older people that were on the tour were super friendly! There was a couple from Australia that I had fun talking to and was always nice. So not only did I get the relax while traveling in Japan but I got to meet so many amazing people at the same time.

We made friends on the trip from California!

The Cons

1. Not enough free time. Going on a tour in Japan can be good but then when you're actually on the tour you realize it's not all perfect. Yes, the itinerary is great and you get to see so many amazing things but while you're on the tour you find other things you want to do but there's no time for. A good example is when my tour was in Tokyo. You were literally touring all day, from 8 A.M. to about 6 P.M. During the tour we were at a mall for lunch. Our tour guide said we had only 30 minutes to look around before lunch. That was the fastest 30 minutes. My husband and I were having fun at an arcade in the mall and just looking at all the stores they had. We nearly missed lunch. Not only that! At the mall there was this Sega Vocaloid amusement park that looked like so much fun. We never got to check it out because we only stayed at the mall for lunch, then left. We had the rest of the day to go back if we wanted or to just check out more of the city but by the time you were done the tour for the day and got back to the hotel you were so tired. There was no way I could have made it some nights out after the tour without collapsing.

2. Having to eat what's on the itinerary. When I'm in Japan, I'm usually more adventurous and will try about anything I feel I can stomach. I say this because I'm really picky when it comes to food and here at my home of New Orleans, Louisiana I will have no problem saying I'm not eating something if I don't like it. I try not to be this way in Japan because it's an experience you can't get anywhere else and it's rude not to eat what's served to you. I did really good during the tour and at every meal except for one. I remember one of our hotel stops was at a Ryokan which is a traditional Japanese Inn. I knew what came with staying here: sleeping on a futon, going to take an onsen or hot spring bath, and eating Kaiseki (traditional Japanese cuisine). The only thing optional about the Ryokan was the bath. I had to go into the dinning hall with all the other people on my tour and eat a kaiseki dinner. I really thought I could do it but once the meal was in front of me I didn't have it in me to eat it all. I think I only ate two or three things and then I pawned the rest of my food for to a fellow tour member in secret. My husband and I didn't even eat breakfast there since we knew we'd be getting the same thing so we just went to the 7/11 at the corner for breakfast.

3. Being on a schedule. If you are someone who is laid back and doesn't like to have things planned then you will not like tours. With tours, everything is planned: meals, activities, and where to go. Everything is done in a timely manner and on a schedule. If you also like to wake up late a tour is also not for you. During tours, you wake up early. Not only because they include breakfast in the tour but to also start the tour early so you can fit in as much as possible during the day. You must be a punctual person to like tours. If the tour guide says meet here in 30 minutes you better be there in 30 minutes. If she says wake up and be on the bus for 8 A. M. you better be down there at 8 A.M. This can make the trip stressful at times but they mean well.

Well, those are my thoughts on taking a tour in Japan. In all, I had a great time when I went. It felt very different from when I was a student in Japan because I was living in Japan whereas with a tour I really felt like a tourist and enjoyed being there as a tourist. Thanks for reading about my experience! I hope this helps in making your decision on how you will enjoy Japan.

If you'd like more information on the tour I went on, here's the link: http://www.alljapantours.com/go-tour.php?tp=GTP0721986

I really recommend this company because they take good care of you.

Follow me on social media!

Facebook: www.facebook.com/japantherapynola

Instagram: www.instagram.com/japantherapy

And don't forget to subscribe to me here on Google+.

A Taste of Japan: Disney's Epcot

There are many circumstances that can keep people from travel such as health conditions, fear of flying, and just not having the finances. I still find these circumstances sad for those who really want to experience Japan but can't make it over there. It can be hard traveling to other countries, and I understand. That's why I'd like to help those in America (where I'm from). You'd be surprised at how many places in America have areas that resemble Japan. These places obviously aren't going to be exactly like Japan, but it'll give people a good taste of what Japan may be like.

I plan to talk about Disney World's Epcot located in Orlando, Florida in this segment of "A Taste of Japan." Disney World is a great family or friend vacation for all ages. There's literally something for everyone to enjoy. There are several parks to explore, but I'll be talking about Epcot. I will eventually do more blog posts like this as I have the finances and time to travel to places that resemble Japan. So expect this to be a long running series on my blog.

Let's get started! Epcot is a park in Disney World that let's you travel around the world with its World Showcase. As you circle the park you'll arrive in countries such as South Korea, Mexico, China, Ireland, France, Germany, and, of course, Japan. I've been to Epcot three times already and it's always my most look forward to moments when I'm in Disney World. Epcot Japan resembles the real Japan in many ways that can come to many as a surprise. When you first transition from leaving America to entering Japan you can hear taiko drums in the distance, welcoming you to Japan. In the lake that is in the middle of the park, there's a torii, or gate, that is sitting in the water just like you can find in Japan. Once you enter that Japan section of Epcot the scenery changes drastically from the previous America section. The buildings are designed like traditional Japanese architecture. These buildings house shops, an exhibit, and restaurants. Towards the back corner, a Japanese garden and a pond can be seen. There's a pathway you can follow to stroll through the small garden area, leading to a small restaurant and the shopping area.

In the middle of the Japan section of Epcot.

The pond in the small Japanese garden. Those are some big koi fish.

There are two dinning restaurants to enjoy Japanese food like sushi and tempura. Then there is a casual restaurant, perfect for lunch, that serves items such as curry, garlic shrimp, and chicken teriyaki. The last time I went to the casual restaurant they had okonomiyaki (cabbage pancakes) on the menu that was delicious, but I guess it was too foreign to visitors so they exchanged that item for curry. I got the chicken katsu curry for lunch. It tasted just like the ones I got in real Japan. The workers were super friendly. They had no problem starting a conversation with my husband and I about his Kokoichiban (a curry house franchise in Japan) t-shirt. We enjoyed the small talk and got to know the workers a bit. Every worker, even in the other countries of Epcot, had a name tag on that would give where they were from. So the cashier at the casual restaurant was from Tokyo, Japan. I loved looking at all the name tags to see where the Japanese workers were from.

The exhibit room, featuring Kawaii Culture.

The next thing I saw was the exhibit. These exhibits are long-term, about 4 to 5 years. In 2012, the exhibit was about Japanese folklore. I really loved that one because they had a life size statue of a tengu (crow/man) that was so cool. This year they had an exhibit on Japan's kawaii (cute) culture. The room had glass cases filled with cute plushies, accessories, and other little trinkets. As you look at the exhibit you can hear Kyary Pamyu Pamyu playing in the background. It's a fun little exhibit that always introduces an interesting part of Japanese culture.

One of the glass cases explaining how cute culture can be present at work and for play..

Once you exit the exhibit there's an entrance to the Mitsukoshi department store. The store is nicely organized, sectioning off parts of the store for different things. There was a section for sake, snacks and candy, food, kitchen, kimono, hobbies, clothing, beauty products, stationary, Miyazaki items, Japanese learning books, Pokemon, Hello Kitty, and anime.  All of these great things in one store. It was hard not to buy everything in sight. My very first time in the store I went crazy, buying a purse, stickers, Pokemon plushies, a kimono, and candy. This time I only bought mochi candy and an umbrella.

The hobby section of the Mitsukoshi department store.

So as you can see Epcot Japan is in the comfort of American soil but lets you experience tiny parts of Japan. You'll get to eat real Japanese food, learn about Japanese traditions, and learn about the Japanese culture. All of this without the worry of speaking Japanese, yet if you'd like you can practice your Japanese with the workers and they'll be thrilled to talk with you. Not only will going to Disney's Epcot be a vacation, but an opportunity to learn about Japan in a relaxed setting. I won't be fully immersed into the culture. You will get little taste of Japan from Disney's Epcot, but enough to understand the country better.

I hope you enjoyed this blog post. I'm looking forward to doing more like this in the future. Thank you for reading and giving me support. I have so much fun writing about Japan and sharing it with everyone.

Follow me on all my social media for more fun Japanese stuff or to just chat with me about Japan.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/japantherapynola

Instagram: instagram.com/japantherapy
#japantherapy    #japantherapyblog

Google+: google.com/+JenniferTorresjapantherapy

My Study Abroad Experience- Part 5

My Study Abroad Experience

Part 5: Leaving Japan

Start from the beginning with Part 1: japantherapyneworleans.blogspot.com/2015/08/my-japan-study-abroad-experience-part-1.html

Program:

UNO-Japan: Study at Doshisha University

Studying in Kyoto, Japan

To learn more go to inst.uno.edu/japan or contact them at UNOJapan@uno.edu or (504)280-6388.

Five weeks may seem like a long time, but it goes by so fast. When it was nearing the time to leave Japan I felt like I had only just arrived. I was just getting settled in. I felt myself rushing to do as many things as I could before I left. That last week was like the end of a roller coaster. You see the end coming so you really focus on enjoying the ride while it's still moving. That was how I felt. After classes I was always trying to fill my time with sightseeing and activities I knew I wouldn't be able to enjoy back in America. I remember going to see Kinkakuji and Fushimi Inari my last week because I never got the chance to go before. I was so glad I got to fit those two sights in at the last week.

Kinkakuji and Fushimi Inari, both found in different parts of Kyoto.

Then our final exams came. For classes such as Literature and History we had to type a paper. For Japanese classes we had to complete an online exam in a certain amount of time. Many of us waited until the last night of classes to write our papers. I still laugh about it today. I had about five people in my room trying to type papers. We all were typing on our laptops, trying to get these papers done. I was having so much trouble completing the paper because I was still freaking out about leaving Japan. A friend of mine who was not worried about papers came into my room inviting us to karaoke with his Japanese friends. The people in my room declined the offer. Another friend and myself decided to join the karaoke party. It was my first karaoke experience so I'm glad I went. I had a blast that night. When karaoke was done I knew I had to get to work on my paper. I finished it that night and turned it in the next day. It felt like I was able to finish the paper because I knew I had done everything I could possibly do in Japan. I felt accomplished.

Friends finishing their papers and me in a karaoke room with another friend.

One of the things a group of us did was have dinner for the last time in the tatami room. This tatami room was a place for the student to eat together. You would sit on a pillow seat, at a low table. There were no shoes allowed in this room because of the tatami floors that were made out of bamboo straw. It was a pretty room, and we used about two other times besides our last dinner. The dinner consisted of food our parents sent us in the mail. It was a nice spread and we had lots of food. We had about seven of us in the tatami room, having dinner. It was a great last moment to have at our dorms.

After classes, on the last night in Japan, was the closing ceremony. The teachers tallied our grades and granted us our certificates. All the faculty and staff involved in the program was present at the closing ceremony. It was a different atmosphere than the opening ceremony. We were all friends by this time. Even the Japanese students who were our partners felt closer. It was a sad but good time we all had together.

All the faculty and students of the 2010 UNO Japan study abroad program.

Studying abroad is probably one of the greatest adventures anybody can ever have. It's filled with new people, new places, and new opportunities waiting to be experienced. I was very sad to leave, not knowing if I would ever get the chance to visit Japan again. I'm lucky enough to have that chance, but I can honestly say going on this studying abroad program has changed my life. 

Thanks for following my study abroad adventure! I hope this helps some of you take the plunge.

Follow me on social media to keep up with my blog.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/japantherapynola

Instagram: Instagram.com/japantherapy
#japantherapy #japantherapyblog

Google+: google.com/+JenniferTorresjapantherapy

My Study Abroad Experience- Part 4

My Japan Study Abroad Experience

Part 4: Field Trips

Program:
UNO-Japan: Study at Doshisha University
Studying in Kyoto, Japan
To Learn more go to inst.uno.edu/Japan or contact them at UNOJapan@uno.edu or (504)280-6388.

One of the most exciting things about going to Japan is traveling. Japan has many sights to offer with the intermingling of modern and rural areas. There will never be a time where you have nothing to see.

Studying abroad is an easy way to travel through Japan securely. Some people are naturally adventurous while others may not. And both kinds of people are fine. When I studied abroad and went to Japan for the first time I was scared to venture out and explore on my own. I was glad that the program I went on gave the opportunity to see other places in Japan.

At a game center with friends.

The program was stationed in Kyoto, Japan. We had school Monday through Friday but only from 8 a.m. to 2 p. m. After class, everyone would go explore the city of Kyoto. At first I only went to the shopping district, but I eventually explored out in the further corners of Kyoto.

Group picture from Kyoto field trip.

Three weekends were dedicated to field trips. The first was a mandatory field trip in Kyoto. The Kyoto field trip was what the program director thought all the students should see while in Japan. It included landmarks such as Nijo Castle and the Kiyomizu Temple. The other two field trips were to Osaka and Nara. These field trips were optional for the program. I wanted to see as much of Japan as possible, but I didn't want to do it alone. These field trips let me accomplish this. I got to see Osaka Castle, eat Okonomiyaki, and pet deer in Nara.

Deer in Nara, Japan.

There was one free weekend on the program. This was open to other travel plans or exploring more of Kyoto. I stayed in Kyoto due to the lack of funds, but there were quite a few students who went to Kobe, Tokyo, and other cities in Japan. I would've joined if I had the money but I was happy to stay and enjoy my last week in Kyoto with my new found friends.

At Monkey Mountain in Arashiyama district of Kyoto.

Thanks for reading my blog!

Continue to Part 5: http://japantherapyneworleans.blogspot.com/2015/10/my-study-abroad-experience-part-5.html

For more Study Abroad Experience:
Part 1: http://japantherapyneworleans.blogspot.com/2015/08/my-japan-study-abroad-experience-part-1.html

Part 2: http://japantherapyneworleans.blogspot.com/2015/08/my-study-abroad-experience-part-2.html

Part 3: http://japantherapyneworleans.blogspot.com/2015/08/my-japan-study-abroad-experience-part-3.html

Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/japantherapynola

Instagram: https://instagram.com/japantherapy

Google+: google.com/+JenniferTorresjapantherapy

How to Get Around in Japan

I apologize for the lack of posts on my blog in the last week or two. There should be no excuse but I've been busy. One of the things I've been busy with is getting my husband a new car. In New Orleans, it is necessary to have a car because it's not easy to get around on bikes or safe enough to walk and the public transportation isn't the best. So I'd like to take this time to discuss transportation in Japan.

Car

Japan is the total opposite of New Orleans, and probably America in general, when it comes to transportation. There are not many people in Japan who own cars, for several reasons. One being that the traffic is really bad. Two, there are a ton of tolls on the expressways in Japan. And three, there's just not enough room to park cars in Japan. Sometimes cars can't even be used. Some high schools in Japan will not allow their students to arrive at school in a car. Cars are just not as convenient in Japan.

Taxi

Taxi cars have the same problem as everywhere else. It's going to be expensive. It's good for a desperate time when all other means of public transportation is not running. It's great to experience a taxi drive though. Most of the taxi cars have doors that open and close automatically. Once you get into the taxi you will notice the cleanliness inside. The seats have covers on them and the taxi driver will be wearing white gloves. It all feels fancy.

Train

Next are trains. There are shinkansen which are bullet trains. These trains go really fast and cut travel time in half from ordinary trains. Shinkansen are great for people on a time constraint or are doing a lot of traveling from far distances. There are passes you can buy in advance for the shinkansen. The passes are worth buying if you plan to travel through Japan a lot. Other than shinkansen, there are regular trains that go to different cities in Japan. Buying the tickets from the machines can be difficult at times but there is usually a help desk that can guide you through the process if you ask.

Subway

They remind me of trains in a way. The tickets are bought in the same manner as a train. I've only used the subway once in Japan. I'm from the south so I've never really experienced a subway before so I never really used it Japan. Think of it like a bus, but underground and no traffic.

Bus

This is my favorite mode of transportation. The bus is best used when you're staying in one city. Using the bus is cheaper than using a taxi and you'll get to be a part of the Japanese society. It's usually about 250 yen for adults which is pretty cheap. If you plan to go around the city, using the bus multiple times, it might be in your best interest to obtain a bus pass. You can inquire about a bus pass at the train station. If you plan to use the bus or any of the above modes of transportation you should know some rules of etiquette. It is polite to stay quiet on the bus in respect for other people's time. That means no talking on the phone or talking to your friends next to you in a loud voice. If there are seats available you may sit but don't take up the priority seating for older people and pregnant women;that is considered extremely rude. That is my favorite form of transportation to use in Japan.

Bicycle

The most popular form of transportation in Japan is a bicycle. There are more bicycles than cars in Japan. Bicycles are convenient to use because there's no sitting in traffic and it is cheaper in the long run. Bicycles are like cars in Japan which means it has laws. There's no drinking while riding a bicycle. Another law for the bicycle is there can't be a passenger riding. These two laws exist for the safety of the people and pedestrians in the area. If you're riding a bike don't be alarmed if a policeman stops you. He'll be asking to see some kind of bike license. This is common in Japan to make sure who the bike belongs to. Just like cars, bicycles have parking spots. There are bike rakes on every major street corner or populated area. If your bicycle isn't parked properly it can be thrown into bike jail which is a yard of bikes taken due to rule breaking. Most people don't retrieve their bikes because they will be admitting to breaking the law. Sadly, bicycles would not be the way to go for me because I don't know how to ride one. Never could learn to ride one. I would get too scared of the height, being off the ground, and the balancing required for riding a bike. I prefer walking or using the bus.

Walking

It's not a bad idea to walk to places in Japan. There are a ton of benefits to walking. One, you'd be able to get to see places you would have missed if you rode a bus or subway. Two, it's good for you. Three, you can interact with people you come across. I love walking in Japan. You will discover so many great places you never intended to find. If you do plan to walk I suggest wearing comfortable shoes.

That's it for this post. I hope you enjoyed the informative side of it. I will be getting back into the groove of things again. Once again, like always, thank you for reading my blog. I hope to make this grow into something great. Please support me!

Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/japantherapy/

Like me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/japantherapynola

And follow me on Google+ for updates: google.com/+JenniferTorresjapantherapy

My Study Abroad Experience- Part 2

Part 1: http://japantherapyneworleans.blogspot.com/2015/08/my-japan-study-abroad-experience-part-1.html

My Japan Study Abroad Experience

Part 2: School Life

Program:
UNO-Japan: Study at Doshisha University
Studying in Kyoto, Japan
To Learn more go to inst.uno.edu/Japan or contact them at UNOJapan@uno.edu or (504)280-6388.

It's exciting to travel to a new country to see and experience new things, but when you're studying abroad you still have to go to school. I went on this program because it was already affiliated with the university I was attending. The good thing about this program is that it accepts students all over the country. In my last post I mentioned I had a roommate. Well, she was coming from California. My program year also had students from Utah and Ohio. The reason why my roommate decided to apply to this program was because it was the cheapest she could find online. And this program is not only limited to students. My program year had a girl who attended that was no longer a student. The girl just went to the two required classes she needed to take to be on the trip but didn't have to stress over what grades she got. This program is literally for just about anyone (there are restrictions though so look that info up).

My roommate and I eating out in Kyoto, Japan.

Now, I said something about required classes. Let me explain that. This program is a study abroad program. There will be a selection of classes you can sign up for. It is required that you take two classes during the program of the listed classes they supply you. I took a Japanese 2001 class and an English class focused on geisha and samurai. My roommate took a Japanese 1001 class and a Japanese history class. I repeat, two classes are required and it doesn't matter what two. Next order of business, these classes are taught in English by professors from the University of New Orleans or Tulane. The classes are small and attendance is mandatory. The program direct and teachers understand that you are in a new country so your classes are not extremely hard. You still have to work hard at your classes but there's typically no homework. In the Japanese classes you take online tests. For the other classes (like English and History) there will be about two papers to write during your six week stay in Japan for the program. The classes change every year for the program, so depending on which teachers will travel will determine the type of classes for that program's year.

Two classrooms we used on campus in two different buildings.

The university I studied at was Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan. We only used the campus for classes and lunch. The campus was so beautiful when I went, and it still is. Each building was designed differently, and the designs reflect the function of the building, in my opinion. The campus wasn't too large so it was easy to get around. In order to get onto the campus all the study abroad students on the program received student passes. The passes were needed because the campus entrance was guarded by security. I didn't need to purchase a printer because the student pass that I was given gave me access to the computer labs. There were two that I knew of, so there was always space in the labs to print my papers before class. If you weren't feeling in the mood for cafeteria food there would be the option of convenience store food or restaurants near by. During the program the students had the chance to go to three club activities on campus. I got to participate and meet the students of the flower arranging club and the calligraphy club. The other club was the kendo club.

The building I ate lunch in. It was crowded during lunch hour.

Group photo of the program students with the flower arranging club (Ikebana).

The campus was always so lively with students everywhere. The study abroad students had the opportunity to gain new friends with the Japanese students. But that'll be discussed next time, so look forward to it.

Part 3: http://japantherapyneworleans.blogspot.com/2015/08/my-japan-study-abroad-experience-part-3.html

Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/japantherapy/

Like me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/japantherapynola

Follow me on Google+ to be updated on new posts: https://plus.google.com/+JenniferTorresjapantherapy/posts