Tsukuba Travel Blogs

Vast road, big parks, few people walking, you can hardly imagine that its just 50km from Tokyo. About 40% of the city is covered by park, forest or farm. There are 3 universities, and 60% of Japan's national research centers in here.

When I thought about choosing a place where I could spend my exchange semester, I knew that I would love to do it either in South America or Japan. Considering both possibilities Japan suddenly won and I spent there one of the best times of my entire life. I just love that country, its history and customs. It's so mysterious and it's just a question if you dare to make the attempt to discover its secrets.

The past weekend was jam packed with interesting events. On Saturday, I met up with my old Japanese TA from the States. We had lunch at a Japanese restaurant in Harajuku. Afterward, we walked over to Meiji-shrine or Meiji-jingu, which is a quiet seclusion from the madness of Harajuku. Surrounded by…

This was actually my 3rd trip to Japan and I did it because of my japanese girlfriend I had that time. This country is in many ways so different to what Westerners are used to, so mysteriours, that usually visitors either love it or hate it. There's not much in between. I learned to appreciate Japan already during my first trip and I knew I had to come back. China was something completely different. More chaotic, more dirty and more unpredictable. Like the big clumsy brother of Japan.

Beth planned a goodbye picnic for everyone who was leaving Japan (Annie, Andrea, Jana, and I). When we arrived we thought it was just going to be the ALT crew and our old coordinators but to our surprise it wasn’t. Beth invited some of her and Andrea Japanese friends from their first years in Jap…