Hello everyone, sorry this one took so long to get out. I’ve been home for about three days now, and the jet lag has just destroyed my sleep schedule and energy levels.
Anyway! Our final day in Japan was just as exciting and energy-filled as the others. Our first stop was the Meiji-Jingu Shrine just outside the famous Harajuku district. The shrine is surrounded by a massive forest, which makes it stand in contrast to the concrete jungle around it. Upon entering the forest, almost all sounds of the city are drowned out by the numerous trees and the crunching of gravel beneath your feet. The entire area was so serene and calming, it was hard to believe that the entire forest surrounding the shrine was completely man-made.
At the center of the forest, the main shrine building stands in quiet splendor. Its simple, yet elegant design brings an instant feeling of peace as visitors wash their hands and mouths to purify themselves before entering. The inside is simple, yet beautiful. There is an open courtyard, giving the area a huge sense of space. The walls are lined with hundreds of letters written by young Japanese students, detailing their wishes for the new year.
The main shrine stands at the back of the grounds. According to the Japanese, the soul of Emperor Meiji resides there, as the shrine and forest were built in his honor.
After visiting the shrine, we were unleashed upon the Harajuku district right next door. For those who don’t know, Harajuku is Tokyo’s renowned fashion district. Brand-name cosmetics and clothing can be found here. There are some particularly special brands or designer clothes that are hard to find, that can be bought here. I bought some perfume for my mom, and she liked it a lot.
The main street is full of more mainstream brands, but the side streets are where the cool stuff can be found. There was a store dedicated entirely to condoms. It was so blatant, it was hilarious. There was also an owl cafe. As an owl fan from Hawaii, I would never have an opportunity to interact with owls, so I jumped at the chance while I could. It was a guilty sort of pleasure, as I felt bad for the owls, being cooped up indoors.
After Harajuku, it was time to say farewell to everyone, as we were bused to the airport. This trip has been a real blessing to me, and I’m glad to know that if I had chosen a different career path last year, I never would have had this opportunity.
I met so many people, went to so many places, and learned so many things. The week went by so quickly, and there were so many more things I wished I could see and do. Hey, at least that gives me more than enough reasons to go back soon, right?
As this small series of posts comes to a close, I find myself pondering. How will I use these experiences to improve my life even more? How can I share this feeling of wonder and joy with others? How can I convince more people to go to Japan? How do I get more people more interested in learning about this incredible country, it culture, and its people? Well, I have a few ideas, but you’ll have to wait and see. 😉
But what will I possibly write after finishing this series of journal posts? While I won’t be posting any amazing adventure posts for a while, I’ll finally be able to touch on other topics I’ve always wanted to write about. Anime news, my opinions on current events in the otaku world, highlighting local otaku creators, etc. There’s a plethora of other things for me to write about. I just hope that you readers will be interested.
Lastly, I just wanted to thank all you readers for your support over the past week. It has been a real pleasure to share my experiences with you, and I ask for your continued readership as I work to improve myself while on this internship.
Look forward to it!
Otaku Ohana 