Vibrant Cities, Quiet Moments: My First Time in Japan

I had never traveled in Asia by myself. And, truth be told, I felt pretty intimidated by it all—the flight times, the language barriers, the transit system, the scale of the cities. I pride myself in doing things that scare me, and traveling to Japan with EF Ultimate Break made that jump wayyyy less frightening. On top of the ease of going with a group, these experiences were something I could not see myself planning (or even knowing about) with a regular-old tour guide. If you want to experience new things, not just the stock images you see on social media, this trip—Japan: Toyko & Beyond—is the perfect choice. Here are some of the highlights.

Toyosu & Odaiba

On the fourth day of our trip, our Tour Director, Sam, took a group of us on a train ride to Toyosu and Odaiba. It was a stunning day, so we took the time to do a mini walking tour through a tulip garden in Odaiba, stopping to hear a little about Unicorn Gundam, a full-scale statue of RX-0 Unicorn Gundam. Our Tour Director then led us over footbridges to a small beachside. Even though we were still in Tokyo, it felt like we were transported to a whole other part of Japan after a short subway ride. It was super quiet, with young families enjoying walks on the beach and tree-lined sidewalks.

We all grabbed quick lunches throughout Toyosu Senkyaku Banrai, a multi-floor shopping mall with food stalls, shops, and a foot onsen that overlooked the city skyline. After a couple hours of exploring, the entire group loved this experience—our Tour Director did a fantastic job providing us with recommendations and a timeline for when and where we needed to be. The time to relax in silence, enjoy the experience of a foot onsen while eating a pickled plum onigiri, and looking out over Tokyo is surely one I won’t forget.

Hiking from Kyoto

On day 7, we took the optional hiking trip out of Kyoto—it was my absolute favorite day on tour. The group woke up early to have breakfast and stop at a conbini to snag some picnic snacks for the hike. Sam led our train journey, which made various stops before we got to the hiking site. After a few days of experiencing busy cities and crowds at popular sites, this was a welcome break from the bustle. It was a gorgeous day and fairly quiet outside Kyoto. The hike began and it felt like we were the only people in the forest. We walked for a bit, stopping at an overlook or two before sitting down in the shade and eating our snacks. This was a great time to connect with those in the group I hadn’t yet, and I think we all appreciated the smaller group size for that reason.

Heading back down the mountain, we walked through a small town with a temple. Sam bought us all fortunes that appeared when you submerged them in water. I got a fortune I’d rather not see come true, so Sam suggested I tie it to a pole near the fountain to release the bad energy. Luckily, I wasn’t the only one—the poles were so full of unwelcome fortunes I had trouble finding a spot.

We got back to Kyoto with plenty of time to enjoy the rest of our night. This day acted as a bit of a reset for me. It was so nice to be out in nature before a long travel day back to the States a few days later.

Tea ceremony in Kyoto

The tea ceremony took place our first night in Kyoto. After a busy day of running around Hakone, taking a ferry across a lake, and bustling through crowds, this calm, learning moment was very much welcome. We were welcomed by a woman who taught us about her experience with tea and matcha. She instructed us on the history and benefits of matcha and explained the proper method of mixing and consuming tea. Everyone had their own setup with two sweets, a bowl, matcha, and a whisk. I quickly learned that properly making matcha is not my true calling in life, nevertheless it was really fun. We ate our sweets, took photos, and enjoyed the space for a bit before leaving for free time for the night. Personally, I love learning new things so this experience was not only fun but something I could take back and show my family and friends and continue to practice on my own.

Japanese culture

What I love most about travel are the quiet moments where you really get to absorb and enjoy where you are and what you’re doing. These experiences weren’t just things I enjoyed experiencing, but were unique to the area and the culture. I’m so thankful I was able to see Japanese art and architecture, ranging from the modern in Odaiba to traditional outside of Kyoto, and learn about centuries-old practices on the same trip. It felt like I learned something new about Japanese culture every single day, but especially during these planned experiences and in huge part due to Sam—our amazing Tour Director.

The amazing people

On every Ultimate Break tour I’ve been on, I met amazing people. My first trip was to Ireland, and I met a group who made me laugh harder than I have in a long time. On my Hike Europe: The Alps tour, I made friends with strangers from Boston who made the hours on the trail and the amazing views that much better. And in Japan, I felt very fortunate because the whole group got along so well. Seeing new things and experiencing the world is a wonderful privilege that’s made so much better when you get to share it with others who are just as excited and interested.