Live a Little and Get Lost in Tokyo

By John Medina, Staff Writer

How Did I Hear About the Opportunity?

Every year, the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) hosts their Global Studies program during both summer and spring break. The program gets students from several different colleges in Tennessee to travel around the world to take different college courses and explore various locations. I originally heard about it during a presentation in my political science course. TBR offers programs in France, Mexico, England, as well as others; but when I heard that they offered courses in Japan, it felt like an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up. Going to Japan has been a lifelong dream for me. I want to travel to a lot of different places, but Japan specifically always stuck out to me. Everything about it really just seemed amazing: the food, the walkable infrastructure, the transit system, as well as the kind and amazing people who live there!

I took my English II course while on the trip. English courses were never my specialty, but I was thrilled to only take the class over a three-week period in an entirely different country!

Depending on which course you take and what school you attend, travel costs may vary. In my case, I was expected to cover half of my travel fees, which totaled out to around $2,500, while the TBR scholarship that students receive when they are accepted into the program covers the other half. Totaling around $5,000. While covering travel fees may be a bit stressful, luckily Pellissippi State Community College offers assistance finding scholarships through the student help desk as well as on the Pellissippi State website. To inquire further about scholarships, make sure to email scholarships@pstcc.edu.

I want to extend a thank you to a few people. First, Professor Heather Schroeder; she was kind enough to put in a lovely and generous reference for one of the scholarships I applied to and was partly the reason I even got to go on the trip. My Jazz History Professor Larry Vincent here at Pellissippi State; he was thrilled to hear that I was going to Japan, and even gave me 2000 Yen that he had leftover from a previous trip. And finally, a thank you to my lovely boyfriend Gio, who inspired me to take a shot at taking this trip and held my hand through it all. You all are for real the best. And with that out of the way, I can now roll into Day zero of the Japan trip!

Getting to Japan

During the digital orientation, we were told to drive out to Nashville for the flight. With no clue how I was going to get there, I started asking around for rides in the group chat. Luckily, I was introduced to some really lovely people. 

I was able to hitch a ride with DJ and Kelsie. DJ had previously joined a TBR Japan program years prior as a photographer on the trip, while Kelsie would be going for her first time. During the road trip, Grace and Jada hitched a ride as well.  I had actually met Grace prior to the trip, just walking around Pellissippi State, but this was my first introduction to Jada. Chatting up with these peeps was really a blast. Talking about anime, foods we were going to try, and customs that we needed to learn before getting to Japan. It was just really nice quality time. Having people you already know a little bit before making it to Japan was a big stress reliever. A lot of the time I tend to stick to myself, but I feel like we all hit it off really well. We even played some putt-putt at “Puttshack” in downtown Nashville and grabbed some dinner before heading to the airport. With a fresh new set of pals, it was really setting up to be a great trip! 

Once we made it to the airport, I just tried to relax and settle in for the flight. I always enjoy going to the airport; I only ever got to fly a handful of times growing up. So every time that I get the chance to, I treat it like I’m in first class. If you ever get the chance to blast music in your headphones and roam around a quiet and empty airport, definitely give it a try; it’s really relaxing and kind of dreamlike in a way. With how early we were expected to show up, it definitely helped to kill some time. It was also set to be the longest flight I’ve ever been on! There was a connecting flight from the Nashville airport to Chicago, but after that it was a 13-hour flight to Tokyo. So finally, with a mostly empty suitcase and a digital camera, I strapped in for the long flight there.

Lost in Japan

Once landing in Japan, we were guided through TSA with the assistance of the professors; all students were told to gather around. This was when, in my case, things started to be a little overwhelming. Tokyo International Airport is very crowded and not initially intuitive to English speakers. 

The biggest piece of advice I would give to someone visiting Japan with TBR would be to go with the flow, while still remaining attentive. The staff on the trip will largely explain and guide you through the airport and to the Hotel that everyone stays in. Although I would highly encourage you to do your research prior to the trip. Learning everyday phrases, cultural customs, installing a travel e-sim to stay connected, and downloading a translator app will save you from a lot of embarrassing moments and headaches. The phrases “sumimasen” (excuse me and/or I’m sorry) and “arigato goizaimasu” (thank you very much) will be your best friends by the end of the trip. A cultural orientation was also held for students that was very helpful and informative.

The program has an itinerary that is split between weekdays and weekends. Throughout the week, lectures are held in the mornings, often then followed by guided trips around Tokyo or individual work time for assignments. Then on the weekends, there are optional tours and other events open to everyone in the program. I had one main gripe with this setup: oftentimes I would have to skip events held on weekends due to workload. Now, I don’t want this to be my final time in Japan, so anything that I miss out on I can just visit next time. For example, I decided to skip a Car meetup and a hike on Mount Fuji because they were held all day and I simply wouldn’t have enough time to work on assignments due by midnight. 

The final piece of insight I would give would be to live a little and get lost in Tokyo. Trial and error is one of the best ways to get accustomed to the new environment, customs, and public transit. A student might feel like they need to get everything right or they’ll get called a foreigner, but remember, you are, and you can’t hide it. Of course you don’t want to be outwardly ignorant or rude towards people, but most locals will recognize that you are from out of town and give you grace. 

Truly, just try to find new things to try and experience. While completing your assignments on time, of course!

My Favorite Food Spots

The aspect of Japan that I miss most of all is the food. Japan is one of the most densely populated countries in the world; the architecture and urbanization reflects and adapts to this. With the help of an easily accessible transit system, you can literally find any type of food; whether you want sushi, baked goods, dumplings, curry, ramen, all different types of sandwiches, or really yummy ice cream. Literally anything you can think of is probably less than an hour’s train ride away. I ate so well on this trip; everything just looked and tasted amazing.

I’ll go over some of my favorite spots to grab a bite to eat.

In a brightly lit alleyway in Tokyo’s Ueno district, you will find Umair Halal Wagyu Ramen. Yet another hole in the wall that leads you up a staircase, into a humble kitchen/dining area. The restaurant specializes in its premium Wagyu beef. Wagyu beef is a Japanese delicacy that comes from Japanese Black cattle, also known as “Kuroge Washu”. Wagyu beef is known around the world for its premium quality, delicate texture, being rich in flavor, and melt in your mouth consistency.

This was actually the first restaurant my roommates and I tried after making it to our hostel. One of my roommates is Muslim and can only eat food that is Halal. Prior to this trip, I actually never properly knew what Halal meant, but my roommate was kind enough to explain to me that Halal means sourced in a swift and ethical way that often includes precise cleaning in an aim to follow Islamic law. So, having a tasty ramen spot close by that we could rely on was definitely convenient. The shop is run by the kindest Bangladeshi cooks who spoke English, which was nice considering we had just landed and were still trying to get adjusted.

This place was actually recommended to me by my sister before I got on the flight. Chermside Sandwich is a sandwich shop that has really been making its rounds online for selling these jaw-droppingly huge cross sections. When I first saw the photo of their signature steak sandwich called the “Meat Box,” I just knew I had to stop by. They also have an egg sandwich as well as tonkatsu, which is fried pork. It’s a real hole-in-the-wall spot if I’ve ever seen one, and I came across it by complete accident. Seating in the actual restaurant was quite lacking, but I was eventually able to get a seat and my order. The sandwich consists of thin toast with a heaping pile of wagyu beef crammed in between them and comes with a side of steak cut fries. It was kind of a lot, even overwhelming to bite into, but I ordered it with that in mind. I would recommend this spot if you have a big appetite and like crazy looking sandwiches.

Next up, not fine dining, or even a restaurant for that matter, but I need to mention Family Mart, 7/11, and Lawson’s. These are all chain convenience stores, which you wouldn’t assume to have particularly good food, but you would be wrong. In Tokyo, these stores practically line every other block and serve anything from hot food, microwave meals, frozen treats, drinks, sushi, and a wide variety of items, and tell me why they’re actually pretty dang good. 

We were located right across the street from a Family Mart and a 7/11; by the end of the trip, the cashiers probably had gotten sick of me. All my classmates and I often made multiple trips per day trying out all different kinds of food. 

Some of my favorite items to grab from these stores include steamed pork buns, which I already get in America, so to have easy access to them was really awesome. Self-blending fruit smoothies from 7/11 were so convenient to have whenever I needed a sugary drink; my favorite has to be the classic strawberry and banana. And Famichiki spicy chicken, basically a big spicy chicken nugget that is extremely crispy and juicy. 

As a final recommendation, if you ever get the chance to visit Japan, I urge you to try out any of the amazing bakeries scattered across Tokyo. Japanese dessert and baking is seriously on an entirely different level. There are a plethora of small, local bakeries that sell the most adorable desserts.

Example A: This cutesy piece of cake with strawberries from Ginza Cozy Corner, a small. Aside from its charming appearance, it was so sweet and soft as well. One of the main reasons I decided to pick out this one is because it resembles a dessert in the anime Death Note. The character L is obsessed with sweet treats and eats a cake almost identical to this one. Very cute and tasty. 

Example B: This next location was a bit out of the way from where we were staying but was still less than an hour away using public transit. Amam Dacotan is a bakery that specializes in both sweet and savory baked goods. The interior of the establishment has you walking down a line with a platter, allowing you to pick which desserts you want. It also sports a very pretty forest aesthetic that I can’t say I’ve ever seen anything quite like it. I hit my head on some branches a few times, but that’s my fault for being tall. I picked up a variety from their selection and handed them out to my roommates once I got home. They seemed appreciative, and the few desserts I tried were very yummy. 

Example C: I’m not able to tell the name of this bakery from the photo alone. Although look how adorable these panda breads are!! 

Tokyo City Flea Market

Now, if you know me, you probably know I love a good thrift. So much so, I can say I don’t really go to retail stores for most of my clothing. Now, of course, you can’t get everything from the thrift store. But I’ve been able to build a closet, at a discount, with higher quality, and more unique pieces of clothing, simply by frequenting several thrift stores in Knoxville; at a fraction of the price at that. 

So of course I decided to do some research on the best spots to visit before my trip. Above all else, the Tokyo City Flea Market in Shinagawa kept piquing my interest. I’ve been to plenty of flea markets in my day, but NEVER to one of this scale. The market is hosted every weekend in a giant two-story parking lot, with aisle after aisle of vintage clothing, bags, toys; anything you can imagine is likely in one of the booths. Literally thrift heaven.

My Overview

Visiting Japan has been one of the most fun and life-changing trips I’ve ever been on. I know a lot of people say that after traveling out of the United States, but it’s true. Meeting new friends and students around my age to chat with every day, working on homework in local cafés, visiting beautiful temples, talking about our special interests, getting food with one another- it’s seriously a trip I will never forget.

I would like to give some quick shout-outs to some of the friends I made while on the trip. My carpooling crew: DJ, Kelsie, Grace, and Jada, of course; you all are such kind and amazing people, but always remember that I’m the best at putt-putt. P.S. If you’re reading this, Jada, let me know the next time you get your nails done; I want to get mine done again.

If you ever get the opportunity to study abroad with TBR, go for it! Any chance you get to travel is a blessing, and going abroad opens your eyes to so many new experiences. Try new foods, meet new pals who you would have never talked to otherwise, have belly-laugh moments with your roommates, go on awesome program trips, and see so many beautiful views. You might just get a little lost in it.

Series Navigation

<< Che Bello! Studying Abroad in the Country of Historical Art and Architecture