Trip to Japan, 2023

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I’ve always wanted to go to Japan again. I’ve been to Japan 3 times before, once in 2009 with my parents along with a tour group, once in 2015 with my parents and my sister in a private tour, and in 2018 to visit my cousin who works there. I was going to go to Japan in 2019, but had to go to my sister as she passed away that year. We all knew the pandemic stuff happened in between, and with the LSAT stuff I need to take care of, my wish to travel to Japan was put on hold until 2023.

In 2009 and 2015, I didn’t speak Japanese at all. In 2018, I took a semester of Japanese 1 with Professor Sumitomo in Pasadena City College, so I had a very impaired understanding of the Japanese language. In 2023, however, since I’ve taken 4 full years of Japanese and have had some decent conversations in between, I am comfortable traveling there by myself speaking the language. Let me just say, I am very glad that I was able to use my Japanese to converse with the locals. I mean sure, there are bits and pieces where I don’t understand, but they were always kind enough to explain it to me.

So yes, please read along to my 16 day Kansai Travel Blog thing, as I spent all of my time within the greater Kansai area. Enjoy!