Written by Michelle Kihara, Rebecca Barrett, & Olivia De Keyser

Published by Vanessa Rosales

Returning intern Michelle Kihara.

Michelle: When I think of cities in Japan, Tokyo first comes to mind. It’s cosmopolitan and packed with cool neighborhoods, so it’s hard to imagine how any other city in Japan could possibly measure up. Last summer, I spent two weeks in Tokyo before heading to Nara, Matsuyama, and Osaka. I absolutely loved being in the Osaka and chose to return for this summer. Osaka won me over due to it’s eclectic vibe, amazing food options (takoyaki and okonomiyaki), and its proximity to Kyoto and Kobe. I asked some of my co-mentors why they chose to return to Osaka this year, and this is what they said:

Returning intern Rebecca Barrett

Rebecca: I choose the Kansai region mainly because of Kyoto. It's the historical capital of Japan, and there is so much culture and history around every corner. The area also allowed me to visit many different cities, as Kobe, Nara, and Osaka are all in the same area. These cities have a deep roots in Japanese traditions and culture, and living in the center of the area made me feel more connected to the country than if I was just in the modern capital city. Being in Kansai allowed me to have a very culturally rich experience surrounded by Japanese historical traditions, locations, and ways of life, and was a totally amazing experience!

Returning intern Olivia De Keyser

Olivia: They don’t have Hallmark cards that convey how I feel about Osaka. There was no hesitation in my mind when I elected to be placed in the Kansai region for another year of English Camp, and I made my way through Tokyo by counting down the days until the high speed rail to Osaka. On the Shinkansen taking us far away from the cacophony and immeasurable claustrophobia of Tokyo, within the fleeting moments of serenity between rolling mountains and thatched rooftops, therealization that, soon, I might visit these beautiful places and get out of the train crossed my mind. I look forward to navigating the red gates of Fushimi Inari in Kyoto; petting the wild deer in Nara; eating Pablo and mountains of karaage and exploring the arcades near Umeda station. It’s a near-Freudian experience to live and work, again, in such a place that is so uncannily familiar yet so far from the city of Chicago that I’ve called home for the past twenty-two years. To walk by a shop, in pause, and say “I remember going here after work with Rebecca and Drew last year.” To reminisce, to recreate, to show to new interns everything from last year and more—to impart upon them every tip and tidbit about this place. I think there’s something to be said for a city that you can’t truly get lost in; being somewhere I can navigate every street from muscle memory is especially grounding. They recognize me at the Family Mart. The path to the kaizen sushi place I got us lost during lunch breaks with students is now emblazoned in my soles of my shoes. To be in such a city yet again—my only regret is that I cannot be in Osaka for longer.

By Kevin Sprague

Tourists arriving in Japan flock to Kyoto’s golden temple and bamboo forest, the coral reefs and tropical beaches of Okinawa, the shinto shrines and volcanic hot springs of Fukuoka, and Tokyo’s towering Skytree, bustling Shinjuku district, and Lolita-laden streets of Harajuku. These sights are certain to take your breath away, but one particular Japanese attraction stands out among the rest: Family Mart.

Photo Credit.

The excellence of Japanese convenience stores (“Konbini”) parallels their omnipresence. If you walk down any given street in the island nation, there’s a 90% chance you’ll run across a Seven Eleven, Lawson’s, Daily Yamazaki, New Days, or, of course, Family Mart. The layout and offerings of each store follow pretty much the same formula:

Photo Credit, 

But Family Mart has earned a special place in my heart (and those of my fellow interns) with its especially delicious pastry section and bento selection. English Camp interns looking to pinch pennies (YENnies?) are no strangers to Family Mart — when you arrive at the Toshin building in the morning to prepare for a day of mentoring, you’re all but guaranteed to spot Japanese students and gaijin interns alike gulping down Famima coffees, melon breads from the mart’s bakery, and savory tuna onigiris (pre-wrapped balls of rice and seaweed perfection).

Tuna/Mayonnaise onigiri, aka “Breakfast of Champions.” Photo Credit.

Kaiten sushi, fluffy pancakes and tonkotsu ramen lunch counters are great, sure, but they simply don’t compare to the all the delicacies you can get for under 200 Yen in a matter of seconds at Family Mart. My personal recommendations: piping hot corn dogs, edamame chips, Coolish ice creams, curry-flavored cup of noodles and the perennial classic, onigiri. So, whether you’re coming to Japan to talk to high schoolers about their life missions or you’re just breezing through on vacation, make sure to pencil a pit stop at Family Mart in at the top of your itinerary!

By Vanessa Rosales 

Are you thinking about hiking Mt. Fuji? Mt Fuji is such a popular topic. Everyone wants to hike Mt. Fuji, but not everyone is prepared for the treacherous hike that it is.

Mt Fuji stands tall at 3,776.24 m (12,389 ft), in other words it is NOT a short hike. If you are seriously thinking about doing it there are a two things you need to think about and do to prepare. First, you have to mentally prepare yourself for what can be one of the most physically exhausting hikes of your life. You may have hiked a few mountains, but this isn’t a typical hike. The hike itself is a minimum 7 to 8 hours, and that’s if you’re constantly moving and your stops are minimal. There is also a possibility of rain, which gets higher during August, which is monsoon season, that can slow you down!

Second, you have to be prepared. You can do it in running shoes, but I recommend hiking boots in case it rains. You will need clothes to keep you warm and dry, so waterproof jackets and pants would be smart! Lastly, you will need some sort of light. Whether its a phone light or a headlamp, it gets fairly dark and you need to be able to see where you’re going. 

I went in August of 2017, but luckily my group and I didn’t experience hiking in the rain. It wasn’t until our way down that we got a light drizzle. Overall, the hike itself wasn’t too difficult, but stamina is needed. It’s the altitude that really challenges most people. For some, it becomes difficult to breathe, while others get physically sick to their stomach. Personally, I felt like I couldn’t breathe so I had to buy two oxygen tanks, each costing around 1500 yen. As for clothing, I was not prepared, but my housemate Ayaka, who just happened to be my size, let me borrow her clothes and her hiking shoes. If you are not prepared and you want to do this hike, you can rent outdoor gear at Yamarent. As for a light, I just used my phone in a waterproof pouch that hung on my neck and I brought a portable charger to charge it as soon as it was close to dying. 

This hike is very challenging, and it will force you to push yourself both mentally and physically, but it’s definitely worth it! There are many horror stories, but everyone is different and If this is something you really want to do..well I say GO FOR IT. 

Photo Credit.