Day Sixteen- Tsukiji Fish Market and Asakusa / May 29, 2013 by Guest User

We headed for an interesting venue to have breakfast at this morning. The Tsukiji Market was no place to dine in, but what it lacked in beauty it gained in liveliness. We arrived at the market a little before nine, which was the opening hours, so we actually got a chance to see what goes on around the area as they prepare for opening hours. Our early arrival also allowed us the opportunity to have a very entertaining breakfast at one of the sashimi restaurants near the area. The food that was ordered ranged from yakitori bowls to sashimi bowls; our hostess was very nice and engaging as well.

After giving us a few lessons on how to speak “Janglish” (Japanese and English) he was telling us about the big move the Tsukiji Market will be making in about two years. Speaking of the market, we headed there after breakfast to see what actually goes on there. The market can be considered a place where all the restaurants go to get there fish to serve to the public. You can think as a “wholesale” for fish. As we walked through the warehouse, we were able to witness the process from beginning to start, from the cutting of the fish to the packaging. Fish ranging from tuna to squid could be found at the market. Many of us didn’t realize how big tuna was until this trip.

After breakfast we headed to Asakusa, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Tokyo and it is also considered the traditional center of the city. We were giving the choice, this time to venture around the neighborhood to either view the important landmarks, for example the Senso-Ji Temple or the Asahi Super Dry Hall, in the city or stroll down the streets where handmade items and goods are sold. Many of us decided to check out what interesting handcrafted items were being sold near Nakamise Street. There were many merchants on the block selling items from handmade combs to tapestry. After a full two hours of exploring we met up for a nice soba noodle lunch. As the day was beginning to wind down we made our last stop at the Haka-Rikyu Gardens, by way of boat. Once we arrived at the gardens we had our occasional stop at a teas house nearby where we drank the traditional matcha green tea.

-Kirsten, Chelsea, Geoff

(Written by Chelsea)

Day Twenty-One - Free Day / Last Day of the Trip / May 29, 2013 by Guest User

Sadly, today was the last day of the trip. :( Some of us slept in, worked on completing our homework assignments, and just relaxed, while others ventured out on their own. We ended up going to dinner at a really nice restaurant with sushimi, steak, and other amazing foods, and it was all absolutely delicious. It was definitely a great meal to end on, and it was really enjoyable to spend our last night together and talk about our favorite parts of the trip and everything that we will miss. After dinner, we all got desserts together, then went back to the hotel to pack, finish any remaining work to be done, and prepare ourselves for the trip to the airport and the flight home tomorrow. We are all really sad to be leaving (except for Kennedy, who will be staying an extra week on his own!), but we are also very excited to be going back home and spending time with everyone we have missed, and to finally have normal American food again!

It was such an outstanding opportunity being in Japan, and having David as our own personal tour guide made it so special. All of us could agree that if we had been here on our own, even for this long of a trip, we wouldn't have even been able to see half the things that he showed us. Everyone has been so excited about the culture and all of us are going to be dying to come back with family and friend, and hopefully even for business one day. Personally this trip has opened my (Lauren) eyes to all kinds of design opportunities and options in the field of interiors. I have become a much better photographer and have improved my sketching and painting abilities, as I'm sure everyone has.

Japan, we will miss you!!

Farewell,

Tori, Lauren, and Geoff

(written by Tori and Lauren)

Day Twenty - Free Day In Tokyo / May 29, 2013 by Guest User

Since we were free to do whatever we wanted to, this morning five of us (Tori, Lauren, Chelsea, Geoff, and Kirsten) met at 8 a.m. in the lobby to make our way to Tokyo Disneyland!! The train rides took a little over an hour, but luckily we were able to navigate our way there successfully! Upon entering, we were under a very large covered marketplace with the typical "Main Street Disney" shops surrounding us. When we walked to the opposite side, we were struck by the awesome view of Cinderella's Castle, all decorated for the 30th anniversary, and the Mickey-Walt Disney statue. Since this is the 30th year that the park has been open, everything was decorated and themed with the "Happiness Year." Our first stop after taking some pictures was the Space Mountain ride! The wait was long, but it was definitely worth it. We randomly met at UT student and his family while waiting in line as well! Once you're inside the building, you are surrounded by futuristic orbs of light, and a huge model of a spaceship. While on the ride, everything was completely dark, so you couldn't see the tracks, and all that was visible were the starry and celestial surroundings. We all loved the ride so much that immediately after it ended we got Fast Passes so that we could ride it again without waiting. Next, we headed over to the Haunted Mansion. As far as I could tell, this ride was exactly the same as it is in Disney World, but the narrator and ghosts all spoke in Japanese. Our next stop was Splash Mountain. The wait was supposed to be 70 minutes, but a Japanese woman came by and chose us to use her fast pass with her and her nieces and nephews! She spoke English really well, and we were so excited to be able to get on the ride so we wouldn't waste our time waiting. This whole ride was also the same as the American version except for the characters speaking in Japanese. They sang the "Zippity-Do-Da" song with some partial English phrases. Afterwards, we took some pictures with the characters, bought Mickey Mouse ears, and headed to Futureland to get some Mickey-shaped burgers for lunch!

After lunch we continued the fun by going to Toontown first! We rode the tea cups and had one of the biggest laughs of the trip whirling around not being able to sit up straight. We also got to partake in the outstanding 30th anniversary parade! It was a huge show with larger than life floats of swans and castles, with every Disney character iommaginable onboard. The pretty princesses seemed to be a favorite for everyone and it was very surprising to see that the actresses and actors were american (or European). Since the 30th year is called the Happiness year, they sang a lovely song about happiness and everyone, whether speaking english or not, sang along. My favorite floats were the finding nemo one, and the toy story one! It was amzing to see all of the annimated features and awesome designs, and especially some of our favorite characters. We ended the day by getting a fast pass for big thunder mountain which was a thrilling wooden rollercoaster and we all had hillarious scared faces in the group photo. It was difficult to manage our way thtough all of the busy shops on our way out, but overall we had an amazing time and got some wonderful gifts to remember it all!

Kennedy and I opted to stay behind today in order to relax. I woke up late and walked around until deciding on a lunch spot. I read about Tokyo architecture while eating and drinking a small coffee. After lunch I walked around our hotel looking for anything that caught my eye. I debated on going into a casino until my nerves got the best of me. I sat down and observed Japanese pedestrians who are excellent for people watching. Then Kennedy and I met up and kept each other company while sketching and watching you tube videos. The others arrived home and we shared storied of our day. Then it was off to bed! -Raakhi

Photo by Tori Stahl

photos by Lauren Ferguson

Day Nineteen- Final Day of Tours / May 27, 2013 by Guest User

Today was our final day of group tours. Instead of meeting in the lobby of our hotel we met at Harajuku station. We walked a short distance to Meiji Shrine. Meiji Shrine was the most modern shrine we have visited yet. Meiji Shrine is home to Japans largest wooden gate. Meiji Shrine is a common spot for marriage ceremonies. We were lucky enough to spot a happy couple on their special day.

After the shrine we went to our lunch location and indulged in some fine Indian cuisine. Some of the group had never tried Indian before, but for most it was an amazing experience! Tokyo is an outstanding city for international cuisine and it has been quite the experience to get to branch out and try new things. Following lunch we spotted The Cocoon Tower designed by Mode Gakuen. Cocoon Tower is a local Japanese school. We then walked to Shinjuku Central Park. We strolled through the park and observed locals exercising and rehearsing dance routines. Inside the park we visited Ozone Design Center. Ozone had many show rooms that we observed for future design inspiration.

Our day of walking ended here where we took a taxi to Takashimaya Time Square department store. This was the largest Takashimaya that we have visited so far. Once we arrived we stopped for gelato/coffee and rested our feet. Then it was time for us to pick up our dinner at the very impressive Takashimaya food market. We chose a variety of chicken wings, dumplings, veggies, fruit and more. Our day was then over and we took the Shinjuku line back to the Hotel Princess Garden.

While some of the group returned to the hotel, others decided to spend a little extra time out. Tori, Kirsten, Geoff, Chelsea, and I (Lauren) took the train back to Shibuya so that we could purchase our tickets for tomorrows excursion to Tokyo Disney Land. The store was a blast, we purchased our 1-day passport and even bought a few souvenirs that we would use tomorrow. Our last official day on the itinerary was very successful, and we all are very excited to see how Tokyo Disney rivals the parks in America.

-Written by Rakkhi and Lauren

The cocoon tower (Japanese design school)Photo by Lauren Ferguson — The cocoon tower (Japanese design school)
Photo by Lauren Ferguson

Photos by Lauren Ferguson

Photo by Lauren Ferguson

Day Fifteen - From Hakone to Tokyo! / May 27, 2013 by Guest User

After a good night's sleep at the hotel in Hakone, we all had a good, filling breakfast at 7:30 a.m. It was a good mix of Western and Japanese foods, so we were all satisfied. We met in the hotel lobby to check out of the hotel. We caught a few cabs then headed to the train station to take the Shinkansen. Around 9, we finally arrived in Tokyo. We dropped our baggage off at the hotel and then headed to the photography museum. There were three exhibits in the museum: the first one displayed examples of works by Japanese photographers, the second one was about photos of events that happened in the 60's, and the last exhibit was amateur photography. Each exhibit really helped us to better understand photography and learn how to be better photographers ourselves. It was very apparent that the Japanese love photography and having it as a hobby or entering photos into competitions, even at a young age.

We ate lunch at an "Italian" restaurant, relaxed for a little while back at the hotel, and then took the subway to Ginza to see all of the luxury stores and to take photos at blue hour. This was our first glimpse into the exuberance of Tokyo, wonderful modern buildings each with its own character and display. We passed buildings from upscale retailers such as Mikkikmoto, Christian Dior, Gucci, and Armani. We even rode in a round glass elevator with real watches covering the inside walls on the way to the Swatch store. We circled the same block in Ginza, watching as the sky and buildings transformed right before our eyes. As the sky became dimmer the buildings began to illuminate, each displaying its unique personality and design to full potential. Although we didn't have a whole lot of things scheduled for the day, we were all really exhausted from moving cities and walking so much. So once our photography session was over, we took the train back to Meguro to relax and go to bed at our new hotel!

Kirsten Hill, Geoff Hillstead, Tori Stahl

Day Eighteen- A Day in Omotesando and Shibuya / May 27, 2013 by Guest User

We started our day off in Omotesando and viewing the different designer stores and the architecture that contain these spaces. First we walked to Nezu Museum by Kuma Kengo. Unfortunately it was closed, but it didn’t stop us from seeing analyzing the architecture and Japan’s historical influence. The roof of the building mimicked the old temples with the extended eaves and the exposure of the structure. Even though Kengo pulled from old temples, he also modernized his design to fit the present. Our next stop was Issey Miyake’s fashion designer showrooms. Issey Miyake is well known for his innovative designs in fashion.

He was able to integrate architectural principles to clothing for both men and women. The showrooms we saw today realized this theory. His dresses were folded like origami and when it is ready to be worn it unfolds into a fashionable dress. Not only did his clothing mimic the artistic idea of origami, but the folding also allows for more storage in a closet. Japan’s idea of using minimum space is shown through this attribute. After being immersed in the world of Issey Miyake, we visited the Chole and the Prada store designed by Herzog and de Meuron. Prada’s design was very astounding. The spaces felt as if they were created just for the items being sold there. Each level has its own unique layout. Also if you analyze the building and its context close enough, you see subtle moves of the programs integration with the landscape and nature.

As it was nearing lunchtime we headed to Omotesando Hills by Tadoa Ando. On our way there we visited Tod’s department store designed by Toyo Ito. Since we have seen some of his work already on the trip, it was easy for us to figure it was he design when we stumbled upon it. Yet again, his work was very sublime. You could tell he was able to visualize and interpret every idea he had for the store down to each detail. The accessory cases in the store even mimicked the façade design. We finally made it to our lunch destination in the mall Omotesando Hills. Ando’s thought process is very literal in the circulation of the building. He sets the consumer up by entering into a low procession that sets one up for the central open space that continues the circulation that wraps around the atrium space.

After lunch we went to a community shopping district near our lunch location on Cat Street. Most of us snagged a good deal at a used clothing store called Ragtag. Ragtag sold second hand high quality designers at 1/4 of the retail price. Cat street had a quant and relaxing atmosphere. Following cat street we went to Harajuku street where we ran into the complete opposite atmosphere. Harajuku street was one of the most crowded and touristy sections of Tokyo we have visited yet. We attempted to shop but were discouraged by the crowds and long check out lines. We were all eager to leave this section and began to walk down to another shopping district while observing and discussing architecture. We arrived at our next destination the Audi showroom and observed the design of the showroom's primary space for a few minutes. After viewing the Audi showroom we walked for a bit and found ourselves in one of the most popular shopping areas of Tokyo known as Shibuya. We split up for an hour and a half and went to different department stores of our choice. This district offers the most opportunities for shopping in all of Tokyo and has the busiest crosswalk in the world. Walking across this intersection was a moment we will never forget. Luckily none of us got lost and we all made it on the subway and took two stops to the Meguro station where our hotel is located. We walked to a Korean restaurant where we ordered sea food, steak, vegetables and were able to grill them to our liking on our table.

- Raakhi, Chelsea, Kennedy

(Written by Chelsea and Raakhi)

Day Seventeen - Museum Tours in Roppongi / May 27, 2013 by Guest User

Today we took the subway to Roppongi for a day of museum tours. First we went to the Mori Art Museum, which was on the 52nd floor of a beautiful building. The exhibit they were holding was all about LOVE. Displayed were works from numerous artists and included sculptures, photographs, paintings, canvas crafts, and even digital displays. As enjoyable as the exhibit was, one of the most amazing parts of this museum was going to the observatory and looking out the window and seeing the city of Tokyo. The skyline went on further than anyone could have imagined. From the building we could see structures with unique shapes and design, and within the sea of buildings there were various visible patches of green, showing that even one of the most advanced and futuristic of cities could still let nature's beauty shine through.

Next we visited the 21_21 building by Tadao Ando. Surrounding this building was a beautiful park with small fountains of water. The line to the exhibit was long so we were unable to enter the building. However one thing we noticed on the outside was that there were many children playing in the park area! This was due to the event being for children under age 12. After we left the park we headed over to the and viewed an exhibit on classic California design. In the exhibit were pieces from designers who were famous for their innovative ideas and creations. After leaving this exhibit we went to the Toto building to view the gallery Ma. Ma is a gallery specializing in architecture and design that is operated by Toto ltd. as part of the company's social contribution program. The exhibit presented different perspectives of what a dwelling is and means to different people ranging from Le Corbusier to Kobun Nakamura.

We stopped for a coffee break at Starbucks for a little fuel to finish up our day the headed to our last museum tour at the Tokyo design hub. Here, was a very creative display of the future of businesses and their ideas. The exhibit had dioramas in a bubble shaped display case. Each display case had two perspectives that could be viewed through two different peep wholes. The cases were split into different categories such as education, science, community, and agriculture. At the end of the exhibit we drew pictures of sea creatures and put then through a scanner that then showed all our art work on a screen of the ocean floating together in the foreground. To end our day we all grabbed some Mos Burger before heading back to the hotel.

Written by Kirsten

Blog Group: Kirsten, Chelsea, Kennedy

Day Thirteen - Free Day in Kyoto / May 26, 2013 by Guest User

After a very busy week, we are all thankful to have a free day in Kyoto! Some of us decided to go our own ways, so I will write this from my (Tori's) perspective, and let my other team members fill in what they did during their day.

At around midnight last night, while everyone else was asleep, Raakhi and I experienced our first earthquake! We were in our beds talking, and suddenly the beds started shaking, and the building felt like it was swaying from side to side. It lasted for about ten seconds. It was quite the experience!
This morning at 10, Kirsten, Chelsea, and I left to grab a quick breakfast and spend our day in Nara! Since the town is around 45 minutes away, we had to take a cab to the station, and then a train to get there. After running around trying to figure out which ticket to buy and which platform to go to, we finally got it. Nara is a very old Japanese town with a lot of Buddhist history. It has eight temples and shrines, and over half of them are World Heritage sites. Since Kirsten has studied Japan, she knew she wanted to go there from the start, so Chelsea and I were happy for the opportunity to dive deeper into Japan and see more historical sites!
After getting off the train, we found a Tourist Center and got maps to help us navigate our way to the temples, all being World Heritage locations. Our first stop was the Kofukuji Temple where we saw a well known five-story pagoda, and we got to pet and take pictures with lots of deer! Next, we went to the Gangoji Temple, and then the Todaiji Temple where we saw the huge, beautiful Buddah called Daibutsuden! There were so many people because it is such a famous place, and we loved being there. Finally, we hiked to the Kasuga Taisha Shrine, looked around, saw priestesses for the first time, and pet more deer.
We then took a cab back to the main road, had dinner in a Japanese-Italian restaurant, and then got on a train to head back to the hotel in Kyoto! It was overall a successful (and tiring) day, and I am so glad I took the opportunity to go!

(Switching over to the to the other bloggers)

The rest of the group Lauren, Geoff, Kennedy & I stayed at the hotel most of the day to catch up on some rest and studies. We ate two lavish meals and were able to indulge in a traditional Thai massage. The combination of pressure points and stretching was an instant relief from the busy travel. For a tiny Asian woman the pressure amount was impressive. After we all indulged our selves at the Thai Sabai Massage Center, on the third floor our hotel, we returned to Musashi Sushi that we went to the previous day for our group dinner. The sushi Conveyor belt and the cheap prices got us to return. We continued to repeat our previous day by going to a bakery just around the corner from Musashi Sushi. We all got a piece of rectangular cheesy bread and tried to save it for later. We then hopped in a cab and returned home to the Palace Side Hotel to pack for our travels to Hakone.

Photo by Tori Stahl

Day Fourteen - Day in Hakone / May 26, 2013 by Guest User

On our fourteenth day in Japan we traveled to the town of Hakone and bussed around to see all of the sites. Here you can find the beautiful Mt Fuji, a large sulfuric gas volcano, cable cars, and a traditional Japanese resort called a Ryokan. We bought a day pass that worked on all transportation and were were able to ride busses, trains an even a boat to get around! This area of Japan was so beautiful. It reminded a lot of us of pictures we have seen of Hawaii, with gorgeous green mountainsides. It seemed almost impossible to have that many shades of green, and the immense size of the mountains was also incredible.

We started off leaving out hotel in Kyoto and rode the 200 mph bullet train to Hakone. We had been on the train before, however this time it was a much longer ride. Only David and Kennedy were brave enough to try the bento boxes on the train for breakfast, but the rest of us just stuck to fruit and snacks. When we arrived we went to out hotel to drop off out luggage before out day of excursions began. The Ryokan hotel was outstanding, and was filled with traditional Japanese elements. Since I am in a three person room, we were given a suite that was a 20 tatami mat room, which is very huge. There was a living room with a table and mats to have tea at, a sitting room with a small table and chairs next to a gorgeous shoji screen in front of the windows. There was then a separate room for sleeping where we had three comfortable mats placed atop the tatami, and more shoji screens to close it off from the rest of the suite.

Our next stop in the city of Hakone was a lake that was on top of a mountain. This is extremely unusual and can only been seen in a few places in the world. At over 1000 meters above sea level, not only making it quite a hike to reach it, but it had also been formed in a crater of a volcano. It was gorgeous clear water surrounded by beautiful greenery, and at certain points we could see the beautiful countryside and ocean below. To cross the lake and reach the cable car exhibition we rode what looked like the pirate ship from Peter Pan. This was quite an experience, and we ate lunch on the ride across the lake. This was a gorgeous start to our day, and it helped that the weather was mild.

When the ship docked on the opposite end of the lake we took a cable car up to the top of a mountain with numerous sulfur deposits. These sulfur areas were quite the experience because the landscape was beautiful but the smell of the sulfuric gas smelled like eggs and other mysterious odors. Ironic to the smells, visitors of the mountain could purchase and eat eggs that were boiled in the sulfur water. In comparison to traditional boiled eggs, these came out of the water in a black coating but were perfectly normal on the inside. As we approached the summit of the long, winding path to the top we stopped to take in the incredible views of the surrounding area with fleeting glimpses of Mount Fuji off in the distance, its presence being shrouded in the mist helped to appreciate it that much more.

After taking the boat back to shore, we walked down the road and found a trail called Ancient Cedar Avenue that led us through a beautiful forest with beautiful old trees that towered over us, making a covered space. Once our short walk was over, we got on a bus and rode to Amazake-chaya Tea House. We all gathered around a table made from the trunk of a huge, old tree, and we sat on stumps made into small chairs. We were served herbal tea and a doughy pastry with matcha powder. Our waitress spoke very good English, and from her we found out that the tea house has been run by the family for thirteen generations! There were old pictures of the tea house in the past and it was so interesting to hear its history. She loved talking to us and said she was sad we had to leave, and she gave us two bags of Japanese rice candy as a gift. Once we got back to the hotel, we organized our things, did some exploring, and changed into traditional robes for dinner. The dinner had many courses similar to what we had at the monastery, but luckily most of it was tasty and we were able to eat it and have our hunger satisfied. The dinner included miso soup, sushimi, tofu, seafood over an open flame, and a cassarole-like dish in a large clam shell. When dinner was over, the girls all went to the onsen to relax and bathe after the long day. The onsen included and indoor and outdoor area, so that was nice. David and Lorie went out and bought us all some good snacks for us to eat that night before bed and for the next day on our journey to Tokyo. So most of us enjoyed some snacks while working on our homework before going to sleep on our tatami mats for the night!

Written by Lauren Ferguson

Black Eggs

Photo by Tori Stahl

Cable Car Ride

Photo by Geoff Hillstead

Sulfuric Gas Emissions

Photo by Geoff Hillstead

Group on Top of the Mountain

Photo by Geoff Hillstead

Lake

Photo by Tori Stahl

Mt. Fuji View

Photo by Tori Stahl

Forest Trail

Photo by Tori Stahl

Cable Car Ride

Photo by Tori Stahl

Day Nine - We Made it to Kyoto! / May 21, 2013 by Guest User

Today we traveled to Kyoto, by way of train, but not just any train. We took the Shinkansen, also known as the “Bullet Train”. It is incredibly fast for a typology of transportation. The Shinkansen’s maximum operating speed ranges up to 320km/h (200mph). Once we stepped off the “Bullet Train” and onto Kyoto ground, we began our exploration of the city. Kyoto is one of the few cities in Japan that still obtains the traditional houses and historical values of the country.

Even though the city caters to many tourists, it still harbors the mysteries of Japan; you just have to know where to look. The real beauty of Kyoto is down the small streets that enhance the depth and shadows of the city. Our lodging in the city is the infamous Nine Hours. Nine Hours seemed like a much modernized way to program a hotel. Each of us was assigned a personal pod where we would sleep for the night and there was a lounge on the second floor for us to socialize. After checking in at our hotel, we headed to tour the neighborhoods of Kiyomizu-dera and the other surrounding neighborhoods. Kiyomizu-dera is known as an active religious area.

While we were out in Kyoto we walked through the town of Gion. This town was an arts district and still had the traditional Japanese feel. We continued up the hill passing many craft shops and small eateries along the way. When we finally reached the Kiyomizu-dera Temple we were shocked to see crowds and crowds of people, many of them children. This was completely different than the quite solemn atmosphere we had previously encountered at the other temples. We walked through the complex then sat down to sketch for a while.

After leaving the temple complex we went back to the hotel for a while, then set back out for a blue hour/night time photography lesson. We took a few minutes to photograph Gion, and we even managed to spot two stunning Geisha walking hastily in the night. Everyone then split up to find dinner on their own and headed back to the Capsule hotel for a unique sleeping experience that would be memorable!

Written by Kirsten Hill & Chelsea Cole

Pictures by Geoffrey Hillstead

Day Twelve - Kyoto Day of Zen / May 21, 2013 by Guest User

Today the group arose a little earlier than we had the past few days, at 7:30, to head off to Ryoanji Temple. The cab ride was quite a hike but surely worth it because the temple area we were headed to was gorgeous. Here we saw what was known to be as the most famous Zen garden in the world. Not only was there the typical white pebble garden with larger rocks throughout, but there was also a wet garden made of beautiful moss of all colors. This site is one of the World Heritage sites, which has been visited by millions of cultural people every year. It was an amazingly relaxing trip because we were the first to arrive at the temple and were able to really experience the Zen feeling. We were also able to get in a few quick sketches without interruption before the thousands of school children came for their field trips. It is always a treat to meet them since it is field trip season, and hearing them say “hello” and exchanging small gifts is always a blast. In the rock garden has 15 rocks within, but it is impossible to see all 15 from the same position. This forces the gazer to move around the site and truly experience all aspects of the area.

Written by Lauren Ferguson and Rahkki Sood

Day Eleven- Ikebana and the Manga Museum / May 19, 2013 by Guest User

We met in the lobby at 9:15 for our latest sleep in yet. Our first destination was Wak Japan for a traditional tea ceremony and explanation of the history of green tea from a tea master. Green tea ceremony is meant to create peace and harmony among all those taking part in the ceremony. In the old days warriors were meant to remove their swords in order to ensure this peace. Presently people are encouraged to restrain from wearing watches and nice jewelry or clothing.Green tea also started off as a medicine. Green tea has many antioxidants and vitamin C that is nourishes the skin and reduces aging. It was primarily used as a stimulate among Buddhist Monks in the traditional era and during vigorous meditation training green tea kept them awake. After the tea ceremony the two green tea masters who are also well practiced in the arts of Ikebana took us upstairs for a hands on lesson in flower arranging, which is Ikebana. We all had our own bouquet and were instructed to not only design what looked most pleasing to the eye but also focus on the significance behind the design. The tallest flower is ten which means heaven. The middle element is called Jin which means human being. The third is called Chi which means earth. After flower arranging we went to the Manga Museum. Manga are comics created in Japan. Manga is a large part of pop culture in Japan and people of all ages partake in it. They had art on display and books in Japanese, English, Korean and other languages for visitors to read. Our day ended earlier than usual with a late lunch at a sushi go around restaurant where you choose the dish of your choice from a conveyor belt of sushi!

- Raakhi, Chelsea, Kennedy

Day Ten- Ginkakuji and the Philosophers Path / May 19, 2013 by Guest User

After checking into the Palace Side Hotel, we headed back to the surrounding neighborhoods of Kiyomizu-dera, which has been a active religious area for several years. Our area of focus was the place that started it all for the Japanese culture through the medium of architecture. Ginkakuji "Silver Pavillion" was officially named Jishō-ji, which means "Temple of Shining Mercy". In the late 1400s Ashikaga Yoshimasa was the founder of the temple and ordered it to be built to imitate the Kinkaku-Ji “Golden Pavillion” that was ordered by his father. The temple was to be wrapped in silver, hence the name "Silver Pavillion", but due to minor setbacks, the project could not be completed. The site of the Silver Pavillion consists of both built objects and nature. The main hall and the Pavillion seem to frame different parts of the gardens within the space. What seemed very interesting was the way the sand was treated in certain areas of the garden. The grooves in the sand appeared to be much deeper than the other gardens we have experienced and in the middle of the gardens, there is a moment where portions of the sand are raised to about 2’ and then the same depth of grooves is repeated. Though it could not be completed, the temple still exudes beauty to this day, by revealing it's underlying structure and form.

(photo by Kirsten)

Photo by Kirsten

photo by Kirsten

Following our visit to the silver pavilion we went for a walk down the philosophers path. The path was full of cherry trees although there were no blossoms. There were many little shops that we stopped at along the way including a gallery that had beautiful print works as well as a shop that was all about cats! Along the path we stopped at a small café like establishment where we all had variations of powdered green tea and desserts.

After tea, we caught a few cabs and headed to the Kyoto Craft Museum for our next venture. There, we learned the history of the Japan’s amazing artifacts. Everything from Kimono making to stone and lacquer wear was displayed in the exhibit. The museum housed beautiful pieces of Japanese craft that couldn’t be duplicated to the same standard anywhere else.

When we left the museum our last stop was the Takishimaya mall for dinner.For today’s meal we switched it up and dined at a Korean restaurant. The food was quite different from what we had previously tasted in Japan, and each dish had a vivid range of flavors that was enjoyable for all of us.

Photos by and Written by Chelsea Cole & Kirsten Hill

Silver Pavilion it started here... / May 17, 2013 by David Matthews

Day 8 Awajii Island / May 17, 2013 by Guest User

This morning we had a nice breakfast in the hotel before venturing out for the day to go to Awaji Island. We took the train and then a bus across a huge suspended bridge to the island, and got dropped off at the Westin Hotel. From there, we took cabs to Tadao Ando's Shingonshu Honpukuji (Water Temple). You approach by going along a paved trail surrounded by gravel, slowly making your way up a hillside. Eventually you see two large reinforced concrete walls, and the trail leads you to walk in between them.

The entry way to the temple was a descending staircase with two large raised pools of water at each side. There were hundreds of lily pads with lotus flowers floating on top of the water. The staircase that descended down beneath the water to the entrance of the Water Temple. It was amazing because we were the only people occupying the space, so we got to sit down in silence on the tatami mats and take everything in. Surprisingly, we were allowed to take pictures as well! The simplicity and open space felt familiar to the other Ando structure we had seen. However the inside of the temple had bright red walls, with gold ornaments hanging around the shrine. This was an unexpected contrast to the outer area of the temple, which was devoid of color except from the vegetation.

After leaving the Water Temple we walked back towards the Westin and, after a water break, found a nice little restaurant with delicious sushimi and grill-it-yourself steak. Once our stomachs were full we continued our trek to the Westin so that we could visit the Awaji Yumebutai gardens. Once at the gardens, we split into small groups to walk around, photograph, and sketch. The main focus for us was the section of the gardens by Ando. This experience was breathtaking. He combined reinforced concrete, granite, water, and stairs to create amazing fountains, waterfalls, and walkways. The further along the paths you walk, the furt

her up the mountain you get, until you are surrounded by different plots of colorful flowers, and you have a broad view of Awaji Island and the Pacific ocean.

Once we finished our visit at the gardens, we took the bus and train back to downtown Himeji. We looked in some of the department stores, and David showed us Tokyo Hands, where some of us bought some new pens, sketchbooks, and other supplies. From there, we found a Hello Kitty Cafe, which was a three-story

cafe and lounge with a Hello Kitty theme. Adorable! It was decided that we would have a group dinner and look at some of our photography at the hotel, so we went to a grocery store and picked out our meals to bring back. Once at the hotel, we all met in David's room and looked at each other's photography thus far, picked out our favorites, and watched a small part of a Japanese anime movie. After dinner, the girls went upstairs to the onsen and sit in the amazing massage chairs! Once we finished catching up on some readings and sketches, it was bed time for all, since we had an early move to Kyoto in the morning!

Japan at 200 MPH / May 16, 2013 by David Matthews

The Shinkansen is a fantastic ride. A marvel of engineering and a refined experience. While I love flying, the simple act of walking to a station and boarding a train is superior to any airport.

Day Seven - Himeji / May 16, 2013 by Guest User

This morning we left Osaka to take the train to our new home for two days: Himeji. Once we arrived at our hotel, we had a nice Western breakfast that included eggs, bacon, potato salad, fruit, and bread. After eating we took cabs to the beautifully designed Koko-En Gardens. This was absolutely stunning. There were lots of different types of flowers, trees, and plants, and ponds and streams were present throughout the gardens. Stepping stones and foot bridges leading across the water made the experience seem almost movie-like. We focused a lot on photography and sketching during our time here.
Next, we walked over to the Himeji Castle, which is one of the world cultural heritages. It was built in the 1500s, and you could really feel its history just by looking at it from a distance. Photography was our main focus at this site, and throughout the day, David helped us get more comfortable with our cameras and taught us how to better use them. The main part of the castle was being renovated, so we took an elevator up to see the progress of the work that has been done so far. The intelligence of the people who built these ancient structures was really prevalent while looking at the details of the buildings and learning about how they were made so long ago.

After leaving the castle, we had a quick lunch across the street and then took cabs to Mt. Shosha to hike the pilgrimage trails to see the Buddhist temples. This was also a site where they filmed scenes from the Tom Cruise movie, The Last Samurai, so that gave the experience some added interest. To get up the mountain we took a cable car. Once at the top, we grabbed some hiking sticks and started on the trails! There were many statues of Buddhas along the trails to the temples. At one point, we could see all of Himeji, and the view was absolutely breathtaking. The Engyoji Temple was perched on a mountainside, and when looking at it, you could get a feel of how truly old this place is (it was founded in 966!). While walking barefoot across the wood floors and tatami mats, it made you wonder how many people from so long ago walked those same steps, not as a tourist, but as a resident, monk, priest, or warrior.
While some us were snacking on some delicious green tea ice cream, we walked to our final destination to the buildings where The Last Samurai was shot. It was unbelievable to see up close how well-crafted these buildings were, and how though beautifully weathered, they are still standing strong today.
After taking a bus home, everyone was free to choose where they wanted dinner. The rest of our night was spent relaxing, catching up on blogs, readings, and homework, and preparing for tomorrow's adventures.
Today was overall an amazing experience, and it helped us all to better understand the history of Japan and from where this culture was born.

- Tori Stahl, Lauren Ferguson, Geoff Hillstead

Nishi Oya Shikaito garden KokoenPhoto by Lauren Ferguson — Nishi Oya Shikaito garden Kokoen
Photo by Lauren Ferguson

Ando Day / May 16, 2013 by David Matthews

Day Five Osaka / May 15, 2013 by Guest User

The strangest breakfast I've ever had...Photo by Lauren Ferguson — The strangest breakfast I've ever had...
Photo by Lauren Ferguson

Our fifth day started off by meeting in the lobby of our hotel. We then were split up into two teams and were given the challenge to find a restaurant serving traditional Japanese breakfast. We documented our breakfasts that ranged from flavored noodles and rice with pork to raw eggs. After we went to our meeting place Takashamya department store. There we watched the daily opening of the store at 10 a.m. on the dot. Opening of this department store is not just like any department store opening in the U.S. We observed staff make sure all merchandise looked perfectly presented and opened all the doors in an orderly fashion. As we walked through out the store all staff members bowed and greeted us in japanese. We went straight to the home goods section and observed all the traditional cooking ware. Not only did the department store have high name brands but also local artists have stations selling hand made goods. We all bought something that interested us and store merchants wrapped it for us.

After Takashamya we went to a local shopping district that sold cooking items at a very reasonable price. This area is where many local restaurants buy their utensils, plates, cups bowls and cooking ware. The Day of shopping continued even through lunch where we went to a local market and bought the food of our liking and got it to go. We took our lunch to Namba parks. Namba Parks is a public facility integrated with nature. This Spot was a great Example and great Inspiration for combining design and nature. After lunch it was back to the Hotel for a rest period.

:p cat in front of the sashimi place K.N.

We met back up for dinner around six o' clock. Our dinner consisted of sashimi, fish, prawn, squid, baby eel and other sea creatures which were all extremely freah. The dinner was very unique due to the fact that the waiter brougt around a large arrangement of uncooked fish for us to choose from. Also, a wasabi grinder was placed on the table for our use. The beautiful arrangement of the food was also something special to look at. After our satisfying dinner it was off to Umeda Sky building. Umeda sky building is known for Its bridge connection two structures together. Also, it is great spot to view of all of Osaka. After Umeda it was time to return home. We splurged for a cab and made it home in great timing.

-Written by Lauren & Raakhi

Day Four- Koyason to Osaka / May 15, 2013 by Guest User

Day four began with us waking up at our final day at the Buddhist monastery in Koyason and our second mediation session and vegetarian Buddhist breakfast. After breakfast and our spiritual service we went to pick up a quick snack and returned the audio guides from the previous days. We took a short bus ride to the train station and began our two hour journey back to Osaka on the express train. We dropped our bags off at the very nice Vista Grand Hotel and changed for the warm weather. We then proceeded to hit up a local Japanese grill to grab a quick lunch. Most meals, but not all, were brought out cold and cooked on a grill built into our table.

Following lunch we took the subway to Osaka to visit The Church of the Light. After getting off the subway we strolled through a suburban neighborhood on the way to the Church. Church of the light also sometimes known as Church with Light is in the middle of a quiet residential neighborhood.Church of the Light was built by famous Japanese architect Tadao Ando in 1989. The Protestant church is defined by natural light and features a balance between light and solids. The back wall has a glass window cross that extends from wall to wall vertically and horizontally. The structure is made up off a main church, a smaller chapel, an information center, two porch sitting areas and a staircase leading up to a small platform that has a view of the local neighborhood. After spending a decent amount of time photographing and observing it was time to head back. We went to the hotel to greet Lauren who had just arrived from the states due to illness. After greeting Lauren we all took a rest.

We met back to go out and explore the streets of Osaka. We went to a local store and bought tape, glue and scissors to make a collage of flyers we have received from different places through out the trip. Then it was dinner time. Dinner that night was free for us to find on our own. Girls and boys decided to split up and deviate from the usual Japanese cuisine we have been experiencing. Although we have been thoroughly enjoying traditional Japanese meals we opted for a break. Girls went to an Italian restaurant called Cafe Tomato and ordered pasta, bread and salad. Boys went to a western restaurant and ordered a variety of meats and vegetables. After our first day in Osaka it was time for bed!

-Written by Chelsea & Raakhi

Chelsea