Nikko in Fall

By:

Phuong Tran

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Last Saturday, I went with a friend on a hiking trip to Nikko in Togichi, Japan. I had wanted to go earlier but I was very busy with some tests last week, so I couldn’t, but I heard that the leaves were even more gorgeous just few days before.

There are many things to do in Nikko such as hiking, visiting shrines & temples, enjoying the Japanese onsen, etc. It is recommended to stay one or two nights in Nikko, but my budget was kind of tight so I only went there for a day-trip. My priority was to see the leaves and visit the beautiful shrines in Nikko, including the famous Toshogu, the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate.

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I and my friend planed the trip by ourselves. We bought a train pass which included a round trip from Tokyo to Nikko and unlimited use of trains and bus within Nikko for an affordable price, got on the train at 8:00am, spent a whole day in Nikko, and left for Tokyo at around 5pm. I need to give credit to Japan for how they make things so easy for tourists. Maps, recommended itineraries, directions, etc are all available on websites such as: Japan National Tourist Organization, JR East, Tobu Travel, etc. The customer service in Japan is really wonderful. There are English speakers at many tourist information tables, and all maps, directions, and guides are also available in English, and I had not had any problem communicating to local people with my so-so level of Japanese.

I have seen many photos all around the internet before I came to Nikko, so it wasn’t to my surprise how beautiful Nikko was. However, seeing a photo and actually being there are completely two different experience. I wish I could record all the sounds of the leaves rustling and the smell of the fresh air in my photos.

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Shinkyo Bridge (Nikko, Japan)

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The only unfortunate thing about our trip was that we underestimated the cold weather in Nikko. It is said that Nikko is at the same height level of Tokyo Sky Tree (634 meters), so it is pretty cold in fall. I can’t remember why I decided to wear a light jacket with no hat, no gloves. Both I and my friend caught a cold after the trip, and we still haven’t recovered yet >__<

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Phuong Tran

Xin chào! Hello! Konnichiwa! My name is Phuong Tran, and I am originally from Vietnam. I am currently an undergrad at The Ohio State University majoring in Accounting and Japanese. When I came to America in 2010, I could not speak English well, so I had to spend a few years improving my English and getting a GED in order to enter college. Although it has taken me significantly longer than most to finish college, I have gained invaluable life experiences and have met many wonderful people along the way. Thanks to FEA, I will be attending Rikkyo University in Tokyo, Japan during fall semester 2015. I will study Japanese and take business courses that focus on Japanese business culture and Japanese market. This program allows me to get academic credits for both of my degrees, and more importantly, gives me the opportunity to gain direct experience of Japan’s culture. I know that I will be very busy in Japan, and I can’t tell you how excited I am. I have made a long list of things I want to do in Japan, but now I am worried that I won’t have enough time to do them all. Upon my return from Japan, I will carry out a project at OSU to promote international education. My experience as an immigrant makes me realize the importance of cross-cultural communication, so I want to inspire my fellow students to go abroad and become immersed in a different culture.