Land of the Rising Sun
Halfway across the world lies the archipelago nicknamed, Land of the Rising Sun. Japan awaits with its stunning nature, rich culture, and beautiful language.
The flight from the east coast to Japan is a daunting, roughly 15 hour flight. Despite lengthy flight time, the plethora of experiences that more than compensated for the hours on end stuck in metal tube in the sky. When first flying over Japan, waiting to land, I think the thing that will strike me the most is the stark contrast of the mountains against the sea. The volcanoes that created this island nation, produced breathtaking mountains and mountain ranges. It would be amazing to experience the awe of standing in the midst and shadow of mount Fuji. Once landed, another contrast to the sheer power of nature’s beauty will yet again be in contrast, not within itself, but this time with the packed, bustling life of a Japanese city. Yet even in the city, Japan has not lost touch with its history and connection to nature. The abundance of cherry-blossom trees and the traditional architecture are visible links to the past. The traditional Japanese architecture is unique and has a delicate beauty. In the past, for a most part, Japan remained isolated until it sprang from the feudal ages into a thriving industrial nation it is known as today. Today Japan is prominently known for its strength in business, manufacturing, and science.
Experiencing Japan would be an enlightening yet difficult experience for myself. Although I think the Japanese is a beautiful language both written and spoken, I don’t know a single word of Japanese, which might make visiting and touring Japan difficult. I love trying new things so I would be excited to try to learn a bit of Japanese and to eat traditional Japanese food, which usually entails noodles or rice with veggies, fish, or tofu. Yet my nonexistent Japanese would not hinder me from traveling to various cities, such as Tokyo and Yokohama. But to round out these expansive, busy cities, I would also want to retreat into the Japanese countryside. I would love to visit some Japanese temples to expand the cultural side of my trip to Japan. To further experience and witness elements of Japanese art and culture, I would love to see a tea ceremony, geishas, and the multitude of art forms and famous pieces that Japan has produced. Japan has a unique distinction and style with its sculptures, paintings, and woodblock prints. Seeing these pieces in Japan would provide a wholesome element to this trip.
By experiencing a nation and a culture vastly different from the one I have grown up in, I feel as though I can learn a lot not only about this different culture but also about myself and become further inspired by the world around me. There is something enlightening and almost rejuvenating that resonates through me when I hear the words Land of the Rising Sun. Perhaps its just the hopeful excitement triggered by my wanderlust in response to thinking about traveling, but I believe there is a beautiful enigma that emanates from the name and the country itself, Land of the Rising Sun.