I wanted to preface this entry by mentioning that I originally wrote this piece for a blog I ran back in 2016. It was such a special and transformative time in my life that I felt it deserved to be brought back to life here. Plus, it played a significant role in my photography journey. I made a few small tweaks. Enjoy! :)

Hello! This blog entry reflects my experiences over three months during my time in Tokyo.

In March of 2016, I decided to take a leap and move to Japan for a three-month program. I enrolled in an intensive language learning course, as I felt my Japanese needed some serious brushing up on. So, I quit my job, upgraded my camera, said goodbye to my boyfriend and dogs (just for a little while), and flew overseas.

One of the best things about arriving in Japan at the end of March/beginning of April is that it is still cherry blossom season! Since my school was located in Shinjuku, I had the privilege of staying right by Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. In my opinion, it’s the most beautiful time of year.

I took soooo many photos.

Before school started, I had a weekend to spend with my Obaachan (grandmother). We decided to take a bus to Mount Zao and check into an onsen (hot spring) hotel. There’s truly nothing like soaking in a natural hot spring while surrounded by the crisp, cold air. It was so relaxing and refreshing for the mind. Unfortunately, I didn’t capture any photos of the place because I wanted to focus on quality time with my Obaachan- and I have no regrets about that.

After that rejuvenating weekend, it was time to return to Tokyo for my classes. When I arrived at my dorm, I couldn’t help but judge the place by its appearance. It was quite run-down, with barely enough room to move around, and there were cockroaches all over the shared kitchen.

Above is a photo of my room (taken with my wide-angle lens, so it looks a bit more spacious than it actually was). I shared it with one other girl, but the dorm housed a total of eight of us, with just one shower and two toilets. I had to wear flip-flops in the shower, and my bed lacked a mattress- so I was literally sleeping on a wooden frame covered by a sheet, lol. Surprisingly, my back problems improved??

At first, I was extremely shy around the other girls because I wasn’t sure which language to speak to them in. They were all Chinese students learning Japanese. I remember FaceTiming my sister and telling her that I thought my roommates didn't like me because none of them talked or even smiled back at me. In hindsight, I realize I was just very ignorant about the culture difference.

I started my language classes which I really enjoyed. They challenged me, and I noticed that my Japanese was improving quickly. I was placed in a class with students from Vietnam who were also learning the language. Classes lasted four hours each day, with a different teacher every day of the week. All the instructors spoke only in Japanese, which really accelerated our learning.

Classes would wrap up around 12:30pm, leaving me with plenty of free time to myself without knowing anyone else in the city. In the beginning, I was pretty nervous about going out alone at night, so during the day I would stock up on food at Family Mart or Lawson (two popular convenience stores in Japan). I say "stock up," but I was actually on a tight budget since I didn’t have a job, lol. Side note: convenience stores in Japan are heavenly. My go-to meal was usually onigiri (rice balls).

During my first few days there, I fell into a rather sad and mundane routine: attend school, grab some food, retreat to my room, FaceTime family, and sleep. Finally, I told myself it was time to actually explore the city and to just stick to more populated areas. So, armed with my camera, I set out to capture the beauty of the city’s vibrant nights.

I had so much fun walking around and people watching. There was something so calming about seeing all of these people in a hurry when I had absolutely nowhere to be. I especially loved when it rained at night; the city lights would reflect off the wet streets, creating a truly magical scene.

One day after school, one of my roommates invited me to join her for lunch in the common area. I was pleasantly surprised to find that she spoke both English AND Japanese really well. We had a great time getting to know each other briefly, and she introduced me to some of her friends in our dorm.

I decided to visit my hometown of Shiogama one weekend since I was still feeling a bit lonely and knew family would cheer me up. My aunt and cousin took me around, making it a lovely weekend getaway. I also cherished the opportunity to spend more time with my Obaachan :)

-Now, in 2024, these images hold even more significance for me because my Obaachan sadly passed away in 2022. She was such a light in my life, and I’m so grateful I have these photos and memories to remember her by. They are so special to me.

I returned to Shinjuku on Sunday night and resumed my classes that week. I was finally getting more comfortable with my roommates, and we began going out together. It was amusing how our conversations would switch between English, Japanese, and Chinese, often relying on Google Translate for help haha. From cute museum outings to exploring various shrines, we shared so many fun adventures in the city together.

One weekend, we decided to escape the city for a fun getaway trip to Karuizawa, a charming resort town in the mountains. I’ll share more about that in a separate blog post.

I have so many unforgettable memories from my time in Tokyo, but more importantly, I made incredible friends whom I genuinely miss. We grew so close in such a short time, doing nearly everything together. Saying goodbye was tough, but I had the chance to visit them again in September 2016, and our reunion was so sweet.

This experience was truly eye-opening for me. I learned a great deal about different cultures and people, and I forged heartwarming connections. I also discovered a lot about myself in ways I never had before. Bringing my camera everywhere allowed me to significantly improve my photography skills, as well. I truly gained so much in such a short amount of time, and I’ll forever be grateful for it.

♡ Remi