I’m currently in a laundromat in Japan, washing my clothes for the first time in two weeks. The perfect time to take out my laptop and write about my time here in Sendai! While we’ve been in Sendai for over a week, most of our time here has been spent traveling to different places on day trips. I’ve loved utilizing public transportation to see more of the country, especially smaller towns.
Here’s a little insight into how I spent last weekend!
Saturday 7/15: Mori no Ichiba Market
Our first weekend in Sendai was one for the books! Each weekend, our TAs organize optional excursions. Since Saturday was super rainy, our original plan to take a cruise to Matsushima was canceled. Instead, we went to Mori no Ichiba Market. Filled with fresh fish and produce, it was a nice change from my daily convenience store runs. I had my first Japanese peach, a recommendation from my professor, and a Japanese sweet potato.
I loved seeing all the families at the market. In Sendai, our hotel is in (what I assume to be) the financial district. All around us are (mainly) men in business suits on their way to work. I’ve rarely seen little kids around, so the fish market was a nice change. Going to the fish market on the weekend with your family is an aspect of Japanese culture, and I’m happy I got to experience it (the yummy food was a plus too).
Sunday 7/16: Akiu Falls
The day after the fish market, we went to Akiu Falls, one of the three great waterfalls in Japan. Our bus ride on the way there made sixty-five stops (the view was well worth it though). I was excited to listen to some music or a podcast, but forgot my headphones. Instead, I peered out the window, making note of the changing landscape and listening to conversations in Japanese from the passengers around me. To get to the falls, we had to walk through a lush forest that reminded me of the Redwood Parks in Oakland, where I studied last year.
When we got to the bottom of the falls, I planted myself on a rock and basked in the sun. There were tadpoles in the shallow water and dragonflies hovering over the surface. There was also a fair amount of people on the shore snapping pictures and taking in the beautiful site, but no one in the water. That changed when a bunch of people in our group decided to head in. No one was prepared for a swim, so with full clothes on they set out to cool off in the water. I’m not much of a swimmer, but I enjoyed seeing them splash around and try to navigate the slippery rocks without falling (to little success).
Afterward, we had to hike back up the steepest set of stairs I’ve ever encountered. But, at the top of the mountain was a little dessert shop run by a husband and wife. Outside of the shop, the husband was churning the ice for slushies and adding different fruit juice flavors. My friend and I each got a mango slush and headed inside the shop. We sat with our two TAs and asked them questions about Japan and their favorite places to visit.
With our slushies done, we waited for another bus to take us to an onsen. An integral part of Japanese culture, onsens are natural hot springs enjoyed for their therapeutic and relaxing properties. While researching things to do in Japan, onsens kept popping up. Before leaving, I talked to a friend who did a Summer 1 Dialogue in Japan, and she couldn’t stop raving about her onsen experience. When I saw the optional trip to the onsen, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to go.
Going to an onsen isn’t like hanging out in a sauna. There’s a ritual to the whole experience, so I was glad to have the TA (and two of my friends) there to help guide us through the process. First, onsens are separated by gender, so we split from the boys in the lobby. Next, we showered. You’re supposed to wash your hair and body to be cleansed before entering the onsen. The showers had a variety of shower gels and scrubs and I left feeling squeaky clean. This resort had both indoor and outdoor onsens. We made our way outside and hopped right in. Most onsens are 39℃ to 42℃ (102°F to 107.5°F). I was a little nervous that the heat would be too much, especially since it was pretty hot outside, but it actually felt super refreshing. At first, we were the only ones there. As time went on, other women came too. There were also a few multi-generational families (grandmothers, mothers, children) enjoying the onsens together.
I don’t think I’ve ever felt more at peace in my life than that day at the onsen. At first, I was a little nervous going (since bathing suits aren’t allowed), but it was a culturally immersive experience, and I’m glad I fully put myself out there and participated. While I’ve loved being on a dialogue, it’s been a busy time with lots of travel and new experiences that can feel overwhelming. Being in the hot onsen with just my thoughts was so serene and relaxing. The whole time I kept thinking, I’m in Japan. I’m not a tourist exploring the streets of Tokyo, I’m in a rural onsen with a grandma and infant right next to me.
After our time in the onsen, we went inside and took another shower. We dipped in the ice pool to cool off, then went into the sauna for a few minutes. It felt nice to debrief about our experience together. We all felt similarly: at that moment, we were fully in Japan.
I’ve loved getting to do more cultural experiences (like fish market trips and onsen days) while in Japan. I think that’s what makes dialogues so special! You get this unique opportunity to fully immerse yourself in another culture in a way that goes beyond being a tourist. Tomorrow, we leave for Tokyo (sayōnara Sendai), so stay tuned for more Japan Journals!
Japanese Lesson (brought to you by our amazing TAs)
と も だ ち
to mo da chi
“friend”
