Life of a Swedish exchange student in Tokyo

This blog is made up of pictures from my one year in Japan. Here I will let my pictures tell my stories and speak for me.

[jonasroth]

My last day in Dubai, and therefore also my last day before returning to Sweden after having been abroad for a year, I made no specific plans. I took the train to a station and walked along coast to see all the strange scenery.

Found a disappointing beach and headed back to my 4 star hotel instead since the pool there was nicer. Early the following morning I left for the airport. It was very strange hearing all the Swedish voices as I reached my gate.. I was finally going home~

[jonasroth]

Also part of the desert safari tour was a buffet dinner with a show. Next to the little desert camp there were some camels and some smaller dune ATVs.

Both the sunset and the night sky were beautiful to watch.

[jonasroth]

The Jeep ride was part of the desert safari package. Definitely one of the highlights of my Dubai trip.

[jonasroth]

In the morning I decided to look up a desert safari tour. I managed to book one in the afternoon and had a few hours to kill. I went to the other big mall in Dubai - the Mall of the Emirates - where they have the famous indoor ski slope.

The desert safari was really cool. Especially flying over the dunes in the 4WD Jeeps was super fun!

[jonasroth]

Right next to the Burj Khalifa (the really tall building) is a lake. In this lake there are several fountains and they put on shows every evening. Spectacular, if you ask me.

[jonasroth]

As there are no direct flights from Tokyo to Stockholm I transferred and stayed in Dubai for a few nights. Crazy Dubai.

The Tokyo summer was hot, and I expected Dubai to be even hotter.. but geez.. Because of this you spend a lot of time inside. I visited the Dubai Mall on the first day, after slacking at my hotel for a few hours since Tokyo->Dubai is 10 hours.

[jonasroth]

Two months have passed since I left Japan now. Since then a lot has happened!

Here are the last 10 images I want to share for now. During the last days there were plenty of goodbye's. The day before my departure there was a BBQ, I had a fika with two friends, and for dinner we went to Hooters in Shibuya, lol. And on the day of my flight I spontaneously went home to a friend to have one last dinner with a few friends. I even got a ride to the airport, and so started my journey back.

I do miss Tokyo, and Japan. It feels like my heart now has two homes.

[jonasroth]

Oh sweet Jebus I miss the sushi in Japan so much~~

[jonasroth]

After the castle Minaさん showed me to a restaurant she used to visit a lot when she was younger. We had the famous 田楽 (dengaku), tofu on skewers. One of the better meals I've had in Japan to be honest.

We parted ways after lunch time as I needed to get back to Tokyo for some business at school.

A stroll around central Tokyo, expecting this to be my last stroll around these neighborhoods. And the evening ended with amazing sushi at Midori Sushi in Shibuya. The last sushi I had in Japan, and surely it was one of the best I've had too!

And so ended my last adventure in Japan. After this followed one BBQ, and two farewell dinners (one of which at Hooters, haha.. I'll see if I can find pictures).

[jonasroth]

The rope-way took you to a house from where you walked to the peak on foot. Visibility wasn't great on this day, but spirits were still high.

And since it was only afternoon when I was back in Hiroshima city I decided to stop by Nagoya on my way back to Tokyo, to meet my friend Minaさん again, since she lives in that area.

She actually grew up just outside Nagoya, in the Inuyama city, so this is where we went the following day. Inuyama Castle is one of only four castles which have been designated as national treasures. And it is also considered the oldest standing castle in Japan. My last castle to see in Japan, and it's the oldest one. Neat.

[jonasroth]

The following day I actually went back to Miyajima, but this time to climb the Mount Misen which is on the island.

At this time the tide was high and so I got some nice pictures. Then started walking up towards the ropeway which takes you part of the way up Mt Misen.

[jonasroth]

The evening after the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park I went to Miyajima to see the fireworks my friend Minaさん had told me about. Miyajima Water Fireworks Festival. This festival was postponed due to the typhoon that came over the area a few days earlier, so I was super lucky to get to see this.

[jonasroth]

In the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park lies the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. It's basically all the history regarding the atomic bomb - the development, the use and the aftermath of it.

Walking out from the museum, it all felt so surreal. But while you feel like it's not possible, you realize that it actually happened. Your mind goes into some sort of passive state, and it really makes you think.

I was there in the beginning of August - close to the time of year the bombings took place.

[jonasroth]

In Hiroshima there was this wonderful place called お好み村 ("Okonomi village") where you could find countless of great Hiroshima style Okonomiyaki restaurants.

Okonomiyaki is sort of like a Japanese pancake with various ingredients. And believe me.. it's something you just have to try if you're ever in Hiroshima.

[jonasroth]

The morning after I finished the Shimanami Kaido bicycle road I headed to Hiroshima. Another very nice Japanese city. I'm glad I took the time and got the opportunity to visit this city before going back to Sweden.

First I visited two parks and the Hiroshima Castle.

[jonasroth]

After the nice swim I started on the last couple of kilometers before I reached Imabari. I almost didn't want to finish it ;p but the sun was going down again, and I needed to return the bike before 18.00. But my not-really-planning turned out great, as I never felt that I needed to hurry, or that I had too much time on my hands.

I with many people on this trip. Traveling alone is something everyone should experience. In the hostel I met a girl, and we had dinner at a local place. In the hostel later that night I stayed up till late o'clock talking with the Japanese people who stayed there too. Many stories were shared.

And this were my pictures from my DSLR from this trip. Later I'll cut together some video I shot too.

I feel sad that I'm uploading my last pictures from my year abroad. Somehow I feel like it'll be officially (emotionally) over when I run out of new pictures to share. But I can't sit on them forever :) life goes on~~

[jonasroth]

The clouds cleared after a few drops of rain and it suddenly got very hot! After refueling at a local food place I kept on biking. Near the end of the trail, on the second to last island, there was this nice beach with quite a few swimmers. I couldn't resist jumping in the water.

If you have more time and you plan it right you could spend 2-3 days along on this trail. Chill on the beaches and enjoy the nature.