Palo Alto High School's News and Features Publication

Verde Magazine

Verde Magazine

Verde Magazine

Japanese Journey: Traversing the vivid landscape of the East

ITSUKUSHIMA+SHRINE+This+floating+gate+is+the+main+tourist+attraction+of+Miyajima+Island%2C+which+is+a+short+ferry+ride+away+from+Hiroshima.+This+UNESCO+World+Heritage+site+is+especially+beautiful+at+high+tide%3B+the+island+is+also+home+to+several+deer+and+many+small+vendors+selling+authentic+Japanese+goods.
ITSUKUSHIMA SHRINE This floating gate is the main tourist attraction of Miyajima Island, which is a short ferry ride away from Hiroshima. This UNESCO World Heritage site is especially beautiful at high tide; the island is also home to several deer and many small vendors selling authentic Japanese goods.
Soumya Jhaveri 

Japanese Journey: Traversing the vivid landscape of the East

Japan is often seen as the prime Spring Break destination due to the cherry blossoms, or sakuras. What many people don’t know is that the fall foliage in Japan is just as beautiful, and there are fewer tourists in the fall as well, making Japan a prime destination for a fall trip. The crisp, orange and red leaves stand out against both metropolitan and country landscapes.

Over Thanksgiving break, my family and I spent nine days traversing the beautiful landscape, taking in the sights and immersing ourselves in the culture. The juxtaposition of traditional, purely Japanese culture against American concepts makes for a truly unique experience. Perhaps there is no better example than Tokyo’s Harajuku Street, where stores sell both Japanese Harajuku fashions and American shoes and denim, and where a McDonald’s shines out between street vendors.

It’s easy to feel like a tourist at the top of the Tokyo tower, but it was easy for us to feel like one of the locals even though we did not speak the language — we used public transport, rode the world-renowned bullet trains and purchased drinks from the vending machines ubiquitous at each corner.

Teenagers have a bad reputation for not being interested in museums and monuments, but the historical places in Japan would captivate anyone with their fascinating architectural styles and the rich stories they hold. Add that to the plethora of shopping and dining options, and it’s easy to see why this quickly became one of my favorite trips.

Story continues below advertisement
AUTUMN LEAVES Japan’s fall foliage blew me away because I was used to a Californian fall – when some of the trees change color but the majority of them don’t. I was astounded to see the rich oranges, fiery reds, and mellow yellows of the leaves, which made the castles and shrines they surrounded stand out even more.

Japan offers a full sensory experience with delicious food options, vast and varied scenery, plenty of shopping fixtures and many historical monuments to visit. While the foliage is incredible in the fall, most activities can be enjoyed year-round.

If you’re looking to plan a trip anytime soon, look no further than the island 5,000 miles away.

HIMEJI CASTLE The view from Himeji castle, located near Kyoto, is breathtaking, but the castle itself is also a work of art. It still retains the original full wood interior, and despite lacking nay furnishing, is beautifully maintained inside and out. We were asked to take our shoes off when we entered and toured the castle, which is a cultural norm in most Japanese homes, restaurants and places of business, but not common at tourist attractions.

Japanese Journey: Traversing the vivid landscape of the East / Japanese Journey: Traversing the vivid landscape of the East – Verde Magazine
Soumya Jhaveri 

Japanese Journey: Traversing the vivid landscape of the East

Japan is often seen as the prime Spring Break destination due to the cherry blossoms, or sakuras. What many people don’t know is that the fall foliage in Japan is just as beautiful, and there are fewer tourists in the fall as well, making Japan a prime destination for a fall trip. The crisp, orange and red leaves stand out against both metropolitan and country landscapes.

Over Thanksgiving break, my family and I spent nine days traversing the beautiful landscape, taking in the sights and immersing ourselves in the culture. The juxtaposition of traditional, purely Japanese culture against American concepts makes for a truly unique experience. Perhaps there is no better example than Tokyo’s Harajuku Street, where stores sell both Japanese Harajuku fashions and American shoes and denim, and where a McDonald’s shines out between street vendors.

It’s easy to feel like a tourist at the top of the Tokyo tower, but it was easy for us to feel like one of the locals even though we did not speak the language — we used public transport, rode the world-renowned bullet trains and purchased drinks from the vending machines ubiquitous at each corner.

Teenagers have a bad reputation for not being interested in museums and monuments, but the historical places in Japan would captivate anyone with their fascinating architectural styles and the rich stories they hold. Add that to the plethora of shopping and dining options, and it’s easy to see why this quickly became one of my favorite trips.

AUTUMN LEAVES Japan’s fall foliage blew me away because I was used to a Californian fall – when some of the trees change color but the majority of them don’t. I was astounded to see the rich oranges, fiery reds, and mellow yellows of the leaves, which made the castles and shrines they surrounded stand out even more.

Japan offers a full sensory experience with delicious food options, vast and varied scenery, plenty of shopping fixtures and many historical monuments to visit. While the foliage is incredible in the fall, most activities can be enjoyed year-round.

If you’re looking to plan a trip anytime soon, look no further than the island 5,000 miles away.

HIMEJI CASTLE The view from Himeji castle, located near Kyoto, is breathtaking, but the castle itself is also a work of art. It still retains the original full wood interior, and despite lacking nay furnishing, is beautifully maintained inside and out. We were asked to take our shoes off when we entered and toured the castle, which is a cultural norm in most Japanese homes, restaurants and places of business, but not common at tourist attractions.