Changing Impression of Japan

My impression about Japan has not been changed very much. Rather than being changed, based on what I know, more toppings has been added up during this semester. While I was in Japan, I could see what I expected to see, but I also could see the things that I never imagned before. Before, I come to Japan, what I expected to see in Japan were the colorful, splendid cosplay outfits and many cute, little hand-made crafts.

Since I have seen through media that Japan is so famous for animations and cosplay, that was the early image that I had about Japan and I could actually see several cosplay outfit shops in Nanba, Osaka. It was just unbelievable to see all those outfits in real that only animation character's wear. In side shop, the shop keeper was also dressed in some very colorful costume with very heavy make-ups. It was just so interesting that the customers inside also seemed so serious about about what they are doing. But, my friends and I felt so weird, funny and embarrassing to see all those very unique clothes.

In addition, I thought Japan is good at creating and designing delicate, cute, colorful, little things. Back in my home school, when I studied about SONY during marketing class, the products were made in so many colors and designs. So I decided to buy some cute hand-made crafts for souvenir.

Sony Walkman mp3 player

Hand-made crafts that I bought in Kyoto. So delicate and cute that attract customer's eyes right awawy.

But, there are also some things that I newly discovered about Japan. The first discovery was the Japan where tradition and modern coexist. Especially in the city of Kyoto, the tradition and modernism were so well harmonized together. When I think about Korea, there seems to be not many efforts to keep the tradition, but here in Kyto, the traditional things are so well kept and being used as tourist spot! I was so amazed by this.

Giant Tori gate in the middle of the big load. Can definitely be seen only in Japan!

A little shrine in Gion street. The shirine was just in the middle of the busy, modern shops in the Gion street. At first, I thought it was a shop, but later I realized it was a shirine. Usually in Korea, temples and shrines exist deep in the mountain, but here shirines seem to be so close by.

Very traditional looking narrow street that my friend and I found in Kyoto. From the big, wide, busy road, we just turned to left and suddenly this kind of street appeared in front of us. It was so nice.

The other interesting thing that I found about Japan is that Japan has so many kinds of sweets and crackers. Every place I visit in Japan, they were all selling so many different kinds of cakes, mochi or sweets, which just natuarally makes me to guess that Japanese people must love to eat sweet things. So many diffent color, shape and taste just make my eyes so big.

Sakura pudding that I had when I was in Nikko. The smell and taste was like I am eating a shower gel or shampoo which has sakura scent.

This is Kitkat chocolate series that my roomate is collecting for her friend in the USA. She said she has never seen so many kinds of Kitkats in her life and until now she collected 10 flavors. I have also never seen so many kinds of flavors like this and actually there are more than 70 flavors are still out there in Japan. I guess I better go to Kyoto to get some green tea Kitkat as sovenior before I go back to Korea!

So, my counclusion is that Japan is so smart about creating things that attract tourists' attention and take money out of their pockets. All those splendid, colorful, cute designed product naturally make tourist to spend their money and also the places where modernity and tradition are well harmonized are also best tour spots.

2nd picture from

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