Provided by Sofiya Khaderi

Sophomore Sofiya Khaderi looks out at the view of Mount Fuji and Chureito Pagoda. She captured the view on a clear day when the peak was only partly covered by clouds.

“It was the most amazing experience ever.

When my family and I first arrived in Japan, everything felt so welcoming. It was really comforting even though I was far from home. Japan kind of felt like a second home to me.

We did the kimono and traditional tea ceremony. We changed into kimonos, which took a long time, and then went to an area where we could take pictures. After that, we learned the history and importance of the ceremony. We were shown how to make matcha as well. It was so surreal, because I felt as if I was part of the culture here [in Japan]. Everyone is so organized and put together, like they know exactly what to do during the ceremonies.

There were almost no cars. Everyone either walks, bikes or takes the subway. It's really refreshing to just walk out in the middle of the day. There’s so many things to see even when you’re just walking for five minutes, like different types of restaurants and clothing stores that have such diverse styles. They also had many different animal cafes like otters, cats, dogs and more cafes.

Provided by Sofiya Khaderi

Sophomore Sofiya Khaderi walks through a lively street with traditional shops on both sides under the evening sky. “[Japan] was so alive and free, like you could just keep walking down these paths and they would lead you anywhere,” Khaderi said.

The most beautiful place I visited was Mount Fuji. It’s often covered in clouds but the day we went, you could almost see it fully. We saw it from many different angles at each park we visited, and it was truly amazing.

My favorite part of Japan was definitely the food, especially the wagyu beef. There was such a large variety to try, and since my family is Muslim, my parents only eat halal food, so we were really happy to find so many options available for us. The waiters at one of the restaurants had been studying abroad, so they picked up a bit of English and read off a little card. It was honestly really cute because anytime they would make a mistake they would just laugh. They were so polite and tried their best to make us feel welcome. It made my trip feel even more special, not only because the food was amazing, but because the kindness and effort of the people made it unforgettable.

Japan was so refreshing. Every moment there felt new and exciting, but also peaceful and comforting. I know I’ll want to go back someday to experience it all over again.”