(Iishana Yachamaneni is a 11 year old who's parents took her for a trip to Japan this summers. She shares her first hand experience of Japan)
The summer of 2024 was one I would never forget because I went to Japan and had enough fun for a lifetime. I made so many memories. I loved that Japan had so much to offer and was so diverse.
The experience was so different for me, from seeing the bustling city of Tokyo to the scenic and tranquil mountains of Hakone, and then drinking matcha in Kyoto. Yet, there was so much more out there to explore in Japan, and I was sure everyone would find at least something that interested them.
Out of all the places I visited, a few of my favourites were:
Disney Sea –
When my parents and I planned to go to Disney Sea, I was super excited but didn’t know what to expect. When I walked in, though, it looked like a whole new magical world, just like something out of a Disney movie.
The main park was divided into different areas; some were imaginary places, and some were real regions that had all the different characteristics of that place, making them look very real.
What I was most excited for were the rides. From carousels to exciting 360-degree roller coasters, I loved all of them. We made sure to go on at least one ride from each park to get a gist of the Disney Sea experience. There were also many shops where you could get cute Disney-themed items like headbands, plushies, and many more goodies. That day was probably one of the best days of my life, and I couldn’t imagine visiting Japan without going to Disney Sea!
Pet Café –
I had loved animals ever since I was a little kid, so I was really looking forward to going to a pet café. I went to one on Harajuku Walking Street, and there were animals I’d never even heard of before. They had meerkats, ferrets, a fennec fox, a baby monkey, and even a hedgehog!
I was most excited to pet the fennec fox. It was in a little enclosure that was very well decorated. It was so furry and was in deep sleep, probably dreaming about all the visitors who would like to play with it and pet it.
The baby monkey kept trying to show off his tricks by somersaulting in his cage! Next, I decided to play with the ferrets. Fun fact: They sleep for more than half a day! The ferret I played with was so funny; he kept jumping headfirst into play tunnels and holes and even had to be rescued once or twice.
I even fed him treats. Then I went to pet the meerkats. Whenever anyone walked past their enclosure, they would always stand up on their hind legs, trying to see what everyone was up to. Lastly, I got myself some cold chocolate and bid all the animals goodbye.
Nara –
My parents and I weren’t really planning to visit Nara, and it was a last-minute decision for us. But I was so glad we went there because we all enjoyed the experience thoroughly. The main reason I loved Nara was for the deer and just the fact that there was a whole village almost dedicated to them.
The deer were so docile, and you could pet and feed them. I was shocked by how the deer bowed when they wanted food; even the deer in Japan were polite. I was even more surprised by how many there were in every nook and corner. We stayed in the main park where all the deer could be petted and fed.
I really liked the concept of having them in the open instead of being kept in a cage. There were plenty of temples too, most of which were UNESCO World Heritage Sites and were built hundreds of years back. While going back to the train station, we took a slight detour through the banks of a river, and the place was so serene it was almost magical with the deer grazing amidst a slight drizzle. I loved the experience and would definitely go again.
TeamLab Planets –
The thing I liked most about TeamLab Planets was that it allowed you to experience the different elements of nature in such innovative ways. It was very unique and unlike anything I had done before—not only in Japan but also including all the other places I had visited. There were two main areas, one was water and the other was a garden.
My favourite experiences were both from the water area. For the first one, you had to sit or lie down on the floor, and the ceiling was shaped like a dome.
From the ceiling to the floor, there were full-size projections of moving flowers with melodious music playing in the background. Once I lay down, I felt like I was flying through a meadow of flowers above, defying gravity. I could have sat there and watched the flowers dancing in the wind for a whole day!
Another one of my favourites was a room filled with water till knee-length with projections that fell on the water, making it look iridescent with multicolour fishes swimming in it, again with music in the background. It felt like I was in a magical pond playing with the fish. I loved how all the experiences incorporated nature, innovation, and technology. It was definitely a memorable day.
I think it goes without saying that Japan is an amazing place with amazing people and culture, and I would love to visit again.
Sayonara!
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