At home and in love with Japan

Modern architecture, bustling streets of Shibuya in Tokyo

“Home is where your loved ones are.”

My family is constantly looking for destinations to go to. Probably, my most favorite country that we have visited would be Japan, specifically the city of Osaka for three good reasons: people, culture, and of course, food—who doesn’t love authentic Japanese food anyway?

Majority of my friends who already went to Japan would agree that the nicest people in the world are the Japanese. One time, when we were lost in the city, we asked one passerby for direction and in an instant, she dropped her phone. Not only did she point at where we should go, but she walked with us to the right direction.

In my short stay in Japan, I have learned to love their culture—from the gesture of bowing down to the appreciation of their history. One of my favorite places was at the Sanjusangen-do, a temple in Kyoto which houses 1,001 statues of Kannon, the Goddess of mercy. It was such an amazing experience to see the 1,001 different statues even if they did not allow anyone to take any photos.

The Hogwarts Castle at the Universal Studios Japan is one stunning structure to behold.

And there’s the Japanese food, prepared and cooked with passion. From their freshly made sushis, hand-pulled noodle ramens, and fried to perfection tempuras, you can never go wrong with their food.

But there’s another reason why I love my Japan trip. That was because I loved the people whom I was traveling with—my parents and my girlfriend.

Each scenery was extra special because I knew that I am with them and because I had a chance to spend time with them. As we grow older, we understand that there will be more responsibilities on our plate and time becomes scarce.

That is why a home, for me, is not merely a structure that you sleep in, but rather a place where you feel comfort, where you feel safe, and where you can be who you truly are.

Newly constructed and renovated buildings at the Osaka Train Station provide travelers with shopping and dining choices.