By Robbie Spiers

Hiroshima is one of the smallest venues for English Camp this year but is by no means some boring backwater - it’s got okonomiyaki, beautiful parks and Itsukushima shrine is only a stone’s throw away.

Everybody loves to eat food, and one of the dishes that Hiroshima is famous for is its take on okonomiyaki (a kind of savoury pancake with noodles, cabbage, egg, and sauce). There are plenty of places where you can tuck into a plate of this local speciality, but one of the most famous is Okonomimura, a building consisting of four stories of restaurants dedicated to making okonomiyaki. When the Hiroshima interns visited, the chefs make the dish on hot plates right in front of us with the process looking like this:

The Hiroshima of today is a modern, easy-going city so it was easy to forget the its apocalyptic past. The Peace Memorial Park, however, provided a tranquil and thought-provoking reminder of how far the city has come since it was destroyed 70 years ago. Visiting the gardens was very moving and the atmosphere was surreal and unforgettable. The park may not be the usual cheerful tourist destination you might expect but it is definitely a place that any interns who are lucky enough to go to Hiroshima should visit.

After the five days of English Camp we took the chance to explore the nearby island of Itsukushima (also known as Miyajima) at the weekend. The trip was my favourite part of my time in and around Hiroshima as Itsukushima has boatloads things on offer - deer, a floating torii gate and Mt. Misen just to mention a few. The torii gate and shrine gave us the opportunity to see a glimpse into Japan’s traditional culture, whilst Mt. Misen provided breathtaking views of Hiroshima Bay and the Seto Inland Sea. Take a look at some more of my photos below to get a feel for the place:

Hiroshima may not be as big or glamourous as major venues like Osaka and Tokyo, yet its small venue size means that not only do you get to know your fellow interns much better, but also that your experience inside class and out is more personal and welcoming.

By Tamás Tom Cserép

Fukui may not be at the top of tourists’ lists, however the Prefecture offers more than what meets the eye. The region is a palaeontologist’s paradise as it accommodates the largest dinosaur museum in Japan and it is the location of the country’s most important palaeontological sites. Locals are proud of their region’s heritage; visitors are greeted with animated statues of dinosaurs as they step out of Fukui City station and dinosaur memorabilia are dotted around the city. The Prefecture offers a break from the hustle and bustle of the big cities such as Kyoto and Osaka for both foreign and domestic visitors. 

On the surface Fukui is a sleepy Prefecture on the coast of the Chubu region that is experiencing a rapid decline in its youth population. Fukui is home to 14 nuclear power plants, which is more than any other Prefecture in Japan. Their planned closure could lead to heavy job losses, which could have a considerable impact on the local economy. 

To explore wholly the area, visitors are recommended to either start in the outer cities of the Prefecture – such as Wakasa, Obama or Ono - and make their way to the other side over the course of a couple of days or stay in the centrally-located Fukui City and go on day trips to the different parts of the region.

The two most famous landmarks of the Prefecture are the stunning Tojinbo Cliffs and the Dinosaur Museum in Katsuyama, located in West and East Fukui respectively. They can both be covered comfortably if one only has a day to spend in the area. 

The Dinosaur Museum can be accessed by a shuttle bus service which runs between it and Katsuyama train station. The train ride from Fukui City to Katsuyama offers a view of typical mountainous Japanese rural landscapes. 

The museum itself is perched on a hill, offering breath-taking views of the surrounding scenery and the town of Katsuyama nestled in the valley of the Kuzuryu River. The exhibition has two parts – one dedicated to Earth Science and the other to Palaeontology. Visitors can see enormous dinosaur skeletons from both local sites and from around the world. Beautiful rocks are also displayed throughout the exhibition. 

If visitors have time, Katsuyama marks the starting point of numerous trails for keen hikers of all abilities. 

The easiest way to access Tojinbo cliffs is to catch a train to Mikuniminato station, from where tourists may catch a direct bus to them. However, visitors could opt for a 30-40 minutes walk, which would be along a road with a view of the sea and its beaches.

While these two sites are a must-see, Fukui has plenty of other attractions, including the following 

Echizen Ono Castle

Echizen Ono Castle:

Echizen Ono Castle is described as “the Castle in the Clouds” due to its position on top of a mountain. It can be accessed from Ono station by bus or a 40-60 minute walk. It is also worth exploring the historic town of Ono itself.

Eihei-ji temple

Eihei-ji temple:

Eihei-ji temple is an important local Budhhist church. Its location within the mountains offers a serene and peaceful environment for believers and non-believers alike.

Marouka Castle:

Marouka Castle is halfway between Fukui City and the Tojinbo cliffs. It is the oldest surviving castle of its kind in the whole of Japan.

Marouka Castle

Mikata Five Lakes

The Mikata Five Lakes:

The Mikata Five Lakes in Southern Fukui is ideal for the more adventurous visitors. The area offers hikers wonderful trails and breath-taking views of not only the lakes, but the surrounding mountains as well. While in the area, it is worth wandering out and about the historic streets of the town of Obama and trying the local cuisine. 

This is a very brief overview of Fukui, covering only a fraction of the things that can be done. Even though it is not on the itineraries of most tourists coming to Japan, it is a Prefecture that visitors should definitely consider if they want a peaceful and quiet break from other tourist hotspots of the country.

By Jasmine Parmley

It is rather oxymoronic how isolated one can feel, navigating the bustling streets of Shinjuku. If the term can be loosely defined as being away from anyone familiar, then "solitude" is the norm in this city.

From hurried morning walks to sleepy evening train rides to late night strolls down colorfully illuminated sidewalks, I am constantly alone.

Though I walk past hundreds of strangers every day, their unrecognizable faces are but a blurry background-- a testament to how few friends I have in this city. At times, even the most avid believers in self-reliance can feel pangs of loneliness: I miss living with my family and running into friends back in Nebraska. Even after moving to Boston for college, I was still used to seeing familiar faces around campus every day.

By contrast, in Tokyo I have to actively make plans just to see people I know. In crowds, lone travelers can become invisible. Yet it is precisely this crowded invisibility that allows us to grow close to each other. The great secret of this city is that it is the perfect place for secrets. Never would I have guessed that the funniest jokes are made over grilled gyoza at crowded counters, the best gossip is spilled on the damp benches of public parks, and the most sincere childhood memories are shared on street corners while watching trains pass by.

It is in the lonely corners of the city where I have found my strongest friendships. If we listen closely, I wonder what other secrets can be found hiding in the rhythmic hum of the city.