Japan: Dream of a Summer Night

Japan has special meanings to me. Once I dreamed about going to Japan to start a new journey building my skills in a summer night, but it had failed due to multiple unexpected events. It was especially difficult to apply for a passport at that time, not to mention a visa to Japan.

I have had a very comfortable experience when travelling in Japan. My schedule involved Tokyo, Kyoto and Mt. Fuji. Everything I needed was easy to reach. There were always friendly staff at major facilities offering help with politeness. Convenience stores like Lawson and 711 are open 24 hours. They are well organized to assist foreign travellers with necessary things like a bag. Whereas in Germany, I usually dodge the staff and choose self-service because they are indifferent most of the time. For someone like me who does not like shopping, I bought many clothes, several post cards and gadgets at Ginza where plenty of tall buildings sell various things. I also found my favorite comics called Bloom Into You at a small comic book store at Akihabara, which echoed back to my youth when I had just begun exploring the world.

Mt. Fuji was like a star shining far away. It still looked beautiful up close, but I’ve gained new feelings and found different destinations. I enjoyed a peaceful walk around Lake Kawaguchi (河口湖). Though clouds veiled its peak, the mountain still looked magnificent at first glance. The sunset and sunrise over Lake Yamanakako (山中湖) were even more stunning. After sunset, the sky above the mountain shifted from pink to purple. A few geese drifted quietly across the lake. As the sun rises, pink light washes over the mountain. I was still alone in crowds, but I no longer felt the same loneliness I had along the coastline in Iceland. But I wondered what I was doing there, and what I could do in the future.

Compared to the packed days in Tokyo, my time in Kyoto was calm and unhurried. Most days, I wouldn’t leave the hotel until after 1 PM, just one destination, one or two satisfying meals, and then I’d head back to rest. I didn’t come for the maple season and the trees had already lost most of their leaves. I have gone to Kiyomizu-dera (清水寺) twice at sunset. Seen in person, the soft red of maple trees reveals its quiet beauty. Unlike vibrant crimson, it isn’t dazzling, but it carries its own elegance. It’s a kind of presence. It’s a common tradition to draw a fortune slip at Kiyomizu-dera. I am not a religious person but it wouldn’t hurt to try. So, ironically, that’s why I came back a second time.