From a frigid winter wind to the blooming pink sakuras, my spring 2025 study abroad trip was nothing short of fleeting. From exploring the bustling intersections of Shibuya to the quiet tourist-free countryside of Chiba, vastly different experiences existed all within somewhat reasonable commute times. Every experience was its own narrative. It was clubbing till 5am with 70% dudes and 30% girls. And instead of talking to girls, I made friends with 10 Japanese guys. It was the convenience of cheap but mouthwatering food. Every restaurant on the walk to school was a hit.

Rich and garlicky ramen, freshly baked salt bread, buttery steak, hand-crafted sushi and the $4 lunch bowls at school. Albeit there was one Mexican-cuisine tourist trap charging $20 for nachos. Never again. It was traveling to seemingly endless locations all with their own unique appeal. Most of all, experiencing it all with friends and people from around the world made it unforgettable.

Change In Pace:

However, I don’t want to just focus on all the highlights. What was really intriguing to me was how my pace of life changed. At Chapman, we are used to short commutes and maybe terrible parking which adds another 30+ minutes. But for the most part, it’s a direct shot from home to campus. In Japan, my commute consisted of:

  1. 10 minute walk to the Kamikitazawa station
  2. 7 minutes to shimotakaido station
  3. 25 minutes on a tram to Sangenjaya (Sancha as the locals call it)
  4. 10 minute walk to campus

In other words, everyday I spent about 2 hours commuting to and from school. The worst, which turned out to be the best part, was that I had no cellular data. Instead, I would download a Japanese podcast beforehand and listen to it as I trekked to campus. At first, the inconvenience was frustrating as I’d have to wake up well before my class. But with time, I came to enjoy the commute. I’d have time to stop by a konbini (convenience store) for $1 melon bread and onigiri. The convenience of the compact city made these long commutes no longer than me waking up and making my own breakfast.

Even if you have friends on the train, it is common courtesy to be quiet while on the train/tram. Thus, I had a lot of pondering and reflection time. I started to be more aware of what was going on outside. I strayed from the brain rotting reels that I’d normally watch, given I had no data, to admiring the real world as I immersed myself in podcasts. Time started to feel longer compared to the fast paced nature in America.

But most of all, every little stop along my line was a new place to explore. With a commuter pass, I was able to explore every stop without cost. With gaps between my schedule, I’d often just ride to a random stop and explore the area. One of my most memorable moments was stopping halfway on the tram into a really quiet town with zero tourists. Being in such a beautiful country, I had bought a camera and was constantly looking for good photos. I was much more observant and even company logos with ambient lighting intrigued me.

Wandering around:

After 20 minutes of wandering with no goal in mind, I stumbled across a little hole in the wall restaurant. Enthralled by the modern styled architecture and pristine appearance, I asked what type of food they had and it was curry! Probably my favorite dish of all time. So without hesitation, I sat in the restaurant with a total of 4 empty chairs all facing the chef and kitchen. I remember asking about ingredients and why she preferred a location in the inaka (countryside). She chuckled since this was not the countryside at all but I knew no other word in Japanese to describe it. The owner/chef noted that she enjoyed the quieter side of Tokyo more and getting to know her customers better.

In a very homecook styled saucepan, she simmered onions, tomatoes and mystery seasonings. The result was unlike the industrial standard Japanese curry I normally enjoyed. The homemade nature made every ingredient shine as it blended perfectly with the rice. With the sunlight leaking through the back door, there was no place in America that could compare to this serendipitous nature.

I was talking to another hole-in-the-wall curry shop owner close to the dorm about why he enjoyed cooking for a smaller audience. The reason was because he wanted to offer a pocket of air for people to escape the go go go society and really just enjoy the food. Eating at these hole-in-the wall restaurants are inherently slower, but it’s an experience in and of itself. You see everything that goes into the preparation and you get the opportunity to talk to the chefs. Even with my limited Japanese abilities, I had memorable conversations that truly improved my language skills. We talked about trending anime, philosophy and brainwashing strangely. But perhaps more importantly, it helped me become comfortable with the uncomfortable. It’s a perfect location to socialize and throw yourself in uncomfortable situations.

The current education system demonizes mistakes which have made us risk-averse. However, without throwing yourself into these situations where you are forced to speak a non-native language, progress will be significantly slower. I tried to intentionally put myself in scenarios.

Finding Purpose

Before Japan, I was struggling deeply with direction and purpose. For hours on end, I would debate in my head about what skills I should be focusing on, what career path I should hone in on. I’d watch countless advice videos and self-improvement videos. But in reality, all of that led me to paralysis. I wasn’t moving forward, backward or anywhere.

That was the real killer. Confusion is ok, immobility is not. But just like how we stumble upon pleasant surprises and unforgettable moments, wandering in any direction can bear fruit. Spending time with yourself, getting away from technology, and really turning within, helps you find that dim light that will guide your inner exploration. That’s why people who go to the mountains usually come back with epiphanies devoid of societal expectations.

These delicious hidden curry shops were nowhere to be found on apple maps or google maps. The only way to find them would be word of mouth or by stumbling upon it. While the general favorite restaurants may be listed on apps, sometimes personal favorites may not. Japan taught me that if you just wander and move, luck is bound to have you stumble upon something great. For me, it was driving personal growth through non-native language conversations. It was connecting with people who have such different backgrounds. Getting out of your comfort zone will ultimately pay off. I look back on it now, and those encounters/experiences felt purposeful. Careers change all the time nowadays, but if I live a life where encounters and experiences feel meaningful, I doubt I’ll have regrets.

I used to imagine purpose as this abstract concept that, when found, would solve all of my insecurities. However, I think it’s better to avoid obsessing over finding it. Rather, don’t think too hard. Just start wandering, backwards, forwards, up, down, left, right. It doesn’t matter. Then when you stumble across something that resonates with you, be bold to explore it. Reconnect with your inner child. Learn something you are interested in even if it doesn’t seem useful. You never know when you might run into a delicious curry shop.

 

 

TLDR: If you’re lost, just start exploring and then reflect later. Don’t wait for motivation, it’ll come with momentum.

Tyler Lee
Major: Business Administration
Minor: Analytics
Spring 2025 — Tokyo, Japan
Temple University