The Sushi

Even though I already have a post devoted to the food, I want to elaborate on my experience with sushi. On our last day in Tokyo, we visited Tsukiji Market -- the biggest wholesale fish market in the world. Here, we saw booth upon booth of fresh fish and other foods. More importantly, we got to taste it. We had a group lunch at a local sushi restaurant, where we tried everything. We even had a platter devoted to tuna (my favorite), including fatty tuna, medium fatty tuna, seared tuna and minced tuna. This was maybe my favorite meal of the trip. Maybe.

 

Tokyo

 We ended the trip in Tokyo, which offered a completely different vibe from the serenity and history of Kyoto and Hiroshima. Mostly, I was struck with the number of people in motion around the city. We visited the famous intersection at Shibuya where multiple crosswalks are in use at one time. We experienced the busiest train station in the city, where more than 3 million people pass through each day. The number of vending machines (which sold beer) was also astounding. Convenience is key!

The view from my hotel room ... mind the reflection of the drapes.

Hiroshima

Rain on Tuesday set the stage for a somber visit to Hiroshima, the site of the Atomic Bomb drop in 1945. We saw the Atomic Bomb Dome, which is one of the only structures remaining from the blast. Then, we walked through the Peace Memorial Park and Museum. We learned about thousands of people who lost their lives during the attack and the city's efforts for world peace.

Kyoto

We visited Kyoto on our first full day in Japan. Kyoto is about a 30-minute train ride from Osaka, where we were staying. The Kyoto train station was a destination in itself. The architecture was stunning (and enormous).

Our first stop (outside of the station), was Kinkaku-ji, or "Temple of the Golden Pavillion," which is a famous Buddist temple. (We traveled by taxi, which was a pristine car driven by a polite, white-gloved driver.) The temple and scenary were breathtaking and set the stage for a discussion about the crossroads of history, culture and technology. (We learned that Kyoto was a source of inspiration for Apple Founder Steve Jobs.)

From the Golden Pavillion, we walked to the Zen rock gardens at Ryoan-ji, a temple built more than 500 years ago. The rock garden features 15 giant rocks, but you can only see 14 from any one perspective -- an important lesson for young journalists.

The Food

Aside from the amazing Japanese history and culture, I was also struck by the food. I was most looking forward to trying different Japanese cuisine, and it did not disappoint. From the pastry shops to the savory rice bowls to creamy tofu to melt-in-your-mouth tuna sashimi, everything was delicious.

My Trip East

I just returned from a whirlwind tour of Japan, traveling with nine students from across the country who won the Roy W. Howard National Reporting Competition. The Indiana University School of Journalism organizes the trip, which is sponsored by the Scripps Howard Foundation.

One of my biggest takeaways from the Land of the Rising Sun is how people treated each other with respect. There is virtually no crime in Japan. Trains run on time. The sidewalks and streets are clean. We would be walking around in one of the busiest cities in the world and hear no sirens or horns.