Sunny Lok Hin Chan

RMIT University, Australia
Exchange to University of Tokyo, Japan

Going to Japan for a 4-month exchange programme was a life-changing experience. Every minute that I spent in Tokyo was enjoyable and memorable.

Tokyo has a good blend of traditional style with modern life. While you see a lot of high-rises, you will also discover that there are lots of traditional shrines and temples all over the city. So it is not surprising that there will be a shrine next to a high building. Besides the buildings, there are a significant number of people wearing traditional Japanese clothes, which sometimes makes you think that time travel really exists.

I was lucky enough to get to Tokyo at the start of April, so I got the chance to see the cherry blossoms. I am sure you have seen some photos or videos of them, but being there yourself is a totally different experience. The scenery is so beautiful that when the flowers fall off from the tree they look like pink snow. It is a must-see if you happen to be in Japan in the season.

Living in Tokyo was not as expensive as I thought it would be. Apart from farming products such as fruits, vegetables and rice, everything else was either cheaper or the same price as in Melbourne. You could also buy a lot of useful items in the 100 yen shops. These 100 yen shops are all over the city. But one thing to point out is that 100 yen is before tax, so don’t be surprised when they ask for 105 yen at the cashier’s counter.

You will also find a lot of different foods in Tokyo, especially snacks. There are lots of snacks and the majority of them are only on sale for a limited time. So if you miss out, you will probably miss out for the rest of your life. Well, it may sound too serious, but that’s what I thought, so I always had some snacks in my room. Meat and seafood are very fresh as well, so it is not a bad idea to cook dinner yourself. Sashimi and sushi are a must-try, they are nice and cheap compared to Australia. Besides, having it in Japan will give you the most traditional taste of these Japanese foods.

The university that I went to was University of Tokyo, Hongo campus. There is a subway station right next to the campus, so getting to the university was not a problem at all. There are lots of canteens in the university and lots of restaurants around the campus, so surely you will find one that suits your taste. The canteens in the university are nice and cheap and you can get yourself a meal for as cheap as 300 yen. If you are lucky enough to get into one of the international lodges provided by the university, it will even make your stay in Japan more pleasant, as the rent is a lot cheaper than that in Melbourne.

So Tokyo really has surprised me with what it had to offer. I highly recommend anyone to go to Tokyo to experience all these adventures for yourself. I can assure you that you will have loads of fun and a great time.

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