授業以外の活動

日本に来たから、もう半年を経って、日本の生活が慣れるようになりました。東京にいる半年に授業以外に楽しめる活動と場所を紹介したいと思います。

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ダンスチーム (Dance Team)

After I arrived in Japan, the first thing I did was looking for a dance studio and possibly join a dance team. Unfortunately, Waseda’s dance circle only hold auditions and take new members in the beginning of March, which is the first semester in Japanese universities. Also, from what I heard from others studying in Waseda, many university circles don’t accept exchange student or students who are not fluent in Japanese. But you could always send an email to the circle and see if they are willing to accept foreign members.

I strongly recommend joining a circle or getting yourself involved in activities with Japanese students no matter how hard it takes to find. As we are only studying with other international students under Japanese Languagedepartment, the chancesfor you to meet and speak witha native Japanese person is very limited.

そういうことで、私は外のダンスチームを探して、入りました。チームには大学生だけではなくて、各年齢層の人がいます。メンーバは30歳以上の社会人や、主婦や、12歳の小学生までいます。チームで練習する時、私が本当に日本にいる気持ちがします。チームに私以外は全員日本人なので、日本語をしゃべる機会が多くあります。日本語を話せるようになるだけではなく、日本人の習慣や、上下関係もわかるようになりました。ですから、できればみんなも自分が好きなサークルに参加したらいいと思います。

ダンスを通じて、私は仲良い日本人の友達を作りました。同じ年の女の子です。私たちは一緒に東京と東京の周りにたくさん遊びに行きました。

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旅行(Travelling)

Being in Tokyo gives you the opportunity to go for day trips to cities around it. Other than dance, I spent most of my free time travelling around Tokyo. There are many places that are not as famous but worth visiting, and I will be introducing some of those places.

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1. 相模湖イルミネーション (Sagamiko Illumination)

The first place I went with my new Japanese friend was to Sagamiko to see the illumination. It took me about 1 hour to get to the place by train, and we spent 3 hours inside the park. Illumination is very popular around Christmas time, and many places hold exhibitions during winter time for around 1-2 months. The places that most people go to are around Shibuya and Roppongi, but as expected, those places are likely to be very crowded. In comparison, although Sagamiko is definitely not as popular, the scale of it is much bigger and there are usually less people. I highly recommend this place if you are looking for a place to take nice pictures while enjoying the view on your own pace.

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2. 川越 (Kawagoe)

I went to Kawagoe with my traditional culture teacher at Waseda university.

This place is also about 1 hour away from my dorm. It a very suitable choice for a day trip destination if you are living in Tokyo. The place is also known as “little Edo”, as Its main street retains a reminiscent of Edo period town. Walking on that street we can get a view from past centuries. The town also reflects Edo culture and architecture, with small buildings built close to each other in a line. Kawagoe is good place to take a stroll in Kimono, and you can easily spot Japanese lady in Kimono walking pass you. Their appearance is also a crucial element that makes Kawagoe the “little Edo”.

日本では、普通に歩きながら食べることは礼儀正しくないですが、川越でそうしてもかまいません。街の中でいろいろな伝統的なお菓子の店があって、歩きながら食べたらゆっくりこの街の美しさを感じられます。私は川越に行った時、ソフトクリムや、金平糖とかを買いました。綺麗なパッケージで包んでいるお土産もいっぱい売っていました。週末に友達と一緒に川越で過ごすのはいいプランだと思います。

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3. 海ほたる (Umihotaru)

Umihotaru is on a parking lot in an artificial island on the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line connecting Kanagawa prefecture and Chiba prefecture. This place is 360 degree surrounded by sea and gives you a unique view. Not only enjoy the view of the Tokyo bay, there are also many shops and restaurant in the island.

I was taken there by my father’s friend who has been living in Japan for more than 20 years. This is not a very usual sightseeing place for visitors since the only way you can get there is by car and go through the Aqua-line under the sea. When the weather is good and there is no wind, Umihotaru is a nice place to chill and take pictures. In fact, most people visiting here are on their way to the other side of the sea, but decide to take time and stop by here for one or two hours. I also recommend the sea food on restaurant on the island, It was very fresh yet affordable for students.

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4. 蔦屋書店 (Tsutaya Book Store)

Tsutaya book store can’t necessarily count as a travel place, but it is doing much more than a usual book store would offer, so people sometimes go visit there just to experience the atmosphere.

The biggest and also the most famous Tsutaya book store is located in Daikanyama. It is tied to the theme of “A library in the wood”. It is embedded with a café inside, and people can enjoy themselves comfortably even without purchasing books. It has been chosen as one of the 20 most beautiful bookstores in the world. What’s special about Tsutaya is that other than a big selection of books, it also has a video department where you can find any movie DVDs you are looking for. It also has a music section with genres around the world. In the second floor, there is a lounge area with coffee and alcohol available, where you can enjoy your selected reading material quietly. I visit there sometimes after my dance rehearsal, and just grab a book and get myself a coffee, and sit there for 2 hours.

Another branch of Tsutaya that I personally enjoyed the most is in Shinjuku. It is called “Tsutaya Book Apartment”. Just as the name indicate, this place is open 24 hours, and they even offer individual boost for you to stay overnight. Rather than a book store, it is more like a relaxing space where you can do whatever you want. Other than books, they also offer facilities like makeup rooms, shower rooms and massage chairs. There is also a floor dedicated for working and study only, with both nice work space for individual and group meeting area with computer and whiteboard.

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以上のとこらは私のオススメのところですが、東京に楽しめるところがたくさんあって、自分で探したらきっと好きな場所が見つけられると思います！