Kiyomizu-dera is one of the most beautiful temples that I visited in Japan, and a UNESCO heritage site

I have a soft spot for Japan.  Sushi, amazing architecture, kind people, ramen, clean, orderly, easy to travel, and they even had a whole street of places to go salsa dancing! I fell in love with Japan, but I think the main reason that I won’t ever forget it is because it was my first time living overseas.

I lived in Japan for 11 weeks while I did an internship with Camp Adventure Youth Services in Yokosuka, Japan. I was teaching songs, games, arts and crafts to dependents of US Navy personnel.  We went on field trips to museums, aquariums, a zoo, and to the swimming pool.  The weekends were my own for exploring, though!

Sensoji Temple in Tokyo

My friends and I spent a lot of time in Tokyo because it was so close and there was always something fun to see and do.  I also made it as far north as Nikko, and as far south as Kyoto.  There are still so many places I would like to visit; I hope I can make it back there one day!

I took so many photos while I was there, but I only loaded 16 onto my facebook account…and then my computer died and all of my photos were lost! Here are some of my favorite photos from my time in Japan:

Hase-dera temple in Kamakura is the home to hundreds of small Jizō statues, placed by parents mourning offspring lost to miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion.

The Great Buddha at Kōtoku-in in Kamakura

The mall just around the corner from the base that I worked at in Yokosuka

We were told that the three monkeys originated here in Nikko

My friend from university, Ayaka, showed us around Kyoto

Golden Pavilion Temple in Kyoto