Mt Mitake

My first hike in Japan and a great one at that. Looking back, this was probably the better of the three or so hikes I went on in Japan. I find that the fact that shrines are located throughout the peak of the mountain makes hiking in Japan truly unique in comparison to anywhere else. The falling fall leaves and the sunlight peeking through the trees is a sight I hope that I will never forget. This hike took the entire day and we took the cable car down, but if you have time to spare, I’d definitely try this hike. I much preferred it to Mt. Takao, one of the more popular hikes to take around Tokyo.  

I think this hike was the beginning to discovering my “sort of” hobby of visiting temples and shrines (specifically Buddhist and Shinto). There’s a certain atmosphere specific to temples and shrines in Japan that I haven’t been able to experience at temples/shrines in Hong Kong. It’s a tranquil, calming, quiet, and I feel as if I’m at peace whenever I visit a temple or shrine in Japan. I’m not religious by any means, but the ideals of Buddhism appeal to me the most of all the major religions I’m aware of. And even if I don’t particularly subscribe myself to a religious doctrine, I believe there are still things you can learn by studying religions and the people who practice them.  

I had a hard time making friends at my university, so I went on this hike with some friends I found while attending events hosted by a Vegan Meetup group. I met some incredibly inspiring people at these meet-ups and if you’re struggling to find a community you can spend time with, I highly recommend using the app and attending some gatherings. I struggle to put myself out there and open myself up to meeting new people, but my time abroad has definitely taught me that being open to these opportunities can lead to meeting some amazing people, life-long friends, and even just eye-opening conversations. So, I encourage you to come into every interaction expecting to gain something from it, you never really know what you could learn.