When someone hears “Japan,” the first thing they often think about is the unique culture, bustling cities, cutting-edge technology, or huge mountains spanning the whole country. However, the location that left the biggest impression on me was a place that felt nothing like Japan on the ocean side of a city that is as “Japan” as you’d expect. The Sand Dunes of Tottori city, in the aptly named Tottori prefecture, was exactly that – a sandy paradise stretching nearly 10 miles long, and with hills over 100ft tall, it is the largest dune in all of Japan. As you climb the hills and reach the peak overlooking the ocean, you feel like you’ve truly experienced a sense of freedom for the first time. With winds reaching 30-40 miles/hr making it hard to stand, freezing cold rain soaking my clothes, and the vicious blowing of sand that feels like getting hit by pebbles on your skin, I was in awe at the view all around me. It felt as though I was at the mercy of nature and in a whole different world all at the same time, thousands of miles away from home.

This trip was but one single day in my study abroad. Between a plethora of other trips equally enjoyable or fascinating in their own right, to the more daily life of living in rural Hikone as I improve my language skills through classes, making 100 Japanese friends, joining clubs such as Kyudo at the University of Shiga Prefecture, and doing an internship at a Café and Sake Brewery, my days have been nothing short of unforgettable. It comes with long, challenging days and many moments where you might feel like retreating into your comfort zone, but if you can push yourself to get involved and not waste any chances, you’ll gradually see a tangible change in your own abilities, confidence, and opportunism. I was a much different person before my study abroad, but thanks to my efforts and living every day wanting no regrets, I’ve surpassed my personal goals in a way I wouldn’t have even considered possible until now.

Every person is different, and whether the prospect of one-of-a-kind trips interests you more than daily Japan life, or vice-versa, studying abroad is something I simply can’t recommend enough. There’s plenty to love here no matter the kind of person, and I hope those who come after me can have experiences surpassing my own.

Name: Ryan Mahlmeister
Status: Senior
Major: Experience Architecture
Hometown: Warren, Michigan
Program: Japanese Language and Culture with JCMU