TRAVEL JOURNAL: Evelina from ITALY

“Hello, I'm an Italian girl visiting Tokyo for the first time. My stay in the capital will be up to 6 months because of my internship with Global Internship Program. Therefore, I had to find somewhere to live in, but honestly speaking, I was afraid of all the hurdles I'd have to encounter to rent a place, as a foreigner, in Japan. I didn't know where to begin or what questions to ask, and I was not satisfied with what some sites and real estate agencies provide. Luckily, I came across Student Accommodation Japan and through this service, I was able to find a convenient foreigner-friendly place to live in, not far from Central Tokyo. Student Accommodation Japan did everything with almost no time or effort from me. The best part was that I could completely trust their team to represent me and my accommodation preferences. The share house I live in (Urban Terrace Minami Urawa) has all sorts of commodities, and my housemates make me feel welcomed every day! Little by little, the share house is becoming more and more international, and I cannot wait to meet more people from all sorts of different places. Tokyo is modern yet full of historical-cultural sites! It's a vibrant city, with lots of exciting things to do, and I cannot wait to visit them all with my new friends! I felt relieved when Student Accommodation Japan helped me with all the Japanese housing procedures, which are so much more complicated and detailed than one would typically think. With Student Accommodation Japan that is taking care of the housing policies, I feel safe and reassured. This way, it's easier for me to focus on what I like and on making the best out of my stay in Tokyo.”

—Evelina R., University of Bologna, Faculty of International and Diplomatic Affaires, State High School Francesco Angeloni (ITALY)

“One of the first cities I longed to visit was Kyoto. Its eternal and beauty speak for itself. Sometimes I would wander around some alley, and it would feel like being frozen in time. Everything: from the food to the shrines carved in me a deep sense of amazement and peace. Fushimi Inari Taisha was my favourite. I remember it rained that day, but that vivid light red would shine like fire. If we are talking about fire, we can not leave out gold! Kinkaku-ji ( Golden Pavillon) strucks many visitors for its splendor every year. It is a Zen Buddhist temple, and one of the most popular buildings in Japan. Walking through the temple's gardens, one can find a few other spots of interest, including Anmintaku Pond that is said to never dry up, and statues that people throw coins at for luck. Continuing through the garden you will come across to the Sekkatei Teahouse. Outside the exit, you can find souvenir shops, a small tea garden, where you can have matcha tea and food stands selling various delicacies, and Fudo Hall, a small temple hall which houses a statue of Fudo Myoo, one of the Five Wisdom Kings and protector of Buddhism. These ethereal places are the ones I like to wander in. I deeply recommend to go and visit Kyoto, no matter how many times one visits a city like that, it would discover something new every time.”