My hobby is traveling and taking pictures of landscapes. When I was a child, my parents used to take me on trips. We often went to various places to eat during holidays as a family. There, my father used to take many photos of the family and landscapes. This made me gradually like traveling and taking photos. Especially, I love taking pictures of landscapes.

When I was young, I always went with my family, but as I grew older, I often traveled with friends. Since coming to Japan, sometimes I travel alone. Since I plan it myself, I can decide everything according to my preferences, such as places I really want to go, see, and foods I want to eat. I can also arrange the purpose, cost, and travel time to suit me. Therefore, I collect information about the destination from the internet and guidebooks, prepare a list of necessary items, and ensure everything goes smoothly for the trip. It is fun to think about the order of visiting destinations and transportation methods.

However, when I travel, the information I gathered often differs significantly from reality. There can be various encounters and unexpected events, like sudden bad weather or train delays that force me to stay an extra night.

This summer, I went on a two-day trip to Hiroshima. When I arrived at Hiroshima station, the weather was very good, but as soon as I arrived at the Peace Memorial Park, it suddenly started raining, which was disappointing. However, after a while, the rain gradually lightened, and I was happy when it stopped after about 30 minutes.

While taking shelter from the rain, I met a kind volunteer guide by chance. This person explained the Atomic Bomb Dome in detail and even took me to eat Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki. I met such a kind and helpful volunteer because of the rain. I think the unexpected is what makes traveling interesting.

Last spring, when I came to Japan, the cherry blossoms were just beginning to bloom. At that time, I took many photos of cherry blossoms. The first place I visited was Kyoto. There are many tourist spots in Kyoto, so it’s impossible to see them all in one day. Since I have friends living in Kyoto, I visited several times. I went to Kitano Tenmangu Shrine to pray for academic success, walked leisurely through the bamboo grove in Arashiyama, and experienced the Hozugawa River boat ride. I also visited “Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama,” a spot full of monkeys, and saw the illuminated “Kimono Forest” at night.

However, the spot that left the biggest impression on me is “Miyama Kayabuki no Sato.” There are many thatched houses there. Last winter, there was little snow, but luckily, when I visited, it snowed a lot. The snow-covered thatched roofs were very beautiful. I want to visit again this winter to see the “Snow Lantern Corridor,” a light-up event illuminating Kayabuki no Sato.