If you’re looking to get a huge boost in your motivation for studying Japanese, why not take a trip to Japan itself? Here’s why I recommend taking a two-week trip as soon as you can.
It’s not like the movies or books
I’m sure you’ve imagined what it would be like to live in Japan, but that’s not what it’s like once you get here. It’s much more than that.
Sure, it’s a lot more subtle and subdued than what comes across the silver screen, but it’s still much different than anything you’ve experienced in your own country.
No matter what your interest, you can find somewhere in Japan to enjoy it. The best part is that not only will you be surrounded by other people enjoying the same thing, you’ll be surrounded by native speakers enjoying it. You can head down to Akihabara for some electronics, anime, or manga goods. You can hit up Ginza for high-class shopping. You can walk around in Harajuku for trendy fashion at discount prices. You can hang out in Shibuya or Shinjuku and experience clubs. And that’s just Tokyo.
Festivals, mountains, beaches, tea farms, rice paddies, drifting (as in the car sport), chilling at a maid cafe – Whatever your interest in Japan, you’ll find your place. You’ll meet Japanese people who share the same interest as you, and you’ll want to be able to speak with them in Japanese as soon as possible.
How Osaka drove me to learn
The first time I was really excited to learn Japanese was after my first trip to Japan. I had made the conscious decision to study the language before that (which is another story), but it wasn’t till I set foot in Osaka for the first time that I felt a real drive to learn Japanese, and learn it as fast as I could.
I was out enjoying Japanese life – Not just the tourist destinations. I was walking amongst the citizens. I was buying gogo-no-koucha royal milk tea from flashy vending machines. I was walking down rows of shelves upon shelves of manga, all neatly lined up in chronological order. I was in Japan.
Literally, the day after I arrived back in California after my two-week trip to Japan, I started studying Japanese full-time. I was the only student in the class who could actually start my sentences with, “When I was in Japan yesterday, …”
I powered through a one-year course in a six-week summer session, 4 hours in class and 5 hours in study at home every day. In retrospect, my study method at the time was flawed, but my passion was in overdrive. I eventually went on to major in East Asian Cultural Studies with an emphasis in Japanese Language and Culture. I was determined to get back to Japan as soon as possible, so I spent my last year of university in Tokyo doing an exchange program.
Make a goal sheet during your trip
Buy a small pad of paper and keep notes of mini-goals during your trip to Japan. When you get back home, constantly review your mini-goals to keep in mind why you’re studying the language. Maybe you found a manga that you want to read in Japanese eventually. Or you saw some advertisements for a movie that was showing in theaters during your stay. Or you fell in love with a poster girl and want to confess your undying love. Whatever it is that sparks your interest in Japanese language, don’t forget it.
When I first visited Japan I had been interested in drifting and one specific manga called Initial D. Being in the actual environment depicted in the manga was beyond cool. I didn’t want the moment to end.
By the way, I recommend the Initial D series, and if it’s something you’re into then consider making a trip to Chiba to see some circuits in live action.
For more advice
If anyone has specific recommendations for destinations in Japan, feel free to post some advice in the comments section.
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> “It
been a while since I surfed in
I like the new theme
I will drop by more often!
I’m sure it would be a motivation. Me, I want to be fluent before I visit, so I can enjoy it as much as possible. Reading blogs like yours keeps me encouraged to keep on going. Need to get back to my kanji reps now.
Mark: For sure, they do present a lot of the “different” sides of Japan.
Jamaipanese: Glad to see you come back around.
2nihon: Keep up it up! I’ll be glad to see you around here and keep up on your progression.
I went through much the same experience. I first started learning Japanese in university but quickly lost motivation. I then got interested again 4 years later, I’m not sure why, but I’ve always been interested in Japan.
This time I was working and had a bit of money. So I took a guided trip to Japan for 2 weeks in May and loved it so much I returned again in September by myself. That trip sold it for me and I’m now in Tokyo on a 1 year working holiday visa and loving every minute!
I agree about the goal sheet. I wrote a little travel diary during my 2 weeks and I’d read it whilst I was in the UK to remind myself why I was learning Japanese.
Nice article, and I like the new theme
Great article – whether you want to study the language or the culture it’s much easier to be inspired when you visit. My language skills are poor as is my motivation but the ability to interact with the people makes me want to try harder.
It’s amazing the things that interest you when you see a country for the first time.
I remember being frustrated that I couldn’t ask my father-in-law why some cars had different coloured licence plates!
The size of cars, the queues outside tiny restaurants and typhoon weather were all a great surprise to me.
It’s made me think there’s a lot more to learn and a lot more to discover. Right, back to studying