Photos taken by Judy Li (Soka University of America), Student Correspondent for CET Japan, Spring 2023
![A CET Japan student standing by a Despicable Me character in Japan's Universal Studio](https://cetacademicprograms.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Blog_Japan_Spring-2023_Judy-Li_1_Universal-Studios_700x932.jpg)
Going to Universal Studios of Japan! It was so much fun that it made me regret why I didn’t purchase a year pass (which is a bit more than double the price of a day pass). YOASOBI had a concert on that day so there were so many people.
![Close-up of homemade Takoyaki on a small skillet](https://cetacademicprograms.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Blog_Japan_Spring-2023_Judy-Li_2_Takoyaki-party-with-housemates_700x933.jpg)
I discovered I have the same birthday as one of my housemates! We made Takoyaki at the birthday party and put way too much stuff in it.
![A small bowl of udon soup on the left and a bowl of Matcha noodles on the right, all placed on a small tray](https://cetacademicprograms.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Blog_Japan_Spring-2023_Judy-Li_3_Matcha-udon-and-icecream_800x600.jpg)
Going to Uji and had matcha udon and matcha ice cream. I still couldn’t tell the difference in flavor between matcha udon and the usual udon, but the ice cream was so good!
![Somebody hugging a giant egg-shaped inflatable in teamLab Botanical Garden in Osaka, Japan](https://cetacademicprograms.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Blog_Japan_Spring-2023_Judy-Li_4_TeamLab-Botanical-Garden-in-Osaka_700x933.jpg)
CET took us to teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka. Everything was stunningly beautiful, and I especially loved the smell of nature while enjoying the exhibitions.
![A deer peeking its head out between thin bars in Nara Park in Japan](https://cetacademicprograms.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Blog_Japan_Spring-2023_Judy-Li_5_Deer-in-Nara_800x600.jpg)
Nara trip with housemates! The deer all gave bows that either meant a polite “Arigatou! Yoroshiku!” or “Put that senbei on the ground right now or I’ll bite you.” And they did bite our clothes, so I wasn’t sure.
![Two pigeons on a ledge near a narrow body of water with cherry blossoms blooming](https://cetacademicprograms.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Blog_Japan_Spring-2023_Judy-Li_6_Cherry-blossoms_700x933.jpg)
The view when we walked out from the Kyoto Kawaramachi train station during the week when cherry blossom was in full bloom.
![A CET Japan student wearing a kimono and mask outdoors on a sunny day in Kyoto, Japan](https://cetacademicprograms.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Blog_Japan_Spring-2023_Judy-Li_6_Student-wearing-kimono_700x933.jpg)
Wearing kimono under cherry blossoms in Kyoto. We realized that walking in kimono is a lot easier if we lift the end of the kimono a little bit, which we did. And we consequently received a strong “nooo!! (だめ!)” from our housemate.
![A CET Japan student holding up her arms on sand in Tottori Sand Dunes](https://cetacademicprograms.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Blog_Japan_Spring-2023_Judy-Li_8_Tottori-Sand-Dunes-CET-excursion_700x933.jpg)
Going to the Tottori Sand Dunes on CET’s overnight trip. We all had so much fun racing in the sand.
![A male and female standing in front of the Tower of the Sun imitating the same exact pose as the Tower of the Sun](https://cetacademicprograms.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Blog_Japan_Spring-2023_Judy-Li_9_Tower-of-the-Sun_700x933.jpg)
Going to the famous Tower of the Sun. The park was a lot bigger and prettier than expected. We planned to see cherry blossoms in the park but ended up spending most of our time exploring nature in the park.
![The outside building of the Matsue Castle in Shimane Prefecture at nighttime with cherry blossoms surrounding the building](https://cetacademicprograms.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Photo10_Judy-Li_Cherry-blossoms-at-Matsue-Castle-in-Shimane-Prefecture.jpg)
Cherry blossom at night at the Matsue Castle in Shimane Prefecture.