Here's what I saw in JAPAN... (as a Korean teacher)

1/1/2025

Yasaka Pagoda, Kyoto

At the start of this year, I visited Japan for the first time.

Five years ago, I meticulously planned my dream Japan trip.

I had a color-coded spreadsheet filled with temple visits, local restaurants, and concert venues. I was going to experience it all right after my military service. Then COVID hit, and those plans gathered digital dust.

Life moved on. I got busy, and Japan became a distant dream.

Until this January, when something unexpectedly pulled me back. I can't explain it – just a sudden urge to go. Maybe it was all those years of waiting. Sometimes the best adventures start with these inexplicable feelings, right?

So I followed my instinct, packed my bag, and boarded a flight to Japan.

Here's my story:

Sneaking into the Back of a Temple

What you're looking at is the backyard of one of Kyoto's grand temples.

Which one? Well... I probably shouldn't say, considering I found out later that I wasn't exactly supposed to be there.

While wandering through the temple grounds, I spotted a doorway tucked into a shadowy corner. No signs, no barriers, no other visitors. Just weathered wood and silence. Something about it called to me.

So, I went in.

Here are the things I saw you will NEVER see from other tourists' album:

It was the most beautiful things I've seen.

As a Korean walking inside an old Japanese temple, I felt something special—a mix of familiarity and foreignness at the same time.

I liked that feeling.

So I kept on walking…

My secret exploration came to an end when I met a temple caretaker. Instead of scolding me, he kindly explained that this area was off-limits and guided me back to the main grounds. As we walked, I showed him my photos and told him his temple was "美しい" (beautiful). He smiled and said "ありがとうございます" (thank you).

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Im curious 🤔

Where have you experienced that strange mix of feeling like both an insider and outsider at once?

For me as a Korean, it took an old Japanese temple to understand that feeling.

(Also, let me know if you want me to share more stories in Japan)