As of now, it is officially my birthday in both Japan AND back home in the US. Before coming to Japan, one of the main reasons I had been so excited about this semester was that I knew I would be able to celebrate my birthday while I was in Japan, and that I would have the opportunity to celebrate in a special way.
After getting the “okay” from my professors, I decided to skip class today and visit somewhere I have been wanting to see for years now, the Fushimi-Inari shrine in Kyoto. The mascot of the shrine is a white fox, and several shops leading up to the shrine sold white fox souvenirs to commemorate your trip to the shrine. After I was able to shop, I had lunch at a nearby Indian restaurant (and ate curry for the first time!), and then made my way to the shrine. The shrine itself is at the foot of the mountain, and it holds a hiking trail famous for the several Tori gates that surround it. Along the path, there are several locations for prayer and to give your respects, most adorned with the shrine’s white fox.
Although I went on my own, and I’m so far from my family and friends, this birthday was one of the most special yet, because I had never thought until this past year that I would have the opportunity to visit Japan, let alone celebrate my 22nd birthday here. My 22nd birthday was definitely a day I will never forget!
