Japanese Food Bites: Indulging in the Taste of Summer

Hi! My name is Jayden Hawkins and I am a rising second year and I am studying public health and business administration (my passion is for healthcare reform and health disparities!). I was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana. Given where I am from, Japan is an exhilarating place to be, offering many sights to explore and foods to eat. 

To kickstart our time in Kyoto, our first day was filled with many sights. The morning air was thick and heavy, and the sun beamed upon our foreheads (except the ones who used their umbrellas) as we headed for the bus. The bus was crowded and it was harder to stay grounded compared to the subway trains. When I first experienced the busy times of the subway in Tokyo,  the cars were stuffed with too many human beings, and was a humbling experience. Other than how many of us could squeeze and play the game of Tetris, what was even more shocking was the workers who were designated to help smush people into the cars. 

As we got off the bus stop, an uphill battle awaited us at 9:30 in the morning. After each leg carried the other on the incline, we walked past many small shops filled with souvenirs, sweet treats, and more. While waiting for the other half of the group to catch up, we stopped in front of a Tanghulu shop. Me, Gillian, and Kelly all bought sugar-coated strawberries to ease our breathless journey. 

When everyone gathered at the meeting spot, we met our tour guide whose name was Simon. Simon was an older man who was very knowledgeable about the history, shrines, and temples. We all loved Simon for guiding us through the site and we will always remember his fish on a stick that weaved through all the steps and uphill climbs. 

The red-orange Kiyomizudera Temple shined brightly upon us. After many clicks and flashes of cellphones, digital cameras, and professional cameras we all headed towards the Yasaka Shrine. The blistering sun was fighting against all of our umbrellas and electric or nonelectric handheld fans. But we persisted through the day!

When attending festivals or going to shrines, some will wear traditional Japanese clothing such as kimonos. This shows one’s respect and appreciation for Japanese culture and history. Three students (Kerem, Andy, and Frederick) in our group wore traditional clothing!

After strolling up and down the hill filled with shops and seeing a historical gate, we headed to our next destination, Tenryu-ji Temple! All of our stomachs were growling, despite for kind of meal. Some decided to get lunch tofu, soba, or udon. Shirley, Kelly, and I all got cold soba noodles for a satisfying, refreshing meal on a hot summer’s day. Gillian on the other hand ordered shrimp tempura.

After lunch, we all headed to the Tenryu Temple with full and happy stomachs. The temple carried a zen and serene aura and remained peaceful despite the distracting weather. After many clicks of cameras, we all carried on to see the renowned bamboo forest. More memorable than the trees was a Japanese family in kimonos taking family portraits in the bamboo forest. We were all mesmerized by the brilliant idea and had a gut feeling those family portraits would be honored forever. 

Most of the group was split off in all different directions, taking their exploring heart wherever they desired. Some went to the river, back to the hotel, or to the Monkey Park. One memory that I will hold from July 16th was my first ever Taiyaki. I knew of the Japanese fish desert years ago from watching Izuku Midoriya in My Hero Academia overly obsessed over the sweet. Shirley cooled off the hot egg custard inside the fish-shaped waffle with her handheld fan. My impatience took over me and I took a bite of the steaming hot sweet. Some of my tastebuds were burned on the top and the hot winds became even more hot but it was all worth it in the end. I finally understood Izuku Midoriya’s obsession with Taiyaki.