（The article is written by JaLS Staff, who went to the University in Japan.）

I will never forget my time spent studying abroad in Japan. For a foreigner like myself, learning the language, the culture, and the academic material all at once was such an unusual learning experience.

Looking back, I can see how the challenge of relocating to a foreign country and picking up everything on the fly acted as a catalyst for my improved emotional and mental development. I had to mature quickly if I wanted to survive the crisis.

Due to the strains of my education and the pressure to perform in a new setting, I used to break out in pimples every month back then. The challenging educational experiences helped me recognize and appreciate the need of taking a break from school.

I would experiment with various things after lessons or during the break. I would participate in sports, sample a variety of different foods, go to auto shows, and go to the most well-known places.

I’ll be discussing my go-to hobbies in this post for anytime I needed to relax or take a break from my demanding academic life.

I had a deep affinity for baseball even before I moved to Japan. Because it was so enjoyable and calming, baseball was very close to my heart. I’ve aspired to become a professional my whole life. Because they were my favorites as a child, I studied and imitated the techniques of American Major League Baseball greats like Ken Griffey, Jr., Barry Bonds, and Mark McGwire.

I had no idea that the nation was as passionate about the sport that I had grown to love as I was when I arrived in the Land of the Rising Sun. Baseball was the first thing I watched on TV when I initially arrived here. I felt stunned. I mistakenly believed that football or soccer, sumo, professional wrestling, and martial arts were all that the Japanese were interested in.

In fact, playing baseball aided in my stronger relationship with Japan. I had a topic to discuss with my recent acquaintances. I would watch Nippon Professional Baseball games on television after school, rooting for my beloved Saitama “Invincible” Seibu Lions, or I would go to local minor league games to learn more about the sport. Baseball taught me a lot about the nation’s culture.

On my luckiest days, though, I would get to play on the diamond with my fellow outfielders and showcase my skills. Even the baseball varsity squad at our high school chose me because of my skill. Sadly, my goal of being the top foreigner baseball player in Japan never came true. However, I did like playing my favorite game, and it was a great way for me to relax after a long day of studying.

What is there to say about Japanese food? Oh, my goodness, it’s fantastic! I had no idea I would like eating so much. Back home, I mostly had large portions of steak, juicy hamburgers, topping-loaded pizza, and other western-influenced cuisine. Even while I still appreciate and sometimes eat this kind of meal, it has become too “basic” for me, particularly in light of the enormous variety of distinctive Japanese foods that exist.

I was able to explore various eateries and izakayas during my free time after lessons. When I first had sashimi, it was such an eye-opening experience for me. Even something as simple as thinly sliced raw fish with some soy sauce and wasabi would blow my mind.

I also think that wonderful delicacies like udon, tempura, ramen, donburi, soba, gyoza, tonkatsu, takoyaki, and yakisoba are really enticing and incredibly addicting.

A fantastic approach to unwind and concentrate on anything else your schoolwork is to try new dishes or even the classic favorites. In order to really enjoy Japanese cuisine, I suggest that you ask your friends for recommendations of wonderful restaurants in your neighborhood.

I’ve always had a thing for cars. I would basically read up on vehicle periodicals, automotive journals, and anything connected to automobiles after finishing my studies, homework, and assignments. By the time I arrived in Japan, I had been completely smitten with JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) vehicles and the amazing tuner culture there.

I had no idea that the idea of automobile meets even existed before. To clarify, a car meet is essentially when auto lovers get together for a planned event that displays amazing vehicles. Typically, car meets take place in deserted parking lots.

When I was at a car meet, I vividly recall meeting the “Godzilla” of the JDM world for the first time. Just then, the flawlessly blue Nissan Skyline GTR R34 caught my attention. I was inspired to complete my education so I could one day purchase and drive the automobile after seeing it.

My pearl white Honda S2000 was replaced with a red 1998 Mitsubishi GTO (3000GT), which I now possess. They are all fantastic JDM vehicles in and of itself, but owning the coveted blue “Godzilla” is still my ultimate automotive goal. I’m hoping one day to come across a mint one that is also fairly priced.

Because attending auto meetings allowed me to escape the pressures of school, I felt comfortable there. I no longer attend car meetings since the majority are held at night, but I still sometimes attend “cars and coffee” gatherings because they often occur on weekends.

Seeing the magnificent Mt. Fuji up close was one of the many joys of my trip to Japan. As you can see, it happened in the summer after my first year of studies in Japan. So this was really my first trip to a national tourist spot. I hadn’t even begun to explore the city at that moment.

My friends had informed me several times before the trip that Mount Fuji was gorgeous and a sight to see. I assumed they were just exaggerating since I had already seen stunning mountains in my own nation. I anticipated it to be only another attraction, nothing special.

However, wow, were they ever accurate – Mount Fuji is stunning! The adjective “magnificent” doesn’t seem to do it credit, in my opinion. It was so stunning to see in person that I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. After a few minutes of my pals shooting pictures and other such things, they simply sat on a seat and spoke. But I’m not. I didn’t even pay attention to what they were saying. Just the view left me speechless.

The best part about using tourism as a way to decompress after courses is that encounters like these are almost always memorable. It won’t come as a surprise if the majority of you choose visiting tourist destinations as your top off-campus activity if you also consider that Japan’s transportation infrastructure is among the finest in the world.

Knowing what kind of interest or activity you’ll be willing to engage in during your free time from school is crucial. These activities are crucial because they provide you time to reflect and engage in intriguing activities unrelated to your studies. Additionally, it offers you a boost when classes resume.

I advise you to engage in leisurely activities after school and some of the more time-consuming ones during the vacation or summer.

How would you want to spend the free time? Please inform us at any time. We really hope that our advice has been useful to you as you choose your hobbies.