Week 7

This past week was the last week of our intermediate travel, and it started with a trip from Uno Port to Osaka. In Osaka, we visited several architecture firms who operate at the edge of the profession in Japan, from parametric designers to specialists in unique materials and construction methods. We also spent a full day on a walking tour guided by a professor from a local university, which meant we were able to see many lesser-known attractions that would have otherwise been difficult to find. One of these was a sushi restaurant that, from the outside, seemed entirely inconspicuous—the food, however, was some of the very best I have ever tried! Additionally in Osaka, we did some self-exploration, and notably rode down a 200-foot tall slide projecting from the side of a skyscraper! After Osaka was Kyoto, just a short train ride away. Our time in Kyoto was full of shrines, temples, and other architectural masterpieces, and I found that the city as a whole challenged me to slow down quite a bit; I felt like I truly appreciated every moment in the city. Finally, we took a bullet train to Tokyo, and moved in to our final hotel of the semester, where we will be for the last 5 weeks!