It was an early and sad morning for me and Fabian we woke up at 6 am and took the train back to the airport. Where we then just waited for our flight. We arrived around 8:30 am and got to the self-baggage check. Fabian almost went through TSA with all his luggage but remembered we had to drop it off in another line.
After that issue was resolved we sat and waited. The flight was long but I did get a few hours of sleep in. Not much to personally say other than the in-flight meal was good. We landed back in the States where Fabian’s parents picked us up and it felt so weird coming back and having the public transport system not working at all there was even an older Japanese man comparing it to Japan and how lucky they are to have it there. I miss the place already and will be back hopefully soon.
On our Final day as a class together we headed to unreal fest where we saw some cool panels and I meet a fighting game dev legend Katsuhiro Harada the lead director for Tekken 8 and the past few games in the series. So that was cool.
After we made our way to Cyber Connect 2 developers where they showed us around their Tokyo office. It was small and pretty cool. Not my cup of tea in games but still cool to see what environment devs in Japan work in.
I went with some of the group to get food after. We ended up getting Sushiro conveyor sushi for the price it was pretty good. But moreover, we ended up getting together for our final time here as a group and just had a blast.
On day 12 we head back to Diver City as a class to do some shopping and a tour of the Science museum. The museum was cool and a little depressing but the stuff being shown was very neat if I was 10 years younger I would be in awe.
What was really cool was the Interactive Art gallery at first going in it felt a bit lame until you head into the room of lights and mirrors. This leads to some back-to-back awe-inspiring experiences that are hard to explain and even harder to show on video. A must-see in-person experience.
We went out with the group to the Imperial Palace in the morning some cool sites. I even 3d scanned some stuff like the fish statue in the front entrance.
3D Scan of Imperial Palace Fish Statue
After we made our way to another temple after getting lunch in Shibuya. The place was bigger than the ones we went to in Kyoto. It was peaceful and a nice break from the city. We later made our way to the Nintendo store did some shopping and made our way through Shibuya to get back to our hotel to end the night celebrating Fabian’s birthday even passing the famous crossing to get there. It was an eventful night with friends and good food.
So after a train ride back to Tokyo to Akihabara we visited a few shopping places with the main group. They were all very cool and interesting but I personally didn’t find anything for myself. Until I went out on my own and found a copy of monster hunter dos a game I’m missing in my collection ironically below our hotel.
Me and Fabian the next day set off to Diver City. We saw the Unicorn Gundam had breakfast and did some shopping. We then made our way to Shinagawa to find Kojima Productions. We found it and almost just walked into the office by accident turns out security for a major game creator’s office is very lax and you can just go to the studio floor and walk around the great white void room.
We ended our day going to the Tokyo Sky tree where I had a coffee and a nice view.
On day 5 we took a trip to Hiroshima it was an eye-opening and sad experience. I personally didn’t film a lot here due to that it’s a place you have to experience personally. But we ended on a high note with a group dinner of Okonomiyaki. We had a free day the next day so I went shopping and got cheesecake and had Japanese Macdonalds it was Macdonalds but the french fries did taste different. I liked them better than the ones in the States.
The Game Jam commenced punctually at 9:30 AM on the first day, prompting me to rise at 6 AM to allow for ample preparation time. Despite experiencing fatigue, I revitalized myself through a refreshing shower and a nourishing breakfast, prior to boarding the bus destined for KCG. Upon our arrival, we promptly convened with our respective groups. Personally, I became a member of Group 5, where we confronted critical decisions regarding fundamental elements of our game, such as gameplay mechanics and artistic style. Fortunately, we swiftly resolved these matters and proceeded with our endeavors.
As the hours elapsed, we encountered various challenges while navigating Unreal Engine 5, particularly in the realm of local multiplayer functionality. Consequently, we opted to temporarily divert my attention to other tasks, such as the implementation of collision and hitboxes, competently handled by Vincent.
To streamline collaboration and enhance organization, our team initiated a shared Google Drive, serving as a central repository. Initially, I harbored reservations regarding the employment of Google Drive as our chosen version control system. Nonetheless, considering the familiarity of this workflow among the KCG students within my team, I embraced the decision to immerse myself in its utilization.
When I was personally done with my part of the work I went around interviewing the other teams about their progress. All seemed to have gone as well as ours.
Joining the tour group, we eagerly boarded the tour bus, filled with anticipation to delve into the captivating history and culture of Kyoto.
Our first destination was Kinkakuji, also known as the Golden Pavilion, an awe-inspiring Zen temple with its top two floors lavishly adorned in gold leaf.
It was a remarkable sight! While it may not have gleamed with the luster of chrome, the natural surroundings were even more breathtaking, presenting a harmonious and visually stunning masterpiece.
Afterward, we strolled through the neighboring city to find a spot for lunch. We discovered an authentic sit-down restaurant where I had the pleasure of savoring delicious wagyu croquettes and indulging in Arashiyama Tenryuu ramen.
Following our satisfying lunch, we proceeded to Kiyomizudera, one of Japan’s most renowned temples. Its standout feature was the wooden terrace extending from the main hall, offering a panoramic view of the city and lush mountains. The sight was truly mesmerizing and left a lasting impression on all of us.
Our next stop was Fushimi-Inari, a shrine famous for its countless vermilion torii gates. As we walked along the winding path, we found ourselves enveloped by a striking tunnel of vibrant red gates, each one inscribed with the name of its generous donor. Despite the considerable number of visitors, the atmosphere remained remarkably serene, adding to the spiritual experience.
As the day drew to a close, we visited Kyoto Computer Gakuin, where the staff warmly welcomed us. After some casual conversation, we settled in for an anime screening of the Demon Slayer movie Mugen Train which I have personally seen. It served as a fantastic way to unwind and relax after a full day of exploring the rich cultural heritage of Kyoto.
The following day, we embarked on an early morning expedition to engage in a traditional zazen meditation session. The awe-inspiring architecture of the venerable Japanese temples never fails to captivate, and the abundant verdant surroundings, accompanied by the soothing melodies of nature, immediately instilled a sense of tranquility within me. The serene ambiance made me feel at ease in this peaceful sanctuary.
Following the meditation, we proceeded to revisit one of the previous locations to partake in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, an experience that provided us with a profound insight into the intricacies of tea etiquette. The gracious hostess exemplified kindness and empathy as she enlightened us about some of the subtle nuances involved in the art of the tea ceremony.
For instance, when sipping from the bowl, it is customary to orient the most embellished portion of the vessel towards oneself, acknowledging the person who will be holding the bowl. Additionally, before imbibing, one delicately rotates the bowl twice in a clockwise manner, ensuring that their lips do not make direct contact with the bowl’s exquisite craftsmanship.
Afterward, we ventured to the bustling Nishiki Market to indulge in a delectable assortment of culinary delights. Following a brief respite at our hotel, where I took the opportunity to rejuvenate for an hour, we convened once more at 6 pm for an evening of bowling at Round 1.
We Boweld, I lost but had an enjoyable time non the less. Then we just stayed a bit longer in the arcade and just had a swing at the games they had.
Then we walked back through Nishiki Market at night and the stark difference it has when there are no people is kind of scary but in any other country I would probably feel uneasy but here it felt calming.”
Similar to our first day with an early start, my friend Fabian and I embarked on a memorable journey. I woke up at the early hour of 3:40 am, engaging in some productive work on my blog after grabbing a cup of coffee from a vending machine. Meanwhile, Fabian discovered that he had misplaced his travel bag, prompting him to search for it unsuccessfully.
It wasn’t until we ventured outside the building to have breakfast that he checked his phone and received a notification indicating that his AirPods were located inside the bag. Thankfully, with the assistance of a helpful individual near the eastern entrance, we managed to recover the missing bag. For more detailed information, please refer to Fabian’s blog.
Finally, around 10 am, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast comprising bacon and eggs. The bread was particularly noteworthy, boasting a delightful cake-like texture.
To occupy our time, we embarked on a journey through the local area, during which I purchased some gifts for my family. Along the way, we unexpectedly stumbled upon a quaint shrine and encountered an intriguing garden as we made our way back to the hotel. We took a short break at a nearby 7/11 to quench our thirst.
Subsequently, we reconvened in the hotel lobby, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the rest of our group.
I had a fascinating encounter in the lobby with an individual who happened to be a car drifter. He shared that he was currently filming a Netflix documentary on drifting and had recently met Keiichi Tsuchiya, renowned as the drift king himself. Naturally, I found this conversation quite cool, and I even started following him on Instagram. It will be interesting to watch the documentary once it becomes available.
As a group, we then embarked on the shinkansen (Bullet Train) to commence our journey to Kyoto. During the train ride, I dedicated my time to working on completing my latest blog post, although the internet connection proved to be less than ideal. Additionally, I attempted the Peridot experiment, but encountered difficulties updating the app until after we arrived at our destination. I must mention that the train ride was an exhilarating experience due to its remarkable speed, causing the images captured by any camera I used to distort from the sheer velocity. It was truly a wild experience.
Upon our arrival in Kyoto, we dropped off our belongings on the bus and proceeded to a group dinner. This particular meal overwhelmed me with pure emotion, as we were treated to a traditional Japanese 10-course feast. I never imagined I would have the opportunity to partake in such an experience, even if I were to visit this country on my own. I am immensely grateful to Stephen Jacobs, RIT, and KCG for organizing this unforgettable dining experience.
Following the dinner, we made our way back to the hotel, where I am currently writing this account. Tomorrow, on the 23rd, I plan to post this entry, as I am quite tired and in need of some restful sleep.
I am excited to share my journey traveling to Japan over the next two weeks.
I will be documenting my experiences here for both this page and personal reflection. Joining me on this adventure is my good friend Fabian Sanchez.
Our trip began in North Jersey at around 9:30 am, and we arrived at the airport at approximately 11:30 am.
After obtaining our boarding passes, we eagerly waited for our departure. As someone who enjoys flying, I found the trip quite comfortable.
The in-flight meals were excellent, and I managed to get a few hours of decent sleep.
At around 5 pm JST, we landed at Haneda airport, where we were greeted by a breathtaking view of Mount Fuji. Our first task was to acquire our rail passes. However, we underestimated the time it would take, and it ended up taking us two hours.
Eventually, we made it to the monorail that took us to our desired station. Unfortunately, we initially boarded the JS train in the wrong direction but quickly corrected ourselves and eventually arrived at Shinagawa.
It was around 9 pm when we reached our hotel, where we enjoyed a lovely view and rested for the night.
The following morning, we woke up at around 5 am and set out in search of our first meal in Japan. As many places were still closed, we opted for a visit to 7/11. After having our breakfast, we took the opportunity to explore the Shinagawa area, which had numerous picturesque locations worth capturing.
Later in the day, after a brief break at our hotel, Fabian and I met up with Meagan and Belle, who were also traveling with us. Together, we visited the Pokemon cafe in Nihonbashi, which turned out to be a delightful and delicious experience. And am honored and thankful to be invited, a childhood dream being lived out.
Our next stop was Asakusa, where the Sanja Matsuri festival was taking place. The atmosphere was bustling with people, enticing food stalls, and a wide array of items to purchase. We made our way to the temple and eventually headed back to the hotel.
In the evening, we reunited with the rest of our travel group for a group dinner, during which we shared our experiences and discussed the events of the day. Afterwards, we returned to our respective rooms, where I am currently staying.
More updates on our journey through Japan are to come!
