My journey began on the evening of 19 September 2025, when I flew from Sivas to Istanbul to start an adventure that would take me all the way to Japan. Early the next morning, I boarded my flight from Istanbul to Abu Dhabi, where I spent about eight hours waiting for my connection. The airport was quiet, modern, and filled with travelers from around the world. After a long layover, I finally continued toward Tokyo, crossing continents and time zones.
Around noon on 21 September, my plane landed at Narita International Airport. The crisp Japanese air greeted me as I took the train through Nippori toward central Tokyo and checked into Hotel Live Max Akasaka. Despite the fatigue of travel, curiosity pushed me out into the city. That evening I explored Shibuya, its neon lights and crossing alive with movement, and wandered along Takeshita Street, where the youth of Tokyo expressed themselves through color, fashion, and energy.
The next morning I began my academic schedule at Sophia University, attending a workshop that gathered researchers from different countries. The campus, surrounded by greenery and calm, felt like a quiet island in the middle of the world’s largest metropolis. In the evening I met a friend for coffee at Tully’s Coffee Akasaka, where we talked about the city, life, and the strange comfort of being far from home.
Over the following days the conference officially started. I delivered my presentation and shared my research with an attentive audience, exchanging ideas with engineers and scientists from around the globe. After the academic sessions, I allowed myself to enjoy Tokyo’s rhythm. I strolled through Ueno Park, visited nearby temples, and then wandered into Akihabara, the electric district glowing with screens and sound.
One evening, Sophia University hosted a farewell dinner filled with culture and warmth. There was traditional Japanese music, elegant geisha dance, and laughter among new colleagues. Later that night, I carried my camera through the streets to take long-exposure photographs of Tokyo’s lights and reflections, before ending the night with a bit of shopping, buying a few pieces of innovative clothing that caught my eye.
As the week progressed, I turned from conference halls to creative spaces. At the MORI Building Digital Art Museum – teamLab Borderless, I walked through interactive rooms where light, color, and sound moved like living things. Later I went up to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building to see the city from above, continued to teamLab Planets Tokyo DMM, and finished the evening at the Tokyo Skytree, watching the city sparkle endlessly into the night.
The next morning I left Tokyo for Shin-Fuji, where Mount Fuji rose majestically against a clear blue sky. I spent hours taking photographs of the mountain and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere before returning to the city. That evening I met my professor at Sophia University, then explored Yodobashi Camera for some tech shopping. The day ended in Shibuya, where I enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Halal Wagyu Ramen & Gyukatsu Gyumon, tasting the tenderness of Japanese beef cooked to perfection.
My final day in Japan began early at the Tokyo Skytree, where I stored my luggage in a locker before taking the train to Asakusa. There I visited the beautiful Sensō-ji Temple, surrounded by incense, prayers, and the gentle noise of visitors. Returning to Skytree, I collected my suitcase and made my way to Narita Airport. At 5:30 p.m., my flight departed for Abu Dhabi, and later that night I continued on to Istanbul, finally returning to Sivas the next morning.
Looking back, the week in Tokyo was far more than an academic trip. It was a journey that blended science, art, and culture, filled with contrasts between ancient tradition and futuristic innovation. From the quiet grace of temples to the shimmering digital art of teamLab, and from professional discussions to heartfelt moments shared over coffee, every experience became a vivid memory. Japan left an impression of discipline, beauty, and harmony — lessons I carried home long after my plane touched down.
