Possibility, Purpose, and Peace: Lessons From Japan

Authored by Alyssa Y. Bullock

It is rare for a place to teach you a lasting life lesson and even rarer still for a place to teach you three. Japan is one of these special places. I had the privilege of studying abroad there for six weeks during CIEE’s Open Campus Block Program. Had I had been there longer, I’m sure the country would have taught me many more. Japan divides itself into three distinct settings: endless cities, simple towns, and peaceful countryside. Each setting offers a lesson that stays with you forever: the power of possibility, the importance of purpose, and the gift of peace.

The megacities feel alive with all the ideas and ambitions flowing through them. Generations of human progress show themselves in the bullet trains that fly past, the cutting-edge technology assisting you at every turn, and the sheer scale of everything from the buildings to the roads. In a place where endless skyscrapers pierce the sky above and miles of train tracks carve the ground below, you get the sense that the limits we place on ourselves are illusions. Ambitious dreams aren’t reserved for others – they’re within your reach, too. 

The small towns aren’t grand like the cities, and they don’t need to be. They carry a quiet wisdom. Shopkeepers sweep their doorways with care. Artists create beauty from the ordinary. Farmers tend to their gardens with quiet devotion. Walking through these towns, you realize that every person has a role to play, and those roles are best played with pride. It’s never about achieving grandeur; it’s about contributing meaningfully. We’re all part of the same world, and so perhaps our one true obligation in life is finding our calling and fulfilling it with purpose.

But it’s in the countryside that time pauses. Whether it’s the stillness of the forests behind you, the rivers running alongside you, or the vastness of the open fields in front of you, the outcome is the same. With no distractions, you’re left with alone with your thoughts. You reflect on how quickly life passes by and how precious each moment truly is. A sense of clarity and gratitude washes over you. This is peace: the realization that life is fleeting and beautiful, and you must make the most of the time you are given.

Japan is far more than just a new country to explore; its landscapes have a way of showing you new perspectives on life. Japan will teach you to dream big, to find meaning in what you do, and to slow down enough to appreciate the beauty all around you. These lessons have stayed with me and I’m certain they will stay with you too, no matter what path you take in life.