It was a long journey to finally make it to Fukushima. When I applied to study here it was still 2020 and I thought I would be able to come in the beginning of 2021. Sadly because of covid it took till the beginning of 2022 to finally make the flight. As I arrived in Fukushima the first thing I noticed were the mountains and the nature.
Not knowing a lot about Fukushima before coming here I didn't expect the surrounding area to be as nice as it was. We went on a trip to Hanami-yama the first week I spend here and it was truly beautiful. While we weren't able to view the flowers in full bloom this time changing seasons make it a trip worth year round.
Adjusting to the Japanese academic system proved quite a challenge for me in the beginning. Classes are structured and graded quite different from what I was used to in Germany and it definitely took me a while to get used to it. Once I adapted I found a lot of value in the offered Japanese classes though, as they were honestly a bit above me in level and challenged me to test my limits throughout the whole semester.
I made a lot of friends throughout my time here. Foreign students from the dorm, as well as Japanese students I met on campus, through mutual friends or club activities. Especially training with the handball club has made me appreciate Japanese community from a different perspective.
From Fukushima it is very easy to reach a lot of different interesting places for short or long trips. As of now I have travelled to Aizu-Wakamatu, a very interesting town with a long history. I visited the museum inside the reconstructed castle and the graveyard of the byakkotai.
I visited Sendai in June, a rather big city which is very easy to reach by train from Fukushima and hosts a lot of interesting places and some beautiful views.
I don't think I will run out of things to do in Fukushima and places to visit in the area soon, so it is safe to say that I am enjoying my time here to the fullest and can highly recommend it to everyone.
福島大学への留学案内・年間スケジュール
