Column: Embracing Japan and Korea: Street foods, shops and flowers

From diverse street food to unique street fashion, Japan and South Korea have become popular tourist destinations. While visiting both countries this past spring break, I enjoyed noticing some cultural similarities and differences. For instance, in Japan, street fashion is distinct and colorful, while in South Korea, the fashion tends to be more minimalist.

Beginning my trip to Tokyo, Japan, my family and I walked along the streets of Asakusa, an area well-known for its traditional temples and craft shops. The savory aroma of diverse street foods like Takoyaki and croquettes filled the air. As I looked at all the different treats, I noticed many people dressed as Geishas with white face makeup and traditional kimonos. The kimono is a Japanese national garment, and many tourists enjoy dressing in geisha as it is a moment to embrace Japanese culture.

During my stay in Tokyo, I got the opportunity to explore many different aspects of this beautiful city. One of my favorites was TeamLab Planets Tokyo. This was an exciting interactive art facility where technology meets immersive artworks. Out of all the beautiful artworks, one that was the most fascinating was “Drawing on the Water Surface Created by the Dance of Koi and People–Infinity.” Before entering, we had to remove our socks and shoes and place them in lockers. Then we entered a room with knee-high level water that pictured vibrant, colorful koi fish swimming around.

Another artwork called the “Floating Flower Garden: Flowers and I are of the Same Root, the Garden and I are One” is one of the most popular artworks at the lab. We entered a room where gorgeous, fresh flowers hung from the ceiling and mirrors surrounded everywhere. This art lab was unique and a new experience! Every room had a different vibe of beauty that awed us. The three days we spent in Tokyo were a fun opportunity to embrace the culture and enjoy the delicious street food!

My next stop was Jeju-do Island! This island is such a beautiful place filled with nature that brings serenity. My stay here was only for two days but it was filled with so much fun! The first thing we did was visit a natural indoor hot spring. The environment indoors was warm and relaxing. Afterward, we visited a pretty cafe known for its famous hand-drip coffee. We bought cheesecake, tiramisu cake, coffee, and a yuzu mint lemonade. All of these were sweet and delicious. The garden outside the shop was a peaceful place filled with greenery and tall trees that surrounded the area. We then visited a botanic garden filled with beautiful hydrangea and canola flowers. Canola flowers are bright yellow spring flowers representing Jeju Island, filling many of the fields and hillsides there. We also saw rows of pink and white cherry blossoms there.

My final destination for this springtime trip was Seoul, South Korea. This big city in South Korea showcased many fun shopping malls and stores. My favorite was visiting Myeongdong, a shopping center packed with stores and casual street foods. Nyu Nyu was a memorable store amongst the many different shops: it had many different levels overflowing with jewelry, clothes, and keychains. Next stop, we went to Namdaemun! A market with various types of street food like shrimp and more. As well as the famous Tanghulu. This treat was everywhere! Tanghulu are fruits on bamboo skewers covered with a thin hard candy shell. This popular treat is sweet and has a satisfying crunchy texture.

Overall, this short but adventurous trip was wonderful! It was a fun opportunity to explore exciting new street snacks, shopping, and more. Both Seoul and Tokyo shared delicious street foods, and stores that were filled with cute accessories.

Witnessing both of these cultures in person helped me to understand the beauty of the similarities and differences in each culture. For example, in Tokyo I saw a lot of people wearing vibrant, statement pieces of clothing. On the other hand Seoul’s streetwear was more minimal and simplistic.

One thing both cultures had in common was the delicious street food! Both had diverse and unique street foods that you cannot find back in the United States. This experience was a exciting week filled with celebrations of both cultures. I cannot wait to be back, and I definitely recommend visiting for your next visit.

Cherry blossoms in South Korea (Photo by Hajin Kim)