Petra Pataki

With an academic background in both Korean and Japanese studies, I’ve been passionate about these cultures for many years. I'm interested in just about everything these two amazing countries have to offer.

During my time as an exchange student at Yokohama National University, I had the opportunity to experience daily life as a university student in Japan. For me, Yokohama became my second home, with the beautiful Minato Mirai in the downtown area, visible from my own window, and the peaceful outskirts where friendly locals were always ready to chat over a delicious cup of coffee.

As Yokohama is located just a short distance from Tokyo, I often commuted to neighborhoods like Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ueno, and Naka-Meguro to explore new places, try some delicious food, and discover cosy coffee shops and hidden gems. One of my favourite things to do was visit museums, and the Tokyo National Museum and Sumida Hokusai Museum were definitely my top picks. I highly recommend these to anyone visiting Tokyo - both are must-see experiences.

Being an avid traveller, I also took advantage of school breaks to explore Japan. I had a memorable trip to Sapporo in February, where I enjoyed a steaming bowl of miso ramen while watching the beautiful snowfall. Two weeks earlier, I had met up with friends in Osaka. During Golden Week, I visited Kusatsu Onsen among other places, which quickly became one of my favourite trips. Later, in May, I travelled to Onomichi, where I chatted with locals in small snack bars. One highlight was a bar attached to a Lawson convenience store, where you could bring in food purchased from Lawson and enjoy a complimentary drink.

After returning to Europe, I realized how much I wanted to share my experiences and introduce others to the beauty of this country. My passion for South Korea also runs deep, so if you have any questions about traveling to Japan or Korea, I’d be more than happy to help.