Lacey Wilburn
UMBC Faculty-Led: Art and Power in Japan
Major: Ancient Studies, Visual Arts – Animation
June 4, 2025: Pre-Departure
Hello!
My name is Lacey Wilburn. I am a rising junior currently pursuing a BA in Ancient Studies and a BFA in Animation at UMBC! Considering the nature of both my majors, I figured this program in Japan would be beneficial for me. Learning about art and history while getting the chance to explore cool historical sites?? I’m in heaven. Or, well, going to be in about 5 days. This trip has been on my bucket list for years, and I can’t wait to finally make it happen!
Funny enough, the first time I ever got a tiny taste of Japan was actually at Disney World of all places—specifically at the Japan pavilion in Epcot. For as long as I can remember, it was always my favorite pavilion to visit. Even though I knew it wasn’t authentic Japan, it was still a big part of my childhood (Shoutout to younger me for having great taste in travel goals). So, of course, when I visited the pavilion on my most recent Disney trip, I had to take a pic with my mom!
Packing for Japan has been both exciting and overwhelming. There’s just so much to consider! June marks the beginning of Japan’s rainy season. The weather will be warm, but it is also very likely to be wet and incredibly humid. With that in mind, I’ve tried focusing on bringing layers and plenty of comfortable essentials. I invested a lot in more quick-drying fabrics, which will be a lifesaver during this time of year. Walking shoes were also a top priority! This trip involves a lot of walking, especially around temples and cities. I’m planning to bring pairs of broken-in sneakers and sandals for convenience (especially since many places require you to remove your footwear indoors). Other must-haves include universal travel adapters, a power bank for my phone, my journal, and a crossbody bag. It is required for all foreign tourists to carry around their passports, so a crossbody will be super helpful with carrying everything I need. Japan also has a strong cash culture, so I got these super cute fish coin purses! I’m thinking about naming the big one Frederick, but I’m not so sure about the smaller one (who I am assuming is his son). Frederick Jr. seems a little too on the nose, but I’m sure I’ll figure it out.
Spinning back to that journal I mentioned, I decided I wanted to challenge myself artistically while on this trip. For every day I am in Japan, I want to make at least one drawing from life in my journal. It could be a sketch of a statue, the people walking by, a temple, or just a sunset that I enjoyed, anything really! I think it would be a nice way of allowing myself to really enjoy the moment and the things I was seeing. In my opinion, you really learn to appreciate the details of something when you try and draw it. You get to know every inch while attempting to replicate it on paper. When one thing is off, you feel it, and it’s like a puzzle trying to figure out how to make it right again. I’m looking forward to just sitting for a little while and observing the things around me. Of course, in my infinite wisdom (procrastination) I created a super cool and awesome playlist for myself and these exact moments which will be linked below…
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0JQZBOdiEjT9zR7bK6i3bM?si=Fq8QEp7jQkKs_N2TCEYZbA&pi=6wMFRTVOQ86Uc
As the countdown gets shorter, the excitement is definitely kicking in! But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous. The total travel time is roughly 18 hours (this includes both flights and a layover). This is the longest I’ve ever traveled both in time and distance! My in-flight movie lineup is starting to look like a whole film festival. My mom seems even more nervous than I am. It’s going to be so weird to be in a different country without her. I’m so used to following her around and doing whatever itinerary she had picked out, but now the roles are reversed. She’s the one who’s going to be following ME around! Just in the form of an AirTag location and some daily concerned text messages. That won’t last long, though. She planned a trip with a few other family members to join me in Japan after my program is over, so that’s going to be super cool!! For now, all that’s left is to take a deep breath, triple-check that I have everything that I need, and trust that the trip of a lifetime is just one INCREDIBLY long flight away.
See you in Japan!
June 11, 2025: In-Country
I finally made it to Japan! Touching down at the airport after what felt like an eternity of travel was honestly surreal. From the moment I left my house to the second I stepped into my hotel room, over 27 hours had passed. Between layovers, airplane meals, trying (and failing) to sleep in awkward positions, and lugging my suitcase through unfamiliar terminals, I was completely drained.
Today was my first full day here, and what a way to kick things off! Despite arriving just yesterday and dealing with the time difference, I had to be up by 8:30am for my first class. Surprisingly, the jet lag wasn’t too bad—just a slight sluggishness that hit me in waves throughout the day. I think the mix of adrenaline and anticipation helped override some of that grogginess. After class, we headed out to explore Nara, one of Japan’s most historic cities. Our first stop was the famous Nara Deer Park! I’d seen pictures and read about the deer that freely roam the grounds but seeing them in person was something else. They’re incredibly bold—some will bow to you for food (which is adorable), while others will nudge you persistently until you give in. One even stole our guides ice cream cone! I mean the nerve! It was such a fun and chaotic experience. Honestly, I could’ve spent hours just hanging with them.
From there, we made our way to Tōdai-ji, and let me just say—pictures do not do it justice. The Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall), is one of the largest wooden buildings in the world. You don’t realize how huge it is until you’re standing in front of it, craning your neck just to take it all in. And once you step inside, boom—there he is: the Great Buddha, or Daibutsu, sitting in total zen while towering over everyone like he owns the place (which, to be fair, he kind of does). This Buddha is absolutely massive. I think my jaw actually dropped. It’s got this serene, all-knowing face looking down on tourists taking selfies and toddlers throwing mild tantrums. The vibe was very much “eternal enlightenment meets school field trip” but still very cool!
After marveling at Tōdai-ji, we took a quieter turn and headed to the Nara National Museum. After narrowly escaping being mugged by a pack of hungry deer and staring up at a Buddha the size of a house, this museum turned out to be the perfect palate cleanser. Inside, there were intricately carved statues, paintings, and some truly intense-looking guardian figures that definitely looked like they could come to life and challenge you to a duel if you tried sneaking a photo. That was the hardest part of this museum. So many cool things but not allowed to take any photos of them! By the time we wrapped up at the museum, the jet lag started creeping in again. My feet were sore, and I could feel that post-travel haze starting to settle in. Still, I was content. There’s something really satisfying about being tired from a full day of exploration—it’s the good kind of tired, the kind that comes from learning, experiencing, and just being present in a place that’s completely new to you.
Tonight, I plan to take it easy—maybe grab some ramen or onigiri from a nearby convenience store and just chill. There’s so much more to see and do over the next few weeks. Today was the perfect start!