Finally, I have a reason for visiting Japan.
One day, I was looking for the information about when exactly the next Python Conference in Japan is. According to this PyCon JP account, the next PyCon JP 2025 would be held in Hiroshima, Japan, by the end of September 2025.
PyCon JP 2025 could be my reason for visiting Japan. Since this is my first time, I have to prepare myself with information on what transportation I have to take and where I have to go first. I contact everybody who I know living in Japan at the time, including my old friend from university who works in Hiroshima, my senior back in the university who studied for a PhD in Kitakyushu, and also one of my old friends, a Taiwanese named Kuo, who I remember working in Saitama, near Tokyo.
Unfortunately, everyone is busy except Kuo. Knowing I’m about to visit Japan, he asked me to travel with him in his car. That sounds interesting to me, since I’m not familiar with Japan; having someone who has experience living there could be very helpful.
It’s been seven years since the last time we met. Back in 2018, I was registering for a robotics competition event at Khon Kaen University (KKU), Thailand. I am competing for Controlled Logistic Vehicle (CLV) while Kuo is doing the Autonomous Surface Vehicle (ASV) competition. And we have a talk when we are on a safari in the Khon Kaen Zoo. I kept his contact since then.
I’m surprised I can meet him again after several years. Seven years is not short, but somehow even after that very long time no see, we can still have a good conversation and become best friends.
Chapter I: Traveling from Saitama to Hiroshima
Since we are about to travel by car. Kuo’s planning to make stops in Kyoto, Osaka, and then Hiroshima (PyCon JP venue), and finally Fukuoka (because my flight back home was there).
Due to a miss-calculation on the travelling time, we have to skip Osaka and go directly to Hiroshima from Kyoto.
I will write the details of our trip on a separate blog.
Anyway, the traveling time from Saitama to Kyoto took us about 7 hours. And Kyoto to Hiroshima took us about 4 hours.
It was a really amazing trip. On every stop, we have to make some rest, and Kuo invited me to walk around and show me popular places. He also invited me to taste some foods that a Muslim like me can eat. We visited Gyukatsu Kyoto. To be honest, looking for halal food is hard in Japan, and if you only speak English but want to explore Japan, you’d better prepare yourself by learn some Japanese before you come, or you will be lost in translation. Because not everyone can speak English in Japan, even if they can, sometimes it is unclear.
📍 Location: Azumamaro Shrine
📍 Location: GYUKATSU Kyoto Katsugyu Shijo Kawaramachi
Chapter II: PyCon JP 2025 in Hiroshima
After a couple of days, we finally arrived in Hiroshima and attended the PyCon JP 2025 together. Unfortunately, I can not attend all the classes due to language limitations. There are no English translator for Japanese speaker, and only few English speaker.
The unique things about PyCon JP are that they also have an official party event. The best moment for having fun and making connections is after a long trip.
I took pictures with Kuo’s friend from Tokyo, a Python JP community member who visited PyCon Asia Pacific in Indonesia last year, Python Asia leader, Python Taiwan member, and also Sebastian Ramirez, the FastAPI creator.
Final Words
Thank you for reading this far. Honestly, there is a lot more I want to write about my journey, but sometimes I can only put a few words here.
Anyway, I’m very happy with my decision to attend PyCon JP 2025, and finally, I can visit Japan for the very first time. Without making this decision, I might go nowhere. Even if I come to PyCon JP, without contacting Kuo first, I might just spend my time in a boring city like Hiroshima and then fly back home. I’m feeling lucky, honestly. Kuo dragged me to explore Japan, and he told me all the things he knew and the reality about living in Japan.
And lastly, Japan is not as beautiful as it looks on social media; the reality is worse, especially for foreigners. You should try it yourself. And if you plan to visit Japan, I suggest you learn the language first, or you will get lost in translations, like what I’ve been experiencing.