My favourite places

 Hi, I am Kim, and I am a second year in the tennis club.
I have been tasked with writing about my favourite spot or place. I moved to Japan 1.5 years ago from Australia to study mushrooms, and after coming to Kyoto have found many places that I really like to go to, so it is difficult to select only a few. My favourite place depends on many things such as how I am feeling and the weather, but there are 3 places since moving that have had a very big impact.
 
First, the tennis courts. Obviously, I like it here because I enjoy tennis, but it is also very special to me because the tennis team was the first place that welcomed me and made me feel part of a group, despite the language barrier. The team members will always have a special place in my heart, and the courts will always be a place I enjoy going to because it is friendly, consistent and something to look forward to. It is also a place where I can feel motivated to improve myself!

 
My second favourite place is along Takano River, which connects to Kamogawa. It is very quiet and peaceful most days and after dark you can usually see some stars in the sky and hear the water running. You can also often see birds, flowers, deer and turtles around, so it’s a lovely and very convenient place to relax after a long day at uni. 
 

Lastly, one of my favourite places is along the Kurama to Kifune trail. Even though it requires trekking all the way to the top it is worth it because regardless of what time of year there always seem to be mushrooms growing along the trail! I study mushrooms in a lab so seeing them growing in the wild is always a very nice change, plus the views of the city are beautiful. At the end of the trail if you walk back to the train station, the river sounds and small area where you can walk down to the river are very peaceful, and it feels like an entirely different world even though it is only about 30 minutes away by train. So, if you want a break from the chaos of life, I will highly recommend taking a picnic lunch and relaxing with the mushrooms and trees!
 
For the next person I would like to ask you about your hobbies and interests when you were a child and if you still have the same interests now, or why they have changed.
 
Thank you for reading!