My CIP was volleyball: I joined several clubs in Kyoto and played volleyball regularly with locals. After practices, we would sometimes grab lunch or dinner together, and occasionally go for group outings. 

For me, it was a great way to connect with a wide range of people – from same-age university students to office workers, from Japan or various countries – and feel as a part of a larger community in Kyoto. I also progressively got more comfortable with managing unfamiliar and stressful situations, as I was never judged for making mistakes or “sounding funny”.

If you plan to do volleyball, I strongly recommend checking several groups for practices, and always be proactive in conversations. People may seem shy to start talking, but often they are genuinely interested in getting to know visitors from other countries!