Japan Tour

The Japan Tour 2019 participants departed for Tokyo on Sunday 30 June and this was the start of a three week journey that was full of new experiences for the students. 8 of 31 of the participants joined the tour for their second time. This meant that there were some changes to the itinerary which led to wonderful opportunities such as ending the tour off the regular tourist track. The old favourites were still around, Akihabara (electrical town) and Meiji Shrine and Harajuku in Tokyo.

In Kyoto we met our wonderful guide Samurai Jo again. He was 2 years older and just turning 90 did not stop him from enthralling his guests with interesting talks about his life and Japanese history and culminating his tour with his sword show. Whilst in Kyoto we also went on a cycling tour again, riding through some infamous geisha districts, major shrines and temples and Arashiyama’s bamboo forest. In Shikoku, the all-time favourite rafting and Udon making classes were other ‘must do again’ experiences.

New on the itinerary for 2019 was the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, where amongst many intriguing hands on exhibitions, we watched a performance by Asimo, a robot created by Honda who was able to walk, dance and kick a football. The Mori Team Lab Digital Art museum in Tokyo was also a new addition. The ‘borderless’ art works created by computers and projectors were constantly in motion and captivated everyone’s imagination for hours. The disappointment that the Disney theme parks has been removed from the itinerary soon disappeared when the students walked into Yomiyuriland. This is a traditional Japanese theme park with many Japanese-themed rides. The beauty of it all was that there was no one riding the rides! The irony of this being we were in one of the most populated cities in the world and in a theme park with no customers except for Hills Grammar students. They were able to ride all day with the added bonus of a very large pool to refresh them in the summer heat. During our Kyoto stay, Nara was the next change in the itinerary where students were able to meet with many deer whilst they strolled to Todaiji Temple and through Nara Park. Off to Shikoku, Kazura Bridge and the accommodation! A traditional Japanese Inn with traditional meals around a fire pit. Futons, tatami mats, indoor natural hot springs and a cable car to take you to the outdoor hot spring complete with stunning views of the night sky or surrounding misty mountains at 6am. The next stop was Hiroshima, where the students experienced okonomiyaki making classes (Japanese savoury pancakes) and an Amazing race in groups as they completed tasks around the city.  The last leg of our journey were the islands in the Seto Sea which are not so common tourist destinations. So unlikely in fact a team of reporters were paparazzi for a day resulting in an article in the Hiroshima paper and an up and coming segment on television to be broadcast in Hiroshima. Here we visited Okuno Island. An island full of rabbits and some not so well known Japanese history.

Our last day was spent on Osakikami Island, where we participated in boat races, which were being held for their annual festival the following week, before making our way to our last stay at a Japanese Inn. Here the hot spring overlooks the Islands and the Seto Sea. However, no matter how many wonderful activities are planned, the event that all the students wait for and is at the top of their most favourite experiences, is the six day program at our Sister School, Takeda. Why is this so popular? Because students are reunited with their Japanese friends, whom they hosted in March when they visited Hills Grammar. They are able to participate in a variety of club activities such as Art club, basketball, band, dance and book club and hang out with Japanese students. They are also able to experience classes such as Ikebana (flower arranging), Kendo (Japanese fencing), Sado (tea ceremony) and Judo. On an excursion with their hosts they experienced the history of Hiroshima at the Peace Park and listened to a survivor talk. They were able to realise the impact that history has many years after the events. Some returnees visited Hiroshima University to learn about potential opportunities to become overseas students. They were also guided around the university whilst participating in an interview activity with former Takeda students now studying there. These six days students are especially able to try to use their Japanese language and interpersonal skills to live as part of a family member in a homestay and form friendships with the students, families and teachers at the school. This is the part of the journey that they will remember for many years to come and what will inspire them to continue to learn Japanese so they can maintain these meaningful connections.

“A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.” - Tim Cahill