The aim of the tour is to immerse students in the Japanese language and culture and provide them with a first-hand experience to apply all the knowledge and understanding gained prior to leaving in real life situations. It also gave the students great insights into a different way of life and what it means to be a global citizen.

The first week was spent in busy Tokyo where the girls had to negotiate trains and ask for directions. They visited places like Harajuku, Shinjuku, Shubuya to experience the busy shopping and business districts. They went to the Ghibli Museum which showcases the work of the Japanese animation studio, Studio Ghibli. The remainder of the first week was full of adventures such as going to Disneyland, going to the Tokyo sky tree tower, going to Miraikan and seeing the famous Asimo, and visiting Asakusa Shinto shrine, all while practising their language skills.

The middle weekend was spent at Shonan Shirayuri Gakuen where the students were able to immerse themselves in the Japanese school life. On the first morning, the students went to the Shonan Shirayuri Primary School. The students were very popular here and were amazed at how organised and structured everything was. While at the primary school, students were split up into different classrooms where they had lunch and experienced clean up time with the children.

During the weekend, the students stayed with families from Shonan Shirayuri Gakuen High School. This part of the trip is what students gain the most from. The families from Shonan are amazing and do everything possible for our students. Over the weekend, Sonan Shirayuri Gakuen had their “Bunkasai”, a two day Open Day Festival that showcases everything the school has to offer. The students were lucky enough to be a part of it with their very own Australian presentation where we all gave our self-introduction and taught people about life in Australia.

After the weekend at the school, the students said goodbye to their host families and caught their first bullet train to Kyoto. Kyoto is renowned for its history and temples. Students also realised how much more relaxed the area is compared to the crowded and very busy Tokyo. Students first travelled to Nara to see deer and the great Todaiji Temple and later did sightseeing throughout Kyoto, full of many temples and castles which allowed them to gain a greater insight of the spirituality and history of Japan. The highlight of the students' week at Kyoto would have to be the Maiko makeover and their experience at Hiroshima. In Hiroshima, the students were able to listen to a presentation from an 80 year old A-Bomb survivor who witnessed some of the damage and devastation that was caused by the world’s first atomic bomb. This was a truly eye-opening and sad experience none of us will forget.

The Japan Study Tour was an amazing life experience for the girls. As their teacher, it was amazing to see the girls use their Japanese language and develop a deeper appreciation of the customs and culture. I would particularly like to express my gratitude to Mrs Karen Wright for joining us on this tour and ensuring the girls had a great experience.

Julian Nash – Languages Coordinator, Japanese Language Teacher