This April, a group of 14 Year 12 and 13 students taking Japanese, accompanied by three teachers, went on a 15-day trip to Japan. From the bustling city life of Tokyo to the quaint and beautiful landscapes of Toyama. This trip allowed us to explore the diverse experiences Japan has to offer. Every day was packed to the brim with activities for us to do, leaving us with memories that will last a lifetime.
Our journey started in Tokyo, the capital of Japan. However, our time in Tokyo was only two days, and we were already quite tired after arriving in Tokyo the first night. Nevertheless, we still made an effort to visit as many places as possible in these two days. We were able to witness firsthand the traditional and cultural buildings mixed in with the metropolis cityscapes. Ranging from seeing the views up at Tokyo Tower to exploring the different shops and stalls in Sensoji temple.
We were also given the opportunity to explore Tokyo Station, the only condition being that we make sure we are not alone. In our little groups, we were given free time for us to go get lunch wherever we wanted. Ordering food in Japanese for the first time was tough, but we managed to pull it off. We stumbled over words and phrases, but with some trial and error, we got our orders in. It felt like a small victory. At the end of the second day, we were ready to depart Tokyo the next morning.
Our next stop was Hiroshima. Which turned out to be quite the struggle. We experienced Japanese rush hour on the trains, while we were carrying suitcases. This meant that our group had to be split up, with only a few of us getting on one train each time. Navigating trains together was already hard enough but now we had to navigate them without the teachers. All of us had our stop drilled into our heads as we hoped that we remembered the right stop. Fortunately, no one got lost and we were able to meet up successfully. As we made our way to Hiroshima, we also got to experience riding the Shinkansen, Japan’s bullet train as well as having an Ekiben, train station bento boxes.
Upon arriving in Hiroshima, we were greeted by the unexpected European aesthetic of our hotel. It was definitely very different from what everyone had imagined. Very quickly, we set out to visit the Peace Memorial Park and the Peace Memorial Museum. As we walked there, everyone slowly became more immersed in Japan. It finally felt like we were actually in Japan. The Peace Park and Museum was a very good experience for us. We had always heard about the atomic bombings of Hiroshima, however, witnessing all the stories and aftermath of the event was both heavy-hearted and interesting at the same time. It was a unique experience for all of us, and definitely an unforgettable experience.
On our second day in Hiroshima, we took a ferry to Miyajima Island. The island is home to many deer that are notorious for stealing the food of visitors. It was certainly an experience trying to enjoy a small snack while a deer sneaks up behind you to try and enjoy your snack too. At Miyajima Island, we also had a lesson on making Momiji Manjuu. The catch? We could only receive instructions in Japanese, putting our language skills to the test. With a little help from our instructor, we were able to make our own little Momiji Manju. Albeit, some of ours looked a little darker than others. It was a very memorable hands-on experience that even let us taste a sweet treat afterward.
Following the Momiji Manju, we made our way over to Itsukushima Shrine, the shrine with the famous floating torii gate. The teachers decided that they would be adding an extra layer of excitement and started spontaneously giving us little challenges. They dragged one of the unsuspecting group members away to buy tickets for Itsukushima Shrine. It was a test of both our Japanese skills as well as how well we could navigate real-life situations. When we entered Itsukushima Shrine, we got to take in the beautiful scenic views as we walked through. After exploring Itsukushima Shrine, we were given free time on Miyajima Island. Splitting into small groups, we had the freedom to choose how to spend our time. Some of us opted for a proper meal at a restaurant, while others grabbed snacks or went shopping.
Returning to Hiroshima, we eagerly waited in anticipation for dinner, the famous Hiroshima Okonomiyaki. As we settled into the restaurants, we were split into two groups. One group was tasked with the challenge of only speaking Japanese, while the other group was challenged with only hearing Japanese from the chefs. This proved to be a difficult challenge however all of us were able to order our Okonomiyaki ourselves and watch the chefs make it in front of us.
After leaving Hiroshima the next morning, we arrived in Kyoto and had lunch at a place the teachers described as “very common”. They took us to McDonald’s. Although McDonald’s is commonly found worldwide, I must say that Japanese McDonald’s is more distinctive than New Zealand’s as its menu includes local specialties.
After lunch came the highlight of the day, a visit to one of the local tourist attractions, Kinkakuji (aka Golden Pavilion Temple). With its long history, Kinkakuji provides us with an experience that New Zealand, lacking temples, cannot offer – a glimpse into famous historical sites. Seeing Kinkakuji in person was much more magnificent than the pictures online, we also purchased many local specialties such as omamori charms while we were there.
After exploring Kyoto, for dinner, we decided to ride the bullet train to Osaka. We headed to Universal Studios City Walk. Once again, the teachers decided to spice it up and challenge us to a batsu (punishment) game where we could only speak Japanese. From the moment we stepped out of the train station until we stepped back into the train station would be Japanese only. The punishment? It would be decided by the group later.
With a mix of nerves and excitement, we split off into our groups and started exploring the city walk. My group immediately went to TAKOPA, the Takoyaki Park, where we ordered our food. The takoyaki was very hot on the inside, perfectly warming us up against the cold wind. As we continued exploring, we kept up the challenge of speaking only in Japanese. It was a test of our language skills, and while it was difficult at times, it was also incredibly rewarding and fun. Despite the occasional slip-up or mistake, most of us decided to keep it quiet from the teachers. And at the end of the day, as we switched back to speaking English on the train ride home, we talked about the stuff we wanted to say to each other but couldn’t.
Our second day in Kyoto led us to the Kiyomizudera and Fushimi Inari shrine. Kiyomizudera’s breathtaking views and historic architecture left us in awe as we explored. Some of us even had the chance to experience Otowa Waterfall. We also took some time to explore the souvenir shops lining the streets outside the temple.
The other attraction we went to was the Fushimi Inari shrine. We were given free time to explore Fushimi Inari Shrine. Many of us wanted to try to get to the top however we were time-limited which meant we had to compromise and pick somewhere lower. However, the dense forest and countless paths led to confusion, and soon, some of us found ourselves lost. Admitting defeat, knowing we weren’t going to get anywhere near the top with the time we had left, we made our way back down the mountain. Despite not being able to reach what was originally planned, our adventure was not in vain. The little adventure itself was filled with laughter and a thrill of adventure even if we somehow ended up in someone’s backyard.
After a full day of walking, we decided to have Sukiyaki for dinner. Some tables devoured five plates of beef while other tables struggled to finish one plate. Yet, regardless of the amount consumed, we all had a great time trying Sukiyaki for the first time.
During our stay in Kyoto, many of us decided to try out the sento, the public bathhouse, that our hotel offered. While the experience was undeniably relaxing, it also brought a sense of awkwardness and embarrassment, especially for those of us who were new to the customs. Initially unsure of what to do, we hesitated before entering the bath area. The unfamiliar etiquette made us feel self-conscious, and the presence of friends only added to the awkwardness. However, we powered through and managed to enter the bath after lots of awkward laughter. In the end, the sento experience became a memorable part of Kyoto.
But perhaps the most rewarding aspect and the highlight of our trip was our time in Toyama. We lived together with our host family there for a week, during which two days were spent experiencing Japanese school life with students from our host family, and we went on a day trip on our last day of school together. During this week, we shared unforgettable days with our host family members, while also learning about Japanese culture from them, and understanding the differences and similarities between Japanese and New Zealand family lifestyles. At the same time, in a Japanese-speaking household, all of us worked hard to integrate into the unfamiliar environment and actively engage in conversations with our host families.
At our sister school, we were all able to have the opportunity to try out kyudo, making nigiri sushi, as well as ikebana. All of us experienced how different their school was from ours. Having seven periods in a day, each being 50 minutes was something new to get used to. Luckily, they have a 10-minute break after each class which lets us briefly rest or go to the bathroom. The language barrier proved to be a formidable challenge. Many of us found ourselves nodding off and struggling to follow along with the lessons. There were moments of unintentional comedy when some of us mistook one class for another. What was believed to be a history lesson turned out to be economics, and a supposed English class was, in fact, global studies. After school, our host families showed us different sides of Japan. Some took us to malls, where we snapped purikura photos. Others introduced us to local cuisine, and a few even invited us to their club activities.
The end of our six days in Toyama resulted in a bittersweet farewell. Despite only being there for a short time, the bonds and relationships we formed in Toyama were the most special part to us. After Toyama, it was Tokyo again. However this time, we actually had the chance to explore the ‘Tokyo’ everyone had in their imagination. We first went down to Meiji Jingu (Meiji shrine), next to Harajuku. It was unexpectedly very peaceful which strongly contrasted the bustling and lively atmosphere of Harajuku. Inside the shrine were beautiful views of nature. We got to try out making offerings at the main hall, writing out our wishes on an ema, and buying amulets/charms.
After our visit to Meiji Jingu, we went to Harajuku and Shibuya. I think this was what everyone was imagining what Tokyo would be like when we had initially arrived in Japan. In Harajuku, we found ourselves not being able to decide which shop we wanted to go into. Takeshita Street was filled to the brim with the vibrant youth culture you see on the internet. Many of us made lots of purchases despite not even being able to make it to the end of the street. Now in Shibuya, we were met with the iconic sights of the Shibuya Crossing, and the Hachiko statue. The bustling crowds and exciting atmosphere of Shibuya really added to the experience. It felt overwhelming with all the options laid out in front of us that we had the chance to explore. Our visit to Harajuku and Shibuya was everything we imagined it would be like: colourful, dynamic, and hectic.
The itinerary for the last day was the one we anticipated the most, as it involved a visit to Tokyo Disneyland. Many of us had never been to Disneyland before, so there was a great sense of anticipation among everyone for this place. I would say that what we looked forward to most in Disneyland were the thrilling roller coasters and the nighttime parade. Although Disneyland is designed for children, we also enjoyed many of the rides, bought Disneyland headbands, watched the fireworks, and indulged in the relatively expensive food sold inside. Since the queues for the rides were quite long, we had to find ways to entertain ourselves as we waited. Ranging from the basics, playing paper scissors rock, guess the song, to just slapping each other’s hands. And at the end of the day, we were able to witness the fireworks as the park was closing. It was definitely the most special way our last night in Japan could’ve ended.
As our 15-day trip was coming to an end, a sense of sadness started settling in our group. Despite the array of activities and adventures we had experienced, it felt as though our time in Japan slipped through our grasp all too quickly. Each day had been packed with new discoveries and unforgettable memories, yet somehow, it still felt like there was so much left unexplored. This trip was a good experience for all of us. Our understanding of Japan deepened over the course of 15 days when we had the chance to immerse ourselves in their culture.
Amidst all the beautiful surroundings and new experiences, being able to interact with locals in their native language left a lasting impression on all of us. Whether it was striking up conversations at the conbini or ordering food at a restaurant, each interaction was a chance to practice our Japanese skills in real-life settings. Giving us that chance to bridge that gap between learning the language and actually immersing ourselves within the culture. Apart from improving our Japanese language skills, I think it also created lasting connections between people who might not have known each other previously, while also strengthening our relationships with friends who travelled with us.
Emily Pan and Natalie Wong – Year 12
