Japan Study Tour - Student Reflection
During the Term 3 break, a group of 23 Marist students studying Japanese had the incredible opportunity to travel to Japan as part of an enriching language study tour. Joined by Burch Sensei, Grimes Sensei, and Schindler Sensei, the boys embarked on a journey to delve deeper into the language and culture of this extraordinary country.
The first stop of our two-week trip was Tokyo, where we spent three days in the capital of Japan. During these three days, we visited many stunning places with the highlights being Teamlabs, The Studio Ghibli Museum, and DisneySea.
After arriving in Japan early on Sunday morning the group participated in a guided tour of the attractions of Tokyo. We first began in the Meiji Jingu Shrine, a massive forest within a city containing striking traditional Japanese architecture. Next, the group went to experience the incredible Team Labs Studio. The exhibit incorporated experiences within the five senses to create a wonderful atmosphere of exploration and amazement. Following this we went and had a delicious lunch at a nearby restaurant. The Studio Ghibli Museum was probably the most anticipated stop on the tour. Inside the museum, we were treated to the history of animation at the Miyazaki studio, a rooftop courtyard where we could have our picture taken with the robot from Laputa and a massive Totoro that welcomed us at the entrance.
Our second day in Tokyo saw us explore the Nakamise streets and the grand Sensoji Temple. It was jam-packed with tourists and locals alike, all selling interesting toys and souvenirs. Inside the temple complex, there were massive five story pagodas and huge gates with statues on either side. Following this, we went up the Tokyo Skytree, the third tallest building in the world, which had incredible views of Tokyo and beyond. Finally, we went to Akihabara, where the world-famous electronics stores, and vibrant streets pulsated with energy.
On the final day in Tokyo, we had a fantastic, adventure-filled time at DisneySea trying out all the different rides including Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Journey to the Centre of the Earth, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and the Tower of Terror.
The next day saw us leaving Tokyo and boarding a しんかんせん (bullet train) headed to Hiroshima. We spent the day reflecting on when the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on 6 August 1945. We visited the A-bomb dome, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, Hiroshima Peace Park, Sadako Sasaki’s memorial and rang the Peace Bell. After our day of activities, we went to the Okonomi-mura, a building filled with Okonomiyaki restaurants, to try the traditional Hiroshima dish of savoury pancakes filled with cabbage and pork.
The next day we visited Miyajima, a small island located in Hiroshima Bay, famous for the Itsukushima shrine and home of the red Torii gate. All across the island were friendly deer looking for food and welcoming tourists.
The next two days were spent in Kyoto and Nara. Kyoto is famous for its many world heritage-listed shrines and temples. On a full-day bus tour, we visited Kinkaku-ji or the Golden Pavilion, Ryoan-ji temple featuring the famous Zen Rock Garden, the Kyoto Bamboo Forest, Sanjuusangendo (1001 statues of Buddha) and Kiyomizu Temple in the hills. All these Temples enlightened us to the more religious side of Japan, immersing us in their culture.
From Kyoto, we had a day trip to Nara, Canberra’s sister city where we visited the Todaiji Temple and the Daibutsuden - the world’s largest wooden structure housing one of Japan’s largest bronze statues of Buddha. We also walked back through Nara Park meeting many local deer on the way. After the day’s activities, the group came together to sing at karaoke, with the teachers even joining in to sing their hearts out.
Week two saw the group travel to Fukui Prefecture, where we spent time with our host families experiencing the average day-to-day life of a Japanese family. This included going to Asuwa High School with our host student and participating in a variety of fun activities including Sadou (Japanese tea ceremony), Kadou (flower arranging), and Japanese classes. Furthermore, we were also featured in a local news broadcast.
During our week in Fukui, we visited the Kanazawa prefecture. Kanazawa is famous for being a samurai town and home to one of Japan’s top three gardens, the Kenrokuen. During the day we visited the famous garden, Omi market and Kanazawa samurai house, giving us an understanding of the samurais, their jobs and their daily lives.
Asuwa High School also took us on an excursion to Eiheiji - a famous Zen temple and monastery in the mountains of Fukui prefecture. After enjoying lunch with the Asuwa students, we journeyed into the temple, where we got to witness first-hand the monks partaking in their day-to-day activities. After returning to the school, we participated in a Sayonara party, where we thanked the school and our host families during a party that included singing, dancing, and plenty of delicious Japanese food.
We all enjoyed our trip to Japan as it gave us the chance to experience the language and their culture. We all had a lot to take away from this trip and no, we’re not talking about the souvenirs. We would like to thank Mrs. Burch, Mrs. Grimes and Mr. Schindler for planning the trip and looking after us during our great journey. Language courses open up a world of incredible opportunities when you stay dedicated to them. I highly recommend, as do my peers, that anyone with an interest in languages should definitely take part in this amazing experience if the opportunity arises.
ありがとうございました。Thank you
Ethan Lenihan and James Hanlon
Year 11 students