During the first week of the immersion, our students visited many famous and exciting landmarks and locations in and around Tokyo. These included:

🔹 Tokyo Skytree - ascending 450 metres to view a 360 degree view of Tokyo

🔹Asakusa Kaminari Kannon - one of Tokyo’s oldest and most vibrant temples

🔹Team Labs Digital Art museum - experiencing digital art engaging all 5 senses

🔹Yoyogi Park -  famous for its beautiful serenity within the busyness of Tokyo

🔹Tokyo Disneyland,

as well as visiting some of the most famous cities such as Shibuya, Shinjuku and Harajuku for shopping, eating and exploration.

After a busy first week, the middle weekend of the immersion saw the students participate in a 3-day homestay with families from our sister school Shonan Shirayuri. During this time, our students had the opportunity to spend time within a Japanese household, using their language skills and developing life long friendships. This was a highly rewarding experience for which our students were especially grateful.

Emmalyn D of Year 11 summarised the trip by saying, “I think my favourite experience throughout the whole trip was the homestay. I genuinely never thought I would feel so comfortable in a Japanese family household having only met them the same day! I'm so thankful to my host sister and her family for taking care of me. They fed me so well and took me to such beautiful places. They took me to one of the Chinatowns in Yokohama, where we got to eat some of the best Zhao Long Bao (Soup dumplings) I had ever had in my life! Not only that but also the famous Chinese Tanghulu (Candied Fruit skewers). The Chinatown was themed in such a way that I felt like I went to both Japan and China on this trip. Later that same day for dinner they took me to a sushi train restaurant where we got to order via a little iPad and there would be these little animations on the actual sushi conveyor belt that would announce the food that was coming to us. The day after, they took me to a Christmas market that was held both outside and inside Yokohama’s Aka-Renga Soko (Red Brick warehouse) where we got to eat German sausage platters and Dutch hot chocolate. After this they took me shopping at a nearby shopping centre where Miyu and Mayu (my host sisters) took me to an old Japanese candy store. I bought so much candy that I couldn't even finish it all! This was also when I found out that Japan has two extra Chupa Chups lollipop flavours, coffee pudding flavour and Ramune drink flavour! While at the shopping centre, we also went to the games area where we could do Purikura (a Japanese photo booth that lets you customise your photos with makeup, filters and drawings) Purikura doesn’t suit foreigners but it does for Japanese girls!

I don't think I will be able to recreate my experience both with my host family and with my teachers and friends. It was such a wonderful opportunity to be given and I miss Japan and the people very much, so if you ever have an opportunity similar to this, I advise you to take it. Even if your nerves are wrecked, you'll never be able to experience something like this ever again!”

In the second week of the immersion, the group shifted from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, taking a 2-and-a-half-hour bullet train ride south to the beautiful old capital of Japan, Kyoto. The students gained a genuine appreciation of the differences of Japanese culture, notably the beautiful distinction between traditional and modern Japan. The students visited some amazing cultural locations such as Hiroshima (including the Peace Park, Atomic Bomb Dome and Museum), Nara (famous for its deer), Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), and Himeji Castle.

The immersion was an incredibly successful opportunity for the students. A huge congratulations must be given to Mr Nash for his tireless effort and energy into making sure the trip ran smoothly. Another huge thank you must be given to Ms Randell for her amazing support of the students during the trip.

Bring on the 2025 Japan immersion!

Jared Baca - Japanese Teacher