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Japan TRIP.mp424 Participants
Here are our 24 students, who will be traveling to Japan in 2019.
ENJOY your trip!!
Student Recruiting.mp4Student Recruiting Video
The highlight of a Foreign Language Class is always a trip to the country! I hope you may see the value and excitement through this video. I have carefully created this trip to balance between language and cultural experiences. This agenda also aims to interest a wide range of teenagers, both middle and high school. Enjoy!
Site Visit 1: Sister school in Osaka
Minoo Jiyuu Gakuen is our sister school, where our students will home-stay for 3 mights as well as class visits during the day. Try all your Japanese you have learned, OR,, use your gestures and facial expression. But do not worry too much because these people are very keen to learn English, too. Have fun!
Site visit 2: Tokyo
As we are approaching our trip, I had a pleasure to visit almost every site in downtown Tokyo. I walked around almost every journey to time each itinerary, check safety, and most importantly include interesting spots for our students.
Parent Letters
Preparation BEFORE the departure
Google Translation
What a phenomenon mobile app! In the future, we might not need to even study second language (??) This free app would translate both written (by scanning) and spoken (by recording). This is a MUST app.
Google My Map
Everyone knows Google Map, but My Map can store all your journey, not just one point to another. It works offline, too.
SEP 24 (TUE)
FLIGHTS
Sep 24: QF 791: Alice Springs to Sydney 13:00 – 16:15
Sep 24: QF 117: Sydney to Hong Kong 21:20 – 05:00 , overnight flight
Sep 25: CX 596: Hong Kong to Osaka 10:05 – 15:00
At Osaka Kansai Airport
1: Pick up a personal mobile phone
2: Money exchange opportunity
3: Chartered bus will pick us up around 17:30, arriving at our sister school around 19:00
SEP 25 (WED)
VISIT THE SISTER SCHOOL
I am pleased to announce that we have recently established a new sister school relationship with Minoo Jiyuu Gakuen located in the north of Osaka. This school has a strong focus on international & English language education. We will be greeted and welcomed by the school upon our arrival.
HOME STAY (25th-27th: 3 nights)
You will then meet with the family that you will be staying for the next 3 nights (25th-27th). Some family will speak some English, and others don't. But let's not count on their English because you are in JAPAN!! Good luck and have some fun:)
SEP 26 (THU)
SCHOOL VISIT DAY 1: CLASS
Try some classes, being taught in Japanese. You will most likely follow your buddy from your host family to visit English, Math, PE etc. Your day will end with after-school sports. In addition, our sister school is kindly planning to have a short visit to local favorites, such as Nara or Kyoto.
SEP 27 (FRI)
Waterfall Walk
Culture Performance at assembly
SCHOOL VISIT DAY 2: WATERFALL WALK & CULTURE PERFORMANCE
In the morning, we will visit a beautiful waterfall nearby school, walking along a historical street. Upon return to school, we will have cultural exchange event, where you will showcase OZ performance (EX: dance, art, song), while Japanese kids will demonstrate kimono, Taiko drum, etc. We need to PRACTICE!!
SEP 28 (SAT)
SHINKANSEN (BULLET TRAIN)
OSAKA (13:20) - SHINAGAWA
What a ride! I often You tube, missing the ride. So fast (over 300 KM), so efficient and hardly any shaking. Our ride will connect two biggest cities in Japan; Osaka and Tokyo in addition to a spectacular view of Mt. Fuji. Keep your eyes on your left side, and you will soon be in TOKYO.
Tokyo Train Map
Welcome to Tokyo, but,,, it is such a crazy place. So hang tight to your Japanese mobile phone, Google Map, and Google Translation. Must items!!
SHINAGAWA TOBU HOTEL (5 nights: Sep 28, 29, 30, Oct 2, 3 )
About 10 mins walk from Shinagawa station. Room is small but clean with some vending machine for night snack, if needed. Most rooms are for 3-4 people. We will keep your room assignment upon check in.
Apology: The site under construction..
SHINAGAWA STATION will be our home base during Tokyo tour, very convenient located in the middle of busy Tokyo downtown!
KARAOKE BOX
Japanese love Karaoke! We , as Japanese, often sing to have fun, release our stress or just kill a time. Karaoke box will have lots of english songs, so no worries. Grab your friends, and you will sing very loudly in a tiny room.
SHINATATSU RAMEN
Ramen is the best!! Japanese food is not only sushi, but ramen and gyoza dumpling could be more popular among Japanese people. We will visit, Shina Tatsu Ramen building, and you may choose your favorite dish out of many flavours!
SEP 29 (SUN)
LABI ELECTRIC STORE
The video on the left is not the one we will be visiting, but very similar. You will find many interests such as i-phone, video game softs like Nintendo and Sega, etc. This is a massive electric store that you will not find in Australia.
LOFT
What a cute store with lots of stationery and household items such as cups, hair brush and pillow. Many Japanese teenagers enjoy visiting LOFT.
UNIQLO
Do you like fashion?? Yes, me too! UNIQLO is one of the most popular brand, and you will find anything; dress shirts, pants, skirts, summer and winter clothes. Enjoy Japanese fashion!
SUSHI SCHOOL
Have you ever made sushi? In fact, I do not know how to, either.. We will attend sushi school to learn from the real professional. After making, of course, you get to eat it. Enjoy!
Rugby World Cup Fan Zone: Australia VS Wales, kick off @ 16:45
Tokyo government and Rugby union tied together recently to build a fan zone to watch RUGBY WORLD CUP with a massive screen. Come and support your national team in Japan. Go OZ!!!
SEP 30 (MON)
ASAKUSA
Just like Kyoto, we will hit several "MUST VISIT" place in Tokyo, and Asakusa comes NO 1. Asakusa Nakamise street has so many cool "Japan only" souvenirs with Tokyo logos. Time is running out, and don't forget your family and friends back home.
SUMIDA RIVER CRUISE
Let's cruise around Tokyo with fish eye level. You will see many sky rocking buildings from the lowest angle. This one hour cruise will make you realize how big Tokyo is!
ODAIBA
is a fashionable Tokyo front area, where many Japanese teenagers get together. Enjoy Tokyo beach, statue of liberty, and ocean front park!
FUJI TV STATION
Our river cruise will drop you at Odaiba, one of the most fashionable bay area in Tokyo. Fuji TV is one of the landmarks there, where we will climb up to the observation deck to see the entire Tokyo Bay. If lucky, we may also see the film studio!
JOYPOLIS
This is a massive game center combined NINTENDO, SEGA, etc. You will be overwhelmed with so many selections of games. In addition, this place also offers indoor amusement park such as roller coaster. We will purchase a night discounted pass, valid after 5 PM.
OCT 1 (TUE)
Laundry opportunity nearby our hotel (15 mins walk) over the breakfast time (8 AM-10 AM). Bring a BIG laundry bag and some cash.
NAKANO BROADWAY (Anime building)
Many students have requested to include anime in our journey, so I have recently added this place. You will find so many anime figures, and I am confident that you will find your favorite. We will also walk by a friendly Nakano shopping arcade, where we will stop by for the sushi train lunch!
"ROMANCE CAR" EXPRESS TRAIN TO HAKONE
I like the name of "Romance Car'. My parents live along this train line, and I always see the luxurious looking trains. Sit back and relax in a very comfy seat where you will hide away for the next 2 days in Hakone; a weekend resort for Tokyo residents.
HAKONE PAX HOTEL (OCT 1st and 2nd)
You will check in Japanese style inn to sleep on Tatami bamboo floor with futon. Relax, unwind and wash off Tokyo's hassling with beautiful greens. You will also experience the real Japanese customer service as well, and these 2 nights will be simply LOVELY!
OCT 2 (WED)
HAKONE ROPEWAY
Watch the beautiful Mt. Fuji, Lake Ashi, and forests from the sky level. Ropeway always attracts me with some bumps and shakes. Take a ride with your buddy and enjoy the gorgeous view!
LAKE ASHI BOAT
Jump onto this big boat to feel Lake Ashi and Mt. Fuji. This is only 1.5 hour from Tokyo, but you will enjoy this peaceful ride. I miss being at water!
OWAKUDANI VOLCANO
Do not worry that Owakudani will not erupt..This is a very touristic attraction that we can safely observe volcano activities. From the moment that you arrive at Owakudani, you will quickly notice on egg-like smell. Feel the power of earth.
OPEN AIR MUSEUM
As the name says, this museum displays art works outside. Many Tokyo artists visit here to see Picasso, Vincent Gogh and others. Enjoy this unique museum in the nature.
OCT 3 (THU)
MEIJI SHRINE
Before we leave Japan, let's stop by the temple in the heart of Tokyo. This shrine literally collects the most number of visitors during the new year's holiday. I can not even tell you the exact figure, maybe 100, 000??
HARAJUKU TAKESHITA STREET
HARAJUKU is full of teenagers with many cute fashions and also famous for crapes and print club (cute photo booth). You will bump into people after people, but Takeshita street is only one straight road, so no chance to get lost (hopefully..). Keep your eyes on both sides of this street to look for cute products:).
OCT 4 (FRI)
TOKYO DISNEY LAND
Every time I ask students "What was your highlight of Japan trip?" , they always say "Disneyland!". I must admit that I am not the biggest fan of Disney, but I added Disneyland because this trip is for you, not me:) Meet Mickey, find fun ride, dress cute, and do anything you want! (But don't go crazy, please..) It is our last day in Japan.
OCT 5 (SAT)
SHINAGAWA AQUA PARK
Since our flight departure is evening, we will have some spare time on our last day in Tokyo. So we will be spending several hours to explore the latest, high-tech (?) aquarium in Shinagawa. I am sure that it will be very different from the ones that you may know.
NARITA AIRPORT
Well, hope you have had much fun in Japan, and our journey has come to the real end. The airport bus will take us straight from our hotel to the airport. Take LOTS of good memories and souvenirs to home.
OCT 6 (SUN)
OVERNIGHT FLIGHT
Oct 5th: QF 62: Tokyo Narita to Brisbane 19:55 – 05:55, overnight
Oct 6th: QF 1798: Brisbane to Alice Springs 09:20 – 12:05
I know that you do not need a video for Alice Springs Airport, but this is still part of our trip. Welcome home!
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