In April 2025, 43 students and staff from Korumburra Secondary College embarked on an unforgettable 11-day educational tour through Japan. From ancient shrines and tranquil temples to futuristic cityscapes, this immersive tour offered a rich blend of culture, history and adventure.
Cultural immersion in Kyoto
After landing in Osaka, the group were greeted by WorldStrides Tour Director, Naomi Sun. After checking into their hotel and dropping off bags, they jumped back on the bus to begin the journey to Kyoto. Students were immediately immersed in traditional Japanese culture. They visited a Kimono store and donned elegant kimonos (for the ladies) and montsuki (for the gents), they enjoyed lunch from a local restaurant before taking a walk through the bamboo groves. After changing back into their everyday clothes, it was time to board the bus again to visit the iconic Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji) and Fushimi Inari Taisha, famed for its thousands of crimson torii gates.
On their second day in Japan, students participated in a hands-on workshop to craft traditional Japanese sweets, nerikiri, where students crafted their own flowers out of bean paste dough and food dye. This was then followed by a matcha tea ceremony. These activities weren’t just about taste and technique—they deepened students’ appreciation of Japanese aesthetics and hospitality traditions.
Next, the group boarded their first Shinkansen (bullet train) to Himeji, where they explored the famous Himeji Castle. As one of Japan’s best-preserved samurai fortresses, the site offered rich insights into feudal history, architecture, and defence systems.
After touring the picturesque Miyajima Island—home to the floating torii gate and sacred Itsukushima Shrine—students rolled up their sleeves for a cooking class, mastering the art of making okonomiyaki, a savoury Japanese pancake.
A reflective visit to Hiroshima
The following day brought a sobering visit to the Peace Memorial Park and Atomic Bomb Dome. At the museum, students confronted the devastating aftermath of the 1945 atomic bombing. Through personal artefacts and survivor stories, they were given a profound and emotional lesson in peace, resilience, and the human cost of conflict—an experience many described as unforgettable.
From scenic tranquility to the hustle and bustle of Tokyo
After Hiroshima, the group journeyed to the rural mountain town of Hakone. A cruise on Lake Ashi, a ride up Mount Komagatake on the ropeway (a cablecar system), and stunning views of Mount Fuji all served to showcase Japan’s natural beauty. At a traditional ryokan (inn), students experienced Japanese hospitality at its finest, complete with tatami-matted rooms and low kneeling tables and futons, they enjoyed a traditional multi-course feast. A surprise evening of tenpin bowling rounded out the night with laughter and team spirit. There were no flashy displays or automatic scoring, but this old school alley gave travellers a great chance to flex their skills and claim bragging rights for every strike scored … and there were plenty of cheers all round (especially when resident PE teacher resorted to using the giant orange kiddie dragon ramp!).
Due to icy roads on day 7, the trip to Mount Fuji’s 5th station was rerouted to Oshino Hakkai, a charming mountain village with clear spring-fed ponds and historic houses. Students had a lovely time exploring this picturesque little town.
From there, it was onward to Tokyo. They arrived in the very large district of Tokyo, known as Shinjuku. Here they caught a lift to the 45th floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building where they enjoyed panoramic views, taking in the sheer size of Tokyo. After checking into their hotel, it was time to walk to a local restaurant for dinner. On the menu tonight was Japanese Hot Pot, an all-you-can-eat meal where the students cooked vegetables, mushrooms, noodles, and various meats in two types of boiling stock in the middle of the table. Our travellers’ chopstick skills were on full display tonight, and bellies were filled with tasty portions. This experience was a big hit amongst students and staff.
In Tokyo, the educational experiences continued with visits to sacred sites like the Meiji Shrine and Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple.
The group also explored vibrant districts like Harajuku, Asakusa, and Ginza. Whether sampling quirky snacks in Takeshita Street or navigating the famously hectic Shibuya Scramble Crossing with as many as 3,000 people crossing at a time in 10 different directions. Staff were impressed at how well students navigated themselves through the busy areas.
One standout activity was the karate workshop in Takadanobaba. Under the guidance of skilled instructors, students practiced traditional techniques, tested their strength by breaking boards, and gained a deeper understanding of martial arts as both sport and discipline. The Karate lesson ended with a friendly sparring match between two of the instructors, but not before 17 staff and students volunteered to smash some boards with their fists or feet. One by one, the volunteers took to the mats, bowed to the sensei, and showed the wooden boards who was boss!
Finishing on a high: baseball and final adventures
To cap off their Japan adventure, students spent the day visiting department stores, arcades, capsule shops, the Pokémon Centre, Cat Café, and Nintendo Tokyo – where travellers spent the last hours soaking up the sights and sounds of Tokyo and spending their last zen on souvenirs!
After a big day, students boarded the bus to Yokohama Stadium to watch a baseball game. The match between the DeNA BayStars and Yomiuri Giants became an unexpected cultural highlight. Surrounded by singing fans, mascots, and cheerleaders, the group was swept up in the electric atmosphere. With a total of 9 runs for the night, 7 of them home runs, there was plenty to cheer about, regardless of who was hitting them. Our group even managed to show up on the jumbotron screen on a couple of occasions!
The next day they woke up to their final day! They bid farewell to their Tour Director and began the journey home.
From the peaceful paths of Kyoto’s temples to the neon buzz of Tokyo’s streets, this 11-day journey across Japan was far more than a sightseeing tour. It was an immersive educational experience that enriched students’ understanding of language, culture, history, and themselves.
WorldStrides’ Japan program brought learning to life in a way that textbooks simply can’t. By engaging with locals, navigating public transport, sampling unfamiliar cuisine, and exploring both historical and contemporary Japan, students gained confidence, independence, and global awareness.
The team from Korumburra Secondary College returned home not just with souvenirs, but with lasting memories, deeper friendships, and an enriched worldview—a testament to the transformative power of educational travel.
“Thanks to WorldStrides for supporting us in providing this amazing travel experience for our students and staff. From all accounts it was an incredible trip.” – Naomi Coleman, Acting Principal.
Keen to give your students an unforgettable learning adventure just like this one? Contact us to start planning!
This article was developed in collaboration with Korumburra Secondary College – thank you for sharing your trip with us!
