Japan study trip experience of
a lifetime for Christchurch student


Year 13 Burnside High School student Alice Li describes her school trip to Japan, where the students immersed themselves in the local culture and also had a chance to practise their Japanese language skills. The trip was supported by a Japan Study Grant. Japan Study Grants are funded by Japanese firm Nakashimato Co Ltd and administered by the Asia New Zealand Foundation.

In the town of Imakane, Hokkaido, the group visited a Shinto shrine where they met the priests and practiced meditation

Our first stop was in Sapporo where we were treated to a fancy hotel with all you can eat breakfast. Breakfast was followed with a trip to Okura Mountain where we played Winter-Olympic-themed games and rode a ski lift. Despite the bad weather, riding up that ski lift through foliage and the pitter-patter of rain was one of my favourite moments in Japan.

No matter how calming the ride was, nothing could calm the group's nerves of meeting our host families in Imakane. In the end, our worries were for nothing. The families greeted us with open arms and were just as nervous as we were. I’ve made unforgettable memories with my host family, and I really hope I can see them again. By the time we were leaving, it really felt like we were their kids.

During our time in Imakane with our host families, we went out to experience the local culture. We visited numerous schools, made udon noodles, meditated, attended a tea ceremony and went to shrines. Even sightseeing in windy weather was fun.

Our next destination was Miyajima where we saw more deer wandering the streets than pigeons. It was sweltering hot but that made ice cream even better. Next we went to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. It really made me appreciate being alive and to live for everyone who lost their lives. And, of course, to really appreciate being in Japan!

In Imakane, where they were billeted, the students attended classes at the local junior high school

Then we got to hit Kyoto and Tokyo. In our free day in Kyoto we all went to Fushimi Inari Shrine where some of us opted to climb a 4km track to the top through all the gates! It was one heck of a track, but we were all pumped and ran both up and down the mountain. After a good year’s worth of exercise at the shrine, relaxing in the hostel with air conditioning was the best.

At Tokyo, we all hit the streets ready to shop. Takeshita Street was crowded and everywhere you looked there was something to admire. Be it funny keychains, candy or clothes, there was something for everyone. Tokyo was hard to navigate, but asking people for help really put my Japanese to work!

For our last day, we went out on a bang by going to Tokyo Disneyland. Luckily, the Teacup Ride wasn’t busy because we went on it until we felt sick - definitely one of the highlights of the trip! Just Disneyland itself was so worth it.

Learning about Japanese culture was an important part of the trip

However, if I had to pick out my favourite moments, it would be the quieter ones. Like talking on the bullet train, or waking up too early because of jet lag and playing Uno at 6am with the other early birds.

With a group of seventeen people [on the trip] and only three of those being in my year, it was a bit intimidating at first, but I can confidently say we’ve made unforgettable memories together. Now that we’re back in Christchurch, I think I miss Japan more than I missed home.

Head of languages Chu Prasertdee
Burnside High School’s faculty head of languages Chu Prasertdee, who led the Japan trip, says the students not only learnt a lot about Japan but learnt a lot about themselves while in Japan.

“It really challenged their perceptions of others from different backgrounds. The trip has played a huge part in developing their personalities and understanding of the world,” she says.

Prasertdee says due to the success of the trip and the enthusiasm it installed within the Year 12 students, for the first time in two years Burnside High School will have a Year 13 Japanese class. Since the trip, a number of students have also expressed an interest in studying Japanese at university, she says.