Our senior students have returned from an unforgettable adventure in one of the most famous archipelagos in the world.

Students in Year 10 and 11 spent a total of 15 nights amid the temples and megacities of East Asia’s multi-faceted island nation of Japan, including four incredible days at Toryo High School, Tatachilla’s sister school in Kumamoto Prefecture (island of Kyushu).

A major highlight for the students was the time they spent with their host siblings and families from Toryo High school, with whom they shared many meals, conversations, laughs and mistranslations (!). Our students not only learned about deep-rooted Japanese customs and traditions as a result of their homestay experience, but also grew in cultural awareness and formed lasting friendships. 

In addition to their time at Toryo High School, our students had the opportunity to explore the cities of Kyoto, Nara, Himeji, Hiroshima, Kumamoto, Osaka and Tokyo.

In Kyoto they enjoyed a ride on the Shinkansen (bullet train) and visited several temples, including Kinkakuji Temple, a Zen pavilion completely covered in gold leaf; Ryoanji Temple, the site of Japan's most famous rock garden; and Nijo Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; Sanjusangendo Temple, famous for its 1,001 statues of the goddess of mercy; Fushimi Inari Shrine, renowned for its thousands of painted vermilion torii gates; and Kiyomizudera Temple, celebrated for its 13 metre-high wooden stage and stunning views of the cherry and maple trees below. 

The students also visited Green Tea Village where the most adventurous among them sampled eel for the first time.

In Himeji, the students wandered through the imposing and graceful Himeji Castle and the former residence of Princess Sen. 

Later in Hiroshima the students learned about the shocking aftermath of the 1945 atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and spent time at Hiroshima Peace Memorial, the Cenotaph for the Victims of the Atomic Bomb and the Children's Peace Monument.

The students grew enormously from their immersive experience in Japan and showed a great eagerness to learn and embrace new ways of thinking, being and seeing. 

The trip laid very strong foundations for a reciprocal visit from the students of Toryo High School – planned for 2024 – and inspired a great love of Japanese history, culture and language among our senior school students.

What our senior students said about their trip to Japan:

“I will cherish my Japan experience forever. I have strengthened the relationships with some of my friends and left Japan with new friends also. Studying Japanese language and then experiencing Japanese culture first-hand has given me a whole new perspective and opened my eyes to the opportunities I could pursue in my future.” 
- Bethany, Year 10

“It’s very hard to sum up everything I learned in Japan because there was so much. Simply put, I learned about the different cultures and customs in Japan through first-hand experience.” 
- Hayden, Year 10

“The trip was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It surprised me how clean everything was, regardless of where we were. All the people were really kind (like the random lady who gave us food in the train station). Even though there were so many people everywhere, it was still really organised and efficient, especially on public transport.” 
- Claire, Year 10

“I loved the homestay so much. I now have a second family in another country! My host family were so welcoming and funny. I felt very safe and happy in their home. I had a really strong bond with the mother, as she has never had a daughter. It was so wonderful. I miss them a lot.”  
- Ellie, Year 10