Japan Study Trip 2024

On the 11th September 2024, I was given the opportunity to participate in the Ballarat High Japanese exchange program. It was an amazing experience to be able to visit another country and take a look at aspects of a different culture, as well as the difference in the schooling system in Japan as opposed to in Australia.

The trip took place over the span of 20 days, in which we visited different parts of the country, being given opportunities to see different landmarks and attractions in both Tokyo and Kyoto.

The first branch of the trip saw us all staying in a hotel in Kyoto for several nights, catching many trains to go out and see different parts of the city. This included visits to a local shrine, the famous Shibuya crossing, the aquarium and a skydeck with an amazing view over the city.

For the next leg of the trip, we took a Shinkansen (a Japanese bullet train) to Kyoto, where we stayed for the next few nights. Here we got a great look at the shrines and temples all around the city, including a visit to the Golden Pavilion. We also got the fantastic experience of going to Universal Studios in Osaka! In Kyoto, we had plenty of opportunities to go shopping and visit more than one local yodobashi (shopping mall), as well as eating local cuisine.

The final part of our trip saw us visiting our sister school, Meisei High School, where we stayed with volunteer host families over the course of around ten days. We went on many fun excursions and got to know our hosts as well as the routine of Japanese high schools (we also went to a really cool baseball game).

Overall, the trip was an amazing experience to get to see what life may be like in another part of the world. We were able to meet heaps of new people and try some really amazing local food. It’s safe to say that the trip was an absolute blast for all involved and is a wonderful program for Ballarat High to be involved in.  

Lily Marshall

Year 9 Student

Hwaja Johnston

Japanese Teacher