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Japan School Trips & Student Tours

Japan – the land of the rising sun plays host to home spectacular landscapes and stunning destinations ranging from rolling hills, flat farmlands, towering mountains to majestic grand temples, serene shrines and Japan’s Edo-period buildings. Interestingly, there is a limitless number of things to do, see and experience in sprawling megacenter Tokyo, which is a truly inspirational experience for students of all subject backgrounds.

Educational School Trip  is proud of as a reputable tour company developing wonderful student tours to Japan. We specially tailor-made Japan student tours to serve all your student’s needs and your learning objectives. Coming to Japan, students will have ample opportunity to encounter a myriad of custom, deep history, ancient culture in Japan, explore amazing things in the bustling streets of Tokyo, join in state-of-the-art bullet trains and cherish the hospitality of Japanese people. These educational tours definitely will leave students with once-in-a-lifetime experience and meaningful lessons. Let’s Japan school trip awake your student’s travel sense.

Geography Japan School Trip – 14 Days

A Glance of Japan Rugby School Tour – 8 days

Science and Discovery Japan School Trip – 7 Days

Active Japan School Trip – 10 Days

Taste of Japan School Trip – 6 Days

Experience Japan School Trip – 9 Days

Reasons to Choose Japan School Trip for students

Cultural and historical immersion

Marvelous natural sights

High- tech World experience

Safe and secure destination.

Best Places to Visit in Japan School Trips

The capital city of tokyo.

Marvellous Okinawa

The ancient kyoto, charming nara.

Best seasons for Japan students tours

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• UK & Europe +44 (0)20 8064 0592 / USA +1 (617) 334 7755 / China +86 139 1651 9541 / Middle East +971 50 867 4801

Japan Student School Trips & Educational Tours

Embark on your Learning Adventure to Japan, exploring the vibrant culture, ancient architecture and modern metropolises in your tailored itinerary.

  Our educational tours, faculty-led programs, and school trips to Japan offer students the opportunity to explore the country’s unique balance between modern and traditional culture, architecture, history and much more. Our school trips provide the perfect combination of experiential activities and adventure to ensure that your students learn as much as possible while creating life-long memories.

Whether you’re looking for meaningful historical insight in Hiroshima, cultural experiences in Tokyo and Kyoto, or a case study of the country’s unique geology, we have the perfect school trip or college program for you.

Browse our school and university trips to Japan:

History School Trip to Japan

⭐ Tokyo National Museum, Kiyomizu-Dera, river cruise 📌 Tokyo & Kyoto 🕐 7 days

Japan Economics & Business School Trip

⭐ Bank of Japan, Currency Museum, Coca-Cola Plant 📌 Tokyo & Kyoto 🕐 7 days

Robotics & STEM in Japan

⭐ Miraikan, Maglev Exhibition Centre, Kawaguchiko 📌 Tokyo 🕐 7 days

Geography School Trip to Japan

⭐ Rinkai Disaster Park, Fukushima, Rikuzentakata 📌 Tokyo, Kesennuma & Fukushima 🕐 7 days

Culture School Trip to Tokyo

⭐ Kamakura excursion, sushi-making, Hakone excursion 📌 Tokyo 🕐 7 days

Ski in Japan

This exciting winter sports trip takes students skiing in the beautiful Japan.

Golden Route Japan School Trip

⭐ Hakone day trip, sushi-making class, Arashiyama 📌 Tokyo, Hiroshima & Kyoto 🕐 10 days (7 day alternative available)

Art, Anime & Manga in Japan

⭐ TeamLab, International Manga Museum, Higashiyama 📌 Tokyo & Kyoto 🕐 7 days

Why we provide academic travel programs in Japan:

Japan offers learning opportunities that other countries can’t. media students can learn all about manga and anime in tokyo, whilst science or geography groups can get to the heart of disaster management, as they travel to fukushima and hiroshima. some of the activities we offer – such as a talk by an a-bomb legacy successor, visiting tsunami evacuation sites and hiking mount fuji – are once-in-a-lifetime educational experiences..

About our service:

All-Inclusive Programs

Most institutions book all-inclusive trips. We cater for all dietary requirements, provide a variety of transport options and include all activities. We can even book you ATOL-protected flights or arrange a more flexible tour.

100% Organized by Us

We plan, book and operate every component of your trip, including guides, transportation and Health & Safety audits. Our commitment to overseeing our tours means that we can offer you an exceptional program at the best price possible.

On-the-Ground Support

Your dedicated Operational Officer will contact you regularly whilst you are on the ground to check how your educational tour is progressing. Your Adventure Leader will also gather your feedback every evening.

Learn more about how The Learning Adventure makes your program hassle-free for teachers, academics and staff.

Speak to a specialist

Educational Programs

Now available virtually, please note that the jicc is located at 1150 18th street nw, washington, dc, not the embassy of japan on massachusetts ave..

Learn more about our program here:

• Video: a captivating introduction to Japan provided by the Japan National Tourism Organization
• Interactive PowerPoint: an engaging overview of the country's geography, traditions, and everyday life with trivia
• Authentic Artifacts: a presentation of a Japanese wedding kimono, authentic dolls, traditional Japanese toys and more

*Activities may vary depending on time allotment of the program

We hope that our programs leave students and adults alike interested in learning more about Japanese culture.

To request an Educational Program:

• Download the Registration Form (Word file) and fill it out completely
• Email the completed form (as an attachment) to the Educational Programs Coordinator
• Await a reply and retain the confirmation letter as it contains important information and directions to the JICC

For classes unable to make the trip to the JICC, we do consider off-site visits on a case-by-case basis.

Please note that the JICC does not offer educational programs on weekends and that we are unable to accept reservations more than three months in advance .

• Live educational program lead by JICC staff that mimics the program we run in person, but better formatted for an online platform with interactive trivia and questions throughout and time for Q&A and/or activity at the end (approximately 1 hour program, can be shortened if needed).
• Pre-recorded program (20 minutes) audience members can view on their own time at their own pace followed by a live Q&A and/or activity with JICC staff. Pre-recorded programs are available from October.

Educational Programs are not currently being offered. Please check back again. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.

• Download the EP Reservation Form (Word File) and fill it out completely.
• Email the completed form (as an attachment) to the Educational Programs Coordinator at least a week prior to the requested program dates.
• Await a reply and retain the confirmation letter as it contains important information about the JICC's location and facility guidelines.

Please direct all educational program-related inquiries to the Educational Programs Coordinator, Ms. Gabrielle Headly: [email protected] | 202-238-6945 202-822-6524

Embassy Adoption Program

The Embassy Adoption Program is an educational program operated in partnership with the Washington Performing Arts Society and the District of Columbia Public Schools . The Program pairs embassies with fifth- and sixth-graders for a year-long immersive global education, creating a "bond" between local and international communities.

The JICC works with teachers and liaisons throughout the year to organize classroom sessions, cultural immersion programs at the JICC, and field trips for hands-on experience with Japanese history and culture. Often, our classes get to meet diplomats, heads of state, and special embassy guests. They also learn traditional Japanese games, songs, clothing, food, and more, in conjunction with the long and vibrant history of the relationship between Japan and Washington D.C.

The program culminates in a final class presentation at the Residence of the Ambassador of Japan, and a mini-United Nations with other EAP schools.

We look forward to welcoming and working with our EAP groups every year. To learn more about the EAP program and how to apply, please visit the District of Columbia Public Schools website .

Japan: Tokyo, Nikko, Hiroshima and Kyoto

Japan school trip overview.

Embark on a Japan school trip on one of our educational tours and introduce your students to the fascinating culture and global influence of the Land of the Rising Sun. This immersive tour takes students through the ancient history and ultra-modern society of Japan as we travel to its three most important cities: Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima.

From visiting historic landmarks to experiencing traditional Japanese practices such as a tea ceremony, a Taiko lesson, and of course karaoke, this journey is filled with interactive activities that are sure to leave a lasting impression. Explore the bustling city of Tokyo and its vibrant culture, and make unforgettable memories with your students on this school trip to Tokyo. This trip is designed to expand your students’ perspectives and give them a deeper understanding of Japan’s culture and influence on the world.

Did You Know? Teachers travel for free! Learn more about the Benefits for Teachers .

Starting at $5595

What's Included

• Accommodation
• Airfare and transportation
• Authentic local meals
• All listed activities and entrances
• Full-time trip director
• Expert local guides
• 24/7 support and marketing materials
• A customizable itinerary

This Trip is Ideal For...

Geography, History, Language

Map and Route

• Day 1: Overnight flight to Japan
• Days 2-4: Tokyo
• Days 5: Nikko
• Days 6-7: Kyoto
• Day 8: Hiroshima
• Day 9: Kyoto
• Day 10: Return flight

Possible Extensions for a 11-12 Day Trip

• Extra Day 1: Miyajima island
• Extra Day 2: Tokyo Disneyland

Interested in learning more about this tour?

Detailed Trip Itinerary

Learn more about what each day is like on tour! Click on the day to discover the different sites and activities you will experience

DAY 1: Depart for Japan

Flight from your preferred airport to Tokyo.

DAY 2: Tokyo

Upon your arrival in Tokyo, you’ll be greeted at the airport by your Travel For Teens guides, who will accompany you for the duration of your journey. After getting settled into the hotel, we’ll have our first dinner of traditional Japanese cuisine at one of our favorite local restaurants.

DAY 3: Tokyo

On our first day on the ground in Tokyo, we’ll begin with a visit to the Sensoji Temple, one of Tokyo’s oldest and most colorful temples. After lunch, catch the water bus to Hamarikyu Gardens, a beautiful green oasis in the middle of urban Tokyo. This afternoon, try your hand at Virtual Reality in the world capital of technology and video games.

Tour Highlights

• Sensoji Temple
• Hamarikyu Gardens
• Virtual Reality Arcade

DAY 4: Tokyo

This morning, visit the most important collection of anime culture in Japan, the Ghibli Museum. After lunch, explore the vibrant neighborhoods of Shibuya and Harajuku, famous around the world for their funky fashion scene, as well as for having the world’s busiest crosswalk. This evening, we’ll head to the top of the Observatory Building for some of the best views in all Tokyo.

• Studio Ghibli Museum

DAY 5: Nikko

Then it’s off to visit the sacred site of Nikko – a town famous for its rich cultural heritage, beautiful natural scenery, and UNESCO sites. Here we will visit the Toshu-gu Shrine, Nikko’s iconic red bridge, hike through the tranquil countryside to discover the natural beauty of Northern Japan, including Kegon falls!

• Toshu-gu Shrine
• Nikko’s Red Bridge & Stream
• Kegon falls

Day 6: Kyoto

Depart for the train station – we’re heading to our next destination: Kyoto! On the way, we’ll stop in Nagoya for a traditional karate lesson. Try your hand at the historic fighting technique of karate, developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom (now Okinawa)! Head back to the train station and continue on for Kyoto. Check in to our Kyoto accommodation, have dinner, and head out for our evening activity – karaoke!

• Karate Lesson
• Karaoke in Kyoto

Day 7: Kyoto

Head to Fushimi Inari Taisha, known for its stunning vermilion-colored torii gates that form a tunnel through the forest on the mountain behind the main shrine. Visit, Kiyomizu-deraa, UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most famous and visited temples in Japan. In the afternoon, enjoy free time in Ninenzaka/Sannenzaka – wandering the traditional shops and Japanese-style restaurants in this incredible place.

• Fushimi Inari Taisha
• Kiyomizu-deraa
• Ninenzaka/Sannenzaka

DAY 8: Hiroshima & Himeji

Take a day trip from Kyoto to Hiroshima. Hiroshima today is dedicated to bringing peace to the world, a direct result of the destruction the atomic bomb brought to it during WWII. During our time here we will have the special opportunity to meet with a local survivor and hear his or her perspective on this tragic event. Every year our students are moved by hearing such a personal and emotional story, and come away with a greater understanding of the effects of WWII.

On the way back to Kyoto, stop at Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most famous castles in Japan.

• Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
• Himeji Castle

DAY 9: Kyoto

This morning, visit the incredible Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, a popular tourist destination since 749AD. Stop by the Togetsukyo Bridge, stroll through the bamboo groves, and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. We will also enjoy a fun and exciting taiko lesson, where we will learn to play these traditional Japanese drums with instructors in a fun and easy to learn format. To cap off our lesson we might even have a drum battle!

• Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
• Taiko Lesson

DAY 10: Depart Japan

Your TFT guides will accompany you to the airport and assist you with check-in for your flight. Wave goodbye as you head through security and sit back and relax on your flight home.

The TFT Difference

We never combine groups (unless you want to).

Your tour is special and just for you and your students! We will never combine two or more groups on the same bus or tour unless you request traveling with another teacher. We will lead a trip with as few as six people and a teacher. Your Trip Director travels with you for the duration of your educational tour. If you have another group you would like to travel with, let us know and we can arrange for that as well!

Stress-Free Planning and 24/7 Support

We are there for you every step of the way, and our support begins the moment you decide to do a TFT educational tour! We will provide you with a team member who will help bring your tour to life, along with everything you need to help get students to sign up for the adventure! On the tour you will have 24/7 dedicated staff with you to ensure everything runs smoothly and because we know travel is full of surprises, solve anything that may pop up along the way.

Photos and Email Updates

We make sure your travel memories are captured forever! Expect frequent personal email updates and hundreds of photos from your TFT staff shared with you and your students’ families so everyone can follow along on the journey. We are the only educational tour company to offer this in-depth trip communication and it truly makes all the difference!

Central Accommodation and Local Meals

Authenticity is engrained in everything we do. We stay at locally owned accommodation in the city center so you don’t waste your valuable time commuting. We dine at charming authentic restaurants to get a real flavor (literally!) for the local culture. The best way to travel is like a local. So ditch the tour bus and have a real traveler’s experience with us!

Request A Free Custom Quote For This Itinerary

Photo gallery.

Travel with us and discover why we are consistently winning awards for Top Youth Travel Organization.

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Promotion of Educational Travel to Japan

• ABOUT JAPAN EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL
• arrow_right WHY JAPAN?
• arrow_right Traditional culture
• arrow_right Modern culture
• arrow_right Natural environment
• arrow_right Japanese food
• arrow_right Sports
• arrow_right Made in Japan
• arrow_right Crisis management
• arrow_right Social systems and infrastructure
• arrow_right Peace and friendship
• arrow_right SCHOOL IN JAPAN
• arrow_right JAPANESE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
• arrow_right SCHOOL LIFE IN JAPAN
• arrow_right PLAN YOUR TRIP
• arrow_right SUGGESTED ITINERARIES
• arrow_right SCHOOL EXCHANGES
• arrow_right TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL ONLINE SCHOOL EXCHANGE
• arrow_right IN-PERSON EXCHANGES
• arrow_right ONLINE EXCHANGES
• arrow_right VISITOR'S VOICES

highlight PLAN YOUR TRIP

In order to plan your study trip to Japan, you can begin here by firstly learning basic information and fun facts of this country and its unique culture. For the planners and guests of school trip, all the important details to help coordinate an inspiring trip in Japan can be found here.

Located in East Asia, Japan is an island nation that lies on the West Pacific Ocean. With an area of 377,973.89km 2 , it is the 62nd largest country in the world. Japan has a population of 123.22 million people, the world's 11th highest, and its GDP of 4.941 trillion US dollars ranks as the 3rd largest in the world (based on Feb. 2021 data).

info Basic Information

Highlight travel tips, location_city safety.

Japan is one of the world's safest countries for travelers. Its strong law enforcement agencies, stable political environment and stable economy allow Japan to top the peaceful country index in Asia.

local_drink Health and Hygiene

The tap water is safe for drinking, and there is also easy accesses to bottled water. The food safety in Japan is of the highest standard as well.

local_hospital Medical System

The advanced medical system in Japan provides high-quality service. On an occasion of emergency, you can call 119 for an ambulance, and emergency care is available 24/7 at most general hospitals. If you need regular assistance from a doctor, visit a clinic, general hospital or other medical institution and ask for help at reception. For medication requiring no prescription, simple treatments and medical supplies, you can go to one of the many drugstores and consult the pharmacists or registered clerks if necessary. More information on medical services in multiple languages can be found at the link below. Guide for when you are feeling ill (JNTO) open_in_new

train Domestic Transportation

The public transportation network in Japan is well-developed and can take you to almost all popular destinations and attractions quickly and safely. The high-speed railways (shinkansen/bullet train) and highways cover nearly the whole of Japan, connecting major cities. The railway and highway bus services allow tourists to easily travel even long distances around the country. You will be pleased by their smooth trips, their precise schedules, quality operations and reasonable fares. In addition, these country-wide transport networks link to the local railways and metro systems in many cities. By using an IC card you can ride and transfer between railways and metro systems simply with no need to buy a ticket every time. It's simple!

wb_sunny Climate

Most of areas of Japan falls within warm and cool temperate zones of relatively high humidity climate. Japan is a perfect destination for immersing oneself in nature and enjoying the beauty of its four distinct seasons. The sight of flowering sakura (cherry blossoms) in spring is a particular favorite of tourists, as are summer festivals where you can eat shaved ice to help you cool down in the hot nights of summer. Autumn is the season of maple leaves with their fall shades of yellow and red creating spectacular scenery. And, of course, there is winter which best time for enjoying skiing on Japan's world-class snow and warm yourself with a shabu shabu hot pot. On average, the month of January is the coldest, while August is the hottest month of the year. The rainy season of Japan falls within the period June to July.

directions_run Natural Disasters

Situated on the Circum-Pacific Seismic Belt and near the subtropical zone, Japan is well-known for natural disasters, such as earthquakes and typhoons. Due to plate tectonics, Japan was geologically formed as a mountainous country with volcanic eruption and tsunami taking place sometimes. Learning the lessons of its past natural calamities, Japan has developed a highly organized and efficient system of precautions, education, relief and risk management. Despite the inevitable loss brought by these acts of nature, Japan takes advantage of its naturally occurring landscapes and experience in coping with disasters to continue to reestablish tourism and local economies afterwards, and to continue to develop state-of-the-art technologies to mitigate loss and protect people.

star Muslim travelers

Recently, the number of Muslim travelers visiting Japan has been growing year by year. The number of Muslim-friendly halal-accredited restaurants and other facilities as well as mosques in Japan have also been increasing. The tourism policies have also been adjusted in response to the needs of the expanding Japanese Muslim community as well as Muslim tourists. In general, Japan is religion-tolerant and is striving to build a Muslim-friendly environment to meet the standards of Halal tourism. Currently, Japan has no specialized agency for halal accreditation, but Muslim-friendly resources and information can be found at Japan Welcome Guide for Muslim Travelers , Japan Guide for Muslim Visitors , Halal Gourmet Japan, and Halal Expo Japan.

Let's see how to coordinate the perfect educational travel plan for your students. For planning educational travel and school exchange events during the trip, go to our School Exchange page to get ideas.

Travel Guide

Personalize your educational travel with the travel guide to the key information for getting around in Japan. Start by picking travel dates, locations and places to stay.

event When to visit

Get to know the distinct climate and seasons in Japan to plan your visit dates.

January is the coldest month of a year. The weather is often windy and dry. From January 1, New Year, through the beginning of this month, most of schools, public services and many private sector businesses are closed for New Year Holidays.

It's still cold and sometimes snowy in February. Plum blossoms can be seen in certain areas. Generally, February is the period when students take entrance exams for high school and college.

The spring is approaching, and cherry blossoms begin to bloom in most regions from mid to late March. From the end of March, students have a Spring break that lasts until the beginning of April.

It is spring and the season of flowering wisteria. Every year, schools start their new academic year at the beginning of April.

The average temperature rises to a pleasant 15-20 degrees Celsius, but sometimes it is cool so travelers should bring light coats or jackets. At the beginning of May, there is a seven- to ten-day public holiday called "Golden Week".

The early summer season of June is warm and famous for being the hydrangea flower season. It becomes more humid as the rainy season starts in June.

Entering summer, the weather heats up, and sometimes there are typhoons. Many festivals (matsuri) are held in summer.

The weather of most of the regions remains hot and humid. Occasionally, there are a few typhoons from June to September (the main typhoon season). Most of Japanese students are on summer vacation in August, and around the mid August, there is a seven- to ten-day vacation.

The season turns into autumn in September. During daytime, the weather is mostly mild and comfortable, but during the nighttime it is best to have jackets to keep warm.

As mid-autumn comes, maple leaves gradually turn orange and red hues. It's generally cool and comfortable in October and that makes this month a hot season for tourists.

It becomes colder, and some regions in Japan may start to see frost and light snow. November is the month that winter sports resorts start to open to guests.

It gradually becomes cold in December, and some areas snow is to be expected. Over the year-end and New Year period many people, government services and organizations tend to take a break of about one week.

info Destinations

Haven't decided where to visit and stay? Take a look at the guide to ten regions in Japan.

Embrace and explore the wide green fields of Hokkaido. The unpolluted environment offers the chance to get close to nature, a soothing experience for the travelers' mind. With a variety of outdoor activity options, you can stretch your limbs and try some challenging physical exercise surrounded by nature such as cycling, canoeing, hiking and rafting. In winter, Hokkaido treats the visitors with the world-class winter sports venues and resorts. Come to enjoy skiing, dog-sledding and snowboarding in the snow season! arrow_right ITINERARIES: Enjoy the abundant nature and delicious food of Hokkaido

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The Tohoku area includes six prefectures of the mixed culturalscape consisting of rich historical sites, rural and suburban settlements, and magnificent natural landscapes. Gradually recovering from the disastrous earthquake in 2011, the area has become a popular destination for international tourists in the recent years with its quality produce, its varying landforms and views, in August, the spectacular festival, Aomori Nebuta Matsuri, and Hiraizumi listed on UNESCO World Heritage, in Iwate. Don't forget to taste sweet cherries in Yamagata and juicy peaches in Fukushima. arrow_right ITINERARIES: Learn about the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, and experience traditional customs and festivals

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The Kanto area is where the megacity Tokyo is located. In addition to the amazing experience of night views and shuttling through the hustle and bustle of this metropolis, the UNESCO World Heritage listed city of Nikko just two to three hours away is definitely worth a visit. Around Tokyo, there are prefectures with historical treasures and hot springs, such as Gunma and Saitama. To explore the region's diverse marine, international trading and immigrant culture, visit Yokohama, the port city of Kanto famous for its fusion lifestyle and food. arrow_right ITINERARIES: Follow the renowned “Golden Route” in Japan

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Hokuriku Shinetsu

Boasting the beautiful Northwestern coastline of the main island and the mountains of the "Japan Alps", the Hokuriku Shinetsu area has nurtured the rich culture consisting of delicacies, exquisite crafts and a lifestyle balanced between the nature and human activity. Besides enjoying the best of fresh seafood, sake and fruits in the country, it is worth an artistic trip to Kanazawa, the cultural capital of the area to learn about traditional crafts and contemporary designs. In addition, Niigata and Nagano are two of the best locations in Japan for winter sports. arrow_right ITINERARIES: Deepen the exchange with Japanese people, and learn about social system and rice agriculture in Japan

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The Tokai area is renowned as the home of Mt. Fuji. Around this icon of Japan, there are resorts of hot springs and natural splendors, such as Hakone and the Fuji Five Lakes area. Feel like immersing yourself in history and culture? Visit the Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and visit Isejingu Shrine, one of the most time-honored Shinto shrines of Japan. For those tea lovers, don't miss the green tea plantations in Shizuoka. arrow_right ITINERARIES: Deepen the exchange with Japanese people, and learn about social system and rice agriculture in Japan arrow_right ITINERARIES: Follow the renowned “Golden Route” in Japan

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Kansai is the cultural and religious capital of Japan with castles that have survived the centuries, spiritual Zen gardens, and many culturally important ancient temples and shrines. Immerse yourself in the tranquility and majesty of the religious and historical sites in Kyoto, Nara and Wakayama. If you are a fan of history or architecture, don't miss the most well-preserved of all Japan's castles Himeji Castle in Hyogo Prefecture that represents the glory of samurai culture and Japanese traditional craftsmanship. Just an one to two-hour's trip by train from the sites above, Osaka and Kobe are gourmet paradises with nice ambience thanks in part to their photogenic night views. arrow_right ITINERARIES: Follow the renowned “Golden Route” in Japan

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Located in the west of the main island, the Chugoku area is the bridge to the island regions of Kyushu and Shikoku. The most famous tourist attraction in Chugoku may be the famous "floating" Itsukushima Shrine in Hiroshima Prefecture. In Hiroshima, There is an Atomic Bomb Dome the UNESCO World Heritage listed. In Tottori and Shimane, there are rural landscapes, and Shimane's Izumo Taisha Shrine is worth a visit as the sacred place that is believed to be the gathering venue of all the gods of Japanese Shinto religion. In addition to the ancient shrines, you can learn about the modern history of Japan and "Meiji Reforms," the modernization movement of the country in the 19th century, at various historical sites in Yamaguchi. The one of the regions most popular attractions with foreign visitors is the Mizuki Shigeru Museum and yokai (monster and spirit) statues of Kitaro Road in Tottori. arrow_right ITINERARIES: A peace study tour to Nagasaki and Hiroshima: Contemplating peace

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Shikoku is the smallest among the four main islands of Japan, but is definitely the most vibrant with its abundant resources in nature and culture. Take a rail tour to enjoy the views of Seto Inland Sea coastline, and if you happen to visit Shikoku in summer, you may plan an island hopping journey to appreciate artworks of the Setouchi Triennale. Don't forget to taste the udon noodles of world-fame produced in Kagawa and visit one of the Japan's oldest hot springs, Dogo Onsen with its history of over a thousand years of use. In Kotohira, see Japan's oldest working kabuki theatre and try climbing the thousand steps of Konpira-san Shrine.

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Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan's four main islands, has warm and comfortable weather nearly all year round. There are two historical port cities in Kyushu, Nagasaki and Mojiko, and both have fusion styles of food, architecture and communities as they were the earliest gateways to Japan, open to international trade, travel and immigrants. Visit Kumamoto and Kagoshima to view the magnificent volcanic landscapes and experience a hot sand bath. Don't miss the famous Kumamoto Castle, and be sure to add Oita, known as "the prefecture of hot springs," to your traveler's bucket list! arrow_right ITINERARIES: A peace study tour to Nagasaki and Hiroshima: Contemplating peace

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As the southernmost part of Japan's long island chain, Okinawa is a prefecture of subtropical climate and a resort for beaches and water sports. Come to explore the historical sites and restored Shuri Castle of the former Ryukyu Kingdom. Dive into the sea to visit the marine world of colorful coral reefs and undersea aquatic life. Whale-watching and dragon boat races are the exclusive and fun events that you can join in to enjoy the coastline and sea world of Okinawa. Do you know that karate originated in Okinawa? Come to learn more about it!

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hotel Accommodation

From hotels to homestays, different styles of accommodation are open to the students on educational travel. See the introductions to the recommended accommodation options.

Hotel / Inn

The inns run by the large hotel chains are the easiest and most common choices for the tourists traveling to Japan. Most of the inns have sufficient and large rooms and space to accommodate groups and for group activities. The clean environment, great locations, easy access to booking and stable quality of service are the main reasons for these inns to become international travelers' favorites.

Japanese Hotel "Ryokan"

Feel like experiencing Japanese culture during your stay at a hotel? Japanese hotels, called "ryokan" in Japanese, offer not only great experience in accommodation, but their service and culture are steeped in Japanese-style and traditional conventions as well. At a Japanese hotel, you may stay in an antique Japanese house and enjoy authentic Japanese cuisine. Some traditional Japanese hotels even have their own hot spring and offer Japanese bathrobes to their guests.

Homestays may be a best way to get closer to and learn from Japanese lifestyle. Instead of staying at hotels, you may interact and make friends with the locals while learning first hand about everyday Japanese life by spending a few nights with a Japanese family. It's also a valuable opportunity to exchange and stimulate conversations between cultures.

Farmstays allows people to stay with host families in farming and fishing villages and have an experience distinctly different from staying at hotels in urban areas. Staying in the countryside or seaside town, you have the access to the abundant surrounding nature, and a chance for an unforgettable experience meeting the local communities involved in forestry, fishing and farming. In some cases you may even get a little taste of their worklives by trying your hand at harvesting food, tending livestock, or other chores.

chrome_reader_mode Educational Programs

The educational travel can be theme specific, focused on culture, history, nature, food, sports or any other theme you would like.

Helpful Links

See here to access to more tourist resources and information about transportation all over Japan.

JAPAN TRAVEL GUIDE open_in_new

The official tourism website of Japan by Japan National Tourism Organization.

Japan Tourism Agency open_in_new

The official website of the Japan Tourism Agency.

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School Groups & Excursions

Beautiful, relaxing, profound, fashionable, mouth-watering, historic, exciting, majestic – which Japan would you like to experience?

A visit to Japan is a feast for all the senses: cityscapes beyond imagination, awe inspiring natural beauty, vibrant and unique festivals, delicious regional delicacies, refined and elegant gardens and architecture.

On a school excursion to Japan, you can experience firsthand a culture far more beautiful and diverse than your textbook could ever portray.

Become a part of this fascinating country, be captured by the people and the surroundings – It will be the greatest learning experience you can find. With genuine and heart-warming hospitality, Japan awaits you.

To sign up to JNTO's education related updates, please click below:

Six great reasons to visit Japan on a school excursion

Native interaction, firsthand experiences Nothing compares to interacting with native Japanese people as a tool to improve learning the language. School visits and home stays provide students with the opportunity to immerse themselves in to Japanese culture.

Affordable Although Japan is often thought of as an expensive destination there are in fact a wide variety of budget accommodation and transport options, along with many free and inexpensive tourist attractions making Japan an affordable destination.

Well developed transport network Japan’s transport network is very extensive and allows for speedy and efficient traveling. Major cities within the country are connected to each other by air, rail and highways.

High security standard Japan has long led the world as one of the most crime-free economically advanced countries where even the larger cities are remarkably safe.

Location, Location, Location Japan is only one hour behind Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) and three hours behind New Zealand Standard Time (NZST) meaning travelers experience almost no jetlag and more time can be spent exploring. Japan also has four distinct seasons with each regional area has its own unique climate and culture.

Sister City and Sister School Relationships Japan has many Sister City and Sister School relationships with Australia and New Zealand promoting international exchange and cooperation between the nations.

Further Information & Resources

• Educational Tours to Japan   – This brochure (pictured above) introduces some of Japan’s regional areas, educational attractions and activities, information on home-stay and school exchange and case studies.

• Preparatory Learning Guide for Educational Travel in Japan - This workbook is designed to help students prepare for their educational travel by prompting research on Japan’s geography, culture, lifestyle, and their upcoming school visit.
• List of school tour operators  – Change 'Product type' to 'School Groups' to see a list of travel agents specialising in arranging school tours to Japan.
• Japan Educational Tours  – Contains list of educational contacts at local tourism bureaus, FAQs and more

Resources for specific regions in Japan

Note: Listed alphabetically by prefecture

• Shinshu-Iiyama Tourism Bureau, Nagano Prefecture: Welcome to Iiyama - One-stop Iiyama School Trip Booking Service (PDF)
• Wakayama Prefecture: Homestays, School Exchanges and Field Trips

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Educational tours & school trips to Japan

Our tour packages are a perfect mix of education and cultural activities, allowing you to discover all that Tokyo has to offer, as well as traditional Japanese arts, such as the tea ceremony or learning how to play Taiko, Japanese drums.

Get in Touch

Group trips to Japan

We organize trips to Japan with one goal in mind: offering the best possible Japanese experience and providing a painless organization process to teachers, institutions and organizations.

Our educational and cultural tours are a balanced combination of language learning and activities, in a safe, international environment. We work closely with you, the trip organizer, to create fully customizable solutions that fits your needs. Our tour packages allow you to discover the secrets of a traditional tea ceremony, test your sushi making skills, sing your favourite songs at Karaoke, learn how to play traditional taiko drums and enjoy many other unique activities as well as starting or developing your journey to learn Japanese.

We take care of everything

With our highly-vetted and trusted partners, we take the stress out of organizing your trip to Japan. We take care of the cultural activities, language schools, accommodation and more, so you can just enjoy the experience.

100% customizable tours and bespoke trips

After seven years running successful trips in Japan, we know that one solution doesn’t fit all, that’s why our bespoke tours can be customized and tailored to your requirements. Whether you are organizing a trip for students, employees, or for family, we’ll make sure you have an ultimate break in Japan. Our wide range of activities mean that no matter what you’re looking for we can build a tour package perfect for you.

Our qualified tour leaders have extensive experience in dealing with diverse groups and always go the extra mile to make sure you have an unforgettable experience.

Local staff and support

We have our own highly knowledgable, multilingual, local staff who act as your guide, translator, and general support for your trip, ensuring you have the best possible experience.

Age is just a number! We have organized trips for travelers from 15 – 55, so get in touch to see how we can help.

What students say about our service?

Spring Course

Nicole’s Story (Australian)

It was really fun, I loved trying a variety of Japanese foods and hanging out with our tour guide. The school and staff super helpful, I’d attend again for sure.

Summer Course

Thomas’s Story (British)

The Summer Course was my first introduction to Japan and it did not disappoint. From the moment I was welcomed at the airport to leaving the dorm for the last time, I had the most fun I have had in a long time. Getting to experience Japan with new people who became fast friends was incredible.

Youth Japan

Alex’s Story (American)

Because of the program, I plan on applying to Japanese university next year because of how much I enjoyed living in Japan and how much I want to return.

Winter Course

Anthony’s Story (British)

It was a very enjoyable experience. The events held by Studytrip.com were amazing and I made some great friendships with other on the course. It was a great experience that I would recommend anyone who wanted to visit Japan to try. It was fairly priced, the staff were great and the events were amazing.

About our tour leaders

Jose (Japan)

I originally came to Tokyo pursuing my passion of the Japanese language and culture. After studying in Japan for 4 years, I started working as Study Trip’s Tour Leader. Through my work, I aim to show people the many reasons why I fell in love with this country, making sure they enjoy their time to the fullest, and engage in a cultural exchange that will enrich everyone’s experience abroad. In my many years as a Tour Guide I have been able to meet a lot of amazing people and help them have the time of their life while in Tokyo.

Students chose our trips

Available courses, customer satisfaction, international offices, photos from our previous study trips.

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Why choosing Japan?

Japan is one of the most advanced countries in the world, but it’s still strongly linked to its traditional roots. Exploring this country you will get on a journey through time, nature, technology, history and future. Discovering a culture so different from the rest of the world will allow students to expand their horizons, and get a deeper knowledge of the world and its diversity.

Japan offers all type of cuisines from all around the world, as long as its specialities, such as sushi, tempura, okonimyaki, ramen, etc. Contrary to what people think, many Japanese restaurants offer lunch and dinner for less than 1,000 yen (10$), so you can easily enjoy a delicious meal without breaking the budget.

Transportations

Japanese public transport is famous for being clean, punctual and a lot less complicated than it seems. Taking the train to school is a sure way to learn how to navigate your way around the city.

Japan is a great choice for a school trip, being that it’s famous for being one of the safest countries in the world. That’s why Japanese parents are able to allow their children to be independent from a young age and even takes themselves to school as early as 4 years old.

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Japan is an intriguing land of contrasts; ancient yet hyper modern, traditional and high-tech, peaceful and exhausting. Intriguing history, energetic cities, dazzling natural beauty, ancient cultural traditions and a gracious, humble people make this a remarkable destination for an educational travel experience.

Students will be fascinated by the world-class city that is Tokyo then hop on a bullet train to stunning Kyoto, where you can study the sublime gardens, temples and traditional architecture as well as visit the famous Geisha district to learn the intricacies of traditional Japanese culture.

For school groups looking for a more active Japanese school adventure, trek along ancient pilgrimage trails; challenge yourself with a climb to the summit of majestic Mount Fuji; or take one of our superb cycle trails and explore Japan's scenic backroads at handlebar level.

Whether you want to stick to Japan's fabulous cities and cultural icons or explore ancient temples, imperial palaces, historic sites and experience Japanese hospitality, Japan is a destination you can explore by foot, bike or kayak and our unique school group itinerary options can cater for almost any request.

Talk to our experts about tailoring a Japan school trip to your budget and needs.

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Important information, popular activities.

Self Guided Walking

Self Guided Cycling

Guided Walking

Guided Cycling

Dive into an ancient culture

Stroll the gardens of Kyoto

Explore vibrant Tokyo

Hike through stunning wilderness

Picnic under the Sakura trees

Popular regions in japan.

Safety - our number 1 priority

Expert leaders, risk assessments, quality inclusions and your financial security all come standard when travelling with World Expeditions Schools.

Minimising risk

Our industry leading risk management procedures have become a skill that we continue to refine. Thanks to careful management and thorough consultation with local partners our track record is exemplary.

Service Learning specialists

School Service Learning Community Projects offer a unique way to experience genuine cultural interaction while also providing real tangible benefits to underprivileged communities. Every Service Learning project is guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Trusted accommodations

We only utilise trusted accommodation on a twin-share basis (unless otherwise requested) which we know to be clean, reliable, in a safe location and are regularly inspected by local authorities. Wherever possible, adjoining rooms are provided to ensure that students are provided with adequate supervision.

When camping your group will be provided with all group camping equipment including tents, quality sleeping bags, sleeping mats, eating utensils, kit bags as well as three hearty meals per day prepared by our trained cooks in a hygienic and controlled environment.

Reliable, private internal transport

We only use trusted transport providers and always use private buses. Using private buses not only ensures we can control the safety of the service but it also provides a measure of flexibility in our trips with each group provided vehicles dedicated to their needs. It also means the group is not taking seats away from locals who are in more need of the local services.

Hygienically prepared meals

When trekking, our trained staff and team of cooks provide a hygienic camp as well as fresh, nutritious meals.

Experienced & highly trained local guides

We believe local guides provide the best experience. Their local knowledge is unparalleled in terms of interpreting the natural and cultural environments, outlining the history of a region, engaging local dialogue and also re-arranging services if required.

Many of our local guides have worked for our company for a decade or longer. They are first aid trained, experienced, passionate about their country and we have the utmost confidence in their ability to provide an experience for your school better than any western guide can.

Well thought out, tailored itineraries

If itinerary design was an art form our work would be hanging in galleries around the world. At the very least it is most certainly a science and we have years of destinational experience to ensure your itinerary is safe and achievable.

When it comes to travelling at altitude we always allow ample days to allow for proper acclimatisation as well as to allow for inclement weather.

Related Articles

• Where to Go & Weather
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Electricity

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Where to Go

Explore neon Tokyo

Marvel at Kyoto’s sublime gardens, temples and traditional architecture

Set your eyes on—or climb!—majestic Mount Fuji

Experience Japanese hospitality in a ryokan family inn

Explore Japan’s ancient temples, palaces and historic sites

See Japanese culture in living colour at one of many matsuri festivals

Play in some of the world’s best powder snow in Hokkaido

Head to Japan’s stunning wilderness areas to hike among the coloured autumn leaves

Picnic under the glorious sakura blossoms in spring

Take the time to enjoy Japan’s traditional tea ceremony

Catch a live kabuki performance, sumo match or karate tournament

Travel like a local on super fast, super efficient bullet trains

Japan’s climatic conditions vary considerably from north to south, owing to the mountainous spine than runs through the islands and the archipelago’s deep latitudinal span. Main moderating influences on Japan’s weather are its mountains, surrounding oceans, proximity to the Asian mainland and the effects of monsoons, in which alternating wet/dry periods are caused by the seasonal reversal of prevailing winds.

Japan’s prevailing summer and winter conditions are the result of interactions between two huge air masses: the moist tropical air mass coming off the Pacific Ocean and the cold continental polar air mass coming mainly from Siberia.

The summer monsoon (April to early September) brings rains and warmer temperatures, often causing cyclones, typhoons and storms in later summer. The winter monsoon (late September to early March) brings cold air that picks up moisture in the Sea of Japan, depositing rain and heavy snow along Japan’s western side and bringing cold, dry winds to the eastern side.

Japan is wettest in the early summer and driest in the winter, with the exception being the Sea of Japan coast, which receives heavy snowfall in winter. East Asia experiences a summer rainy season commonly called the “plum rains”, or baiu in Japanese, bringing hot, humid weather, typhoons and torrential rain during June and July.

Japan has some of the world’s best and heaviest snowfall, and is naturally a haven for skiers and snowboarders. The main island of Honshu receives snow in many parts, but it is the northern-most island of Hokkaido that is world-renowned for heavy powder snow during its ski season of December to March.

As a general rule, the coldest month is January, and the warmest month is August. The transitional seasons of autumn and spring are generally shorter, and temperatures are generally lower, in the north compared to the south.

In Tokyo, average daily temperatures vary from a minimum of 2.5°C (36.5°F) to a maximum of 9.9°C (50°F) in January; to a minimum of 24.5°C (76.1°F) to a maximum of 31.1°C (88°F) in August.

In Sapporo, average daily temperatures vary from a minimum of -7°C (°F) to a maximum of -0.6°C (°F) in January; to a minimum of 19.1°C (°F) to a maximum of 26.4°C (°F) in August.

Time in Japan

Japan is +9 hours ahead of UTC/GMT

Japanese is the official national language, spoken as the primary language by almost all of the population. Many different regional dialects exist, however, Standard Japanese (as spoken in Tokyo) is understood nationwide and is the language used for news broadcasting

Written Japanese uses a combination of kanji (Chinese pictogram characters denoting specific words/concepts) and kana (Japanese phonetic characters denoting specific syllables, which form words when grouped together). The Latin/Roman alphabet is also used sometimes to spell Japanese phonetically (called romaji) for those who cannot read written Japanese

Most public and private schools require students to take courses in both Japanese and English, however, few Japanese are able to speak English at a high international standard due to a lack of rigorous English language training, the inherent shyness that is part of Japanese culture, and the difficulty for native Japanese speakers in pronouncing English words, due to the far greater number of different phonemes (syllable sounds) in English compared to Japanese

The unit of currency is the Yen

It is strongly recommended that you buy Yen prior to departure as the rate in your home country is likely to be more favourable than in Japan.

Japan is still very much a cash-only society.

Credit cards are not widely accepted outside of expensive shops and restaurants, and there are surprisingly few opportunities to change money.

Our inns will not have cashing facilities, and currency other than Japanese Yen will not be accepted.

Visits to ATM machines will be scheduled in Tokyo and again near the tour’s end. There will be an opportunity for one bank visit around the tour mid-point, which may be the only opportunity to cash travellers cheques.

International Dialing Code

Electricity in Japan is 100 Volts, at 50/60 hertz. The most common pin type is A. (2 flat prong).

The following passport holders can travel to Japan for up to 3 months without a visa:

New Zealand

UK (6 months)

If you are travelling on any other type of passport we would request that you contact us, or your travel agent, to check the visa requirements.

Your safety is our number one concern. Our safety track record is exemplary thanks to careful management and thorough consultation with local partners. Our industry leading risk management procedures have become a skill that we continue to refine. Our leaders in the field are highly trained and have safety as their number one priority. Expert leaders, risk assessments, quality inclusions and your financial security all come standard when you travel with us.

Please refer to our Travel Advisory page for updates on recent events, travel warnings and advice.

We strongly recommend that all clients take out travel insurance at the time of booking to cover against sickness, accident, loss of baggage, unexpected alterations to travel arrangements and travel disruption, emergency evacuation, cancellations, etc. Insurance information is enclosed with your pre-departure information. Please contact us if you would like to obtain a quote for your trip duration.

We suggest that you consult your doctor, local government inoculation centre or a travel medical specialist in order to get the most current advice regarding vaccination requirements.

Money and valuables should always be stored safely when travelling. Keep your passport with you at all times and do not leave it in your main luggage. You will need it to change money and check into hotels. Where safety deposit boxes are available, we recommend that you use them. Keep jewellery and valuables to a minimum.

Ready to tailor a school trip to Japan?

Our educational travel experts are ready to help you tailor an itinerary or service learning project in Japan to suit your school’s needs and budget. Contact us today to receive a free consultation.

Assisted over 14,000 Students Worldwide

Since the 1980's, we   have helped students from around the globe to experience the world's most exciting destinations, allowing them to travel, give, grow .

400+ Service Learning Programs

Together with students, we have completed over 400 Service Learning programs in developing countries. We will always continue to support causes including social justice, animal welfare, the environment and more.

Fully Customised School Travel Programs

Want to include service learning, your school curriculum and a physical challenge, or any of the above? Contact us and we can design a program fully catered for your students and budget.

Safety and Support - Our #1 Priority

Every school receives a detailed risk management plan that is guided by government advisories and the local partners we work with. We never compromise on the safety of your students to reduce the price of the program.

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Kids Web Japan

Web Japan > Kids Web Japan > Explore Japan > Schools > Trips

Explore Japan

Q. what are school trips like.

Japanese elementary and middle schools begin around eight thirty.

Students in elementary, middle and high school in Japan go on overnight school trips. The purpose of these trips, which are led by the teachers and done by the entire grade, is to use travel to provide learning experiences outside of the classroom.

The itinerary for a typical school trip might be like this: Day 1: Leave Tokyo on the 8:53 AM shinkansen bullet train to Osaka. From there, travel by bus to visit Horyuji Temple and Nara Park. Day 2: Split up into groups to explore Kyoto separately. At night, there will be a lacquerware demonstration experience at the lodging. Day 3: Split up for group activities. Leave Kyoto on the 2:39 PM shinkansen, arriving backing in Tokyo at 4:56 PM.

Since the 1990s, it has become more common for schools to organize overseas trips to places like Hawaii, the western United States, the United Kingdom, Taiwan and South Korea. Before traveling, it is important for the students to learn about the history of the country they will visit, and their relationship with Japan.

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Yearly Activities and Events in Japanese Public Schools

In Japanese public elementary schools and junior high schools , there are many activities, for example an entrance ceremony, sports day, class observation day, teacher's home visit and so on. In this article you will learn about Japanese school year and main activities.

Japanese School Year

Japanese school year starts in the beginning of April and ends in the end of March of the following year. A school year is divided into 3 terms (some schools have only 2 terms). Below is a calendar of a school which runs 3 terms. International schools in Japan follow the system of each country.

What kind of school activities do Japanese school children take part?

These are major activities in Japanese elementary schools and junior high schools however, not all schools do them all and depending on the school, the school calendar could be different.

April - July (1st Term)

September - december (2nd term), january - march (3rd term), other school activities:, summer holiday homework for japanese children / students.

In Japan, summer vacation for students is for about 30-40 days however, children / students have an obligation to finish a lot of homework.

For example, math and kanji (Chinese character) drills, a book report, keeping a journal during the entire summer vacation, a painting, practicing some musical instruments like melodica, an observation report (normally plants), an independent research and so on. Some students go to a summer cram school (known as “juku” or "Kaki-koshu").

Children / students have to submit all of them on the first day of the 2 nd term.

You may also be interested in:

*  List of International Schools in Japan

*  Japanese education system and which school is the best for your child

*  Primary - Elementary School System in Japan

* Enrolling in a Japanese public school and materials you need to prepare

* What You Should Know about Japanese Public School Customs

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The traditional of organised school trips in Japan

School trips in Japan are something else. We’ve all been on a day trip to the zoo or a museum. Perhaps you don’t learn much on the trip. But school trips in Japan, especially those for high school students, are done by almost every school and last a whole week.

Known as 修学旅行 (しゅうがくりょこう), these tend to focus on learning about Japanese culture and history through site visits, lectures and other activities.

A blog post on 修学旅行 might be useful to get an introduction to it, you can find it here .

So first, we have the mention that not only high schools do such trips but also primary and middle schools. There is also the mention of 林間学校 (りんかんがっこう) which are outdoor schools, a type of camping trip that is common in Australian schools (we call it Outward Bound, awesome fun!).

There is also the point that being a high school student, you get a lot more free time for the high school trip. The use of the word 修学 is interesting, as it already means learning or dedication to a topic. So as the blog post points out, such a trip includes group activities, keeping to a schedule, following school rules and touching on history and culture.

There is also the final point that rather than being a trip for playtime or fun, it is more about rules, discipline, knowledge and learning.

I was fortunate enough to be put into 二年生 upon my arrival to Japan for exchange, even though I was perhaps at the age for 一年生. My guess is that they want me to go on the school trip so put me in that year.

Unfortunately, the school trip season goes from April to June or so, which meant that as I arrived near the end of March, my Japanese was absolutely terrible when we went on the trip. It’s not that I didn’t have fun, but it did make it hard to get a lot of information from the trip as I couldn’t read much or understand the lectures.

My school did a very standard school trip. As I hadn’t been able to read much about it or get told much about it that I understood, the destination and schedule were a mystery to me. This never used to bother me although perhaps I should’ve taken more ownership over my life.

We took the 新幹線 to Hiroshima where our first destination was the 広島平和記念公園 (ひろしまへいわきねんこうえん) or Peace Park, which contains the infamous 原爆ドーム (げんばくドーム) or Atomic Bomb Dome, formally a Hiroshima business development building.

It was amazing to see the building with my own eyes, having seen it in so many textbooks. As an aside, I often get asked what the Japanese attitude to WW2 is, and while I don’t want to speak for a whole nation, I can say that personally every Japanese person has expressed regret over how WW2 happened and explicitly stated it was wrong.

Part of this school trip is indeed to get the Japanese to confront this history, and I never saw the textbook revisionism or watering down of history that Japan is constantly accused of.

After that, we were walked around the park and laid the chain of 1000 origami cranes that we had folded in class in the preceding weeks, known as 千羽鶴 (せんばづる) at Sadoko’s statute .

Then we had a trip to a lecture hall where we heard a speech from a survivor of the bombing, followed by a trip to 宮島 (みやじま), one of Japan’s most popular tourist destinations and features the famous floating Torii gate and 厳島神社 .

We stayed overnight on the island and then made our way to the next destination, 神戸. Kobe had large parts of it destroyed in the 阪神・淡路大震災 of 1995, and so we visited a museum dedicated to the event as well as researching earthquakes.

We had the afternoon off so I hung around with my classmates and we walked around Kobe, at which point we met up with the rest of the group to take the bus to 大阪. We stayed in a hotel near Universal Studios Japan, which was our destination for the next day.

In the end, it was a very enjoyable trip that I could clearly see was related to the topics we were studying in several classes such as history, Japanese history, home economics and others.

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Answerman Do Japanese Students Really Go On Huge School Trips?

I have watched a lot of school anime over the years and I have always found school trips to be a bit peculiar. Most of the time they are beach trips, which is pretty normal fare. But more often than not it's to some exotic expensive local that is multiple days long. Compared to when I was in grade school, which was many years ago, school trips where relatively tame by comparison. Usually to big national park, a museum or art gallery, possibly going to the state or nations capital was biggest. I remembered we used to have fundraising events since some of the bigger trips ran several hundred dollars. Yet I don't think I have ever seen any fundraising or concern of who's going to foot the bill in any anime series. Even in show like Toradora! where the main lead character is very clearly poor, but the issue of funding for the big class trip never comes up. Do these amazing expensive trips actually happen?

The class trip, or shuugaku ryokou , is indeed a real thing. It's often the most anticipated event of a student's career, a lauded time to make memories with your friends. It's a ritual for the graduating class of that school (i.e. the final year of elementary, middle and high schools), and while not an official part of the government curriculum, it's something that schools work very hard on. It's part of an educational philosophy in Japan known as "gyakkuzukuri", or "creating childhood," that's meant to foster strong emotional bonds with their class. In this regard, it's not unlike other well-known Japanese school events like sports day and the school festival. Even class meetings and cleaning duty are intended towards this purpose of building unity and emotional bonds with the overall unit.

Most schools do not send their kids to places that are all that big of a deal for someone living in Japan. For kids in Tokyo, many of them end up going to Kyoto or Okinawa, and for kids outside of Tokyo, the big city is the usual destination. Days are filled with organized group tours of popular tourist spots, and nights are spent at an inexpensive Japanese style accommodation, with large groups sharing floor space and futons for sleeping and shared bathrooms. It's nowhere near as glamorous as anime would have you believe. I found a few blogs from exchange students who were quite underwhelmed by the experience.

In recent years, some schools have been planning trips beyond Japan's borders, usually to other major cities in Asia, like Taipei or Seoul. (There was famously a case a couple of years ago where a teacher lost one of the student's passports -- meaning he couldn't go on the trip -- causing a big social media outcry.) Beach trips do not seem to be all that common -- methinks that's simply an excuse for anime and manga to show their characters wearing swimsuits. I can't find any information about how these events are paid for, though -- as the whole point seems to be that everyone is included, I'm assuming that Japanese schools budget towards them every year, but I don't really know. Perhaps someone in the forums can fill us in about that.

The change of scenery and time spent doing things other than sitting at a desk and taking notes means that all the usual drama that goes on with school kids gets amped up a few notches. And so the event has become yet another dramatic arrow in the quiver of any writer doing a youth story. It's a natural place for romantic tensions to finally snap, for someone's anger to come to a head, and for any character's arc to finally crest. There are only so many things that normal school kids get to do, and this rite of passage has basically taken on a similar level of importance in pop culture as the American high school prom.

Justin Sevakis is the founder of Anime News Network , and owner of the video production company MediaOCD . You can follow him on Twitter at @worldofcrap .

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The Saturday Profile

Documentary Filmmaker Explores Japan’s Rigorous Education Rituals

Her movies try to explain why Japan is the way it is, showing both the upsides and downsides of the country’s commonplace practices. Her latest film focuses on an elementary school.

By Motoko Rich

Reporting from Tokyo

The defining experience of Ema Ryan Yamazaki’s childhood left her with badly scraped knees and her classmates with broken bones.

During sixth grade in Osaka, Japan, Ms. Yamazaki — now a 34-year-old documentary filmmaker — practiced for weeks with classmates to form a human pyramid seven levels high for an annual school sports day. Despite the blood and tears the children shed as they struggled to make the pyramid work, the accomplishment she felt when the group kept it from toppling became “a beacon of why I feel like I am resilient and hard-working.”

Now, Ms. Yamazaki, who is half-British, half-Japanese, is using her documentary eye to chronicle such moments that she believes form the essence of Japanese character, for better or worse.

To outsiders, Japan is often seen as an orderly society where the trains run on time, the streets are impeccably clean, and the people are generally polite and work cooperatively. Ms. Yamazaki has trained her camera on the educational practices and rigorous discipline instilled from an early age that she believes create such a society.

Her films present nonjudgmental, nuanced portraits that try to explain why Japan is the way it is, while also showing the potential costs of those practices. By showing both the upsides and downsides of Japan’s commonplace rituals, particularly in education, she also invites insiders to interrogate their longstanding customs.

Her latest film, “ The Making of a Japanese ,” which premiered last fall at the Tokyo International Film Festival, documents one year at an elementary school in western Tokyo, where students align their shoes ramrod straight in storage cubbies, clean their classrooms and serve lunch to their classmates.

In an earlier documentary, “ Koshien: Japan’s Field of Dreams ,” Ms. Yamazaki showed high school baseball players pushed to physical extremes and often reduced to tears as they vied to compete in Japan’s annual summer tournament .

In the schools highlighted by Ms. Yamazaki, both films show what can at times seem like an almost militaristic devotion to order, teamwork and self-sacrifice. But the documentaries also portray teachers and coaches trying to preserve the best of Japanese culture while acknowledging that certain traditions might damage the participants.

“If we can figure out what good things to keep and what should be changed — of course, that’s the million dollar question,” Ms. Yamazaki said.

“If we don’t have those what seem ‘extreme’ parts of society — or more realistically as we have less of it, as I see happening,” wrote Ms. Yamazaki in a follow-up email, “we might see trains in Japan be late in the future.”

Some extreme scenes show up in her films. In “The Making of a Japanese,” for instance, one first-grade teacher strongly chastises a first grader and makes her cry in front of her classmates. But the film also shows the young student conquering her deficiencies to proudly perform in front of the school.

Ms. Yamazaki “showed the reality as it is,” said Hiroshi Sugita, a professor of education at Kokugakuin University who appears briefly in the film lecturing the school’s faculty.

Having grown up in Japan and then trained as a filmmaker at New York University, Ms. Yamazaki has a one-foot-in, one-foot-out perspective.

In contrast to a complete “outsider who is exoticizing things, I think she is able to bring a perspective that has more respect and authenticity,” said Basil Tsiokos, senior programmer of nonfiction features at the Sundance Film Festival who selected two of Ms. Yamazaki’s films for documentary showcases in Nantucket and New York.

Ms. Yamazaki grew up near Osaka, the daughter of a British college professor and Japanese schoolteacher, and spent summers in England. When she transferred from a Japanese school to an international academy in Kobe for her middle and high school years, she was surprised that janitors, not the students, cleaned the classrooms. Relishing the freedom to choose electives, she enrolled in a video film class.

She decided to leave Japan for college partly because, as someone of multiracial heritage, she was tired of being treated as a foreigner.

When she arrived at N.Y.U., most of her classmates wanted to direct feature films. Ms. Yamazaki enrolled in a documentary class taught by Sam Pollard , a filmmaker who also worked as an editor for Spike Lee and others, and embraced the medium.

Mr. Pollard spotted her talent right away. “You have to apply yourself to figure out what the story is,” he said. “She had that.”

While she was still an undergraduate, Mr. Pollard offered Ms. Yamazaki some editing work. After graduation, she said, “a lot of my friends were smoking pot and were these artist dreamer people with grand ideas.” But she took on multiple editing gigs to support her passion projects. Even now, editing helps support her documentary work.

She attributed her work ethic to her years in Japanese elementary school. “People would be like, ‘you’re so responsible, you’re such a good team player, you’re working so hard,’” she recalled. She regarded her efforts as “below average in terms of a Japanese standard.”

She met her future husband, Eric Nyari, while interviewing for a job to edit a documentary about the Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto that Mr. Nyari was producing. She didn’t land the job, but the pair became friends. Mr. Nyari, who describes her as “a dictator — in a good way,” is now the primary producer of all her documentaries.

Ms. Yamazaki made the leap from editing to professional directing with a short film for Al Jazeera, “ Monk by Blood ,” that examined the complicated family and gender dynamics at a Buddhist temple in Kyoto.

Next she chose a subject that had nothing to do with Japan. “ Monkey Business: The Adventures of Curious George’s Creators ” brought her more attention as it screened at film festivals in Los Angeles and Nantucket.

Ms. Yamazaki and Mr. Nyari rented an apartment in Tokyo seven years ago and Ms. Yamazaki began work on “Koshien.”

One of the high schools she wanted to use in the film is where the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani had trained, but his former coach, Hiroshi Sasaki, was wary after years of media requests.

Mr. Sasaki softened when he saw how Ms. Yamazaki showed up with her crew in the morning, often before the players arrived, and stayed late at night to film the team cleaning the field.

One afternoon, after he had barred her from a particularly dramatic practice and then ribbed her for not filming it, she burst into what she said were tears of frustration because her cameras had missed such a great scene.

“I thought this person really is serious about this and I was so moved,” said Coach Sasaki in a video interview with The New York Times. The morning after the practice, he invited her to turn on the camera while he watered his collection of bonsai plants and answered questions about his coaching philosophy. That episode became a pivotal scene in the documentary.

Ms. Yamazaki, who films her subjects for hundreds of hours, captures vulnerable moments that reveal as much to her subjects as to audiences.

In one scene in “Koshien,” the wife of another high school baseball coach says she resented her husband’s career because it often took him away from their three children.

“Seeing the movie, it was my first time knowing these feelings,” said Tetsuya Mizutani, the coach, whose old-fashioned, hard-driving style is highlighted in the film.

Such discomfiting moments distinguish Ms. Yamazaki’s storytelling from most Japanese documentary filmmakers, said Asako Fujioka, former artistic director of the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival. Filmmakers in Japan try to treat subjects “kindly, like a caring mother or friend,” whereas Ms. Yamazaki “is very bold in the way she creates drama.”

Seita Enomoto, the teacher who chastises a student in “The Making of a Japanese,” said that although some viewers have criticized him, he appreciated that the film also showed the child learning that “she should work hard, and how she changed and succeeded.” Ms. Yamazaki and Mr. Nyari hope next to make a documentary about new recruits at a large Japanese employer, where young staff start with training that can lead to lifelong work at the same company.

For now, they are raising their young son in Tokyo and have enrolled him in a Japanese nursery school. Although human pyramids have been banned by schools because of parental complaints, Ms. Yamazaki hopes her son will absorb some of the values that exercise taught her.

“It was a weird personal experience,” she said, “that I look back on fondly.”

Kiuko Notoya contributed reporting.

Motoko Rich is a reporter in Tokyo, leading coverage of Japan for The Times. More about Motoko Rich