A Journey of Culture, Friendship and Discovery
In Week 10 last term, eight Mount Gambier High School students from Years 10 to 12 embarked on an unforgettable adventure to Japan, joined by 12 students from Millicent High School.
The group began their journey in Shin-Osaka, where they explored some of the Kansai region’s most iconic landmarks. The first two days were packed with cultural highlights from meeting the famous bowing deer in Nara (while protecting our clothes from curious bites!) to marvelling at the impressive Todaiji Temple, home to an enormous Buddha statue. In Kyoto, students visited the stunning Golden Pavilion, the Kiyomizudera Temple, and the serene Bamboo Forest, covering an impressive 26,000 steps each day.
A key highlight of the trip was visiting our Sister School, Takarazuka Nishi High School, where students experienced daily life in a Japanese classroom and formed lasting friendships. Although bad weather meant missing out on the school’s sports day, everyone made the most of the time together.
The adventure continued with a Shinkansen (bullet train) ride to Himeji, where students explored the incredible Himeji Castle, famous for its beautifully preserved original interior. From there, the group travelled to Okayama for a well-earned rest, which naturally included exploring the local arcades and winning more prizes than planned.
Monday brought another school visit, this time to Japan’s first school for both commoners and samurai, where students learned about Confucian philosophy. In the nearby town of Wake, students were warmly welcomed and enjoyed a range of cultural experiences, including meeting the town’s mayor, visiting a streamer-making workshop to decorate mini koinobori (carp streamers), exploring a local temple, and even learning Taiko drumming.
The group then travelled to Hiroshima, where they visited the Peace Museum and reflected on the city’s tragic yet powerful history and the resilience of its people.
The final leg of the journey took students to Tokyo, where they stayed in a traditional Japanese inn and explored the colourful streets of Harajuku’s Takeshita Street and the bustling Shibuya Crossing. A full day at Tokyo Disneyland was another highlight from the thrills of Splash Mountain and Thunder Mountain to the enchantment of the Beauty and the Beast ride, capped off with the magical light and night parades.
On their final day, the group visited TeamLab Planets, a spectacular interactive art experience that engaged all the senses and provided a memorable end to an incredible journey. Then it was time to head to the airport and return home with a newfound appreciation for sleep on long flights!
