My High School Japan 2006 Study Tour

Tokyo Hiroshima Osaka Kyoto

Features w 15 days and 14 nights study tour of Japan. w Homestays at our two sister schools in Takarazuka (near Osaka) and Kitazono (Tokyo). w Accommodation in a traditional Japanese Inn in Kyoto and a 4 star hotel in Tokyo. w Visit 7 of the most famous temples and castles. w Travel on both Shinkansen Bullet Trains and Tokyo local rail network. w A ‘Best Of’ package of attractions in Western Japan and Tokyo

Benefits to students w Contextual study of the Japanese language through interaction with Japanese people in their native language environment. w Broadening experience of having travelled overseas. w Budgeting skills w Personal responsibility and maturity

Accompanying teachers w Mrs Fabulous Organiser Teacher of Japanese lived in Japan for 2 and a half years has been to Japan 6 times Accompanied school groups in 2001, 2003, 2005 w Mrs Behind The Scenes Lady Teacher of Japanese 26 years teaching experience Extensive overseas travel experience including a number to Japan w Mr Big Voice, Big Boot 15 years teaching experience Extensive overseas travel experience CPR and emergency care qualified

Day 1 - Thursday Sept 28 w Japan Airlines Depart 11:30am Sydney - Kansai International Airport Train to Kyoto Arrive 11:00pm Stay at The Place of My Choice J E5 Centre R J E5 Centre R

Day 1 - Thursday Sept 21 Stay at The Place of my Choice

Day 1 - Thursday Sept 21

Day 2 - Friday Sept 29 w Kyoto - day tour of Kyoto’s highlights including the very famous Kinkakuji (Gold Pavilion) Ryonaji (Rock Garden) Kiyomizudera (famous for its waterfall) walk back through the historical Gion district J E5 Upper centre R J E5 Upper centre R

Day 2 Kyoto Station building

one of the small cheap eateries under the station

Kyoto Tower Day 2

￥ Kinkakuji Day 2

Kiyomizudera - Kyoto

Kiyomizudera Day 2

Kiyomizudera tea rooms

Day 2 Ryoanji

Day 3 - Saturday Sept 30 Day 4 - Sunday Oct 1 w visit to Takarazuka High School. w Stay with host family.

Day 3

Takarazuka revue

Day 5 - Monday Oct 2 w In school visit at Takarazuka High School w Return to Kyoto by local express train J F5 Upper L corner J F5 Upper L corner

Day 6 - Tuesday Oct 3 Hiroshima Peace Park, and A-Bomb dome shopping in the mall lunch in fab noodle shop Miyajima Island by ferry Itsukushima Shinto shrine Feed deer, optional bike riding. J D4 Lower L corner J D4 Lower L corner

Day 6 Hiroshima Peace Park

Day 6 Sadako’s Statue

a typical bunch of Japanese kids on tour

Miyajima Island Day 6

Day 7 - Wednesday Oct 4 w Nara Todaiji Temple largest wooden structure of its kind in the world largest statue of Buddha in the world Free time for shopping in Kyoto in the afternoon, including going to a second hand kimono shop J F5 Centre left J F5 Centre left

Day 7 Todaiji, Nara

Day 7 the biggest bronze Buddha in the world

Day 7 main shopping street of Nara

Day 7 the famous 100 yen shop

Day 8 - Thursday Oct 5 Himeji bike hire from the station, 5 minute ride to castle Visit castle Shopping. Catch a train over the Seto Inland Sea bridge, the longest bridge of its kind in the world. J E5 Top centre D5 Upper centre R J E5 Top centre D5 Upper centre R

Day 8 Himeji Castle

Day 8 Seto Inland Sea Bridge

Day 9 - Friday Oct 6 w Travel by Shinkansen to Tokyo. Drop luggage at Shinagawa Prince Hotel Travel to opposite side of Tokyo to Kitazono High School Spend day at Kitazono Stay with host family J H5 centre T D8 B1 J H5 centre T D8 B1

Day 9 catching the Shinkansen to Tokyo

Day 10 - Saturday Oct 7 Day 11 - Sunday Oct 8 w full day free in Tokyo w Sunday evening return to Shinagawa Prince Hotel J H4 SE of centre J H4 SE of centre

Tokyo railway system

Day 10 Hachiko dog at Shibuya

Day 10 the standard fashion in Harajuku on Sundays

Day 10 the standard fashion crowds in Harajuku on Sundays

Day 10 Shibuya Crossing

Day 11 leaving Kitazono

Day 11 the view from the Shinagawa Prince Hotel

Day 12 - Monday Oct 9 w Tsukiji fish markets largest fish markets in the world has auctions open to the public for viewing from 5am early start!! Return to hotel in rush hour (breathe in!) w Imperial Palace w Akihabara - electronic goods precinct w Sony Exhibition and Ginza at dusk w Evening at hotel enjoying 120 lane bowling alley or evening at Odaiba future Park T E5 T E5 T F3 T F3 T E4 T E4 T F5 T F5

Day 12 rise and shine early for a visit to Tsukiji auctions at 5am

Day 12 after the auctions

Day 12 ….and about an hour after that - yummy sushi

Day 12 Akihabara electronic goods precinct

Day 12 Sony Exhibition at Ginza

Day 12 Ginza by night

Day 13 - Tuesday Oct 10 w shopping at Asakusa (optional) w Disneyland J H5 Half way between Tokyo and Chiba J H5 Half way between Tokyo and Chiba

Day 13 Kaminorimon at Asakusa

Day 13 last minute shopping at Asakusa

Day 13 forgotten the name of this place - the kids will know

Day 14 - Wednesday Oct 11 w Day trip to Nikko w 9pm depart Narita International Airport J H5 J H5

Day 14 Toshogu Shrine at Nikko

Day 14 Nikko

Day 15 - Thursday Oct 12 w return to Sydney 7am

Expectations w Students will take the opportunity to sleep at night, as there will be no scheduled rest days or sleep ins. w Students will exhibit exemplary levels of behaviour and responsibilty at all times and act as ambassadors for their country, their schools and themselves. w They will take the most of every opportunity to learn and discover new things. w They will appreciate the privileged position they are in by partaking of this trip and act accordingly. w Students will abide by all laws of the land, and the rules of the teachers.

Fine print w Students found to be involved in or knowing of any illegal activity including but not limited to buying, selling or consuming alcohol or cigarettes will be repatriated immediately at their parents’ expense. w Students are not to be involved in any type of sexual activity.

Dollars and w $3700 estimate air fares accommodation all taxes 7 day JR rail pass transfers entry to all castles and temples subway fares in Tokyo 9 hour bus charter to Nikko 3 buffet breakfasts at hotel in Tokyo All food (other than that which is provided by homestay) entry to Disneyland comprehensive travel insurance

Not included w Souvenirs w Gift for host families

Student’s contribution w Students will attend fortnightly meetings in lunchtime as called by the teacher’s in charge w Next year students will be involved in producing and publishing a handbook for the tour. w Students should be doing their own research into places that we are visiting. w Save your pennies! The students who contribute most to their trip are the ones who gain most from it.

What to do now w Pay a deposit of $200 to the Travel Agent by October 31 to secure a place on the trip. Places are limited however, and they will be offered on a first come first served basis. w Apply for a passport. It must have at least 6 months validity after we arrive in Japan. w All matters regarding the trip must be finalised and submitted to the Department of Education by January 2006, so if you have any questions or concerns about the trip, please raise them sooner rather than later. w

Things to be thinking about w Luggage - 1 bag on wheels one fold up bag One day pack that will fit 2 days of clothes No more than 12 kgs on the way over w Money- Credit cards are not widely used in Japan so take half as yen cash (in 10,000 and 5,000 denominations) and half as yen traveller’s cheques (in 10,000 denominations) You may take a credit card if you wish for back up, but don’t rely on it. w Phone card- Take a Telstra phone home card. It is cheaper to ring a mobile in Wollongong from Japan than it is to ring one from Wollongong. Take a $20 or $50 card.

Summing up w Opportunity to deepen relationships with students from our sister schools. w Students will learn very valuable lessons in life only acquired through ventures such as these. w A life changing, wonderful experience that will be a highlight of their high school education.