A 15-day adventure in Japan!
Northcote College Japan Trip 2026: Highlights!
Our students had the trip of a lifetime exploring the heart of Japan during the recent school holidays! From ancient temples to the bright lights of Tokyo, here’s a recap of our amazing 15-day adventure:
Culture & History
We explored the beautiful temples in Kyoto – including Kiyomizudera, Kinkakuji, and Ryoanji – and Todaiji Temple in Nara, where we donated a roof tile, which joins 6 other tiles donated on previous trips. In Hiroshima we visited the moving Peace Park and Genbaku Dome, and took the ferry to Miyajima Island to see the famous Itsukushima floating shrine!
School Life & Homestays
A huge highlight was our time at Chuo University Yokohama High School. Our students braved ‘Saturday School,’ joined traditional activities including Tea Ceremony and Calligraphy, and gave brave self-introductions in Japanese at a special assembly. There were definitely some happy tears as we said goodbye to our wonderful host families!
Food & Fun
We ate our way across the country – from delicious bento on the Shinkansen and all-you-can-eat sushi to authentic Hiroshima Okonomiyaki. We also managed to avoid a ‘mutiny’ by making a pit stop at the Pokémon Centre!
Tokyo Finale
We wrapped up the trip with a view from the Tokyo Skytree, a walk through Harajuku, and two magical days at DisneySea and Disneyland.
The Verdict:
Our students were absolute superstars—brave with their language skills, prompt for every meeting, and great at looking out for one another.
