Back in the day, my secondary school allowed a small group of people to take part in the ‘Japanese Exchange’, which we can only assume was called the ‘English Exchange’ over in Japan. It birthed my passion for travelling the world and was such a fantastic opportunity afforded to a very working-class school in Derbyshire.
The exchange involved a selection of students from a secondary school in Toyota City and a selection of students from Kirk Hallam Community Academy. The exchange was two weeks long in each country where Japanese students explore England for the first week and live with their English exchange families for the second week. Similarly, we English students explored Japan for the first week and lived with our Japanese exchange families for the second week.
This international relationship between Derbyshire and Toyota City was established in 1998 and has since strengthened with the preservation of this cultural exchange, continuing to this day. This opportunity means students from different sides can broaden their understanding of disparate histories, cultures and societies. There were even conferences regarding how to create harmonising cities held both in Derbyshire and Japan. This was also broadcast on local Japanese television!
The lifelong memories of Japan that I gained at such a young age have helped to shape my view on the world. Japan is such a beautiful and thriving country, with a rich history and a true air of politeness integrated into its culture.
Exploring seemingly everywhere other than the capital, we visited a multitude of cities and landscapes, we ventured from Hiroshima to Kyoto, Nara to Miyajima and Toyota City in Nagoya. With cherry blossoms painting the streets a baby pink, Japan’s beauty will keep you immersed from the moment you land.
Before travelling, I purchased appropriate travel insurance which insured my devices (phone, laptop and camera), any boat trips I may travel on and all countries I would be visiting, however briefly (our layover was at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam).
Signing up for government travel alerts means you will be notified should the safety of the country you’re visiting change and the general travel advice also helped me find out key information before travelling.
Although travelling with school and a lot of the activities being organised for us, we also had lots of free time. Making sure we stuck together was key. There are some great tips on the gov.uk website about this. These safety measures include, arranging meeting points with a specific location and time (if your group is splitting up at any time during your holiday), ensuring you stay safe if you lose you mobile phone and acting responsibly will prevent unnecessary emergencies. Stick with your mates!
So, now for the really interesting bit. Here are some absolute must-visit landmarks and highlights which defined my love for Japan.
Located in the city of Nara, this park is one of the oldest parks in Japan. Playing host to families of deer scattered throughout the park’s mileage, the park is a fantastic nature reserve surrounded by other landmarks such as the Todai-ji Temple.
Located in Nara, this temple has a stunning red exterior and exudes a very spiritual atmosphere. The temple itself is the largest wooden building in the world. Sitting just inside and towards the back, you’ll find the giant Nara Daibutsu (sitting Buddha) surrounded by ornamental and spiritual objects.
Residing in Kyoto, this forest is one location I remember most. With some bamboo shoots reaching twenty metres high, the forest introduces you to a wonderfully new part of nature, positively opposing our British conceptions of a ‘forest’.
A beautifully golden Buddhist temple situated in the middle of a body of water in Kyoto, this temple is a popular tourist destination.
I recommend going on as many guided tours as you can as these will offer insights, facts and secrets about the locations you’re visiting and will enhance your experience. For example, our tour guide informed us about Nightingale Floors. These are floors which were historically designed to be purposefully chirpy/creaky to warn the Emperor about attacking samurai. Honestly, fascinating!
One of the most moving places I have ever visited, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum highlights the devastation that befell Hiroshima after it was struck by the atomic bomb during World War II. The museum features a collection of photos, anecdotes and other belongings which exemplify the devastation following the bomb’s destruction and the trauma which lives on through generations.
Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, the Atomic Bomb Dome exemplifies the danger and ramifications of nuclear war. The dome is still radioactive and the Memorial Museum is situated near the dome in honour of the hundreds of thousands of lives lost.
Located in Miyajima and one of the prettiest places I have ever seen, you can travel to Mount Misen from Miyajima. You can travel to Miyajima via ferry from Miyajimaguchi, taking just ten minutes to cross from one side to the other. It’s crucial that travelling via boat is included in your travel insurance before getting on the ferry. You can hike up the mountain or enjoy a steady ascent on the ropeway which takes approximately twenty minutes. The mountain is stunning and the views from the top are genuinely breathtaking. I remember thinking the ropeway station has catapulted us to a different planet, which goes to show how naturally stunning the earth is.
An authentic and stunning piece of Japanese architecture, Nijo Castle in Kyoto is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and former Imperial Villa. Home to plenty cherry blossom trees, I recommend paying for a tour can help you get the most out of your visit to Nijo Castle.
As part of my one week stay with my wonderful Japanese exchange family, they took me to the Toyota Municipal Museum of Art in Toyota City. The building was designed by Taniguchi Yoshio and features an array of talented Japanese and Western artists from Imamura Shiko, Kishida Ryusei and Nara Yoshitomo to Gustav Klimt and Constantine Brancusi.
The museum also has a Dojien Teahouse where Japanese dining etiquette must be observed, providing a truly authentic feel to a building which already features the creative and artistic side of Japanese culture.
Partaking in calligraphy is a peaceful and creative respite between travelling the country. During the exchange trip, we practised calligraphy and learned the meaning of our names in Japanese. We were fascinated by these outputs. Fun fact: ‘Georgia’ means ‘farmer’ or ‘earth worker’, suffice it to say I was mildly disappointed with mine!
Book your flights now! Don’t forget to sign up for government travel alerts and buy that nifty travel insurance before travelling.
