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 Japan is an island nation that is composed of four main islands: Honshu, Hokkaido, Shikoku, and Kyushu. All together, Japan is slightly smaller than Montana. It has a variety of landscapes, including many mountains, the highest of which is Mt. Fuji. The islands experience all four seasons, although the winters are fairly mild in the southern half. Japan has many beautiful sights, and the ancient culture offers much to be explored. The people are very proud of their many unique customs and appreciative of the nature, and celebrate them with many festivals throughout the year. Japan is a country of strong traditions and advanced technology. The people are known for their respect, politeness, and hard work.
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Tom & Jeanne Tamura
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- Visiting the shrines, temples, and castles of the ancient capitals of Kyoto and Nara.
- Climbing Mt. Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan.
- Skiing in the 'Japanese Alps' where the Nagano Olympics and X-games have been held.
- Having fun at major theme parks like Tokyo Disneyland and Universal Studios Japan.
- A reflective walk through the Peace Park memorializing the atomic bomb in Hiroshima.
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- Language: Japanese
- The weather varies throughout Japan. The northernmost island has a climate similar to Minnesota with a lot of snow in the winter. The southern area does not get as much snow and is warmer throughout the year. Summers can get very hot and humid.
- Unique customs: bowing, taking shoes off at the door, sleeping on futons on the floor made of tatami mats, tea ceremonies, onsens (hot spring baths), using chopsticks.
- Festivals are prevalent in all parts of the country. They offer unique foods, dancing, and cultural activities. Often times exchange students are asked to take part in the festivals.
- Cuisine: Each area of Japan has a food it is famous for. Tasty Japanese foods include sushi, sashimi (raw fish), soybean soup, wonderful rice, noodles, and many vegetables. For those not so keen on these delicacies, all meats are easy to find, and there is also a wide variety of foods from other countries such as Chinese Ramen, Korean BBQ, Italian Pizza, and just about anything you can think of, including a McDonald’s or two in most towns.
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| The language can be a challenge, especially for those who have not previously studied it, but students with no previous knowledge of it usually find themselves able to converse well by Christmastime. There are differences in food, driving on the opposite side of the road, family rituals, and communication- spoken and unspoken. But this is what makes exchange exciting! Many students will wear a uniform to school, and you are encouraged to join activities through your school. Some Rotary districts offer short trips such as ski weekends, Tokyo Disneyland, Mt. Fuji, and various festivals. Many students also have the opportunity to go on school trips to places such as Okinawa, Kyoto, Hokkaido, or Nagasaki depending on the school. The people of Japan are extremely friendly and welcoming. They want you to get a great impression of their country, and they will do their best to make your year the best ever! |
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