Corrie

Jul 7, 2025

A Remarkable Experience for a Middle Schooler

The EF Japan tour was an excellent international travel experience for my 12-year-old son, Owen. Traveling abroad with school friends was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—fun, unique, and deeply memorable. The itinerary was thoughtfully curated to balance cultural immersion, sightseeing, and age-appropriate adventure. The sights we visited were both special and eye-opening. Highlights included the Todaiji Buddhist Temple in Nara, Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Nijo Castle, the Golden Pavilion, Nishijin Textile Center, a thrilling bullet train ride, Mount Komagatake via cable car, Hakone Open Air Museum, the Great Buddha of Kamakura, Hachimangu Shrine, Meiji Shinto Shrine, Asakusa Kannon Temple, and iconic shopping districts like Harajuku, Akihabara, and Shibuya. The group dinners, especially the sumo-style hot pot and karaoke night, added a fun and memorable bonding experience. While Owen has traveled to Japan before and had seen some of these sights, he found it extra special to revisit them alongside classmates, seeing everything from a new perspective. Sharing this journey with peers made all the difference. That said, we did encounter a few challenges. Two of the three hotels were quite outdated, and in one case, we were placed in smoking rooms with no non-smoking alternatives. We had to keep the sliding doors open and the air purifier running through the night. This was not ideal for a school group. Additionally, while the local guides were very knowledgeable, their heavy accents made it difficult for many of the students to follow along. At one point, my son gave up on using the headsets altogether, which was a missed learning opportunity. A special note of appreciation goes to our tour director, Steven, a Tokyo native. He was incredibly knowledgeable about Japanese culture and history and showed exceptional patience working with a large group of young students. He consistently went out of his way to make sure everyone’s needs were met and helped make the experience smooth and enjoyable for both kids and parents. Despite a couple of concerns, the overall experience was fantastic and enriching. Owen returned home with wonderful memories, greater independence, and a desire to travel again with his school in the future. We are grateful for the opportunity and would absolutely recommend this tour, with just a few improvements, to other families considering it.