HANAMI TRADITIONAL SCHOOL TRIP (Tsuyama Sakura Festival, Joto Historical district)

　Date and Time: 2026, April 5th (Sunday)　

Last Sunday, the Shikata Learning Community organized a Hanami (cherry blossom viewing) cultural exchange trip to Tsuyama, bringing together 17 students from Indonesia, Bangladesh, Poland, Ghana, Hungary, El Salvador, Japan, China, and Myanmar.

Students enjoyed the beauty of sakura season , experiencing one of Japan’s most important cultural traditions. The group also joined a guided tour of the Joto Historical District , where they learned about a traditional merchant area from the Edo period. This allowed participants to deepen their understanding of Japanese history while connecting it to the present.

Beyond cultural exploration, the trip created a space for meaningful intercultural exchange . Students shared their cultures, discussed their academic lives, and built friendships across borders. International students actively practiced Japanese , while Japanese students communicated in English , promoting mutual learning and confidence.

This activity contributed to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG 4: Quality Education
  → Students engaged in experiential learning through cultural immersion and real-life communication
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
  → The program fostered inclusion by connecting students from diverse cultural and national backgrounds
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
  → Participants explored and appreciated local cultural heritage in Tsuyama
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
  → The activity strengthened collaboration among students and the local community

Shikata LC will continue organizing this kind of traditional culture trips to make International and Japanese students interact enjoying Japanese natural beauty and traditional historical places. Please join us next time!!!