"Japan" a Japan Travel Page by CubsIn4

I was able to spend two weeks in Japan when I was sixteen thanks to a program through my high school. I spent one week in Tokyo with 21 other students from my school, then traveled to the town of Omihachiman, which is a sister city of Grand Rapids, my old hometown. In Omihachiman we lived with host families for a week and visited a local high school. We also had the chance for day-long outings to Kamakura, Kyoto and Hiroshima.

This was my first time on another continent and the first time I'd ever been out of the country for more than a week at a time. I enjoyed my trip immensely and would like to return someday in order to see more of the country. I loved the lush greenery, the clean cities, the great food and the hospitality of the people. Although it was very expensive, it was incredibly easy to get around, and the distances between towns were never that great (at least not compared to what I'm used to in the States!). I feel extremely fortunate to have had the chance to visit as a student, because I never would have been able to afford it otherwise.