An archipelago of 6,800 islands, Japan’s fashionable population, unprecedented wealth and technological prowess is concentrated on just four. With modern metropolises and mountain villages linked by some of the world’s fastest trains, Japan is an efficient, eye opening and inspiring destination for school groups.

Step off the aeroplane and into the future: shimmering skyscrapers and neon lights line Tokyo’s eight-lane boulevards of technological phenomena and fashion firsts. Buy sushi in Tsukiji fish market, find a Shinto shrine and monitor Japan’s tectonic tremors in the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation. Catch a bullet train past Mount Fuji and attend a tea ceremony in the cobbled streets of Kyoto. Appreciate the ornate topiary of a traditional Japanese garden, experience the life of a Geisha and reflect on the horrors of Hiroshima.

Japan will impress, enthuse and motivate students of all curriculum areas, enriching their understanding of tectonic hazards and technological innovation, whilst underlining core values of wellbeing and heritage. In a society where education is a prerequisite to social status, Japan will serve to motivate and heighten the ambitions of many students, promoting positive values, opening their eyes to new opportunities and encouraging individuals to strive for success.

Key Information

Travel: STS offers tours to Japan by air, with flight times of around 12 hours from the UK. In-country travel is excellent, with an exceptionally efficient public transport system.

Accommodation: STS offers a choice of well-located hotels, throughout Japan.

Weather: A year round destination, Japan experiences mild winters and hot, humid summers. The rainy season is June and July, and mountain areas receive snowy winters (December to early March).

Spending money: Japan isn’t a cheap country but nor is it as expensive as many perceive. With some costs a fraction higher than the UK, students may wish to limit their yen to a few choice souvenirs.