Exploring Japan: A Cultural Journey for Orland 135 Junior High Students, Parents, and Staff

In June, a group of students, parents, and staff from Century, Jerling, and Orland Junior High schools embarked on an unforgettable journey to Japan with EF Tours, a leader in educational travel. This cultural adventure allowed participants to explore the vibrant cities of Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo. The trip aimed to provide students with an immersive experience in Japanese culture, history, and entertainment, similar to their first EF Tours expeditions in 2024 to Costa Rica and Europe.

The journey began in Osaka, where students visited the famous Cup Noodles factory and museum, learning about the history and production of this beloved instant noodle dish. They even had the opportunity to craft their own custom Cup Noodles flavors. The city captivated students with its renowned food scene, featuring traditional meals and snacks. They also participated in traditional taiko drumming lessons, engaging deeply with both the modern and ancient aspects of Japanese culture.

Next, the group traveled to Kyoto, where they explored iconic shrines and temples, including the Fushimi Inari Shrine, famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates. A visit to the breathtaking Arashiyama Bamboo Forest provided a magical experience as students walked through towering green bamboo groves. In nearby Nara, they had the awe-inspiring opportunity to see the Great Buddha at Todai-ji Temple and enjoyed feeding the friendly local deer. These visits greatly enriched their understanding and appreciation of Japan's profound cultural heritage.

From Kyoto, they traveled via the iconic bullet train to Tokyo, where they marveled at the city's cutting-edge technology and innovation. Highlights included visiting the towering Tokyo Tower for breathtaking city views, the Pokémon Center, and Nintendo Tokyo, where students engaged with their favorite gaming franchises. They spent their last day at Tokyo Disney Sea, experiencing Disney in a uniquely enchanting way.

The EF Tours Group Leaders are excited to announce a virtual informational meeting about the 2027 trip to Ireland, England, and France (Dublin, London, and Paris) on Thursday, September 11, at 7:00 PM. Families of current 5th, 6th, and 7th graders can find more information on Parent Square, or they can reach out to their junior high school's EF Tours Group Leader:

Century Junior High: Kim Devries - kdevries@orland135.org
Jerling Junior: Kris Conway - kconway@orland135.org /

Orland Junior High: Kristyn Slick- kslick@orland135.org

A Parent’s Perspective
"As soon as my daughter and I read the announcement about the school trip to Japan, we knew we couldn’t pass up such an amazing opportunity. Japan was everything we hoped it would be—and more! We were fascinated by the rich history and culture we discovered while visiting shrines and temples, and the beauty of the bamboo forests and gardens left us in awe.

Some of our favorite moments were exploring vibrant shopping districts, tasting incredible street food, and experiencing unforgettable activities like Japanese drumming, visiting the Cup Noodle Museum, and riding the bullet train to Tokyo. And of course, Tokyo DisneySea was pure magic—we had the time of our lives!

Traveling with our school district and EF Tours made it easy to see so much of Japan while also building wonderful memories with new friends. Even now, the excitement hasn’t faded—we can’t stop talking about Japan. We truly loved everything about this trip!"

- Ahlam Hamad

A Student's Perspective

Evelina, a student from Jerling, shared her thoughts after the 2024 trip to Europe: "Ever since this trip ended, it has been on my mind for the past 4 months. This memorable trip has been the greatest voyage of my life so far. Every time someone asks if I was on the Europe trip, my mood becomes so much better because I know I get to talk about it. I get to talk about the amazing food and amazing views. I get to talk about the amazing teachers who took us there and the amazing people I met.
Even though sometimes on the trip I missed my family at home, I FaceTimed them every night to tell them that I was doing great. I’m glad I took many photos because every once in a while, I look at the various memories I captured. I love that I was exposed to many different cultures and got to experience them. We got to visit many cultural places in Italy, and iconic places in France and England. If I could go back, I would in a second. I am very grateful that my parents trusted me and let me go on this adventurous trip. I will remember this in my heart forever."