Nihon E Yōukoso! OHS' 2025 Japan Trip

This summer, from June 24 to July 4, OHSers from around the world met up internationally to spend 10 days together in Tokyo, Osaka, and Hiroshima. Ten students participated, exploring various cultural and historical landmarks as well as green spaces. 

The trip began in Tokyo, where they visited multiple shrines and a historical architecture park featuring a complex of Japanese buildings spanning various eras. Students also visited maid cafes in their free time. Reflecting on her time there, Sofya Korzh (‘30) shared that one of the most memorable parts of the trip “was exploring the places we visited and watching how Japanese culture is important in everyday life in many aspects.”

In Hiroshima, students went on a tour of the city led by a survivor of the 1945 bombing. They explored the area that was the epicenter of where the bomb struck and went to various memorials. They also experienced a green tea ceremony, a ritualistic art focused on the preparation and presentation of matcha green tea. 

While in Osaka, students explored zen gardens and traveled  to the nearby islands of Miyajima and Naoshima. They visited more shrines, saw wild deer, and went to an art museum showcasing pieces that blended Japanese traditionalism with modernism. John Lanier, a Latin teacher who went on the trip, reflects on Naoshima, noting that “[they] visited by ferry and went to two museums, both designed by the famous Japanese architect Tadao Ando. One was for more traditional art pieces, and included an exhibit of six entries in Claude Monet's Water Lillies series. The other museum housed modern art.” He thought it was fun to see the students' reactions to the museums and exhibits.

Korzh says that traveling with OHSers makes the experiences more meaningful, emphasizing that it’s important to form bonds and hear the perspectives of classmates in person.