Every Spring, AKP gives our full year students 50,000yen (roughly $500) to explore Japan. These 一人旅 (hitoritabi — solo trips) challenge students to make travel plans all on their own, and many students report what a great confidence boost it was to know they were able to navigate Japan, in Japanese, by themselves.
This year, four full year students went on hitoritabi adventures:
Tabreya Ryan (Colby) made a new friend at North Safari Park in Sapporo. Han Liu (Wesleyan) visited Owakudani in Hakone, a volcanic valley and hot spring. Sam Wong (Whitman) took ski lessons with a Japanese instructor.
Jennifer Rivera-Montes (Smith) visited Mt. Moiwa in Hokkaido and rung the bell at the top for good luck.
Upon their return, students gave presentations in Japanese about their trip. Great job, guys!