Exploring Nara and Kyoto: A Day of Temples and Tranquility plus wild deer!
Up early for a full day on our own private tour as we explored the enchanting destinations of Nara and old Kyoto. Our day began in Nara, where friendly deer (though wild) and historic temples awaited. The Todaiji Temple showcased the awe-inspiring Great Buddha, the surrounding temples and walkways. The construction of the Great Buddha Hall(Daibutsuden) commenced in 745, and 15-metre high seated figure around 752. Only a smaller area of the original are extant. Most of the present sculpture dates to a reconstruction in 1692,
Returning to Kyoto, we were mesmerized by the glittering gold of Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavilion, set against serene gardens. The Kyomizu Dera high in the hills offered panoramic city views, evoking Kyoto’s spiritual essence.
Many students tried to catch the natural flowing spring water to drink. Nijo Castle immersed us in Japan’s feudal past, with its remarkable “nightingale floors.” An elegant and effective alarm system around what was a beautiful summer residence was built in 1603 as the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Period (1603-1867).
Culinary delights awaited as we savored a traditional Kaiseki lunch, a symphony of traditional flavors and artful presentation. Evening found us at Hotel Elcient for dinner and relaxation.
Getting their bags all packed for tomorrow’s start of backpacking, had the students making some astute decisions about what they needed to take oppose to what they wanted to take with them.!
Retiring with memories of deer encounters, temple grandeur, and Japanese cuisine, we embraced history, culture, and natural beauty. A full day of exploration, well done team!
Tomorrow is moving day, down to Hiroshima for our next adventure, while our luggage takes a shortcut out to the country side to our sister school to wait for our arrival on Friday.
We ask you keep us in your prayers; health, safety and strong relationships as your children explore and embrace the new challenges each day!
The leaders are proud of them all, as we know you are!
Oyasuminasai
genesis2japan 
Hey Abbey we love following your trip each day. We miss you lots (although Lola is making the most of being an only child 😂). Maggie misses sleeping on your legs. Grandma and Grandpa say hi (they can’t figure out how to post themselves 😂). Love you and miss you lots. Love Mum, Dad and Lola
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Hey Adley,
Not the kind of question I ever thought I’d ask you, but how did it feel to be a human tissue? 🤧
Must have been hard work, as you looked rather hot when you were emerging. 🥵
Again the food looks incredible, have you been sampling everything?
Dad and I are extremely proud of you kiddo, takes a special kind of person to be invited to participate in a once in a lifetime experience as the JOE trip.
We shall continue to follow your adventures and hope that you are enjoying every single moment.
Oh Dad said to say he has been enjoying playing Elite 😎
I know this trip is all about being unplugged, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t send us an email, or hey a postcard would be pretty special xx
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Hey Styver, looking good with your new clothes noticed some Nike socks as well ;). Today would’ve been an experience, proud of you, you’ve always been a great traveler, some great things to look forward to on your trip. Loved that you helped out with the bags, you always step up to the plate. Love you Dad x
p.s have you got a favorite food so far?
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My favourite food would still probably be the sushi 🙂
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Hi Grace!
Sorry its taken me so long to say hi but I’ve been busy in Gladstone. Looks like you r eating some really yummy food, and seeing the Buddha mustve been fun. Have lots of GREAT photos to show u when u get back.
have fun 🙂
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Hi Katie,
Miss you so much but Japan is pretty good, I’ll email you soon, I have so much to tell you. Tell me if anything interesting happens down under.
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Hi Grace,
I miss you a lot as well! Guess who we saw yesterday, Reece Walsh!
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What?! That is so cool, I’m going to the sister school tomorrow, so I won’t be messaging as much. Good luck with exam week.
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Hey Jemimah! I assume you fit everything into your backpack! Well at least what you ACTUALLY need. I’m so glad you sounded well and happy. Keep enjoying everything Japan has to offer. I hope you appreciate today and your trip to Hiroshima, there is much to learn and reflect on from places such as this. We all love you and are proud of you taking this adventure. Lots of love, Mum.
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Hi Levi, wow, that food looks like you will be absolutely loving it! So cool to see the temples they built with no modern day tools hey. Soak it up my boy! It’s going to be so great to go through all your photos and have you tell the stories behind them.
Enjoy Hiroshima! Another time of reflection and admiration for the resilience of people.
Lots of love Mum, Dad, Ash, James (and 🐈 + 🦮)
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Hey Mum, church was great we sang songs in Japanese and English it was a very fun and new experience. The temples were really fun to explore and go around. I am having an amazing time and I wanted to buy you all some presents. (What do you think dad would like because I haven’t got him one yet. I want to write more but I am in a rush.
Miss you a lot
Levi
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Hi Elijah!
What an awesome day!! How are you liking the food?! It all looks so beautifully presented!!! I see lots of salad!! You’ll be a pro! Hope you have a wonderful time enjoying Hiroshima! We are following you and wake up each day wondering if your new post is up! Love you heaps xxx Mum and Dad, Tommy and Alicexxx
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Hi mum, yes I am enjoying the food. There are so many different things that we have tried. I am looking forward to the food they give me at the home stay. Talk to you soon. Elijah
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All the students and teachers look very excited.
Have a great journey in Kinki District!
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We look forward to seeing you all tomorrow Takagi san. On Shinkansen for Nagoya now ☺️
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What a wonderful day full of so much amazing culture. Good luck with your backpacking experience over the next few days!
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Hey,
It’s been so amazing everything that we’ve been doing. Tons of pictures that I can show you when I get home as well as little mementos. The food has been amazing and everything is so pretty and full of history, especially in Kyoto. Heading off to Hiroshima today which is bound to be incredible. Miss you guys. See you soon.
Love,
Charlotte
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Hey BellBell,
Nice to see that you’re having a good time. Food looks good and I hope the chopstick skills have improved, don’t want you going hungry 😋. I hear there was natural spring that you could drink. Did you try it?
Let me know if you require dad jokes to brighten your day 😏
Love 🥇Dad
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Ignore the comment above, somebody else accidentally commented. The water tasted pretty good actually! It was lots of fun seeing all the different temples and sight’s yesterday. There’s lots more to see too! We’re travelling to Hiroshima today, miss you all and love you all so much! Love Anna
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Hey dad,
How was your lil camping trip with leprechaun 🍀 everything’s been really good and yes the food is really good but different. The water thing you were talking abt I think was pure water and I did drink from it 👍. It was the best water I have ever drank or maybe because it just really hot here. Give your best dad joke 😭.
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Hi 👋 BellBell,
The leprechaun ☘️ behaved himself both boys wanting to do everything all at once so I was very busy.
Dad joke
What do you call a short mother?
A minimum.
Love 🥇Dad
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I think the next JOE trip should be a culinary adventure travel show – I’m thinking a Bourdain/Stein/Nguyen crossover style show presented by the students. Some amazing food, amazing history, in an amazing country looking to be enjoyed by all.
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Yes and parents should be able to come too 😝
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Yes it’s been a great time so far and the foods definitely been some of my favourite things.
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What an amazing day, full of great experiences and you caught some of the spring water Anna, how did it taste? Love you loads xxx
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Ignore the comment above, somebody else accidentally commented. The water tasted pretty good actually! It was lots of fun seeing all the different temples and sight’s yesterday. There’s lots more to see too! We’re travelling to Hiroshima today, miss you all and love you all so much! Love Anna
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