Step into Student Life at Japan's Kimino High School
A once-abandoned building in Kimitsu City, Chiba prefecture, has been brought back to life for tourists to experience what a school day is like in Japan. A quirky tourist attraction for anyone to immerse themselves in, Kimino High School opened its doors to the public in 2023, and has been teaching foreigners what a traditional day for a teenager is like in Japan ever since.
The organization makes the day as easy as possible for you; uniforms are provided upon arrival, plus you get lunch and any supplies you may need to achieve your best in lessons. But it’s not only fun for tourists; the school allows Japanese nationals to immerse themselves in English school culture.
So, what does a day look like at Kimino High School?
After arrival, you’ll change into a gakuran (male school uniform) or sailor fuku (female school uniform). The day starts with morning homeroom, calligraphy and social studies lessons, and a shared school lunch… yes, you don’t have to take a packed lunch!
In Japan, lunchtime is seen as an important part of the educational day. Students serve their peers food during lunchtime. This practice helps foster a community where kindness and responsibility are instilled at a young age. The food served in most schools is carefully curated by professional nutritionists, which helps keep the children in line with Japan’s healthy lifestyle standards.
If you are lucky, you also get to take part in sports lessons (“undokai” is the sports festival students take part in in a traditional Japanese school). These lessons tend to be Karate; you also get fully equipped for this—meaning another outfit change for you!
Finally, the day concludes with a graduation ceremony where you’ll receive a mock diploma. Oh, but before that, it is tradition for students in Japan to clean their school at the end of the day, so you might have to grab a dustpan and brush before you head off.
If this isn’t enough for you, they also offer extracurricular activities! A fun overnight camping trip is available if you fancy staying longer, or you can enjoy a rice wine (Sake) tasting session, a sword fighting demonstration, or even a holistic experience learning and creating traditional Japanese arts!
This is a crafty way to engage in Japanese culture, enjoy a unique day out or even brush up on your calligraphy skills! There is something for everyone to do at Kimino High School! If you want to learn more, their Instagram shows you exactly what a day at Kimino is like!
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