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Students of Thursina International Islamic Boarding School (IIBS) recently embarked on an international journey to the Land of Rising Sun  through the Overseas Study program. Taking place on February 14 to 22, this trip brought together students from 8th to 11th grades. 

The Overseas Study program is part of Thursina IIBS dedication to offer a worldly learning experience, widening students’ horizons on international life and culture while also introducing them to higher education options in the destination country. One of the destinations for the program was Japan. In this week-long trip, students had the opportunity to explore five big cities; Tokyo, Fuji, Odaiba, Kamakura, and Enoshima where they visited the iconic and historical sites there. 

Upon arrival on the first day, students of Thursina IIBS began their trip with a city tour of the Tokyo capital. Their first destination was the Asakusa district in Taito, popular for its Sensoji Temple that was built in the 7th century. Even though the area has been developing rapidly, the people of the district still continue to maintain and preserve the cultural heritage of their ancestors. In addition to Asakusa, students also visited the bustling shopping centres at Harajuku, Shibuya Crossing, Ginza, and Akihabara. The day then concluded with a visit to Miji Jingu, an area famous for its Shinto Temple and iris garden. 

The next day, students took a stroll along the Odaiba Seaside Park on the edge of Tokyo’s beach. Here, they got to enjoy the enchanting view of the gulf while exploring the park. They also took a photo with a mini version of the Statue of Liberty

On the third day of the trip, students paid a visit to the Fujiten Snow Resort and Iyashi No Sato in Yamanashi Prefecture. At the snow resort, students were pampered with the picturesque landscape of snow covered mountains and forest while playing fun snow games like snowboarding. The agenda continued with an excursion to Iyashi No Sato, a traditional village near Kawaguchi Lake, where they had the chance to experience authentic Japanese village life. This village was renowned for its origami craft and shuriken, the weapons of ninjas. 

The fourth day brought these students on an outing to the Gotemba Premium Outlet and Kachi Ropeway at Shizuoka Prefecture which offered a breathtaking view of the Fuji Mountain. Students also took a ride on the Kachi Ropeway to enjoy the scenery, before shopping for souvenirs to bring home to their families.

On the fifth day, students had the opportunity to do comparative study visits to Japanese universities, with Tokyo International University being the main feature of the day’s agenda. Students were taken on a tour of the campus where they were introduced to the institute's profile, the programs and majors they carried, as well as information on scholarships offered. The day then continued with a stroll to several famous Japanese city parks such as Shinjuku Gyoen, Ueno Park, Imperial Palace and Sumida River, before wrapping up with a visit to the highest building in Tokyo, the Tokyo Sky Tree, standing at an incredible height of 634 metres. 

On the last day of the Japan trip, students went on an excursion to the famous theme parks Disneyland and DisneySea where they got to try fun adrenaline-inducing rides, interesting attractions, and captivating parades. At DisneySea, students took their time to relax while enjoying the alluring seascape from the Mediterranean Harbor. This overseas program is expected to give students unforgettable experiences in getting to know the world beyond the walls of their school. 

One of those students, Muhammad Ibrahim Basoeki, expressed his pride and gratitude for the opportunity to be able to take part in the program. He was endlessly fascinated by the culture of discipline and cleanliness of Japanese society. "The developing technology is very advanced, everything can be accessed easily and quickly, so that time is efficient.I find it exciting to think that one day I could contribute to technological development in Indonesia," he explained. 

Ustadz Rois Haqiqi, M.Pd., principal of Thursina IIBS, expressed his hope that students will gain valuable experiences and knowledge from this trip that will have a significant impact on their lives. “Studying in a non-Muslim country is not only about seeing progress, discipline and innovation, but it's also about learning how to be a good Muslim as a minority, starting from maintaining regular prayers, choosing halal food, and effectively communicating with the local population. Ultimately, this experience can hopefully prepare students to contribute positively to the global community in the future,” he concluded.