Last summer, Elise was lucky enough to take part in the Summer International Programme at Showa Women's University in Tokyo, Japan 🗾🇯🇵. An enriching experience that she shares with us today.

‘My experience of the Showa programme was incredible, whether it was the interactions with the other members of the programme as well as the locals, or the discovery of the country. The fact that we were supervised allowed us to discover things that we wouldn't necessarily have been able to see for ourselves, but also to feel more at ease if we weren't used to travelling alone.

In terms of the courses offered, I found everything interesting. The teachers allow us to actively participate in the course, especially in activities such as calligraphy ✒️ or the tea ceremony 🍵. There are also activities that allow you to discover Tokyo with your group.

As for the activities in the city, I really enjoyed the Ghibli Museum, the Skytree (which had a special event with Pokémon) and the Kabuki show. Some of the planned activities also allowed us to discover other cities like Kamakura and Asakusa for example. In the evenings, after classes and organised activities, we had some free time, which allowed us to wander around and explore more of Tokyo.

The areas we visited during the trip were attractive and I didn't feel as unsafe as I sometimes do in France. The accommodation was decent and in a good area. The university was incredible, with its wide open spaces and greenery. The food was very good!

Tomei is located outside Tokyo, a little more in the mountains, although you can't see Mount Fuji 🗻 because of the clouds. The games, snacks and interactions with the others were really fun and we even discovered the Japanese baths. You can be apprehensive but you have to try it. It brings you closer 😁. Trying on a Yukata 👘 and seeing fireworks 🎆 was amazing too.

The food in Tokyo 🍜 - and Tomei - was very good and we were able to try quite a few different things as restaurant prices are much cheaper than in France. Grabbing food from one of the many mini-markets is also a good option.

This trip was full of great encounters, everyone was kind and understanding, even the shopkeepers who don't necessarily speak English very well were accommodating and friendly. I hope to stay in touch with the girls for a long time, because we really got on well. I can't wait to meet up again in our respective countries on future visits!

A big thank you to all the participants, without whom this trip would not have been the same. ❤️’