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Zoey Zhang

A company in Japan is offering a “one-day student” scheme for foreign tourists, allowing them to immerse themselves in local school culture for just 30,000 yen (US$200).
As Japanese manga and anime culture continues to gain global popularity, the country’s school culture – famed for its iconic sailor uniforms, vibrant club activities, and strong team spirit – has captivated fans globally.
Iconic series like Slam Dunk and The Prince of Tennis vividly portray the themes of friendship, love, and personal development that are central to Japanese school life.
Recently, a company in Japan, Undokaiya, launched a programme called “Your High School”, where foreign visitors can experience a day as a Japanese secondary student, conducted entirely in English, according to the Japanese media outlet Mainichi News.

This school was converted from a decommissioned secondary school in Chiba Prefecture, eastern Japan, in November last year.
The company aims to provide overseas tourists with a taste of Japanese school culture while boosting local tourism.
For 30,000 yen, tourists of any age can become a “one-day student”, with up to 30 participants allowed each day.
Visitors can choose to wear either the classic Japanese sailor uniform or a suit for the opening ceremony. They are then assigned to different classrooms and practise calligraphy in a Japanese language class.
The teachers here have intriguing backgrounds. According to the official website, homeroom teacher Hideo Onishima, once a delinquent, decided to become a teacher after meeting a mentor who guided him onto the right path.
Another teacher, Rukia Kikuchi, aspires to be a respected educator and often energises her class with passionate quotes from Japanese anime.
Between classes, the school conducts disaster drills, teaching visitors essential emergency response skills, such as quickly ducking under their desks.

Additionally, visitors can wear traditional kimonos, learn to use a katana, or participate in Japanese traditional dance.
After lunch, visitors attend history and physical education classes. They can don striped sports uniforms and engage in games like tug of war in the gym.
During PE class, “naughty students” with dyed hair and baseball bats may disrupt activities, creating chaos on the field and playfully intimidating their classmates.
These rebellious students embody Japan’s Yanki Culture, a subculture that challenges school rules and social norms, making it a distinctive hallmark of Japanese school life.

Before leaving, visitors participate in a classroom clean-up, an integral part of Japan’s educational system that teaches cleaning skills, promotes teamwork, and instils a sense of responsibility.
At the end of the school day, visitors receive a graduation certificate.
The one-day student programme has gained widespread attention on social media.
One online observer commented: “As an Indian, I’d love to join this school. Honestly, this is my dream school: no academic or parental pressure.”
Another remarked: “Japan is always a place full of imagination and energy, and their school culture reflects that beautifully.”


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Japan offers 1-day student scheme for tourists to experience local school culture for US$200

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‘Naughty students’ with baseball bats disrupt PE class, creating chaos, playfully intimidating classmates


‘Naughty students’ with baseball bats disrupt PE class, creating chaos, playfully intimidating classmates.


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