Utsuho Academy primary school

Japan Preschool Exchange Program changed our lives! The staff is extremely helpful and dedicated, providing us with all the information we needed and answered all our questions about the program. The school we were paired with was amazing, the location was wonderful, most importantly our son had the amazing opportunity to learn within the local community and experience learning in ways we don’t really see in our country! I’ll never forget the kind staff at his school, and the fun learning experiences he had, like catching shrimp in the nearby river!

From the very first day, the teachers welcomed us so warmly that it hardly felt like our first time there. When we entered the classroom, my daughter already had her own cubby prepared, complete with a name tag decorated with a photo of a kiwi bird, a symbol of New Zealand, where we came from. Seeing my daughter shyly smile as she looked at it was truly memorable.
Although we are a Japanese family, my daughter is not very strong in Japanese. The teachers were incredibly thoughtful and adjusted their approach to support her learning, and we could clearly see her growing confidence in using Japanese. The school places great importance on respecting children’s thoughts and ideas, which allowed for so much active, self-motivated learning.
On the morning of the final day, my daughter woke up in tears because she didn’t want to leave. In that moment, I truly realized how deeply meaningful those five days had been for her, and how strongly the experience had already been etched into her young heart.
Spending a week living in Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture allowed us to experience the grandeur of Japan’s nature, the warmth of a small community, and the depth of its history. It was an extraordinary experience that goes far beyond what ordinary travel can offer.
Thank you so very much for everything.