See Japan Break to Nikko (October 1st-2nd, 2020)

On October 1st, the elementary and middle school students of TIPS ventured off to explore the Nikko region of Tochigi prefecture. They began their journey at TIPS early in the morning and after a two and a half hour bus ride, they arrived at their first destination, Edo Wonderland. The students spent five hours exploring this new land, where they met ninjas, merchants, and a geisha. They managed to scale up the ninja house, find their way through the maze, and conquer their fears in the horror house. During lunch, the students were given a variety of food options ranging from udon to yakitori. They were able to replenish their energy in preparation for the ninja show. After their time in Edo Wonderland and mastering the ninja arts, the students went to the New Oruri Hotel which was located right along the Kinugawa river. They enjoyed a luxurious buffet dinner and then after, played cards and board games during the recreation time. They ended the day with a nice, friendly game of charades. The students were dismissed to their rooms by 9:00pm in order for them to get a good night's rest for the next day’s rafting adventure.

The next morning, the students decided to go for a small hike around the area before breakfast. They found a nice playground where they were able to play for a bit. It was then time for breakfast, where they got to enjoy another buffet-style meal. Once their stomachs were full and the rooms were clean, the TIPS students went to their next destination of the trip: rafting. The students were able to raft down the Kinugawa river and were given the opportunity to swim and cliff jump in some areas. The last stop of the trip was at Kinugawaonsen Station. The students enjoyed a nice lunch at a local restaurant of their choice and were able to buy a present to commemorate their fun-filled 2-day adventure. They arrived back at TIPS in the afternoon of October 2nd with new experiences and memories that will last a lifetime.