＜2009/12＞

■　Autumn Excursion: Okutama Hiking

　Escape from the city, feel the nature ? but this is Tokyo as well.

　Although it was a rainy day, a lot of students (especially new students) came on this particular school trip. The event took place on the cold Saturday morning of November 14th, and students wore warm clothes in order to feel comfortable during the hike.

　It took two hours to get to Okutama by train. Tokyo is more than just the 23 wards - the trees, mountains, rivers and air of Okutama are very different from the city. Without visiting, it’s hard to understand how different it is from the central areas of the city.

　On the way to SNG Okutama, staff and students enjoyed the colorful foliage and the beautiful scenery of Hatonosu Valley. After arriving, quite a few students went to Moegi no Yu to experience a Japanese hot spring while the teachers prepared a delicious barbeque lunch. Afterwards, everyone did mixers and played different types of tag and ball games just out of SNG Okutama.

　Students sometimes complain that there are no good parks in which to play ball in Tokyo, or that parks have entrance fees (Shinjuku Gyoen National garden, for example. However, that’s not the case in Okutama. The rain stopped in the afternoon and the students all had a great time.

　Thanks to the staff who planned the event, the students really enjoyed the day in Okutama. Congratulations on a fun and successful trip!

In front of the station.	Rain at first.	Too heavy for the bridge?

The Hatonosu Valley	A bit chilly.	It’s so warm!

Lunch.	The best chef.	So delicious!

The rain stopped.	The sun came out!	“Oono-sensei, run!”

Friends forever!	Great BBQ.	“Wow, 1,000,000 yen!”

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SHINJUKU JAPANESE LANGUAGE INSTITUTE 2-9-7 Takadanobaba Shinjuku-ku Tokyo, 169-0075. Japan Tel : 81-3-5273-0044 Fax : 81-3-5273-0018