One unforgettable memory is the trip I took to Kyoto during our school excursion.
It was my first trip since coming to Japan, and it was on August 24th. The day before, it had been raining continuously, so I was worried, but on the actual day, it was sunny from the morning. I was so happy. All the students who were studying at school went on the trip, so it was fun.
First, we took a bus to Kameoka Station. We took photos with friends, walked around, and enjoyed some food. It was a lot of fun. Next, we took a scenic train ride in Arashiyama. While on the train, we listened to explanations about Arashiyama and enjoyed the view. There were houses along the river, and it was a very peaceful moment. There were many trees on the hills. Unfortunately, we went in August, so we couldn’t see the autumn leaves, which are famous in that area.
We also took a walk in the bamboo forest, which was very refreshing. As we descended the hill, we arrived at a shrine called Nonomiya Shrine, famous for matchmaking and academics. It is said that if you stroke the sacred stone near the shrine and make a wish, it will come true within a year.
The final destination of our excursion was the Golden Pavilion, Kinkaku-ji. We took a bus there. Kyoto has many famous temples, including Kinkaku-ji, so I was really looking forward to it. Kinkaku-ji was built in 1397 and is located within a pond. Here, I made a wish, saying, “May I pass the JLPT N2 in December.”
On the way back, we all sang songs together. The school excursion was short in duration but very enjoyable. This trip is something I will never forget.