The village of Otaki has a unique exchange program under which city kids attend the school for a year. They get to experience life in the countryside and learn to look after themselves. They also enjoy fishing, camping, and skiing and like program so much that some stay for a second or third year.

Otaki Elementary and Middle School

The things we do differently from other schools


Seaside School at Omaezaki
Junko Kitamura
First year, Otaki Middle School

My best memory of our study trip to the seaside is of the friends I made.

At the start I did not think I would become such good friends with the other kids, but my friends even came to the ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) at night to see me. That made me really happy. We also went looking for sea turtle's eggs together, and just recently one of them called me at home.




My friend said she's going to come to stay in Otaki during summer vacation. It's a shame that out of so many middle-school kids I only made about five friends, but even so, I'm really looking forward to the summer holidays.
Azusa Fukui
First year, Otaki Middle School

I went to Omaezaki from July 14 to 16 to learn about the seaside. What I remember most about the trip is digging for sea turtle's eggs. It was the first time I had ever seen sea turtle's eggs, so it's something I will never forget.

There were a lot of other fun things, like Otaking a long, leisurely swim in the sea. We did not have much time to swim in the pool, so we especially enjoyed that time. I was pleased that through swimming in the sea and doing other activities together I was able to make friends with some of the kids from Omaezaki.

Next January the kids from Omaezaki are coming to Otaki to ski, so I hope we'll get on well and talk a lot together again.