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Most Study Trippers head home from their Japan Study Trip with great memories. And then a few decide one trip isn’t enough. We caught up with three Study Trippers who signed up again to hear what pulled them back, how their Japanese has changed, and which activities stuck with them.
“Every time I’ve come to Japan, it just gets better and better.” -Alex
Meet the returning Study Trippers
- Alex (US): Joined the Traditional Summer Study Trip in July 2025, then came back for the Spring Course Study Trip in 2026.
- Philipp (Switzerland): Joined the Spring Course Study Trip in 2023, the Akita Study Trip in February 2026, and the Spring Course Study Trip again in 2026.
- Karla (Mexico): Joined the Autumn in Japan Study Trip in November 2025, then came back for the Spring Course Study Trip in 2026.
Why they came back
For Alex, Japan was already a favorite place; spring 2026 was Alex’s fourth visit. After falling for the people, the safety, and the culture, Alex wanted to talk with locals but felt it was a guest’s job to learn the language. A Study Trip looked like the perfect way to test the waters before committing to a longer stay as a student. Alex calls the first trip the best decision he’s ever made, mostly because of the people. Meeting Study Trippers from all over the world made it easier to get out and explore, since everyone was there for the same reasons. Spring was also a chance to see Japan without the summer heat and catch the cherry blossoms.
“It was the best decision I’ve ever made.” -Alex
Philipp’s reason was simple. The first trip was fun, Philipp met cool people, and learned a lot. When it was time to plan another visit to Japan, the first thing Philipp did was check the Go! Go! Nihon website to see which Study Trips were available.
Karla came back for the service, the culture, and the language. Karla also appreciated how easy it was to reach the Go! Go! Nihon team whenever a question came up.
“The service you guys gave me here was great, and it was so easy to communicate with you when I had any doubts.” -Karla
How their Japanese has changed
Alex arrived not knowing how to tell a restaurant host how many people were in the group. Now Alex can walk in, say the number, and chat with staff. He learns best by doing, and picked up the most useful Japanese from real conversations. Seeing Study Trippers like Philipp head out and talk to locals helped him too. Alex still remembers the phrases that came up in real situations, like asking where the bathroom is (トイレはどこですか, toire wa doko desu ka). Textbooks and classroom learning, combined with real life experiences, help your Japanese to stick.
“I think the best way for me to learn is actually doing it. I remember more from experiences, from actually talking to someone.” -Alex
Philipp studied on his own with Duolingo after the first trip. Three years later, he feels far more comfortable getting around, and says studying in Japan again since February has made a big difference. Izakaya visits and conversations with locals helped a lot, too.
Karla made some progress on the first trip but admits not putting in much effort. She still saw improvement and came back ready to keep going.
“Going to izakaya and talking to locals helped a lot in improving.” -Philipp
Favorite activities
Every Study Trip has a different mix of activities, so repeat Study Trippers get to try new things each time.
Alex loved the hands-on crafts. Making an omamori charm turned out to be relaxing and a lot of fun, even though Alex had never tried anything like it. Glass bead making and wind chime making were also highlights, and the panda sushi was kawaii. Karaoke was a big hit as well.
“I got to make the omamori myself. I never did anything like that before, but it was relaxing, and it was really fun.” -Alex
Philipp enjoyed the personal karaoke activities, meeting locals at the park, and making tombodama glass beads. The Akita Study Trip stood out for its festivals and all the locals he met there. Philipp skipped the tea ceremony the second time around, since he had already done it, which shows that repeat Study Trippers aren’t locked into the same activities and can try something new.
“Meeting the locals at the park was really nice. We didn’t do that three years ago.” -Philipp
Karla picked the visit to Nikko as a favorite from the autumn trip. But on the spring trip, the kimono activity won. She had done a kimono activity on the previous trip too, but liked this one more because the location was different and the kimonos were prettier.
“I liked this one more because we went to different places, and the kimonos were prettier.” -Karla
Alex also has a tip for future Study Trippers. His group loved the karaoke night so much that they wished it hadn’t waited until the very end of the trip. Doing it earlier, and maybe more than once, would give everyone more time to bond.
“We shouldn’t have waited until the end to do karaoke. We should have done it a little bit before, and then maybe again another time.” -Alex
FAQ
Can I join more than one Study Trip?
Yes. All three Study Trippers in this story came back for a second trip, and Philipp has joined three.
Do I need to know Japanese before I join?
No. Alex arrived without knowing how to order at a restaurant or say how many people were in the group. After the trip, Alex could handle those situations and hold simple conversations with locals.
Are the activities the same on every Study Trip?
No. Activities change by season and location. These Study Trippers did things like crafts, karaoke, a kimono experience, a visit to Nikko, and festivals in Akita, depending on the trip.
Is a Study Trip a good way to try Japan before studying here longer?
It can be. Alex was thinking about studying in Japan for a year and used a Study Trip to test the waters first.
How can I practice Japanese with locals on a Study Trip?
Our returning Study Trippers practiced in restaurants, izakaya, local meetups at the park, and festivals. Learning by using the language in real situations is what worked best for them.
When is the best time of year to go?
It depends on what you’re after. Alex found summer a little too hot and picked spring for the cherry blossoms. Karla enjoyed autumn for Nikko, and Philipp loved the festivals in Akita.
To learn more about Study Trips, make sure to check out our blog. And to find out which Study Trip is best for you, take a look at our 2027 Study Trips here.
