A one-day excursion to Kyoto for international students was held on Sunday, October 26, to give an opportunity to international students to deepen the knowledge of Japanese history and culture and to develop their good relationship with each other.
The group of 39 students first visited World Heritage Tenryu-ji Temple to learn its history. They enjoyed the magnificent landscape of its garden which preserves its original appearance since the 14th Century. Then they walked through the path in the bamboo grove to Nison-in Temple. At the temple, each of them strolled around its refined precincts and enjoyed the beautiful scenery of the temple approach covered with autumn leaves which have just begun to change color as well as tolling the temple bell named "Bell of happiness".
The last activity is making "nerikiri", one of the Japanese traditional sweets served at tea ceremony, to learn Japanese food culture and its delicate technique. After making their own sweets under the instruction, they tasted with green tea which they also made by themselves.
Throughout the excursion, they spent a fruitful time learning Japanese history and culture. They also enjoyed beautiful scenery of early autumn and developed a good relationship with each other.