Tokyo, Kyoto, and Myoko. During February break, eighteen Northwood students traveled to Japan with the LEAP program, led by student Gus Garvey ‘25. They started their journey from Lake Placid on the 7th of February and returned on the 18th. After spending two weeks exploring the country, they brought back stories I got to hear. Here are the most memorable places for Willow Zhao ‘27, Sophia Sherman ‘25, Aston Ferrillo ‘26, and Gus Garvey ‘25.
“One day, we woke up around five and went to Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Kyoto. When walking to the temple and passing a local neighborhood, I saw how the locals live as they go to work in the early morning. When traveling, I most appreciate learning about day-to-day life in a country. So, observing the lifestyle in Kyoto was the most memorable for me. Then we just explored around the temple. Everything was amazing: the view and the temple itself,” says Willow Zhao ‘27.
“My favorite place was Kyoto. It was quaint, but you would still feel like you are in a city. One of the reasons why I love Kyoto is because of the temples. It was a shame that we could only spend a day in Kyoto – I wish we could have had more time to explore. I also enjoy being in Tokyo. We stayed in Ebisu, Tokyo, for the last two nights. It was close to Shibuya, so there was a lot of good shopping and delicious food,” says Sophia Sherman ‘25.
“I think my favorite place was the temple in Kyoto. We went on a perfect morning to visit the temple. It was very quiet, surrounded by a forest. It was beautiful. You could also walk on paths over to different parts of the temple, which I thought was pretty cool,” says Aston Ferrillo ‘26.
“Last year, when I went to Kyoto with my family, my dad and I randomly found a small corner grill place for dinner. We went in. I talked to the owner about his restaurant. He thought my Japanese was really good for a “foreigner” since I was with my dad. The place was run by amazing, kind people, like a mom-and-pop place. It was my favorite meal from the last trip. So, when planning for Japan LEAP, I made a reservation for the restaurant even before the hotel rooms – that is how much I prioritized it. We went there as Japan LEAP. Everyone remembered us. They loved the group’s energy and gave us a private room to eat. It was a great experience with positive vibes. When returning to Kyoto, I will ensure to go back to Go-En,” says Gus Garvey ‘25.
All photos by Mr. Michael Aldridge.
