What else to budget for

20,000 yen is roughly A$180 at current rates, but rates move — the trip is over a year away, so treat this as indicative. Passport fees are set by the Australian Passport Office and change each July.

✈️ Flights & travel

• Return Jetstar flights, Brisbane to Japan
• All airport taxes and charges
• 20kg checked luggage and 7kg carry-on
• In-flight entertainment, meals and snacks, and a comfort pack on international flights
• Meet-and-greet assistance on arrival at Narita
• Private coach transfers and reserved Shinkansen seats

🏨 Accommodation

• 4 nights in Tokyo
• 6 nights in Kyoto

The eleventh night is the overnight flight home.

🍱 All meals Updated

• Obento dinner on arrival in Japan
• Breakfast daily
• Lunch daily
• Dinner daily

Every meal for the whole trip is now covered. Spending money is for snacks, drinks and souvenirs only.

🎟️ Attractions & experiences

• teamLab Planets Tokyo
• Tokyo Skytree
• KidZania Tokyo
• Gion Corner cultural performance and tea ceremony
• Samurai & Ninja Museum experience
• Full-day guided Kyoto sightseeing tour
• Universal Studios Japan, Osaka
• Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium
• Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

🚄 Transport passes

• Tokyo to Kyoto Shinkansen ticket
• 5-Day JR Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass
• Suica card for trains in Tokyo New

🎒 Also covered New

• Travel insurance
• Trip shirt and hat
• Laundry
• Luggage storage at Tokyo and Osaka stations
• Snacks for the pre-Japan trip sleepover

All five of these were out-of-pocket costs in the earlier version of the trip. They are now in the fee.

Not included — the short list

• Personal spending money: souvenirs, snacks, drinks, shopping, arcade games
• Passport application or renewal costs
• Personal medications and incidentals

That's the whole list. Everything else is in the trip fee.

How much walking, really

On the last trip staff recorded between 10,000 and 20,000 steps a day. Averaged out, that's about 15,000 steps — roughly 12 kilometres, every day, for twelve days.

Japanese cities are built around walking and public transport. Train stations have long tunnels and staircases, temples sit at the top of hills, and the Fushimi Inari hike is uphill through thousands of gates. It is a wonderful way to see a country, and it is a lot more walking than most students are used to.

What this means for you at home

Shoes are the number one thing. Comfortable, properly worn-in walking shoes matter more than anything else in the suitcase. New shoes bought the week before departure are the fastest route to blisters on day two.

Build up gradually between now and September 2027. There is more than a year, which is plenty of time. Walking to school, weekend bushwalks, and a few longer days out will make an enormous difference to how much your child enjoys the trip.

Comfort in the heat matters too. September in Japan is warm and humid, so the walking feels harder than the same distance would at home. A refillable water bottle and a hat are essential, not optional.

Walking club Coming soon

We're looking at starting a walking club at school for students going on the trip — a regular walk together to build up fitness and get everyone comfortable with the distances well before we fly.

It's also a good chance for the travelling group to get to know each other beforehand. Details are still being worked out — if your child would be interested, let the school know.

What it's actually for

Because all meals are covered, spending money is for souvenirs, snacks, drinks, arcade games and personal purchases only. Families can adjust the amount up or down depending on their child's spending habits.

Universal Studios and Harajuku are where the money disappears. Agreeing a figure at home saves a difficult phone call from Osaka.

Practical tips

Japan still runs on cash in many small shops, shrines and food stalls, though cards are widely accepted in cities. A mix of both is sensible.

The Suica card is included, so train fares in Tokyo don't come out of spending money.

A prepaid travel card in your child's name lets you top it up from home and see what's being spent. Ask the school what other families have used.

What the school suggests packing

• Panadol — minicaps or chewables for students not used to swallowing tablets
• Nurofen Zavance — or chewables if you prefer
• Zyrtec, with written instructions for allergic reaction
• Kwells for travel sickness
• Hydrolyte — label not necessary
• Gastro-Stop where applicable, as it is for students over 12 years

Before you pack them

Check with your pharmacist or GP that each item suits your own child, their age and any existing medications or conditions. The list above is the school's general guide, not individual advice.

Send everything in its original packaging, clearly labelled with your child's name and the dose, along with a written note of when and how much to give.

Some medications sold freely in Australia are restricted in Japan. For any prescription medication, include a letter from your doctor and check the Japanese rules well before departure.

Allergies, dietary needs and existing conditions

Tell the school early — well before departure, not on the forms at the last minute. Japanese food is heavy on soy, wheat and seafood, and vegetarian options need planning rather than improvising. Now that all meals are catered as part of the trip, the school needs dietary requirements in advance to arrange them.

• Check whether your child already has a passportAnd find it — the search itself often takes a week
• Check the expiry date is after 27 September 2027It must be valid for the whole trip and the return flight
• Apply for or renew the passportAllow at least 6 weeks. Both parents' consent is normally required for a child passport — without it, processing takes 6–8 weeks or longer
• Complete the school application formHard copies are available from the school office
• Pay the $300 deposit by Wednesday 9 September 2026Through the school portal, submitted together with the application
• Return medical, dietary and consent formsInclude medications, allergies and an action plan
• Photograph the passport and email it to yourselfPlus one copy in your child's bag, separate from the passport

Do we need a visa?

No. Australian passport holders can enter Japan without a visa for short stays of up to 90 days for tourism. The passport must be valid for the duration of the stay — Japan does not require six months' remaining validity.

Japan has legislated a new electronic travel authorisation (JESTA) but it is not expected to start until 2028, so it does not affect this trip. Requirements can change; the school will confirm closer to travel.

• Comfortable walking shoes, already worn inBy far the most important item. 15,000 steps a day on average — around 12 km — with stairs at Fushimi Inari. Worn in for weeks, not days
• A second pair of shoesRain happens, and wet shoes don't dry overnight
• Slip-on shoes or easy lacesShoes come off at temples, some restaurants and the school visit
• Layers: t-shirts, one warm top, a light waterproof jacket
• School uniformWorn for the school visit and travel days. The trip shirt and hat are supplied
• Small daypackCarried every day for water, camera and souvenirs
• Refillable water bottle
• A small towel or face clothMany Japanese public bathrooms have no hand dryer — locals carry one
• A zip bag for rubbishPublic bins are rare in Japan; you carry your rubbish until you find one
• Universal power adapterJapan uses 100V, two flat pins — Australian plugs do not fit
• Power bank for phone charging
• Medications in original packaging, labelled, with dosage instructionsSee the medication section above
• Spare passport-sized photos and a copy of the passport
• A small gift from Australia for the school visitGift-giving matters in Japan. Something local and inexpensive is perfect
• Space in the suitcase for the way homeEveryone underestimates this one