French university students joined our two-week short-term study abroad program starting on April 14.
The two weeks went by so quickly, but they seems that they all had a wonderful time enjoying spring in Japan.
フランスの大学生たちが、4月14日から2週間の短期 留学 プログラムに、参加してくれました。
2週間はあっという間でしたが、皆さん日本の春を満喫できたようです。



In the morning, they had Japanese group lessons. Everyone looked like they were having fun while learning Japanese.
午前中は日本語のグループレッスン。皆さん楽しそうに学んでいます。



In the afternoon of the first day, they explored the area around the hotel. At the Traditional Crafts Museum in Aoyama, they discovered a variety of traditional Japanese crafts and enjoyed making their own small hemp coin purses with clasp closures.
They then walked toward Akasaka-Mitsuke, enjoying the lush greenery around the Akasaka Imperial Grounds along the way. At Toyokawa Inari Temple, they offered their prayers and tried omikuji (Japanese fortune slips).
Afterward, they took the Ginza Subway Line from Akasaka-Mitsuke Station to Asakusa, one of Tokyo’s most popular destinations for visitors.
初日の午後は滞在ホテルの近くを散策します。青山の伝統工芸館では、日本の色々な伝統工芸品を見ながら、みなさんに小さな麻のがま口財布づくりを体験してもらいました。赤坂御所の豊かな緑を見ながら、赤坂 見附方面へ。豊川稲荷にお参りをして、おみくじを引いたりしました。その後、赤坂 見附駅から地下鉄 銀座線で、観光客に人気の浅草へ移動します。






After about 30 minutes on the subway, they arrived at Asakusa Station. They strolled around Senso-ji Temple and Nakamise Shopping Street. In the evening, they enjoyed conveyor belt sushi at a restaurant in Asakusa. They all seemed full of energy, with no apparent signs of jet lag.
30分程地下鉄に乗って、浅草駅に到着しました。ぶらぶら浅草寺や仲見世通りを歩きながら、夜は浅草の回転ずしへ。みなさんとても元気で、時差ぼけとかなさそうです。






From the next day onward, they continued exploring Tokyo in the afternoons. They also took the train many times as they traveled around the city. They visited the traditional downtown areas of Fukagawa, Tsukishima, and Monzen-Nakacho, as well as the Fukagawa Edo Museum.
翌日からも午後は都内を散策します。電車にもたくさん乗りました。東京の下町エリア、深川・月島・門 仲へも。深川江戸資料館を訪ねて、江戸時代の日本を体験してもらいました。






They also explored the fashionable areas of Omotesando and Harajuku, and of course, visited Meiji Jingu Shrine.
別の日は、ファッショナブルな表参道や原宿へ。もちろん明治神宮も訪ねます。






On this day, they took a bus to Lake Kawaguchi in Yamanashi Prefecture in the morning. They enjoyed views of Mt. Fuji from different angles, taking a sightseeing boat and riding a ropeway. In spring, Mt. Fuji looks especially beautiful with cherry blossoms in full bloom.
They also tried houtou, a local specialty of Yamanashi Prefecture. They all said it was delicious!
この日は、朝から山梨県の河口湖へバスで移動です。遊覧船やロープウェイにも乗って色々な角度から富士山を眺めました。春は桜に彩られた富士山が楽しめて良いですね。
山梨県の郷土 料理のほうとうにも挑戦。皆さんには美味しかったと好評でした。



This time, they also took part in many Japanese cultural activities, including tea ceremony, flower arranging, and calligraphy. At the National Noh Theatre, they not only watched a Noh performance but also had the opportunity to try playing traditional Noh music. They played the drums along with the call of “Yoooh!” They had fun playing the drums together, following the instructor’s lead. They all did a wonderful job!
今回もたくさんの文化体験に挑戦していただきました。茶道、華道、書道を。そして国立能楽堂では、能を鑑賞するだけでなく、囃子の体験も。「よぉ~~っ」の声に合わせて太鼓をたたき、みんなで楽しく演奏しました。皆さん、とってもお上手でした!












This time, they also experienced a four-day, three-night homestay in Yokohama. They had a great time at the welcome party and enjoyed outings to Kamakura and Odawara with their host families. Of course, they also had Japanese lessons online via Zoom every morning!
今回は、3泊4日で横浜のホームステイも体験してもらいました。ウェルカムパーティーで盛り上がったり、ホストファミリーと一緒に鎌倉や小田原にもお出かけしたりして、楽しい時間を過ごしてくれました。もちろん午前中は、Zoomでの日本語レッスンもありましたよ。


















On the last day, they enjoyed a farewell lunch at a restaurant in Tameike-Sanno with their host families and Japanese language teachers. The host families, who had warmly welcomed them as part of their own families, seemed sad to say goodbye. The teachers felt the same way, of course!
最後の日は、ホストファミリーの方々や、日本語講師たちと一緒に、送別ランチ会を溜池山王のレストランで。とても暖かく家族として迎え入れてくれたホストファミリーもとても名残惜しそうでした。もちろん講師一同も。









We’re glad if they enjoyed their stay in Japan, and we hope to welcome them back someday!
We wish them all the best in their continued Japanese studies and will always be cheering them on!
皆さんに、日本での滞在を楽しんでもらえていたらうれしいです。ぜひまた日本に遊びに来てください。
これからも、日本語の勉強がんばってくださいね。応援しています。





