Re-imagining Local Experiences Through Cross-Cultural Student Dialogues in Himeji

Exploring New Perspectives in Local Tourism

Himeji City is embarking on a groundbreaking initiative that intertwines the dialogues between international students and local high school students. This collaboration aims to redefine local tourism by focusing on individual experiences rather than general assumptions about foreigners. In this project, undertaken by Himeji City Kotohira High School's International Culture Course, Okayama University of Science, and the Shinkibus Company, students will learn to view the everyday aspects of their town through a fresh lens.

The project operates under a central theme: engaging with real individuals, like international students, to capture insightful perspectives that statistics alone cannot provide. As students converse with foreign staff from Shinkibus and international students from Okayama University, they will delve into the unique values and insights that influence perceptions of local experiences. By doing so, the initiative seeks to uncover the hidden gems of Himeji that can be marketed as engaging alternatives to conventional tourist attractions, such as Himeji Castle.

Project Objectives

The core objective of this program is to enhance cultural integration skills and communication abilities among participants, which are essential in today’s rapidly evolving international society. Starting from June 2025, Kotohira High School has incorporated exploratory lessons into their curriculum, leveraging simple Japanese for effective communication with international students from Okayama University and Hyogo Prefectural University.

Through this experiential learning, students ultimately aim to create tourism proposals that bring a new perspective on local offerings, aiding Shinkibus in promoting the region’s tourism industry. They will engage with diverse international voices, listen to personal stories, and understand the cultural contexts behind individual insights. This strategy fosters collaborative problem-solving skills and a broadened worldview, essential for future global citizens.

Detailed Program Schedule

January 19, 2026 - Orientation

Participants: 40 Kotohira High School students, Okayama University assistant professor, and WTOC facilitators.
Activities: Students reflect on previous learnings and design inquiries into the potential insights they can discover.

January 26, 2026 - Interactive Dialogues

Participants: 40 students, three international staff from Shinkibus (from Netherlands, Italy, and Taiwan), 그리고 21 international students from Okayama University (from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and China).
Activities: Face-to-face interactions with Shinkibus staff and online exchange with international students to gather insights.

February 2, 2026 - Proposal Development

Participants: 40 students, Okayama University faculty, WTOC facilitators.
Activities: In-depth work organizes information and formulates tourist proposals based on understood values.

February 9, 2026 - Presentations

Participants: 40 students, Shinkibus representatives, Okayama University faculty.
Activities: Students present their insights and tourism proposals to Shinkibus staff for feedback.

Throughout these sessions, the curriculum is designed to ensure students engage with real-world issues while building the capacity to identify and articulate their thoughts. This includes a strong emphasis on the effective use of 'Simple Japanese', allowing for more fruitful dialogues that explore personal perceptions rather than generalizations.

Collaboration and Future Impact

This program exemplifies the merger of academia and industry, showcasing how educational institutions can work with local businesses to address community challenges while enriching students' learning experiences through practical applications. By creating opportunities for students to dive deep into real-world tourist proposals for Himeji, they learn to articulate their findings and engage thoughtfully with cultural nuances.

In conclusion, the collaboration represents a promising step toward fostering mutual understanding between cultures while paving functional pathways to help local tourism thrive. This initiative not only showcases the vibrancy of Himeji's culture but also equips students with the confidence and skills to navigate and enrich the globalized world they will inherit.