Labo-Camp

Labo Camp

Labo camp could be one of the highlights of your trip to Japan. It is a typical Japanese-style camp, which will be a new experience for you! The group emphasis of all aspects of life at Labo camp will give you an insight into the roots of Japanese society. You will also take part in outdoor hikes, indoor lodge activities, and a special program for international students.

Your trip to camp will give you a chance to see some of the Japanese countryside, with thatched-roof farmhouses and rice paddies. Since the camps are in the mountains, it probably will also be much cooler at camp then in the cities!

Camp Locations

NISEKO: This small camp is on Hokkaido island where it is cool and surrounded by natural beauty.

TOHOKU CAMP: This camp is usually held at a mountain ski lodge. It is known for it’s wildflowers and cooler weather.

KUROHIME: “Laboland” is Labo’s flagship campsite. Over 1,000 students attend each session. The waterfall trek and hike to the summit of Mt. Kurohime are popular outdoor courses.

DAISEN: Enjoy the mountain beauty of a ski resort in the Chugoku region.

YUTSUBO: This camp is at the foot of Mt Kujyu–a live (but mostly dormant) volcano! One of the hikes is to the top of the volcano.

Which Camp will you attend?

Labo camp lasts for 4 days and 3 nights. This includes travel time to and from camp. During the summer there are a number of camp ‘sessions’ at each campsite. Your host family will decide which camp you will go to, and which session you will attend. They will make all of the arrangements for you and your host to attend camp together. In many cases your entire Labo Party will go to camp together — with children as young as 3 years old on their first trip away from their parents!

What is Labo Camp?

The Labo members do not view camp as an opportunity to simply relax and have free time. Their time at camp is short, and Japanese camps are very expensive. So the participants want to get the most out of their time at camp, and there is a busy schedule planned. There will be a lot of children at camp — up to 1,000 at some camps! — and many will be young children on their first trip away from home. With so many young campers, and given the Japanese tendency to plan everything super-well, you will probably find Labo camp to be much more strictly organized than camps in New Zealand, with set times for certain activities, and little room for changes from the schedule.

Camp Activities

At Labo Winter Camp you will meet other young people from all over Japan and around the world. Making new friends is an important part of Labo Camp! There is a busy schedule planned.

Outdoor activities – such as mountain climbing and nature hikes are popular, as are visits to local crafts-people and historic attractions. There are many different levels of difficulty — from picking flowers in a field (for the youngest kids) to quite challenging mountain climbs.

Lodge Activities – These Activities are a highlight for many Labo members. Practicing and performing Theme Activities (dramas) and Songbirds (songs) is popular, as are getting-to know-you activities and various games. Exchange students will be asked to introduce themselves and talk about their home country.

Nightly Meetings – At most camps, time is set aside for the foreign students to get together. College Mates and Interns talk to you about the schedule, activities for the next day, and so on. You will also have a chance to socialize with the other foreign students. During the day you may not have time to do so since they will probably be staying in different Lodges.

Where will you sleep and what will you eat?

Lodge – Students will be assigned to a Lodge with about 20-30 Japanese children. This lodge will be like a family during camp. Most lodge-mates will be under 10 years old, but there will be some high-school students and a Tutor or two. A lot of time will be spent in the lodge — playing games, doing self-introduction activities, and of course practicing Labo Songbirds and Theme Activities.

Food – Almost all meals are taken in the lodge. Breakfast is usually western-style, with rolls, cheese, juice, and so on. Lunch is often a box lunch, since campers will probably be out on a hike or other outdoor activity. There is always a hot evening meal served in the Lodges. Everybody pitches in to help serve the food and clean up afterwards.

Sleeping Arrangements – At bedtime everybody pulls a futon (sleeping mat) out of the closet, along with sheets and a pillow. In the morning these are put back into the closets so the room can be used for daily activities. In each lodge there are separate rooms for boys and girls, but no private rooms. There may be 10-20 kids in each room.

Labo-Camp

My exchange was fruitful. I was able to experience many traditional and modern aspects of the culture, while living with a totally welcoming family set on improving their English. The memories I made throughout my trip are invaluable, ones that I will hold dear to me for years. The whole Labo organisation and staff was terrific and I would encourage others to participate in the homestay exchange.

Every step of this journey is well planned and you are guided through everything from the first night in Auckland to the flight and meeting your host family. I highly recommend the Labo trip, it is very organised and an amazing opportunity to practice your Japanese, and experience real family life in Japan. Don’t think about it, just do it!!

I encourage anyone to take this trip if they’re willing, because it was the best three weeks of my life. Dare I say it, but I barely missed my family in New Zealand, it was too much fun for me to have time to. My best advice would definitely be to try out everything that’s offered to you. Most of the things I wasn’t too keen on actually turned out to be my favourite things when the trip had ended.

I was able to do many great activities with my host sister and family while in Japan. I visited my host sister’s school, I was lucky enough to go to karaoke twice, so much fun attempting Japanese songs. I walked up a shrine on New Year’s Day, took a trip into Tokyo with my host and we went up Sky Treeto see the beautiful Tokyo night lights. I took many Purikura (photobooth photos) with my host sister and her friends. I was even lucky enough to go and see a Kis-my-Ft2 concert at Yokohama Arena, my host sister is a huge fan. These are only some of the amazing experiences I had in Japan. I feel so incredibly lucky and grateful to be able to have lived them.

Those three weeks in Japan was a best thing ever for me. Firstly, it was my first time to Japan, and I could hardly believe I was in Japan the day we arrived… And I think I was really lucky with my host family. I felt I fitted in the family very well because of our common interests. My homestay family was really nice to me and I truly felt like it was my second home! Secondly, the three days at Daisen camp was really special, The kids were very cute and the activities were really fun and enjoyable. On the last day I received little notes from all the people in my group, it was touching, even now I still love to read those notes now and again. The last day, I got an album from my homestay, it was made by my host sister. There were lots of memorable photos and lovely messages for me. I was cried when I saw it at the airport. It was my best memory ever!! I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to have been on this program. Thank you labo!!!!

This trip is an awesome opportunity and experience. You are fully immersed in the Japanese culture, everyday is planned and packed with lot's of new and exciting learning and knowledge, and the hospitality is amazing. It is a trip of a life trip, and I would highly recomend it.