I have a Japanese high school student coming for 10 days in July. I am trying to think of fun activities they can do that are not available in Japan. I am in southern rural Alabama near Mobile. I thought maybe axe throwing, tubing, horseback riding, etc. but am unsure.
by Icy_Sprinkles_3983
34 comments
Talk loudly on the cell phone in the subway
Shooting guns
Eat Chick fil a.
Go to Walmart or Target, both are a big trip coming from Japan.
Eat good BBQ ribs. Go to Waffle house or IHOP for a big American breakfast.
If there’s any Motorsport event nearby take em to that.
Visit Kennedy space center.
I happen to work in axe throwing (USA) lol, so know about these guys:
https://theaxethrowingbar.com
Here are the locations in English:
1. THE AXE THROWING BAR (斧投バー) – Osaka Shinsaibashi Store
2. THE AXE THROWING BAR (斧投バー) – Tokyo Kanda Store
3. SafeHouse Axe Throwing Diner – Shizuoka
4. THE AXE THROWING BAR (斧投バー) – Tokyo Asakusa Store
5. THE AXE THROWING BAR (斧投バー) – Tokyo Shinjuku Store
6. THE AXE THROWING BAR (斧投バー) – Nagoya Nishiki
7. THE AXE THROWING BAR® (斧投バー) – Tokyo Ikebukuro Store
I think your suggestions are great. We have equestrian clubs in Japan but it’s very very rare for the average person to go to one.
I also think that a lot of the small things that are not really considered unusual in the West are interesting too. For example, eating together for dinner. Anecdotally, about half the people I know just never eat dinner with the whole family because of work commitments, etc.
If they’re not vegetarian, another thing would be a big, fat steak!
Shop at Target, Trader’s Joe, Walmart
Try southern food, BBQ
Show them squirrels, yellow school bus and red solo cups, plantation’s house, national parks
I think the activities you already mentioned are also good.
Additional: state/county fairs
Where does the student live in Japan?
It’ll be about the student’s interest but those are definitely good options. Although, Japan has a lot of nature, I find myself doing different and more outdoor activities in North America.
If you’re going horseback riding, being in a farm is also a good option. Maybe BBQ, and grilling as well. Might be able to add fishing to the mix, with kayaking.
If it’s their first time in the US, even driving around and checking out stores would be interesting. Maybe buying souvenirs there as well. I love buying seasoning and bringing it back to Japan for my family.
Also, eating is a great activity. Would be interesting to try the foods from fast food and big chain restaurants.
Show em the long stretches of nothing highway. We lived in japan and moved back, our friends came to visit, many times had to pull over so they could take photos and take in the “nothing”
This could probably go with horseback riding, which may or may not be terrifying.
Costco is also a trip even if they have a few.
Water related things, boating/fishing or whatever also there but not really (depending where they’re from).
Take them to a college football game
Things may be different if the student is male or female as well.
If you’re close to any national parks, I recommend taking a visit. It’s usually rare (unless living in Hokkaido) for Japanese to see completely wild and open wilderness unscarred by telephone lines and cement structures. Maybe the Delta Wildlife Management area?
In line with the above, if in a rural area, do some star gazing.
Feed their fantasy of giant American food and get them a huge hamburger and a steak.
You could take them to a gun range, if they are interested. Some Japanese (even kids) might not be so keen on guns though. Make sure they fully understand gun safety before letting them shoot.
Horseback riding or off roading (ATV, etc.) is probably a good one too.
In addition to your suggestions and the suggestions already on here, take them to a big grocery store, or even to a farmers’ market if you have one. The prices and different variety of products tend to be surprising for someone visiting the US for the first time.
If you have a Denny’s near you, take them there. We have a lot in Japan, but it’s so different. Crystal Burger/White Castle could be interesting. Kids think burgers are always huge in the US. They don’t know what a slider is.
If you and they are into baseball, it might be worth trying to go to a game if it is easy enough to do. Again a much different experience.
Honestly, living where you do. Drive through the small towns. Folks here get some bad views on small-town America. While some of it is true, there is so much more to those towns.
I saw someone mention Costco. They have Costco near where they live. Costco here isn’t much different than Costco in the States.
“Take them shooting guns, eat at wafflehouse, and shop at target/walmart!”
American culture in a nutshell
Other than activities, why not show them some of Americas landscape/nature? Or something distinctly Alabama
I’d recommend going to a good BBQ, especially if you can view the pit. I’d take lots of wet wipes though, because many Japanese do not like getting their fingers dirty. Also, for many activities, you’ll want to make sure their insurance covers them, so a shooting range may be out of the question. Make time for the student to teach you things as well. If you wear your shoes in the house, please have new slippers for your guest. The Japanese never wear shoes in the house.
Everywhere I’ve been in Europe or Asia, I’m asked about our large trucks. I know you got some jacked up dually within walking distance of any point in Alabama. And probably a meet within driving distance.
Whatever you decide on, go easy on them. They are going to be exhausted from air travel and jet lagged as fuck.
Eat catfish and crawfish.
Country & Western music concert? Line-Dancing?
I’m not from America, but when I visited, I really enjoyed going to Mom-and-Pop Americana diners. The Chain restaurants do a really bad job of authentic American food.
Rodeo
Texas Roadhouse
I guess they’re shutting a lot of them down and they might not even be in Alabama but the kind of “Thanksgiving-style” food they serve at Boston Market is a big novelty for Asian people; i used to bring all my wife’s friends and relatives for that. You probably have good barbecues which would probably have a similar effect. Maybe a classic diner too.
River tubing/canoeing. Just make sure the kids had swim lessons. In Japan you can’t swim in most rivers because the water flow is too fast, therefore very dangerous.
Paintball course. Safer than shooting and easier to get parents permission. In Japan we only have pellet gun courses and they’re usually on concrete..
Waterpark. Japan doesn’t have many waterparks and they’re not as nice.
Boating. Most Japanese people will never set foot on a personal boat.
Camping. Extra cool if you guys have lakes like FL does. In Japan most camping is done at fancy campgrounds where the permanent tent structure is provided in close proximity to other people and towns.
Beach. Depending on the city it’s difficult for Japanese people to go to the beach and it usually involves a lot of preparation and travel. Then most beaches have meh sand. Just up and going to the beach, especially with the Gulf’s beautiful white sand, will be a memorable experience.
Horseback riding. Great idea. My area has horseback riding but my area is different from mega cities.
– Floridian in Japan
Anything in southern rural Alabama will be a shock to a kid from Japan. I’d actually recommend taper it back some and make sure you cook some white rice a couple times. Plus the jet lag will be murder. But yeah any sports function, outdoors with large landscapes, and shopping (flea markets, swap meets) should be fun. Just take it easy.
Good Mexican food and walking around with a cup of coffee
I live in NYC and took my friend out to a ton of variety of foods. Some of their highlights were fusion style omakase, fogo de Chao, and then American Whiskey tasting tour at the only distillery in Manhattan (great Jones). Surprisingly they like fusion takes/twists on Japanese food.
They also loved museum of natural history. They wanted to go to a knicks game. But the Knicks have been killing it so ticket prices were more expensive than they already are.
Next time they visit we wanted to spend some time in Philly. Check out the Mutter museum and cheese steaks.
Eat turkey
Experience a high school football game
See a monster truck rally or demolition derby.
Have good Mexican food.
Watch a rodeo.
Mini-golf.
Good southern food, grits, BBQ, etc.
The stuff you listed is all stuff not really available in Japan.
We hosted a Jr High student at around the same time of year — not in Alabama, but I think some things would carry over. Things she remembered most:
– Walmart
– Eating as much watermelon as she wanted
– All you can eat wings
– Going to a u-pick raspberry place
– Wide open stretches of highway
I have nephews that are coming from Japan soon for the first time and have thought of similar ideas. I lived in Japan and know lots of things that were missing and would be fun for a kid.
– Ride in a truck. Japanese families don’t have trucks and especially not big American trucks. Go offroading with them. They’ll dig it.
– Smoke a brisket and/or make steaks. American beef is really different but great in it’s own way. Portion sizes are much bigger. Also any meat with bones. Grill chicken legs, pork ribs, etc.
– Go to the beach. They will dig the clear water on the Gulf Coast and feel like they’re in Okinawa.
– go RV camping. If you don’t own one, rent one and take them out for a night or two. There is camping in Japan but not really anything like RV camping.
– Go to a gator farm. Definitely no gators in Japan.
– let them rest. Jet lag is a bitch and the touring is going to burn them out.
Get stuck in traffic on a 10 lane highway.
Marshall Space Flight Center (NASA) in Huntsville. I believe there’s a public center, as well as a tour of the military installation if you’re a US citizen or get prior passport clearance for internationals. I wouldn’t think a Japanese minor would trigger any security concerns, but you’d have to check with NASA directly, of course.
Whatever you decide, be sure to plan at least 1.5-2 days for souvenir shopping as souvenir culture is very strong in Japan and it is expected that you bring something back for your friends, neighbors, family, piano teacher, boss, boss’ cat, etc. Additionally, the student may be at a loss trying to find good souvenirs for their friends and family — *wherever* you go in Japan (from the biggest city to the small podunk town) you will find a souvenir shop/stand that sells specialty food/goods in nicely wrapped boxes (if you want to learn more about this try searching for **omiyage culture** on google). For cheaper souvenirs, eco-friendly grocery bags and large bags of candy sold at Walmart, Target, and (especially) Trader Joe’s are great. For more expensive souvenirs for close family members, sponsors, teachers, etc., it may be a day trip to multiple malls and outlets.
As far as suggestions for things to do, I would take them to a Hibachi grill if you have one nearby. Although a bit counter-intuitive, seeing how Americans perceive Japanese food and being able to take pictures and videos of the show would be a lot of fun to show their friends and family and give them a lot of awesome memories to talk about.
It’s almost impossible to see the horizon uninterrupted by buildings or trees/mountains in Japan…
Show him/her “nothing”
Also, firing guns and Waffle House and a big supermarket