チアーズイングリッシュは福山・尾道の英会話教室です。 大人から子どもまで、チアーズで「やりたい」をかなえましょう！
July Special Friendship Program Featuring the Shrine Festival
Program Description
Experience authentic Japan with your host family and new friends!
In this program, you will do more than just learn the language. You will immerse yourself in Japanese spirituality and culture through:
● Connecting with locals — build meaningful relationships with people in the community
● Exploring Japanese culture — discover traditions, customs, and daily life
● Learning hands-on Japanese in small groups
● Staying in both a hotel and a homestay — a good balance of comfort and authentic home life.
● Engaging in sustainable activities — contribute to the local environment
● Discovering the natural beauty of Setouchi
● Savoring gourmet experiences — taste regional specialties
Special July Edition: The Friendship Program
The July Friendship Program is a special edition featuring a traditional shrine festival!
● Join locals in carrying a portable shrine (mikoshi) — a rare and unforgettable cultural experience
| Morning | Afternoon | Evening | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 13 | Arrival | Cooking with Locals | |
| July 14 | 80‑minute Japanese Class | Meet Shrine Carpenter | Festival Song Practice |
| July 15 | 80‑minute Japanese Class | Festival Outfit Shopping | Meetup with Locals |
| July 16 | Waterfall Swimming Adventure | Gohei Attachment Ritual | Homestay |
| July 17 | 80‑minute Japanese Class | Indigo Dyeing Workshop | Homestay |
| July 18 | Time with Host Family | Time with Host Family | Homestay |
| July 19 | Mikoshi Carrying Experience | Festival Drinking Break | Fighting Mikoshi Viewing |
| July 20 | Departure |
Local Activities
Waterfall Swimming Adventure
Escape the concrete jungle and dive into nature’s coolest playground at Saburō Falls. Ride a 30‑meter natural water slide as the rushing water carries you over smooth rock and launches you into a crystal‑clear plunge pool. The mix of speed, splash, and cool mountain air delivers a refreshing thrill that resets your body and mind.
Indigo Dyeing Workshop
Aiya Terroir offers a hands‑on introduction to Japan’s iconic indigo craft. Using naturally fermented indigo, you’ll dip fabric into the dye and watch it shift from green to deep “Japan Blue” as it meets the air. It’s a unique and memorable way to experience traditional craftsmanship and create your own one‑of‑a‑kind piece.
Mikoshi Carrying Experience
Step into the heart of Japanese festival culture by carrying a mikoshi, a sacred portable shrine. This hands-on experience lets you feel the excitement, energy, and spiritual connection that locals cherish during matsuri.
Fighting Mikoshi Viewing
“Fighting Mikoshi” is a traditional Japanese festival event where groups of people carry portable shrines (mikoshi) and intentionally bump them into each other. It is exciting, loud, and full of energy, and it is a chance to witness powerful clashes that honor and calm Susanoo’s wild spirit.
Meetup with locals
There are many locals looking forward to meeting you!!
Accommodation
You will experience staying in both a hotel and a homestay — a good balance of comfort and authentic home life.
In the homestay, you can experience real Japanese daily life and challenge yourself to communicate in Japanese. It’s a chance to dive into the community and understand Japanese mindsets and customs.
As part of your hotel stay, you’ll be staying at Anchor Hotel, a community‑focused accommodation whose staff actively support this tour. They’ll host special meetups for you at the stylish first‑floor bar — an ideal setting to meet new people and enjoy warm local hospitality.
Just a 3‑minute walk from Fukuyama Station, the hotel is surrounded by restaurants, shops, and even Fukuyama Castle. Enjoy your free time exploring everything the area has to offer.
Good news for sento lovers!
There is a shower in your hotel room, but you can also use the large public bath at the adjacent hotel for free every day.
You’re welcome to enter the bath even if you have tattoos, so please don’t worry.
Japanese Language Class
Join a small group to learn Japanese. Engage in lively conversations with our friendly teachers!
Everyone, regardless of their Japanese proficiency, is welcome!
Location
Fukuyama city in Hiroshima Prefecture
Airport: The nearest airport is Hiroshima Airport.
Station: Fukuyama Station, a stop for the Super Express Train (Shinkansen).
Appropriate age: Ages 15 and above
Maximum number of participants: 4 people
This program will be offered even for a single participant.
Program participation fee: 390,650 Yen
As this is a special program, the fee is different from the regular Friendship Program.
● The fee includes the activities listed in the itinerary, transportation during the program, hotel and homestay accommodations, breakfast, evening meals at the homestay, the rental fee for a happi coat, guide services, meetup participation fee, and health insurance.
● Please note that transportation to the meeting locations, airfare, lunch, snacks, any dinners not listed, the cost of purchasing festival attire as well as personal expenses such as souvenirs, are not included.
Meeting Details
● If you’re arriving in Fukuyama by train, please check in at Anchor Hotel between 3:00 and 5:00 PM. The hotel is just a 3-minute walk from Fukuyama Station (Shinkansen stop). The evening activity will begin at 5:00 PM.
● Complimentary pick-up is available at 3:30 PM at Hiroshima Airport.
Message from Program Manager and Japanese teacher
Application Process
To inquire or apply, please use the form below. We will respond to your email within 3 days.
If you do not receive a response within 3 days, please contact us at <friends(at)cheers-e.com>. We will reply to you via email or WhatsApp.
Before you apply, we will provide you with a document explaining the detailed terms and conditions. Please review it in advance before completing your application.
Check out our daily updates on Instagram!
FAQs
◆Is there an age limit?
Anyone aged 18 and over is welcome to join. We've even had participants in their 70s!
◆I'm just starting to learn Japanese—can I still participate?
Absolutely! Lessons are held in small groups tailored to different levels, so everyone can feel comfortable. English support from our staff is also available. If you'd like to stay with a host family that speaks English, we can help arrange that too.
◆What are the Japanese lessons like?
Since you're in Japan, we make the most of it by offering fun and engaging lessons that let you experience the culture while learning the language. With small groups, questions are always welcome!
Reviews from Last Year
I like that there is a lot of flexibility with the language lessons for the day, as well as the chance to ask the teacher questions about the Japanese language or even Japanese culture that maybe I didn’t quite understand. Having the one on one support was fantastic. What I appreciated most, though, was the ability to learn about various topics - especially those relating to our day trips, while communicating entirely in Japanese. And when I didn’t understand a word or a phrase - which happened often, the staff were so helpful at breaking it down to more simple and easier to understand Japanese. This truly augmented the learning experience for me. (Martin-san from USA)
II am so happy this program exists, and I thank you for the opportunity to participate. The homestay idea is great: living with a real Japanese family helped so much. The classes helped me so much in learning Japanese, and the cultural experiences really helped me to feel Japan as it should be experienced. Thank you again for creating this program and for the wonderful opportunities we all experienced. (Ron-san from USA)
Before joining this homestay program, I had already studied Japanese and passed the N1 qualification, but I had never had the chance to live with a real Japanese family. This program gave me a wonderful opportunity to immerse myself in Japanese culture and experience how warm and kind Japanese people are. Even as someone who has passed N1, I can confidently say that this program is beneficial for Japanese learners of all levels.
The best part was building a true friendship with my host family. We still stay in touch, and I even had the chance to reunite with them during the Japanese New Year Festival (お正月). It was truly an unforgettable experience. (Adam-san from Hong Kong)
Planning Company: ACCORD CO., LTD.
Address: 3-5-5 Nogamicho, Fukuyamashi, Hiroshimaken, Japan
Registration No.: Japan Tourism Agency Registered Travel Agent (No. 2180)
Name of Branch: Cheers
Full Member of the Japan Association of Travel Agents
チアーズブログは英会話で使えるなるほどワンフレーズなど、随時更新中！
要チェック！
英会話イベント
ワクワクドキドキの英会話イベント、多数開催中！
目指せ！
日本発の国際人
日本を知ろう！自分を知ろう！日本語による和のこと講座開講中。
