Vinton WorldTrekkers share details of amazing trip to Japan

By Dionne Nichols

The Vinton WorldTrekkers (VWT) recently returned home from a trip across the globe to the
southern half of Japan. The group, led by Cherrybell Damasco-Farrington, a teacher at William
Byrd High School, consisted of 43 people from the Vinton community as well as other areas of
Southwest Virginia.

They left Roanoke on July 10 and returned on July 20. The WorldTrekkers work through
Education First (EF), a company that provides student-based tours throughout the world to
broaden our global perspective.

he Vinton WorldTrekkers group is spearheaded by Damasco-Farrington, and also includes two
other teachers from William Byrd High School, Dionne Nichols and Ashley Satterfield. Nichols
was also on the tour.

Their purpose, especially for this trip, was to “allow the travelers to experience a culture that was
different from their own.”

Damasco-Farrington states, “Eastern cultures are very different from the Western cultures that
we are used to, from their mannerisms in public vs. private, as well as the levels of hierarchy
within society. Reading about these customs or watching a TikTok or Instagram reel is
completely different from experiencing them firsthand.”

Prior to the trip, however, the travelers were able to prepare for the cultural differences through
monthly classes sponsored by William Byrd High’s International Club, and led by Michael
Cisneros, a former student of Damasco-Farrington and Nichols.

Cisneros spent two years teaching English in Japan through the JET Program, so his experience
and coaching was integral to helping the travelers feel confident in their daily interactions.

Damasco-Farrington says that Cisneros’ “insights on navigating the culture was quite beneficial
for those that attended the monthly classes. He was a constant resource before and during the trip
as the students and adult travelers formed a bond with him.” This is elaborated further by several
travelers.

Mercedes Collins, for one, felt “the classes helped [her] anticipate some of the differences in
culture properly, […] and the phrases given to us were also very helpful and were used often.”
Alexander Scott, another traveler, agreed, adding that “[In addition to the language,] learning
about the nuanced aspects of Japanese culture, such as social norms, traditions, and etiquette,
allowed me to navigate various situations with confidence and respect, ultimately enhancing my
overall experience and appreciation for this rich and complex society.”

The 11-day trip was led by Tour Director Hirokazu Mizukoshi, who asked to be called Hiro-san.
He is an educator in Japan who also works for EF. Hiro-san was emphatically declared the “best
tour director EVER” by the group. His patience, knowledge, and laid-back demeanor quickly
helped the entire group of travelers feel like a family.

The trip started in Tokyo, where the group spent three nights before moving on to Hakone and
Mount Fuji, then Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima.

In Tokyo and the surrounding area, the travelers visited historic sites such as: Asakusa Kannon
Temple and Meiji Shinto Shrine in Tokyo, the Odaiba Waterfront Commercial area with
Joypolis, an indoor theme park, the Great Buddha of Kamakura (the second largest in Japan) and
the Hachimangu Shrine.

The group then moved on to the Hakone area where they stayed in a hotel that looked upon
Mount Fuji. Here, they visited the Fuji-Hakone National Park and took a cruise on Lake Ashi,
residing at the base of Mount Fuji, before getting to walk through Odawara Castle. They were
scheduled to take cable cars to a base camp on Mount Fuji, but weather was not permitting while
they were there.

The group then had the opportunity to ride the Shinkansen – the bullet train. They made the
cross-country trip from Hakone to Kyoto in less than two hours, traveling at speeds upwards of
175 mph.

In Kyoto, the group visited the iconic and beautiful Arashiyama Bamboo Forest before heading
to the Golden Pavilion, a Zen Buddhist temple. They finished the day with a visit to the Fushimi
Inari Shrine. This is another place many people may have seen images of without knowing what
it is – it is the shrine containing several tunnels made from over 5,000 gates. From there, the
travelers went to dinner and then returned to their hotel.

Some days were early nights, partly because the schedule was quite full and so getting rest was
necessary, but also because of Japanese federal law. Damasco-Farrington explained that “a law
was passed that bus drivers were limited to work a certain amount of hours each day [which]
really packed a day with activities in a shorter amount of time than what I am used to on a European tour.”

Knowing the explanation behind the early evenings, though, allowed time for
the travelers to visit a local 7-11 for some of the best treats they had while in Japan!

One of the most exciting parts of the trip was the sheer mix of ancient history, medieval history,
and present day. The travelers visited temples and shrines, but also received lessons on Samurai
history.

The next place they toured was Nijo Castle, where the Tokugawa Shogunate kept a second
home. From there, they went to Nara, an ancient capital and the home of the Deer Park, where
the deer are wild but completely socialized to humans and treated as demigods. This also houses
the Kasuga-taisha Shrine. From here, they visited the Todaiji Temple, a Buddhist temple that
houses the largest statue of Buddha in Japan as well as other icons.

The travelers continued on their way to Osaka, where they stayed the night before catching the
bullet train again for Hiroshima. In Hiroshima, the first stop was the Peace Memorial Museum.
This was a somber affair where they learned about the history of Hiroshima during WWII. They
saw photos from before and after the bomb dropped that helped end the war before touring the
accompanying Peace Memorial Park. It was a truly educational experience.

From the contemplative morning that held a few tears for humanity, the group traveled to
Mayajima Island where another well-known tori gate resides. This one is built on the beach and
is accessible with the tides. They also visited the Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima Park before
heading to dinner and their hotel.

The last location the travelers visited before heading home was Osaka and Himeji Castle. The
travelers rode back to Osaka by bus, enabling them to see the countryside more easily than they
could by train.

They spent time at the castle, then experienced the restaurant district on Dotonbori Canal in
downtown Osaka for dinner. The next day, they traveled home.

In asking the travelers which location was their favorite, the answers are so varied, it is safe to
say this trip was truly enjoyed by all and held something for everyone.

So, what was the end result? Were Vinton WorldTrekkers successful in broadening the
perspectives of the participants?

According to Cameron Altizer, his “skills with conversational Japanese was strengthened, and
[he] gained a better understanding of the language through the everyday interactions.” The
experience with immersion in Japanese was echoed by several other travelers.

Collins emphasized that she “[became] more comfortable in a place where my native language
isn’t spoken. I have previously studied abroad in the Galápagos Islands, and even though I knew
quite a bit of Spanish, I was too bashful speaking it to the locals, so I avoided it at all costs.
Speaking with Japanese locals, I got out of my comfort zone more and actually spoke some
Japanese!”

In addition to language, the travelers opened themselves to culture.

Scott states, “My travel experience increased my cultural understanding and awareness, making
the journey an incredible period of personal growth. One skill I learned and honed during my
travels was adaptability. Being in unfamiliar environments with unpredictable situations required
me to quickly learn how to navigate new cities, embrace cultural differences, and be flexible
when things didn’t go as planned.” This was echoed by several other travelers.

Syrys Harden noted, “I feel like I could travel to Japan again easily even on my own. Traveling
with people who are more experienced than me in a safe country like Japan was the best way to
learn how to visit new places.” That is definitely what the VWT likes to hear!”

When asked what is next for the Vinton WorldTrekkers, Damasco-Farrington and Nichols state
their line-up – Austria, Germany, and Switzerland in July of 2025, led by Ashley Satterfield;
“Stories of Scotland” in July of 2026, led by Nichols; and South Korea in 2027, led by Damasco-
Farrington.

Damasco-Farrington explains that her choices for “Japan: Land of the Rising Sun” and South
Korea were “not only to fulfill my longtime interest in the countries but also for their history,
their people and the impact that they have made around the world in one way or another.”

While all three group leaders are educators, Damasco-Farrington has another key interest. “As a
language educator, language is learned through the culture and history. They go hand in hand as
the times change and progress. Also, travel to the Eastern countries is not as easily accessible on
our side of the world as traveling to a Central/South American or a European country. There is
just so much we see in movies or the little tidbits we read in textbooks that leaves us wondering
what it’s really like.” It’s one reason why the chosen tours are so diverse.

Meetings for anyone interested in accompanying the group on the next tours will be held in
September at the Vinton Library. The 2025 and 2026 tours meeting will be held on September 4
at 6 p.m., and for 2027 on September 25, also at 6 p.m.

When asked if they would encourage others to join the trips, several travelers enthusiastically
responded. Wendy Holmes says, “Do it. This is a group of trusted educators who take on the task
of showing the world from an educational perspective. If you love learning and having fun while
doing it, this is the group to join.”

Her sentiments are echoed by Altizer, who feels “far more confident after this experience.”
Kaeleigh Swan simply states “Gooooo! It’s a once in a lifetime chance. It’s so amazing and you
will not regret it.”

For more information, visit vintonworldtrekkers@gmail.com . For more photos of their adventure
in Japan, visit the Vinton WorldTrekkers Facebook page.