Project for Experiencing
Japanese Culture /Japanese
Elementary School Lifeat an Old Schoolhouse
Council for Utano-Uda RegionalDevelopment@ World Maple Park ‘Hirara’Uda City, Nara Prefecture
Uda City is situated in the Yamato Plateau in the northeastern Nara Prefecture. The population of the city isabout 32000. On January 1st, 2006 Uda City was created from the unification of the towns of Ouda, Utano,Haibara and the village of Muro.
Uda is a very historic city, whose name has existed since the Manyo era (8th century). Uda has many cultural
heritage sites including Muro-ji Temple, and there still remains a quaint historic atmosphere of the old castle
town, and a post-station town for Ise Pilgrimage Road. Regarding the transportation, Uda is easily accessible
from Japan’s major cities; there are three train stations (Kintetsu Osaka Line) connected to Kyoto, Osaka,Nagoya, and Ise. If you come to Uda City by car, the nearest interchange is Hari (Meihan Expressway), which isjust an hour drive from Osaka Matsubara Junction.
As situated in the Yamato Plateau, and also near the source of Yamato River and Yodo River, Uda is blessedwith a richness of nature, clear water and fresh air. You can see the beauty of nature throughout the year:
cherry blossoms are in abundance in various places in spring, iris and crepe myrtle bloom in summer, autumn
leaves bring color to the mountains, and snow covers five-storied pagoda beautifully at Muro-ji Temple inwinter.
(Cited from the official website of Uda City)

Introduce Japanese culture from Utano to the world!

The Project for Experiencing Japanese Culture/Elementary School Life at an Old Schoolhouse@World Maple Park ‘Hirara’World Maple Park ‘Hirara’ (former Uta Elementary School)
The former Uta Elementary School, which had been built in 1935 and closed in March 2006, wasrenovated into the World Maple Park, where 3000 maple trees with 1200 different species fromaround the world grow in the school yard. This is the only ‘Maple Botanical Garden’ in Japan where
you can see a variety of maple trees throughout the year. The schoolhouse remains unchanged andnow it is used as a café restaurant, and an event space.

Experience Japanesetraditional culture/elementary school life.

Cited from the official website of Nara
PrefectureInteract with locals
regardless of age ornationality.

Vitalize the region byconveying the appealof Uda City to theworld.

Introduce Japanese culture from Utano to the world!

The Project for Experiencing Japanese Culture/Elementary School Life at an Old Schoolhouse@World Maple Park ‘Hirara’Experience Programs
We offer four program options for ‘Experiencing Japanese Culture and Elementary School Life’. In the ‘Elementary School Life Experience’, you cancarry a traditional Japanese school bag called ‘Randoseru’ (a leather backpack). This will make you feel like a kid again!

Program options for ‘Experiencing
Japanese Culture and Elementary SchoolLife’(Class Timetable)
1.

Japanese Culture Experience(Kimono Dressing, Tea Ceremony)2.

Japanese Language (Calligraphy)

3.

Arts and Crafts (‘Origami’)

4.

Yoshino Ceder wooden pen stand(Making your original pen stand)1. Japanese Culture Experience(Kimono Dressing)
Day: Wednesday, Friday
Class Size: 3 -15 people
Required Time : 20 minutes for
dressing/person
2-hour walking tour at the World Maple
Park (The only maple garden in Japan) andUta Mikumari Shrine (whose main shrinebuilding was built in 1320 and has been
designated as a national treasure.)

2. Japanese Culture Experience(Tea Ceremony)
Day: Wednesday, Friday
Class size: 3-15 people
Required Time: 1 hour
Up to 3 people can try kimono dressing
experience as well.

Experience Programs

2. Japanese Language(Calligraphy)
Day: Tuesday-Sunday(This facility is closed on Monday. If apublic holiday falls on a Monday it isclosed on Tuesday.)Class size: 4-20 people
Required time: 1 hour

4. Yoshino Ceder Pen stand
Day: Tuesday-Sunday(This facility is closed onMonday. If a public holiday falls
on a Monday it is closed onTuesday.)Class size: under 20 people
Required time: 1 hour

3. Arts and Crafts(‘Origami’)Day: Tuesday-Sunday(This facility is closed on Monday. If apublic holiday falls on a Monday it isclosed on Tuesday.)Class size: 4-20 people
Required time: 1 hour

Any combination of programs is available
according to your budget and length of your stay at this park.

Please feel free to contact us.

Experience Programs
Traditional Japanese school meal can be offered for lunch. (Advance reservation required.)(Let us know if you have any food allergies.)-This lunch features ‘Koppe-pan’, a signature roll of an old bakery
established in 1946.

<History of school lunch in Japan>
Japan’s school lunch program originally started in 1889 at a private elementary school in Yamagata Prefecture,. This program was extended to all elementaryschools in Japan in 1952. School lunch has become a culture that is unique to Japan.

<Contact Us>

DMC Japan / KNT-CT Global Travel CO., LTD.
Sumitomo-shoji Kanda-Izumi-cho Bldg., 13F, 1-13, KandaIzumi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0024, Japan
Tel: +81 3 6891 9200 | Fax: +81 3 6891 9205
dmcjapan@or.knt.co.jp
http://www.dmcjapan-knt.com/