Excursions

International students visit some of the famous sites and industries of Aichi prefecture on a trip organized by Toyohashi Tech

Toyohashi Tech is located in eastern Aichi Prefecture (Fig.1). Notably, Aichi is one of the largest industrial regions in Japan, being home to companies such as the Toyota Motor Company. Furthermore, Aichi has played a central role in many events that shaped Japan's history, for example the military conflicts of the 'sengoku period' between the 15^th to 17^th centuries, which eventually ceased and led to the unification of Japan under the Tokugawa shogunate.

Craftsmanship has also thrived in Aichi. In fact this area of Japan is the location of two of Japan's six ancient ceramic manufacturing centers—Seto and Tokoname.

So, Toyohashi Tech is close to industrial giants, historic sites, and 'onsen' nestled in the scenic mountains that surround the city of Toyohashi.

On September 9–10, a group of international students from Toyohashi Tech went on an excursion around some of the sites of Aichi prefecture (Fig.2). They first went the Asahi Glass Co. Ltd., founded in 1970, this company produces flat glass for automobiles, displays and other products such glass substrates for solar batteries.

The students then visited the INAX Museum, managed by INAX , a company that produces tiles, bathroom furniture in Tokoname.

Aichi is also well known for the production of food stuffs including traditional Japanee vinegar, and the students visited MIZUKAN Museum Su-no-Sato—where the students saw at first hand the tools used in the Edo era (17–19 century) for making vinegar, and the unique 'the fermentation room'.

A trip to Aichi would not be complete without a visit to the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology. The students saw the roots of the Toyota Motor Company in the form of a textile machine, as well as the modern automobile and production technology, for which the company is famous.

The final trip was to the Tokugawa Art Museum with rare exhibits from the Edo period including implements used by the daimyo of the Owari branch of the Tokugawa clan. Interestingly, the famous Tale of Genji scrolls—a national treasure—are on exhibition in the autumn. The Tokugawa park adjacent to the museum is a so-called chisen-kaiyuu siki style.
On the evening of the first day, the students spent the night at a hotel with a tradition onsen—Hotel Hana no Maru.
Click video for a direct look at the student's two day trip around Aichi.