Tech, Tradition, and Tomorrow: A Hands-On STEM Journey in Tokyo

The group visits a startup hub in Shibuya to meet young Japanese entrepreneurs and discuss current trends in tech innovation, gaining insight into Japan's start-up culture and business environment. In the afternoon, students tour the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, Tokyo Gas Science Center, and the Nitrogen Museum, where they explore renewable energy, environmental science, and future-forward engineering. The day concludes with a guided walk in Odaiba, observing smart urban planning and modern architecture. Students leave with a clearer understanding of how science and society intersect in urban Japan.

In the morning, students attend a guest lecture at Shibaura Institute of Technology, a leading Japanese university specialising in robotics. They observe campus projects that demonstrate how academic research translates into real world innovation. The afternoon is spent exploring Akihabara with a themed guide, visiting iconic tech and gaming stores. This juxtaposition of academic and pop-tech culture helps students contextualise how engineering, electronics, and consumer trends interact in Japan's vibrant tech landscape.

The day begins with a tour of Tokyo's Bayside Landfill and waste management infrastructure, including a session at the Environment Bureau. Students learn how Tokyo handles sustainability challenges through advanced systems and public policy. In the afternoon, they explore the Tokyo Tech Museum and Archives, followed by a visit to Team Labs Borderless - an immersive digital art space that blurs the lines between art, technology, and spatial design. The day encourages reflection on engineering's role in shaping both function and aesthetics in society.

Students start the day at the Tokyo Metro Museum, where they dive into transport systems engineering, train technology, and safety simulations. Afterwards, they travel via the Yurikamome driverless monorail to Odaiba to experience Sega Joypolis, a VR-based theme park. The combination of technical exhibits and experiential learning offers insight into the future of digital interaction and transport design. Students reflect on engineering design not just as infrastructure, but also as an enabler of immersive experiences.

After breakfast, the group transfers to the airport. Students return home with a broadened view of how Japan integrates science, sustainability, and innovation into daily life - equipped with practical inspiration for their own academic and career paths.