Whoosh! They call it the bullet train for a good reason. As we were waiting with our group on the platform for our train to arrive, speeding bullets were flying past making the station into a mini wind tunnel. The next train was ours. Unfortunately, these fast trains have very tight schedules meaning they only stop 2 minutes at each station exactly. It seemed ridiculous we were about to get 40 Scouts on a train with all of their camp belongings in that amount of time – queue the Mission Impossible theme tune. Despite all the odds we managed to get everyone on just as the train sped away.

8pm and our unit, tired and hungry, arrived at the Tokyo Youth Centre after two coach journeys and a bullet train. Food was the first thing on everyone’s mind and there was nothing better than pizza even if it was eaten sitting on the steps of a street as there wasn’t enough room inside the restaurant. It was bliss then to get back and collapse into a bed rather than a rollmat in a room to myself (it was still suffocatingly small).

I knew from the moment we set off in the morning that it would be hectic in Tokyo (it is the most densely populated city in the world of course) and I was not wrong. We had already missed breakfast and were late for an activity at the Earthquake Centre. Luckily, the Centre staff were still happy to take us around and show us a few films about how to stay safe in earthquakes and the devastation they can cause. The most interesting activity they did have was the earthquake simulator where we could practice protecting ourselves by hiding under tables and experience what an earthquake really feels like. It was quite funny to see each other being tossed around by the machine but at the same time quite unnerving that there would be a chance this could happen for real during our stay here. We then went off to lunch after our skipped breakfast and glimpsed the imposing Skytree which we would be up tomorrow. For now, we took the Japanese tube to Ueno Park. This was our first time using the confusing train system with its map looking like a bowl of rainbow coloured spaghetti in a language completely foreign to us yet we managed to get to Ueno. Here, there was a vast array of temples, museums and buildings crammed into a leafy enclosure but still surrounded by the iconic Japanese hustle and bustle of traffic and neon signs. Inside we had time to visit the fountain but most of all the golden temple and pagoda (small in comparison to the one in Yamaguchi). It seemed so tranquil yet ironic that it was in such a busy city. We were even taught how to give a traditional prayer to the temple. After leaving Ueno Park we had just enough time to browse some nearby shops before setting off to go to the last activity of the day, Joypolis. This was an indoor theme park which was not the best activity we could have done. Most of the rides were animated and the queues were very long as well. So after spending half an hour in there I left and explored outside with a few equally bored others. It was worth leaving for the night-time view of Tokyo with the Rainbow Bridge framing the neon streets perfectly. We then had dinner at an Indian restaurant and managed to get separated on the train back to the Centre.

The next day we were up and away for the Skytree. At 634 metres tall, Tokyo Skytree is the tallest Tower in the world and the second tallest structure. Unfortunately the viewing deck is not at the top of the tower but going up to the top deck still gives a spectacular view of the concrete jungle. The deck snakes around the circumference of the tower allowing you to take in Tokyo from all angles and as far as the eye can see. Although all buildings in Tokyo are tall to save room in such a small area, they all look ant-sized in comparison to the Tower. We spent way too much time up the tower so that we didn’t have too much time to eat at the famous Hard Rock Café. Our next stop was Shibuya, Tokyo’s shopping capital. Or so we thought. There were plenty of shops there but none that interested us. Many, such as Nike, were not really the shops selling weird and wonderful Japanese inventions as we had anticipated which was slightly disappointing. At this point it was getting dark and we were about to head back until we passed a Karaoke bar. Now I would be shocked if you didn’t know that karaoke is a much loved activity in Tokyo and that the city is littered with these bars. Anyway, in we went, paid and had the best last night in Tokyo we could have wanted. You couldn’t not be happy after a bit of Uptown Funk or even Suspicious Minds. We went back to have pizza at the restaurant of our first night in Tokyo and then back to the Youth Centre. I couldn’t believe it. Tomorrow we were flying home.

So this was it. We just had enough time in the morning to visit the temple of Senso-Ji and see our last Pagoda. We also had time to visit the world’s busiest crossing at Shinjuku but now it was time to pack up and go. As we made our way into the airport I did feel sad but also happy with all the memories I had made. I was lucky to experience a World Scout Jamboree as a participant and even luckier that it was held in the Land of the Rising Sun. I loved Japan and I know for definite that I will be back again.

After saying our goodbyes to our Home Hospitality families at the coach I was sad to go so early but as soon as we got on the road to the camp those feelings slowly drained away and excitement took their place. 8 hours later and we were pulling up to the biggest campsite I had ever seen, chock-full with Scouts everywhere! It was all a blur: taking out the bags to our camping spot 20 minutes away; setting up camp; collecting food; cooking the food and then collapsing into our tents hoping that the night would pass quickly so we could get on, do the activities and meet Scouts from across the world.

The activities on the campsite, spread over 12 days, were interesting such as: the Global Development village (learning about how to keep safe with water on camp and voting rights in other countries), the Science area (sandblasting metal mugs so they have our names engraved in them), the Culture area (playing Chilean street drums and making woggles out of thinly, spliced, Japanese-style wood), Culture day (showing off your area of the world by making traditional food, playing games and, in my case, dressing up as Mr Bean who went to University in our area) and of course the Opening and Closing ceremonies with the flags of each attending country paraded around. However, I believe that the best activities we did were definitely the ones we did off site. For example, we did a walk in a nearby village and played some traditional games which included stilt-walking – a lot trickier than you would imagine! The people in the village were so nice and even though we met some for only a few seconds we were showered with their hospitality such as being given free drinks or gifts which we would exchange with our own (a Japanese custom). We walked with a USA and French unit who we got on with very well especially with someone called Julian from the French unit who had already been up Mount Fuji before the camp had started! We also visited the nearby city of Yamaguchi as a Unit trip which took a lot longer than we first expected as we managed to walk past the first two train stops and then missed one of our trains! By the time we got there we only had a few hours to browse the shops and for me and Fraser to go and see a nearby Japanese Pagoda. I was desperate to see a Pagoda as they were so unique to Japan and this one certainly did not disappoint. The Pagoda was stunning especially with the Sun dipping slowly towards the horizon and the perfectly pruned gardens framing it. I felt like Yamaguchi had given us a flavour of what was to come in Tokyo.

The best activity of the whole camp was definitely the visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial and Museum especially as the theme of the camp was Peace and Unity or “Wa” in Japanese. The Museum was very poignant and had artefacts and pictures which told a story unique to each individual person whom they belonged to. In that way it was very emotional as it connected to everyone on a more personal level such as a beloved tricycle that belonged to a 3 year old who was destroyed in the blast. There was even the shadow of a man vaporised by the blast on a piece of concrete. We also received a talk from some staff which included recitals of poems written by survivors who wrote about loss, pain and hopelessness. It really stunned everyone into silence. However, after all of this, the staff talked about hope and how Hiroshima has risen from the ashes by working together and declaring peace. With that mind-set Scouts can be the ones to teach the world about peace and work together to achieve this. That is the message that was given to us from that visit.

My favourite part of the camp was having free time to explore the campsite and meeting new people. Even if that did mean roasting alive in the 50 degree heat! What would happen was that I would go around with some people (usually Fraser, Josh, Ben, Axel, Emily) and we would take a bag of badges and neckerchiefs to swap and to use as an excuse to talk to people from all other units. We met UK units from across the country but also: Pakistanis, Germans, Swiss, Swedes, Chileans, Mexicans, Malaysians, Egyptians, Indonesians, Japanese, Mexicans, Taiwanese, South Koreans, Americans, Italians, Russians and many more. It was great to be able to say hi to people in the street who were complete strangers and for them to say hi back. Some were really interesting to talk to and I feel I had made some friends in places I never would have thought I would. At one point I set up a swap shop with some other people from my unit on a bench in front of our camp and talked to a pair of English people from Lincolnshire for ages. We also chucked an American football around with some boys from Utah. The night-life was great because the weather was at its coolest and the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement and people singing and chatting. One night about ten of us took a speaker and music around the camp and sang and got about 40 to 50 Scouts to join in. That was unbelievable! Even getting some food from the stalls at night and taking it to the on-site park (which would never pass UK health and safety) where people would relax in the nets or hurl themselves down the epic slide was unforgettable. Some units even had parties at night and you could hear their music playing from the streets. The only problem with staying up at night was getting no sleep at all due to the early mornings. Even staying in our camp during the day was fun as it meant cooling down in the tiny paddling pool, playing cards or catching up on sleep you lost from staying up too late last night. The whole experience of that camp is something I will remember for a very long time. When the time came to go, I was sad but pleased I had had such a good time and with the memories I had made as well as the Stetson hat I had just swapped for my own. This camp was over but Tokyo was just a bullet train ride away…

So this was it. After two years of fundraising, planning, waiting I was hauling my hold luggage off the conveyer belt and wheeling it away to our coach to Nara with 39 other scouts. Despite the excitement of having almost 150 scouts on our plane, I saw mostly tired faces on the coach – maybe a 17 hour journey to Osaka with a 3 hour queue at passport control may take it out of you a little…

About an hour later we were pulling up to a crowd of very excited Japanese people, ready to take our bags from us and introducing themselves as the couples and families we will be staying with for a day before the Jamboree camp. Of course with 40 scouts all trying to find their hosts at 10:30pm, there does tend to be a little bit of confusion so half an hour later, Aaron and I were being whisked away by Nishikawa and his wife to their traditional Japanese home. After a quick shower and dinner of beautiful homemade sushi, we were off to our futons on woven tatami mats and collapsed into an exhausted heap.

So, our first day in Japan was upon us and we were both excited even if Aaron had banged his head     off multiple Japanese-sized doorways. During breakfast Nishikawa said we were “meeting a friend who would teach us traditional Japanese calligraphy and show us the ways of the famous tea ceremony and then having a welcome ceremony held for us”. A small walk later and we arrived at the calligrapher’s house to also find our Scout leader Cate sitting there next to the calligraphy table looking pleased to see us. When we began our calligraphy lesson we soon saw why. Her host (Nishikawa’s friend) could not speak a word of English. Me and Aaron both realised we were lucky to be able to hold full conversations with our hosts. The calligraphy was very interesting especially as the characters were drawn in a style unique to how the calligrapher perceived them to be – a character that represented a house that was lopsided would be drawn wonky. We then got dressed into some traditional Japanese Yukata (summer kimono) to explore the old town of Kashihara with some of the houses there dating back a couple of centuries. They all had the beautiful Japanese tiled roofs that I love and inside was the Japanese architecture which is simple yet perfectionist which completely reflects their culture. Afterwards it was back to the calligrapher’s for a delicious tofu, pickle and noodly warm lunch and then on to the tea ceremony which I was very excited about. It was amazing to feel a part of such a defining part of Japanese culture. We had to bow to enter the room whilst the tea was being made and each cup was brewed and whisked to a frothy perfection, individually and with the utmost of care. A Japanese gelatinous sweet was taken to contrast with the bitterness of the tea and upon receiving the tea you bowed and thanked the tea-maker and the person beside you. Then the cup was picked up with one hand on the side and the other underneath and tipped back and drank carefully. Unfortunately, me and Aaron were in great pain in having to kneel so were allowed to sit cross-legged much to the amusement of our Japanese hosts. After a quick rest, the guests for our welcome party arrived and we had a great time talking to a couple about English TV shows. There was an excellent BBQ and huge watermelons that could sink a ship! After exchanging gifts with the Scouts of the area and with our hosts it was time to go home to Nishikawa’s and I was sad that it was time to go tomorrow.