ARANA UNITED FC ANNUAL JAPAN TOURS
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21st-29th September 2015
After a year of planning and fund-raising our inaugural tour to Japan was a resounding success. Eight boys and two girls from Arana Utd FC aged 14-16yrs traveled to Tokyo during the September school holidays for an 8 day trip of a lifetime. The tour, in partnership with Rinichi Mikami of Go Zamurai Soccer Academy, introduced our players to Japanese culture as well as an insight into their unique style of football and futsal. The group was based in Fuchu where we were able to use the metro train system to attend professional coaching sessions, watch professional games and play friendly games against local junior academy players. Highlights of the tour included:
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Tour Itinerary
Day 1
Morning departure. Direct 9hr flight from Brisbane to Tokyo (Qantas). Arrive evening and catch train from Narita Airport to Fuchu. Late check-in at Hotel Continental, Fuchu. Hotel is a short walk to train station, local shopping centre and restaurants. Settle into rooms, good night sleep ready for day 2 early start.
Day 1
Morning departure. Direct 9hr flight from Brisbane to Tokyo (Qantas). Arrive evening and catch train from Narita Airport to Fuchu. Late check-in at Hotel Continental, Fuchu. Hotel is a short walk to train station, local shopping centre and restaurants. Settle into rooms, good night sleep ready for day 2 early start.
Day 2
Hotel breakfast. Travel by train from Fuchu to Chofu, short walk to Mitsubishi Yowa Soccer Club grounds. Meet Youth Academy coaches and players. Change into playing kits, joint warm up session. Friendly game against junior academy players. Walk to local shops for light lunch. Return to Mitsubishi Yowa to watch senior youth match. Return to Fuchu mid afternoon. Rest at hotel before setting out for dinner at local restaurant.
Hotel breakfast. Travel by train from Fuchu to Chofu, short walk to Mitsubishi Yowa Soccer Club grounds. Meet Youth Academy coaches and players. Change into playing kits, joint warm up session. Friendly game against junior academy players. Walk to local shops for light lunch. Return to Mitsubishi Yowa to watch senior youth match. Return to Fuchu mid afternoon. Rest at hotel before setting out for dinner at local restaurant.
Day 3 (morning)
Hotel breakfast. Morning train trip to Asakusa for sight seeing of traditional temples and shopping at the nearby markets. Restaurant lunch before heading back to hotel to prepare for afternoon futsal clinic.
Hotel breakfast. Morning train trip to Asakusa for sight seeing of traditional temples and shopping at the nearby markets. Restaurant lunch before heading back to hotel to prepare for afternoon futsal clinic.
Day 3 (afternoon)
A short train trip and walk to the home venue of Fuchu Firefox Futsal Club (semi-professional). Our players were put through their paces during a personalised coaching clinic run by the head coach. Following the coaching clinic we stayed on to watch the senior mens team train. Return to Fuchu for a traditional Japanese meal.
A short train trip and walk to the home venue of Fuchu Firefox Futsal Club (semi-professional). Our players were put through their paces during a personalised coaching clinic run by the head coach. Following the coaching clinic we stayed on to watch the senior mens team train. Return to Fuchu for a traditional Japanese meal.
Day 4
Hotel breakfast. Short train trip and walk to home training venue of F-League professional club Fuchu Athletics. Given access to closed training session to watch senior team skills and tactics training and strength and conditioning session. Light lunch at local shops. Privileged to be coached during a two hour training session by head coach Mr. Shunsuke Tanimoto and goal keeper coach Mr. Marcos Yamada. Return to Fuchu for dinner.
Hotel breakfast. Short train trip and walk to home training venue of F-League professional club Fuchu Athletics. Given access to closed training session to watch senior team skills and tactics training and strength and conditioning session. Light lunch at local shops. Privileged to be coached during a two hour training session by head coach Mr. Shunsuke Tanimoto and goal keeper coach Mr. Marcos Yamada. Return to Fuchu for dinner.
Day 5 (morning)
Hotel breakfast. 1 hour train trip up to Mt. Takao for cable car to top of mountain and sightseeing of traditional temples. Breathtaking views looking back towards Tokyo. Light lunch before return trip back to Fuchu.
Hotel breakfast. 1 hour train trip up to Mt. Takao for cable car to top of mountain and sightseeing of traditional temples. Breathtaking views looking back towards Tokyo. Light lunch before return trip back to Fuchu.
Day 5 (afternoon)
Short train trip and walk to Mitsubishi Yowa SC grounds at Sugamo. Given tour of entire facilities by club president and presented with gifts. Spent the rest of the early evening watching the junior and youth academy teams train. Return to Fuchu for dinner.
Short train trip and walk to Mitsubishi Yowa SC grounds at Sugamo. Given tour of entire facilities by club president and presented with gifts. Spent the rest of the early evening watching the junior and youth academy teams train. Return to Fuchu for dinner.
Day 6
Hotel breakfast. Free day to rest and spend time shopping in the local Fuchu area. Late afternoon train trip to Ajinomoto Stadium to watch J-League football match (FC Tokyo vs Matsumoto Yamaga FC) in front of over 40, 000 fans. Return to Fuchu for dinner.
Hotel breakfast. Free day to rest and spend time shopping in the local Fuchu area. Late afternoon train trip to Ajinomoto Stadium to watch J-League football match (FC Tokyo vs Matsumoto Yamaga FC) in front of over 40, 000 fans. Return to Fuchu for dinner.
Day 7 (morning)
Hotel breakfast. Booked a local futsal court for a light training session and fun game between ourselves. Returned to hotel, shower and lunch.
Hotel breakfast. Booked a local futsal court for a light training session and fun game between ourselves. Returned to hotel, shower and lunch.
Day 7 (afternoon)
Shopping in Harajuka and Shibuya shopping district. Given tour of Mizuno Sports Headquarters where we were treated to some great deals and discounts for sporting wear.
Shopping in Harajuka and Shibuya shopping district. Given tour of Mizuno Sports Headquarters where we were treated to some great deals and discounts for sporting wear.
Day 7 (evening)
Attended Machida Indoor Stadium to watch F-League professional futsal match between Pescadola Machida and Bardral Urayasu. Fantastic crowd atmosphere and great half-time entertainment. Return to Fuchu for dinner.
Attended Machida Indoor Stadium to watch F-League professional futsal match between Pescadola Machida and Bardral Urayasu. Fantastic crowd atmosphere and great half-time entertainment. Return to Fuchu for dinner.
Day 8
Hotel breakfast before checking out. Train trip into Shinjuku (Tokyo CBD). Stored luggage at nearby hotel before exploring the central shopping area on foot for some last minute souvenirs. Lunch at McDonalds before returning to collect luggage and catching bus to Narita Airport. Return overnight flight to Brisbane.
Hotel breakfast before checking out. Train trip into Shinjuku (Tokyo CBD). Stored luggage at nearby hotel before exploring the central shopping area on foot for some last minute souvenirs. Lunch at McDonalds before returning to collect luggage and catching bus to Narita Airport. Return overnight flight to Brisbane.
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2016 TOUR TO JAPAN
Following the success of the 2015 tour a new group of players from Arana Utd FC embarked on their journey to Japan in September 2016. It was an opportunity to build on relationships with futsal and football clubs developed during the 2015 tour. The itinerary was similar however a number of new features and activities were included to enhance the experience and to maximise the time sent in Japan. Eight boys aged between 14yrs and 16yrs, accompanied by Barry McErlean and Rinichi Mikami, ventured off for their trip of a lifetime. Below is the itinerary.
Day 1 (20th September):
The Qantas flight left Brisbane at 10.30am and we arrived at Narita Airport at 6.30pm local time. After a meal at the airport and a short wait we caught a comfortable coach bus to Seiseki Sakuragaoka before catching a train to Fuchu. A short walk from the train station and we arrived at our home away from home, Hotel Continental, Fuchu, Tokyo. It was close to midnight by the time we arrived so straight to bed, a bit of a sleep in the next morning before breakfast at the hotel and then a full day of sightseeing.
Day 1 (20th September):
The Qantas flight left Brisbane at 10.30am and we arrived at Narita Airport at 6.30pm local time. After a meal at the airport and a short wait we caught a comfortable coach bus to Seiseki Sakuragaoka before catching a train to Fuchu. A short walk from the train station and we arrived at our home away from home, Hotel Continental, Fuchu, Tokyo. It was close to midnight by the time we arrived so straight to bed, a bit of a sleep in the next morning before breakfast at the hotel and then a full day of sightseeing.
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Day 2 (21st September):
We headed by train on the 1hr journey to the temple town of Mt Takao where we travelled to the base of the mountain by cable car. From there we trekked our way to the top of the mountain taking in the sights and smells along the way. The boys enjoyed tasting the local food, exploring the temples and enjoying the magnificent view from the top. It was a great way to get over the jet lag and to take in the fresh mountain air. After lunch we headed back into Fuchu where we had dinner at our local restaurant before catching a local train to the training headquarters of Fuchu Firefox Futsal Club. Here we watched the senior team train and got to mingle with the players for photos after the session. It was a great first day of our 2016 tour. |
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Day 3 (22nd September):
The boys were itching to start playing futsal and were primed and ready to travel by train to compete in the Kawagoe International Futsal Tournament against a number of local teams. The set in rain didn’t dampen the players’ spirt and the tournament proceeded as scheduled, despite a soggy playing surface. Our boys went in to the grand final undefeated but were beaten by a very skilful local team in the trophy match. However the tournament was about participation and international relations and new friendships and our boys thoroughly enjoyed having fun with the local players. The event was sponsored by our friends from Acuore. After the presentations the boys changed into their dry travel uniforms and we headed into Kawagoe township to explore the old castle town taking in the sights of the traditional Japanese architecture. A wonder through the markets before heading over to Mitsubishi Yowa Soccer Club to watch their youth team win an important preliminary final. We took the time to catch up with some old friends from last year before heading back to the hotel. |
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Day 4 (23rd September):
A welcomed sleep in and late breakfast before heading to the training headquarters of Fuchu Athletic professional futsal club to watch the senior team in training with head coach Shunsuke Tanimoto. Our boys were then privileged to take part in a special training session with the head coach which was video recorded for later analysis. Mr Tanimoto, who is the Japanese national team assistant coach, then came for dinner with us and later spent several hours with Barry giving futsal coaching advice and doing futsal video analysis. |
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Day 5 (24th September):
This morning we made our way by train to the Fuchu Athletic junior academy training centre for a friendly game against the local players who showcased their high level technical skills. After a round robin series of games we mixed up the teams and our boys enjoyed playing with the local boys. Time was spent also with the local coaches to exchange ideas. We then headed back to the Fuchu Athletic main training hall where we watched a high intensity game between the senior team and the reserve team where players were fighting for a permanent spot in the main team which competes in the national F-League. We then endured more wet weather on the walk to watch our friends from Fuchu Firefox play their fixture in the Kanto State Premier Futsal League. The players took the time during their pre-game warm up to throw mementos to our boys and to thank us for coming to watch them. They fought out a draw but the game and crowd atmosphere was a great spectacle. A great day of Japan style futsal action. The day was capped off by a special visit to Fuchu Athletic head office hosted by Mr Tanimoto. Day 6 (25th September):
We visited the Japan Football Association National Museum which was a really interesting place to visit. Heaps of memorabilia showcasing Japan’s football achievements. Then off to Saitama Stadium to watch Urawa Reds vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the J League. Travelling to the stadium and moving around the 48,000 strong crowd was an experience in itself. We got to catch up with our friends from Urawa Reds Heart Club who visited us in Brisbane last year. The crowd atmosphere during the game was spine chilling, definitely the highlight of the week. Urawa Reds won the game much to the delight of the local crowd. Homebound for a nice dinner and laughs. |
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Day 7 (26th September):
We spent the morning shopping in Harajuku and Shibuya shopping districts including Mizuno headquarters where we met up with the general manager who made us feel welcome, offering huge discounts. A great chance to pick up some quality sporting goods including futsal shoes, joggers, football boots, apparel and balls. We also explored a number of other specialist sports, apparel and shoe stores. That evening we then travelled by train to Yokohama Bay where we joined in for friendly football games against the junior academy teams from Masaki Sports Academy. |
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Day 8 (27th September):
Our final day in Tokyo so, as has become tradition, we spent the day exploring the city centre of Shinjuku and Yoyogi parklands. This was a taste of Tokyo city life and the boys were amazed by the incredible sounds and colours as the city bustled with activity. A great day of adventure to finish off an amazing week of Japanese culture and hospitality. We then travelled around Tokyo Bay for our final view of this amazing mega city before our final destination – Narita International Airport. Our Qantas plane awaited for our overnight flight back to Australia. |
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