The annual Osaka City University (OCU) one day excursion took place on 5 October, 2019 in Kyoto.

It was a beautiful day at the Old Mitsui Family Shimogamo Villa where the OCU international students experienced a tea ceremony and visited the Shimogamo Shrine. The former villa of the wealthy merchant Mitsui family is surrounded by a beautiful Japanese garden and its architecture was considered modern at the time of its completion in 1925. It was such a good opportunity for the international students to be exposed to the beauty of Japan.

Under the support of the Mitsui Volunteer Network Center (Mitsui V-Net), operated in part by OCU alumni, the international students observed a tea ceremony in the villa's tea house and enjoyed green tea and cakes unique to Kyoto. They also had the rare experience of using a tea whisk to make tea.

It was so meaningful for them to have exposure to Japanese traditional culture.