OUTBOUND Yakima to Yamate Yokohama Japan

It is new that our students can apply for their passport from Yakima!

Passport Services

The Yakima School District is grateful for our long-standing relationship with Yamate Gaukin High School and our community partners who have financially contributed to the program in the past.

For the 2025 exchange, the district coordinator will seek contributions from the community, past participants, Yamate Gakuin High School, and families to support the program entirely.

The Yakima School District will purchase Travel Guard insurance that includes travel protection, medical assistance protection, and more to protect from unfortunate situations. We will provide you with a Travel Guard identification card and a statement of benefits.

Should a student require medical attention in Japan, however, they will pay for that service out of pocket or borrow from a chaperone, with the student's family reimbursing the chaperone immediately upon return.  Please note that medical costs for primary care in Japan are far less expensive than in the United States.  A visit to a clinic for a fever and respiratory symptoms is around $25 US.

You must have proof of an active passport by April 25, 2025. Passports can take 8 weeks to receive. That means you should apply for your passport no later than March 1, 2025. It is highly recommended that a student apply for their passport immediately when they are considering going to Japan.

If you have missed this date, you need to pay to expedite your passport application.  We are happy to provide a letter from the coordinator if it will help in this process.

There is currently no requirement.

No. Because the seniors graduate in June, they are no longer active students and, therefore, no longer covered by our liability insurance.

They certainly can host Japanese students in April of 2027 (and build friendships for a lifetime!). 

No. This is an immersion program where your student will become a member of the Japanese family for two weeks. Only brief daily contact is recommended with family back home in the way of phone or digital check-ins.

Applications will close when all 40 spots are full.  To secure a spot, students must apply and pay in full by April 25, 2025. Families must build their student's travel account monthly starting in December 2024 with the following pace: Dec 2, $400, Jan 2: add $400 for a total of $800, Feb 3 :add $400 for a total of $1200*, March 1: add $400 for a total of $1600, April 1: add $400 for a total of $2000, April 25:ad d $400 for a total of$2400 (paid in full).

Payments can be made at the Yakima School District financial services department at 101 N 4th Avenue.

* after $1200 is paid, families qualifying with YSD as low income can request a $500 scholarship. Scholarships are available on a first-come, first serve basis.

Please note that to be eligible to travel to Japan in July/August of 2025, the expiration date of your passport will need to be February 2026 or later.

YSD students in good academic and attendance status and with principal approval (class of 2026 first, then 2027, 2028) will have priority, siblings of past travelers will have priority, and families who hosted in April will have priority. Other local districts are welcome to send active students if space permits and if their district's superintendent has contacted the coordinator. Total spots: 40