Many people know Japan for its excellent food. So how would you like to go on a trip to Japan that’s all about food? Well, that’s what Marcellus Waller is offering students at Clayton Valley Charter.
Waller, who teaches Nutrition & Food Science, has been doing trips like this since he was a kid and he is now offering a trip to his students. “I’ve been going on trips like this since I was six weeks old,” Waller says. “My entire childhood through high school even into college. My parents were teachers, they were leading these trips as well.”
For his newest trip he will be taking students to Japan in the summer of 2026.
Waller says a trip like this is extremely beneficial to students. “I would say that it's priceless,” he says.
For Waller, traveling has given him the opportunities to do things most of us might never be able to do. “In 1989 in July, I took a pickaxe to the Berlin Wall. I've climbed the Great Wall of China five times, I’ve been to all six of the seven continents,” he says.
While most of us probably won’t be able to see as many places as Waller, trips like these can be a great first step. “I’ve been to 76 countries…I’ve been all over the world and a lot of those travels started on these types of trips,” Waller says.
“I just think it’s really cool to be able to see other places,” Joey Crews, a CVCHS student interested in going to Japan, says. “It's a chance to get to see stuff you might not get to see normally, you know?”
The trip is run through a company called WorldStrides. Their message is to preach the positive benefits of learning by doing. They have 50 years of success and offer liability coverage and access to a 24/7 emergency hotline. Waller worked with them on the previous trip to Bangkok, Thailand last year.
The trip wilI include a 24/7 tour guide, 3-4 star hotels, and 2 meals a day including local cuisine. “All that kind of stuff is included (in the price),” says Waller.
Activities would include things like a local school visit, a cooking class and the opportunity to experience the local culture of Japan with things like karaoke and exploring the cities.
The trip will happen from June 5-14, 2026. The first four days will be spent in Osaka. The next two days will be in Kyota and the next two days after that will be spent in Hakone. The remainder of the trip will be spent in Tokyo.
It may still seem a long way away but this is to allow for fundraising to be done and to let people pay for the trip over time. While the trip may seem pricey at around $6,300 there are options available for financial aid such as the FLAG financial assistance program.
For the future, Waller is already planning his next trip after Japan. When asked if he has an idea where, he said: “I do, yeah. We’re going to France in 2028.”
Trips like this really are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so if you’re interested in attending be sure to check it out. The trip is open to everyone who has taken or will take one year of a food class. Even if you’ll graduate high school before the trip, you can still go.
“I’ve done so many types of things in my life because of travel that have made me into the person that I am now,” Waller says.
You can talk to Chef Waller in D4 or attend a periodic meeting for more info about the trip.
Photo Credit: Valeria Boltneva
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