Seikei Exchange Coordinator Megan Perkins said the trip was a wonderful opportunity for the students to experience a completely different culture.

"These are 18 beautiful kids from wonderfully supportive families," she said.

"They're spread across Years 8 to 10 and to go from a small town like Cowra to Tokyo, will be amazing."

A visit by students from Seikei Senior High School last year has helped some of the students make the decision to put their names down.

"Many of them billetted students or met them here at school," Mrs Perkins said.

"They formed some very strong relationships and those have helped ease the way.

"In fact some of our Year 12 students have gone to Japan for Schoolies to visit some of the students they have met."

Checking out the differences between cultures is what inspired Cameron Dale to sign up.

"I'm really interested in the history and culture of Japan." he said,

"It's a lot older culture than ours. That and seeing a lot of traffic and people are what I'm looking forward to.

Jemma Pokoney will be staying with four or five host families during an extended 12 month visit.

"I'm actually really excited to be going to school for six days a week," she said.

"They also have after school clubs where you get to do activities and things."

Olivia Perkins will be returning to Seikei after travelling there with the exchange program last year.

"It's such an amazing experience," she said.

"The houses are just so small, no one has a car, they all travel on public transport or bikes and they go to school for six days a week."

Seikei Senior High School is a private school and is one of the most prestigious in Tokyo.

"It's a selective school and some students travel for three hours to get there," Olivia said.

"It's an amazing place."