UH Hilo Softball is across the other side of the Pacific Ocean for a week-long trip to Japan.

The Vulcans will conclude their stay with exhibition contests on Sunday morning (Saturday afternoon Hawai’i time) against Josai University and Nippon Taiiku Daigaku (Nittaidai) — Nippon Sport Science University.

The team will spend the first few days staying at Tenri University in Nara, sleeping on tatami mats, doing morning exercises, chores and meet and greets with students. Other stops include Nara Deer Park, Tsukiji Market and riding the Shinkansen bullet train among others.

Josai University made the trip down to Hilo two years ago for an exhibition contest in Feb. 2024.

The trip comes at a pivotal moment in the season after recently posting a 9-7 record through a tough 16-game road trip in Southern California. Currently 14-10 in PacWest Conference play and sitting in fourth place, the Vulcans are within the top four who would qualify for the PacWest Championships postseason tournament (May 5-7).

Ten conference games remain against Menlo (April 16-17), Chaminade (April 24) and HPU (April 26 + May 1) upon their return.