Before a Japanese school trip, teachers often make a shitami, a preliminary visit to the destination. A notice from the Ministry of Education of October 2, 1968, asked schools to survey the lodgings, especially emergency exits and dangerous spots, and to plan evacuation and rescue in case of disaster.
A notice of March 31, 1988, followed the Shanghai train accident of that year, which struck students from Kōchi Prefecture. It asked schools to carry out an on-site survey of the route and the means of transport in advance, and to prepare with great care to ensure safety. An audit report of Osaka Prefecture from 2015 notes that the number of people and days for the preliminary visit is left to the principal.