Japan & Korea: Tokyo to Seoul

Arrive at Los Angeles (LAX) and meet your group for your flight to Tokyo. Your flight chaperone will help you get through customs and immigration and join your for your flight across the Pacific.

We touch down in Japan in the afternoon. Your program leaders will meet you at the airport and then we’ll board an express train into the city. Enjoy the views out the windows as we cross through the countryside before arriving in Asakusa.
We’ll drop off our bags at our accommodations and then have a celebratory dinner of yakitori and yummy grilled food. Relax into your comfortable bed and rest up.

Today we stay in the Asakusa neighborhood. After your long travels yesterday, we start off the morning by exploring several of the famous sites nearby. We’ll start with Sensoji, Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple. You’ll be blown away by the size and intricacy of the temple building and the garden. You’ll learn about the role of religion in modern Japan as we wander the calm space. Then we dive into Nakamise, a shopping arcade full of traditional Japanese snacks to try.
In the afternoon, we’ll take a quick Japanese language course. You’ll learn a few useful phrases, and get some practice writing the flowing characters.

When people think of modern Japan they usually think of the crowded streets and gleaming towers of Shibuya. Today, we’ll explore these bustling neighborhoods and discover exciting foods, shops, parks, and more. We’ll retreat to the cool of a shady park for a picnic lunch before exploring Harajuku, famous for being the cutting edge of fashion and trends. Take a break for a quick session with a manga teacher and draw your own manga character in the Japanese style. In the evening, we board the famous 新幹線 (shinkansen), bullet train, in the morning and blast across the island to the city of Kanazawa.

Nothing compares to Tokyo, but Kanazawa will feel like going back in time. After arriving, we visit a local kendo dojo. Dating back to the age of samurai, kendo is the art of sword fighting with wooden sticks. You’ll get a chance to learn from a master on how to hold, swing, and guard with your practice sword. Use this chance to develop your fighting spirit as you work your muscles.
In the evening, we’ll enjoy some of Kanazawa’s famous fresh sushi. Situated on the water, you’ll never have fresher fish than this.

Today, we’ll take advantage of the cooler morning to explore Kanazawa castle. During the Edo Period, the castle was home to the Maeda clan, the second most powerful clan in the feudal era. Today, its central buildings and main tower are open for us to explore and learn about the samurai era of Japan’s history. Later, we’ll explore Kenroku-en, one of the most famous gardens in Japan. We’ll visit a tea house in the garden and learn how to host a tea ceremony and bask in the peace and solitude.

We’ll say our goodbyes to Kanazawa today. Trading the quiet for the hustle and bustle of a return to Tokyo. We’ll get a chance to explore Asakusa a little deeper. We’ll visit an English language club and chat with local students. You’ll learn about their lives in Japanese high schools, and they’ll relish the chance to practice their English skills with you. In the evening, we’ll explore the famous Akihabara neighborhood and explore the home of “otaku” culture under the neon lights. During the closing discussion, groups participate in Rustic Ties, a unique and powerful activity that allows students to capture the memories and learning moments of their program to process and share with their communities back home.

We’ll spend the morning enjoying the company of our new friends and exploring the Odaiba area of Tokyo. We’ll check out a giant Gundam, a replica of the Statue of Liberty, and enjoy a waterfront view back towards Tokyo’s crowded skyline. You’ll say goodbye to your new friends from this group as they head to the airport for the end of their program. You’ll head back to Asakusa and enjoy one last delicious Japanese dinner before heading to Seoul tomorrow.

You’re not done with Japan yet! In the morning we’ll make our way to the famous Tsukiji Market and have our pick of delicious fresh food at the small restaurants and eateries in the market area. We’ll explore and find all sorts of fresh and wholesale foods that will overwhelm you with sights and smells. Befor you know it, we’ll have to say goodbye to Tokyo and make our way to Narita Airport for the flight to Seoul. You’ll arrive in Seoul at about the same time as the chaperoned group flight from Los Angeles and will get straight into meeting your new group of friends for the week.

There’s more to Korea than barbeque, BTS, and Blackpink. This journey packs a lifetime of modern Korean living into just over a week. We launch the adventure in bustling Seoul where you’ll explore vibrant historical districts, visit the primo Korean palace, and mix modern living with traditional Korean culture. We’ll hike the peaks that nestle the capital city before celebrating with tea before the world’s oldest Confucian shrine. We’ll learn to cook traditional cuisine and enjoy a bicycling adventure before sitting down to learn some basic Korean language skills.