School Trips to Japan: Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima & Kanazawa
Rustic Pathways school trips to Japan are private, custom travel programs for schools, built around your dates and learning goals.
Choose from six starting itineraries across Tokyo, Kanazawa, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Kyoto, Nara, and Nagano. Trips span 4–21 days, with published programs from $1,995–$6,595 per student, excluding international airfare.
No commitment, and no sales call unless you ask for one.
- per student across the six sample itineraries
- $1,995–$6,595
- six sample itineraries
- 4–21 days
- built around your dates, curriculum and budget
- Custom school trips
- for every 8 paying students
- 1 free teacher spot
- Rustic Pathways has operated student travel programs
- Since 1983
Compare Japan school trip itineraries
Choose from six Japan school trip itineraries spanning 4 to 21 days. Programs cover culture, history, technology, art, design and cultural exchange across Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Kanazawa and other destinations.
Compare the six itineraries side by side
| Itinerary | Length | Price | Learning focus | Route |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peace and Memory in the Nuclear Age | 4 days | $1,995 | History + Peace Studies | Fukuoka · Hiroshima · Miyajima |
| Analog vs. Digital Technology | 8 days | $3,080 | STEM + Design | Asakusa · Shibuya · Kanazawa · Tokyo |
| Kintsugi | 8 days | $3,080 | Art + History | Tokyo · Hiroshima · Miyajima · Tokyo |
| Innovation, Tradition and Cultural Exchange | 21 days | $6,595 | Japanese + Religious Studies | Tokyo · Nagano · Kanazawa · Kyoto · Nara |
| Art, Spirit and Design | 15 days | $4,975 | Art + Design | Tokyo · Mount Fuji · Kanazawa · Tokyo |
| Feudal Culture | 5 days | $2,270 | History + Culture | Kanazawa Castle · Kenrokuen · Samurai districts |
Peace and Memory in the Nuclear Age
Hiroshima and Miyajima through history, testimony and guided reflection.
Fukuoka · Hiroshima · Miyajima
Your 4-day starting itinerary
Follow four days from Fukuoka to Hiroshima, Miyajima and Busan.
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Day 1
Busan to Hiroshima
Fly Busan to Fukuoka · Bus to Hakata Station · Shinkansen bullet train to Hiroshima (1.5 hrs) · Hotel check-in · Group dinner and orientation
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Day 2
Peace Memorial Park
Atomic Bomb Dome · Peace Memorial Park · Peace Memorial Museum · Reflection session · Hondori Shopping Street
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Day 3
Miyajima and Itsukushima Shrine
Ferry to Miyajima Island (1 hr) · Coastal walk to Itsukushima Shrine · Daisho-in Temple · Omotesando Shopping Street · Return to Hiroshima · Journaling and reflection
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Day 4Departure
Departure: Return to Busan
Shinkansen to Hakata Station · Transfer to Hakata Port · Camellia Line ferry to Busan (6 hrs)
Analog vs. Digital Technology
Compare Tokyo and Kanazawa through transit, craft, design and public space.
Asakusa · Shibuya · Kanazawa · Tokyo
Your 8-day starting itinerary
Trace the study route through Tokyo, Kanazawa and the systems between them.
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Day 1Travel day
Fly to Japan
Depart home
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Day 2
Arrive in Tokyo and Sensō-ji
Arrive Tokyo · Train to Asakusa · Sensō-ji Temple: Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple · Welcome dinner
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Day 3
Asakusa + Service
Nakamise-dori market · Neighborhood cleanup with local environmental group · Calligraphy workshop: brush, ink, your name in Japanese characters
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Day 4
Shibuya + Bullet Train
Shibuya Crossing · Harajuku: fashion, street culture · Bullet train to Kanazawa (2.5 hours)
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Day 5
Feudal Kanazawa
Kanazawa Castle · Kendo class: traditional armour, bamboo sword techniques · Samurai and geisha districts
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Day 6
Gardens + Tea
Kenrokuen Garden: one of Japan's three great gardens · Tea ceremony · Omicho Ichiba fish market
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Day 7
Back to Tokyo: Imperial Palace gardens
Bullet train to Tokyo · Edo Castle and Imperial Palace East Gardens · Hama-rikyu Gardens · Closing reflection
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Day 8Depart from Tokyo
Depart from Tokyo
Depart Tokyo
Kintsugi
Traditional craft in Tokyo with Hiroshima history and Miyajima culture.
Tokyo · Hiroshima · Miyajima · Tokyo
Your 8-day starting itinerary
Move from Tokyo craft traditions to Hiroshima history and Miyajima.
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Day 1Travel day
Fly from home to Japan
Depart home airport for Japan
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Day 2
Arrive in Tokyo, Asakusa welcome dinner
Arrive Tokyo · Express train to Asakusa district · Drop luggage · Yakitori welcome dinner · Program orientation
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Day 3
Temples and Kintsugi
Sensō-ji Temple and Nakamise-dori Market · Japan Folk Crafts Museum · Kintsugi pottery workshop with local artisan
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Day 4
Service and Street Culture
Morning neighborhood cleanup with local NGO · Afternoon at Shibuya Crossing · Explore Harajuku fashion district
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Day 5
Bullet Train to Hiroshima
Shinkansen through Japanese countryside · Shukkeien Garden · Traditional tea ceremony · Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki dinner
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Day 6
Peace Memorial
Atomic Bomb Dome · Peace Memorial Park and Museum · Meet atomic bomb legacy survivor · Afternoon volunteering at Peace Memorial · Cultural exchange with local schoolchildren
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Day 7
Miyajima and Mount Misen
Ferry to Miyajima · Itsukushima Shrine floating torii gate · Temple visits · Hike or ropeway to Mt. Misen summit · Views of island and bay
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Day 8Imperial Palace and departure
Imperial Palace and departure
Early bullet train to Tokyo · Imperial Palace and Gardens (time permitting) · Transfer to airport · Departure
Innovation, Tradition and Cultural Exchange
A long-form study route across Tokyo, Nagano, Kanazawa, Kyoto and Nara.
Tokyo · Nagano · Kanazawa · Kyoto · Nara
Your 21-day starting itinerary
Follow the full study journey across five regions of central Japan.
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Day 1
Arrive at Narita or Haneda
Arrive Narita or Haneda Airport · Transfer to hotel in Asakusa · Welcome dinner · Program orientation
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Day 2
Rest and Recovery
Free morning to recover from travel · Explore the Asakusa neighborhood at your own pace · Team-building activities · Group dinner
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Day 3
Modern Tokyo
Explore Shibuya Crossing and the Harajuku fashion district · Interactive scavenger hunt introduces Tokyo's youth culture and urban design
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Day 4
Innovation and Design
Visit TeamLab Planets digital art experience and Miraikan science museum · Hands-on kintsugi workshop repairing ceramics with gold
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Day 5
Tradition in the City
Sensō-ji Temple and Nakamise-dori shopping street · Calligraphy workshop with a shodo instructor, learning traditional brush technique
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Day 6
Student Exchange (subject to confirmation)
Half day with a partner Japanese school · Shared cultural exchange activities
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Day 7
Martial Arts and Free Exploration
Kendo workshop at a Tokyo dojo · Afternoon free block for neighborhood exploration or an additional cultural activity
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Day 8
Travel to Nagano
Bullet train from Tokyo to Nagano · Check into hotel · Orient to the mountain town known as “The Roof of Japan” at the edge of the Japanese Alps
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Day 9
Rural Japan
Visit a working farm and share a meal with a local family · Explore Zenkoji, one of Japan's oldest Buddhist temples
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Day 10
Nature and Craft
Train to Yudanaka · Hike to Jigokudani Monkey Park to see snow monkeys · Afternoon session in a potter's studio
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Day 11
Bullet train to Kanazawa
Bullet train to Kanazawa, tracing the shift from feudal to modern architecture along the way
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Day 12
Samurai Kanazawa
Tour Kanazawa Castle and the preserved samurai district · Walk through Kenroku Garden · Traditional tea ceremony
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Day 13
Craft and Market
Explore Omicho Market with a local guide · Silk-dyeing workshop at a Kanazawa museum, designing a personal handkerchief
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Day 14
Travel to Kyoto
Train to Kyoto via Tsuruga · Check into hotel · Evening orientation to the historic former capital
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Day 15
Historic Kyoto
Kiyomizu-dera Temple and its panoramic views · Hike through thousands of vermillion gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine
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Day 16
Ceramics Deep-Dive
Visit an ancient kiln village · Hands-on ceramics workshop with a local artisan · Traditional tea ceremony
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Day 17
Nara Day Trip
Full-day excursion to Nara, Japan's first permanent capital · Todaiji Temple and its bronze Buddha · Meet the resident deer
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Day 18
Travel to Tokyo
Bullet train back to Tokyo · Check into hotel for the final stretch of the program
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Day 19
Tokyo, Closing Culture
Flexible day: choice of a second dojo session, additional neighborhood exploration, or free time
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Day 20
Tokyo DisneySea and closing dinner
Full day at Tokyo DisneySea · Closing group dinner
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Day 21Fly home from Narita or Haneda
Fly home from Narita or Haneda
Transfer to Narita or Haneda Airport · Return flight home
Art, Spirit and Design
Art, architecture and living traditions from Tokyo to Kanazawa.
Tokyo · Mount Fuji · Kanazawa · Tokyo
Your 15-day starting itinerary
Track the art and design route from Tokyo to Mount Fuji and Kanazawa.
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Day 1Travel day
Depart for Japan
Meet the group at the home airport and depart for Japan
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Day 2
Arrival in Tokyo
Arrive at Narita or Haneda Airport · Transfer by express train to the Asakusa district · Enjoy a welcome dinner followed by a program orientation
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Day 3
History and Tradition
Explore the historic Sensō-ji Temple, Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple · Learn about religion's role in modern Japanese life
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Day 4
Modern City and Calligraphy
Explore the iconic Shibuya Crossing and nearby Harajuku fashion district · Learn Japanese brush techniques during a hands-on calligraphy workshop
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Day 5
Design and Technology
Practice kintsugi pottery repair, rebuilding broken ceramics stronger and more beautifully
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Day 6
Mount Fuji
Catch a private bus west of Tokyo toward Mt. Fuji · Eat hotou, a warm noodle soup famous in the region · Visit a historic village with thatched roofs to see 19th-century Japanese life
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Day 7
Community Service and Gardens
Head to Shimokitazawa, a neighborhood known for culture and style · Assist a local group with a neighborhood cleanup project · Explore the winding alleys of Shimo
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Day 8
Kanazawa and the silk kimono museum
Board the bullet train to Kanazawa, exploring its blend of ancient and modern architecture · At a silk kimono museum, learn dyeing artistry and customize a handkerchief
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Day 9
Castle and Silk Art
Visit a silk art museum to learn about Kanazawa's famous dyeing techniques · Design and dye a personal silk handkerchief · Explore Kanazawa Castle, appreciating its importance in feudal history
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Day 10
Gardens and Tea Ceremony
Explore Kenroku Garden, one of Japan’s most representative gardens · Participate in a tranquil matcha tea service in a classic tea house
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Day 11
Market and Cooking
Visit Omicho market with a local teacher to see fresh seafood and produce · Learn about Japanese sensibilities for flavor · Hands-on cooking class to prepare a local Kanazawan dish
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Day 12
Back to Tokyo with kendo masters
Board the bullet train back to Tokyo · Learn ancient sword techniques with kendo masters · Reflect on how ancient arts are carried into modern times
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Day 13
Tokyo Disneyland
Full day at Tokyo Disneyland, the Japanese counterpart to the California park
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Day 14
A day at Tokyo DisneySea
Full day at Tokyo DisneySea, built around nautical themes, with Peter Pan, Frozen and Jules Verne rides
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Day 15Journey home from Tokyo
Journey home from Tokyo
Transfer to Narita or Haneda Airport for departure · Journey home
Feudal Culture
Kanazawa through castle design, kendo, gardens and cultural exchange.
Kanazawa Castle · Kenrokuen · Samurai districts
Your 5-day starting itinerary
See how five days in Kanazawa connect castle design, martial arts and exchange.
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Day 1
Arrival
Arrive Kanazawa · Hotel check-in · Welcome dinner · Program orientation
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Day 2
Castle + Kendo
Kanazawa Castle: feudal architecture, grounds, history · Kendo class: traditional armour, bamboo sword techniques
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Day 3
Exchange + Ninja Temple
High school English club exchange: conversation, games, daily life · Myoryuji Ninja Temple: hidden traps, defensive architecture
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Day 4
Garden + Samurai District
Kenrokuen Garden: one of Japan's three great gardens · Tea ceremony · Arcade gaming · Samurai and geisha districts: traditional structures, modern cafes
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Day 5Depart from Kanazawa
Depart from Kanazawa
Morning free time · Souvenirs · Depart Kanazawa
How much does a school trip to Japan cost?
A school trip to Japan costs $1,995 to $6,595 per student for program tuition, or approximately $314 to $499 per day. Tuition covers lodging, meals, airport transfers, in-country transport, scheduled activities, guides, and entrance fees.
Schools receive one complimentary program tuition place for every eight paying students. International airfare and insurance are not included. Final costs vary by travel dates, group size, itinerary, and lodging.
$1,995 to $6,595
per student across six itineraries, excluding international airfare.
4 to 21 days
program length across six itineraries.
Group quote
every school receives its own, built on dates, group size and route.
| Included | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Travel | Accommodation for all program nights, meals as scheduled and drinking water, airport transfers and scheduled ground and rail transport. |
| Activities | All scheduled activities, guides, and entrance fees. |
| Staff and support | At least two trained Program Leaders, including both a male and a female leader. Enrolled families receive a 24/7 emergency number for use during programs and travel days. |
| Community donations | Gratuities, donations and community contributions, including any donation a service project requires, paid by Rustic Pathways and never collected from students. |
| Chaperones | One chaperone place free for every 8 paying students. Chaperone airfare and insurance are separate. |
Not included: international airfare, travel insurance, medical insurance, passport or visa fees, and personal spending.
| Effect | Factor |
|---|---|
| raises | Travel window: Airfare, lodging and rail availability move by date, and peak or holiday weeks price higher. |
| raises | Trip length: The starting routes span 4 to 21 days. Shorter trips can cost more per day. |
| lowers | Group size: Programs start at 10 students with no upper cap, and the school sets the final size. |
| raises | Chaperones: One chaperone place is complimentary for every 8 paying students: 16 students earns 2, 24 earns 3, 40 earns 5. It covers Program Tuition; that chaperone’s airfare and insurance are not included. |
| raises | Route: Adding cities, long-distance rail and specialist workshops changes the total. |
| raises | Lodging: Lodging tier moves the price directly, and the final plan is confirmed in the proposal. |
Payment and cancellation
Installment plans are available. Schools pay as a group, or families pay monthly under the current enrollment terms.
A group that cancels more than 70 days before the start date receives everything paid back except the deposit and any ticketed airfare. Between 41 and 70 days out, half of each traveler's cost is kept, and from 40 days out nothing is refunded.
Any enrollment cancelled within 24 hours is refunded in full.
What can a Japan itinerary teach?
A Japan school trip can teach art, history and design technology through Japanese craft, historic cities and modern transportation systems.
Art
Students repair ceramics with the kintsugi method, study manga and teamLab's digital work in Tokyo, then make their own pieces with Japanese tools and techniques.
What does a culture believe about failure when it mends a broken bowl in gold?
Kintsugi
History
Students walk Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park and museum, hear survivor testimony, and cross to Miyajima and the Itsukushima shrine with guided reflection between them.
How does a city carry a memory that belongs to the whole world?
Peace and Memory in the Nuclear Age
Design technology
Students read Tokyo's rail network, digital art and public space as designed systems, then set them against the analog craft workshops of Kanazawa.
When is the analog answer still the better designed one?
Analog vs. Digital Technology
Who supervises and manages the trip to Japan?
School chaperones and Rustic Pathways Program Leaders supervise and manage the school trip to Japan together.
Rustic Pathways manages the itinerary, accommodation, ground transport, activities and emergency procedures; your school manages its own student conduct and communication policies.
Your school can book international flights directly or ask Rustic Pathways to arrange them. Families receive trip logistics and itinerary information through the MyRustic web app.
How is safety managed on a school trip to Japan?
Rustic Pathways manages safety on Japan school trips with daily student briefings, trained Program Leaders, licensed transport and activity providers, and pre-identified medical and evacuation resources.
Rustic Pathways has employed Dr. William R. Smith as its dedicated Medical Director since 2015. Dr. Smith is a board-certified emergency physician and U.S. Army colonel.
Read Rustic Pathways safety protocols →- from first call to crisis-team response, measured company-wide
- 8 min
- average parent notification, measured from the point an incident is assessed
- 27 min
- trained Program Leaders on every school group trip, one male and one female, in addition to your teachers
- 2 minimum
- vetting per Program Leader, including Sterling background checks and the National Sex Offender Registry
- 4 months
- of Program Leaders hold current CPR and First Aid certification
- 100%
- emergency number for enrolled families during programs and travel days
- 24/7
Is Rustic Pathways the right Japan partner for your school?
Take a private Rustic Pathways school trip to Japan on dates your school chooses. Rustic Pathways builds the trip around your curriculum.
Students travel only with their teachers and classmates and never join another school’s group. Individual students can join teen travel programs to Japan.
A strong fit if
- You want one private, school-exclusive group
- You need the itinerary tied to curriculum and approval goals
- You want a 4- to 21-day window on dates your school chooses
Worth a conversation first if
- You have fewer than ten students or a firm price ceiling
- Your dates fall in cherry-blossom season or a peak holiday week
- Your route needs several long rail transfers
Probably not the right fit if
- You are an individual student or parent seeking a fixed departure
- You want your group merged with other schools
- You need a confirmed departure before a proposal and planning cycle
Individual support needs are planned into the itinerary.
When should your school travel to Japan?
Japan has four distinct seasons, and the same itinerary reads differently depending on when you go. Your school picks its dates, so season is a planning input.
March through May
Mild, and cherry blossom season runs March into April. The busiest window, so peak weeks price higher.
June through August
Hot and humid, with tsuyu rain likely in June. Pack for humidity if you travel in this window.
September through February
Cool and mild through October and November, the strongest window on the Sea of Japan coast. Winter is cold, with snow in Kanazawa and the mountains.
Questions about school trips to Japan
How much is a school trip to Japan?
A school trip to Japan costs $1,995 to $6,595 per student, excluding international airfare.
Program tuition covers lodging, meals, in-country transport, scheduled activities, guides, and entrance fees. Final costs vary by dates, group size, itinerary, and lodging.
How many students do you need for a Japan school trip?
A Japan school trip requires at least 10 students, with no upper group-size limit.
Schools receive one complimentary Program Tuition place for every eight paying students; airfare and insurance for chaperones are separate.
When is the best time for a school trip to Japan?
The best time for a school trip to Japan depends on your school calendar, route, and preferred weather.
Spring and autumn offer milder temperatures, while summer is hotter and more humid and winter brings snow to some destinations. Peak and holiday dates can cost more.
Have a question before you ask for a proposal?
Scott Ingram answers Japan school-trip questions with the school travel team.
Send your group size, dates, trip length, and what you want students to learn. I’ll reply within 1 business day and send you options within 48 hours, and no sales call unless you ask for one.
Start with your travel window
Start a Japan trip proposal with your travel dates, group size, and student learning goals. Receive a reply within 1 business day and trip options within 48 hours.
Or reach a person directly: +1 440-975-9691 or groups@rusticpathways.com
Have a quote from another operator?
Send it over. Rustic Pathways will show you what’s possible for the same budget.
Need approval or funding first?
Certificate of insurance, risk management plans, and fundraising templates for families, on request.
