Japan: Tokyo Fusion

Meet your group at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). We’ll board a direct flight in the afternoon to take us to Tokyo. Get to know your new friends, but be sure to get some rest to so you’re ready to explore Tokyo when we arrive!

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 other grilled food.

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’ll explore the famous Akihabara neighborhood and explore the home of “otaku” culture under the neon lights.

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. During their 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 one last time before we head to the airport for our flight back to LAX or onward to Seoul if you are connecting to the Seoul Searching program. Your time in Japan was full of new memories, new flavors, and new friends.