Japan

Land in Osaka, the international gateway to Japan.

Tour the extraordinary city that suffered unimaginable destruction and incredible rebirth to become the thriving city it is today. At Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, see the Peace Memorial Museum and the Atomic Bomb Dome, the skeletal remains of a pre-blast building, for an idea of the catastrophic effects the Atomic bomb had on the city. The park, museum, and Atomic Bomb Dome act as a symbol of peace and as a memorial for those who died. Continue your tour with a visit to Hiroshima Castle.

Today, travel to Kyoto. Formerly Japan's capital and the city where emperors lived from 794 until 1868, Kyoto is home to 1,600 Buddhist temples, 400 Shinto shrines, palaces, and gardens.

With a local guide, see the Golden Pavilion of Kinkakuji, Nijo Castle, and the Heian Shrine, built to celebrate the city's 1100th anniversary.

Explore Kyoto's classical theater.

Explore Nara, home to some of the country's oldest Buddhist temples. See free-roaming deer in Nara Park and the famed bronze lanterns of Kasuga Shrine.

LEAP Activity | Japanese Calligraphy

Does a person’s writing show their character? Discover the fundamentals of “shodo” (the way of writing) in a Japanese calligraphy class. After learning a little about the history of this traditional art, practice basic strokes and write Japanese characters using a calligraphy brush and ink.

Speed along at up to 125mph aboard Shinkansen, the Japan Rail Bullet Train.

See Hakone, a 12,385-foot, dormant volcano renowned for its symmetry and serenity.

Visit Japan's most celebrated mountain, Mt. Fuji, the main attraction of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.

Arrive in Tokyo, the gleaming, energetic capital of modern Japan. Begin to explore this exciting, thriving city.

Wonder at the beauty of the Meiji Shrine, the Imperial Palace Plaza, and the National Museum on a tour by a local guide of the city's highlights.

Spend the rest of the day visiting the Asakusa Kannon Temple and shopping on Nakamise Street.

LEAP Activity | Japanese School Visit

Visit a Japanese school to meet local students, learn some Japanese, and see the differences between schools in Japan and schools at home.

 

 

LEAP Activity | Japanese Cooking Class

Indulge your eyes as well as your palate as you learn the creative arts involved in a Japanese culinary experience. Under the instruction of a professional chef, prepare, eat and enjoy a traditional Japanese meal.

Opt to visit Nikko, a World Heritage Site and center of Shinto and Buddhist mountain worship. En route, enjoy some of the most spectacular scenery in Japan. See Toshogu, Japan's most lavishly decorated shrine complex, the temple of Rinnoji, Kegon Waterfall, and streets lined with cypress trees.

Board your flight back to North America or extend your stay in Seoul.