This program has been canceled, but we are still offering a June 26th Japan program with a different itinerary. If you are interested in traveling to Japan using this itinerary, we can book travelers on trips with our partner tour operator, G Adventures. You can see available dates here. GEEO can provide a 5% discount (or the best available sale price). Please contact us if you are interested in booking a G Adventures tour to Japan.
Wander off the beaten path away from Japan’s big cities and popular sites with this 11-day tour that takes you to destinations that are often overlooked. Visit the treasured castle of Matsumoto and learn about Tokugawa culture, explore the quaint city of Hagi by bicycle, and settle in at a community homestay to truly immerse yourself in the local culture. Of course, there’s time before and after to explore Tokyo and Kyoto, making this trip a well-rounded glimpse into Japan’s past and present. Visit Japan with us, all while earning professional development credit with other educators.
Arrive in Tokyo at any time. We recommend arriving a day or two early to fully explore this huge city (e.g., to see Sensō-ji Temple or Tokyo Tower). This will also give you time to adjust to the time difference, overcome any jetlag, and avoid any disruption to your trip due to flight delays or cancellations. We can book extra hotel nights for you in Tokyo before the trip. Please note that check-in at the hotel is usually around 2:00-3:00 p.m. There are no planned activities until an intro meeting around 6:00 or 7:00 p.m., usually in the hotel lobby. Check for a sign or ask at the reception desk about the exact time and location of the group meeting. Please make every effort to arrive in time for this meeting. If you are delayed and will arrive late, please inform us. Your tour leader will then leave you a message at the front desk informing you of where and when to meet up tomorrow. After the meeting, you might choose to get dinner at a nearby restaurant with your traveling companions and your tour leader to further get to know one another. Accommodation: Shinjuku Washington Hotel (or similar) * For the actual hotel your specific departure will be using, please check your voucher.
Your tour leader will lead the group on a walking tour of eclectic modern Tokyo from the hub of Shinjuku to Shibuya through to Harajuku. Start with a birds-eye view of the city from Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (opt to return this evening for a nighttime view!). Visit the beautiful Meiji Shrine, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shōken. Then see the famous scramble crossing in Shibuya—automobile traffic is stopped from all sides, and pedestrians scramble across the intersection in every direction, with as many as 3,000 people crossing at one time! The rest of the day is free to explore more of the city. Accommodation: Shinjuku Washington Hotel (or similar)
Today we board a bullet train and journey to Nagano, located in the Japanese Alps and host city of the 1998 Winter Olympics. After arriving in Nagano, we will take a public bus to visit the Jigokudani Monkey Park, where wild snow monkeys can be seen bathing in the natural hot springs. The pool where most of the monkeys soak is man-made, fed by the hot springs. Along the walking paths up to the pools, other monkeys tend to stop and watch visitors curiously. The beautiful walk through the forest from the bus stop to the hot springs takes about 30–45 minutes. Approximate travel time: 3 hrs by bullet train Accommodation: Nagano Tokyu REI Hotel (or similar)
Today, we travel by local train for a day trip to quaint Matsumoto, where we will visit one of Japan's most treasured castles. Amazingly, Matsumoto Castle still retains its original wooden interior and stone exterior. Explore this castle where 16th-century Samurai once roamed before venturing out with the group to wander Matsumoto's ancient streets or dine in a traditional storehouse. We then return to Nagano and visit the Buddhist temple of Zenkō-ji, one of the last remaining pilgrimage sites in Japan. Built in the 7th century, the city of Nagano grew around the temple. The first Buddha image in Japan was brought here from Korea in 522 AD and is known as a hibutsu, or a “secret Buddha,” as it is kept completely hidden from the public eye. The temple laws prohibit the statue from being shown to anyone, including the chief priest of the temple. Approximate travel time: 3-4 hrs round trip by local train Accommodation: Nagano Tokyu REI Hotel (or similar)
Today we travel to Otsu in Shiga prefecture, located on the banks of Lake Biwa, Japan's largest freshwater lake. Settle in and relax with a stroll (or bike ride) around this picturesque lake before heading out to enjoy a delicious bowl of ramen for dinner. Your time in lovely Otsu will be short. Approximate travel time: 4.5 hrs by train Accommodation: Lake Biwa Otsu Prince Hotel (or similar) Meals included: Dinner
Grab a quick breakfast before a long travel day. Please note that before leaving Ōtsu, you'll need to prepare your day pack/overnight bag for a two-night stay in Hagi, as your main luggage will be sent on to Tottori. Remember to include comfortable clothing for a cycling excursion and two nights at the homestay. Also, grab a bento box from Lawson's or FamilyMart to eat during the train journey. In the late afternoon, arrive in the quaint city of Hagi, a former castle town that boasts feudal architecture. Take part in a welcome ceremony with the local residents—your host families! Get to know a local family during your community homestay in Hagi. In recent years, due to the rapidly aging population and limited income opportunities in many of the rural areas of Japan, young people and other community members have had to leave Hagi to make a living in larger cities, like Osaka and Tokyo. Learn from your host family about local history and customs, and enjoy a home-cooked meal with your hosts. Approximate travel time: 6.5 hrs by train Accommodation: Homestay in Hagi (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast | Dinner
Explore rural Hagi on a guided morning cycle through town. Enjoy the slow pace of life as you pedal past the city's Tokugawa-era architecture, and cycle along the Japanese Sea. Opt to jump in and go for a quick swim! Your clothes will dry off as you bicycle back to the visitor center. Afterward, you will have free time to try some local cuisine and wander the narrow streets or visit some of the beautiful old residences that are open to the public. In the late afternoon, return to your homestay and enjoy dinner with your host family. Accommodation: Homestay in Hagi (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast | Dinner
This morning, you'll bid farewell to your host families after enjoying breakfast together. Later, travel to Miho-misumi by train, taking in scenic views along the way. In Miho-misumi, learn the art of making "washi," a UNESCO-recognized traditional Japanese paper, and take home your handmade washi as a memento. Then, board another train and end the day in the seaside town of Tottori. Approximate travel time: 6 hrs total by train Accommodation: New Otani Tottori (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch
Located along the coast of the Sea of Japan, the Tottori Sand Dunes (or "Tottori Sakyu") were formed thousands of years ago when sand was washed away from a nearby river. This morning, we'll walk along the dunes and climb one to take in scenic views of the coastline. Afterward, take a bus to Tottori's harbor fish market, home to fresh seafood and some of Japan's best crab. Walk among the stalls and watch the locals in action. Opt to try a tasty dish in the market's restaurant section. In the late afternoon, travel to Kyoto, the traditional heart of Japan. Approximate travel time: 3 hrs by train Accommodation: Oakwood Hotel Oike Kyoto (or similar)
We will start off the day with a visit to the Fushimi Inari shrine, located just outside of Kyoto. Walk under the thousands of iconic torii gates (as seen in the film Memoirs of a Geisha) and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. The shrine itself is at the base of the Inari mountain but includes many trails up to smaller shrines in the area. If you're up for a challenge, hike all the way to the very top! Kyoto is home to over 2,000 temples, including some of the most magnificent in the country, dating back centuries. Use your free time to continue exploring—the city also boasts museums, castles, and traditional gardens—or opt to visit neighboring Nara or Osaka. Accommodation: Oakwood Hotel Oike Kyoto (or similar)
There are no planned activities today, so you may depart Kyoto at any time. We highly recommend extending your stay in Kyoto by at least one day or more to allow more time to explore this incredible city and/or take day trips to Osaka and Hiroshima (by Shinkansen). You may book post-trip accommodation at your hotel in Kyoto through us. Please note that check-out time from the hotel is usually mid-morning, but luggage storage services are available at the reception desk. Want more adventure? Book two or more GEEO programs in the same school year and receive a discount! GEEO will give you 10% off of the lesser value program(s) (up to 3 programs per year). If you would like to extend your time abroad but don't see another GEEO program that interests you, let us know. We can work with you to find a trip from our tour operator’s much larger catalog. Their tours are open to the general public and not designed specifically for educators, but we can still offer you and your travel companions a discounted educator price on any additional tours that you book.