Trip Leaders: Dr. Jeremy Hegi and Nathan Richardson
This tour will highlight Japan's historical, cultural (and pop-cultural), and religious contours while providing opportunities for students to learn how to create digital media content that enables them to meaningfully convey, reflect on, and interpret their experiences to people and institutions outside the course.
We will begin in Tokyo, where we will explore critical cultural locations, from the Imperial Palace and Meiji Shrine to the open-air architectural museum and Akihabara district, something straight out of a cyberpunk future. Afterward, we will take a bullet train West to Nagoya, where we will tour the newly opened Ghibli theme park, exploring the animation studio that helped make Japanese animation an international phenomenon. From there, we will proceed to Japan's culturally, historically, and artistically rich ancient capital, Kyoto. After we are finished in the Kyoto area, we will head to Southern Japan, where we will go to Hiroshima and visit the Peace Memorial Park, which commemorates the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in World War II. The trip's exploration of Japan's blend of tradition and modernity will provide a perfect context for creating digital media content, such as documentaries and social media posts. As part of the course, students will capture their experiences at significant landmarks like the Meiji Shrine, Studio Ghibli Park, and Hiroshima while reflecting on cultural differences and their role as Americans abroad. This content will not only deepen students' understanding of Japan but can also serve as promotional media for future study abroad opportunities.
- Tokyo
- Nagoya
- Kyoto
- Hiroshima
- Osaka
Trip Highlights*
- Shibuya Crossing
- Asakusa District – Senso-Ji Temple and Surrounding Area
- Imperial Palace
- Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
- Meiji Shrine
- Tokyo Sky Tree
- Toyosu Fish Market (Early Morning)
- Tsukiji Outer Market
- Akihabara District
- Owl Café
- Edo Tokyo Museum and Surrounding Area
- Tokyo Tower
- TeamLab Borderless
- Sumo Wrestling or a Tokyo Giants Baseball Game
- Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum
- Studio Ghibli Museum
- Mount Fuji or Hakone
- Studio Ghibli Park
- Ancient Capital, Kyoto
- Universal Studies/Super Nintendo World and Night Life with Street Food
- Todai-ji Temple and Nara Deer
- Osaka Aquarium and Night Life with Street Food
- Bamboo Forest and Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama
- Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima
- Atomic Bomb Dome, Hiroshima
- Miyajima Island Excursion: Hiking and Itsukushima Shrine (Floating Shrine)
- Nikko Toshogu Shrine and surrounding area
- Disney and Disney Sea Tokyo
- TeamLab Worlds
- Tsukiji Outer Market
*The above list is preliminary itinerary. Changes and substitutions may need to occur.
All of these trips will leave in May, 2026. Trips are usually three weeks in duration. Specific departure and arrival dates will be communicated to applicants in the Fall of 2025.
We are doing our best to have it cost $5,000 or less per person. As you may know, this is very inexpensive for a 3-week trip to Europe. This cost includes everything (flights, hotels, meals, trains, museums, concerts, etc.).
Out-of-pocket expenses which are not included in the trip charges include passport charges, visas, cost of passport photos, cost of birth certificates or other documentation needed for passport applications, ISIC cards, health-related expenses such as immunizations, spending money for souvenirs, snacks, postcards, stamps, independent meals, and optional excursions. We would encourage you to bring $500-$1,000 of additional spending cash on the trip.
The initial $250 will be due with your application by October 15th. This is only refundable if you are not accepted to a trip. The next $ 1,500 will be due by November 15th. We will need this to start booking flights, hotels, and ground transportation. It is not refundable. The final $3,250 will be due at the start of the spring semester. It will be listed as a course fee so you can take this part out as a student loan if you need.
If you are a United States citizen, then you will need a passport. If you are an international student, then you may need a Schengen Visa. A copy of your passport is due when you return your acceptance letter. If you do not have a passport, you will need to apply by October 15, 2025. Failure to show receipt of application by November 15, 2025 will make you ineligible for the trip.
Each country has its own requirements, and some don't have any. The requirements will be communicated upon acceptance. Proof of required vaccinations needs to be submitted to the Global Campus office by February 28th, 2026.
Yes and no. The university does provide travel insurance for each student. The university does NOT provide separate major medical coverage for students. Typically, your current insurance, either through the university or through your parents, will also cover you while you are traveling. You are encouraged to check with your insurance carrier about coverage while you are traveling in a foreign country.
Yes, we will be traveling in a group and you will need to stay with the group. Going off on your own and refusing to participate in the trip activities will be cause for you being sent home early at your own expense.
Yes, absolutely! Failure to do so could result in you being sent home early, at your cost.
Not necessarily. If you choose to take the course for credit, then you have to pass the class to go on the trip. However, you may wish to audit the class. If you choose to audit the course, your obligations for course work may be less than a student taking the course for credit, but you will still need to attend all courses and do work designated by the course instructor.
YES! It counts as 3 hours towards this requirement.
Students who have completed at least one year at LCU, are in good standing with Student Life, good standing with the Business Office, and are in good standing academically.
Each May trip will be capped at 20 students. Each trip will have a waitlist, so if you aren't initially accepted, don't lose hope. Open spaces can and do become available.