The Soul of Japan, Tokyo to Nagasaki
The tour will highlight Japan's historical, cultural (and pop-cultural), and religious contours. To start the trip, we will go to 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. Heading south, we will climb Mount Fuji, one of Japan's most sacred and iconic symbols. 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. There, we will visit several UNESCO sites (castles, temples, and monasteries), observe a Japanese tea ceremony, interact at town markets, and stroll through the bamboo groves surrounding Mount Arishiyama. South of Kyoto, we travel to Nara, which has temples and artwork dating back to the 8th century. Following our time together in Nara, we will travel to Osaka and visit Super Nintendo World and Universal Studios Japan. Finally, we will head to Southern Japan. First, we will go to Hiroshima and visit the Peace Memorial Park, which commemorates the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in World War II. After we spend time in Hiroshima, we will end the trip in Nagasaki, touring sites that reflect the plight of the Hidden Christians who lived in Japan in the 17th and 19th centuries. This brief description is not comprehensive of what we plan to do on the trip, but it does reflect our goal of helping students gain a deeper understanding of Japan’s unique culture and history.
Itinerary
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 April 28th. This is only refundable if you are not accepted to a trip. The next $ 1,500 will be due by November 1st, 2024. 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 2025 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, 2024. Failure to show receipt of application by November 15, 2024 will make you ineligible for the trip.
Yes. Each country has its own requirements. The requirements will be communicated upon acceptance (May, 2024). Proof of required vaccinations needs to be submitted to the Global Campus office by February 28th, 2025. Failure to show evidence of necessary vaccinations will make you ineligible for the trip.
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.
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. A limited number of students choosing to audit the course will be chosen for the trip.