Wednesday, May 17, 2023

• Depart from Wichita, Kan.

Thursday, May 18

• Arrive at Narita International Airport
• Activate 21-day JR Passes in the airport
• Travel to our hotel near Shinagawa Station in downtown Tokyo

Friday, May 19

• Group breakfast in hotel
• Travel from Tokyo to Hiroshima to Smile-kan, our lodging for the next 10 days

Saturday, May 20

• Orientation meetings
• Excursion to local supermarket

Sunday, May 21

• Full-day excursion to Miyajima and Itsukushima Shrine
• Student presentations

Monday, May 22

• Language & Culture class
• History class
• Afternoon practical assignment out in the city

Tuesday, May 23

• Language & Culture class
• History class
• Afternoon practical assignment out in the city

Wednesday, May 24

• Language & Culture class
• History class
• Afternoon Excursion to Hiroshima Shudo University
• English Dreamers Club with Japanese student partners

Thursday, May 25

• Excursion to Hiroshima Peace Park
• Personal testimony from Hibakusha (atomic bomb survivor)
• Guided park tour

Friday, May 26

• Language & Culture class
• History class
• Afternoon practical assignment out in the city

Saturday, May 27

• Pack up and clean Smile-kan
• Travel from Hiroshima to Karatsu
• Meet host families
• Evening in new host homes

Sunday, May 28

• Free Day with host families

Monday, May 29

• Morning visit to Higashi Karatsu Elementary School
• Afternoon excursion to Karatsu Castle and Nishinohama beach
• Group supper at kaitenzushi restaurant

Tuesday, May 30

• Breakfast and farewell with host families
• Travel to Fukuoka
• City excursion options

Wednesday, May 31

• Travel from Fukuoka to Osaka
• Picnic at Osaka Castle park
• Student presentations
• Meet host families and return to host homes

Thursday, June 1

• Travel from host homes to Nara Station
• Koufuku-ji (World Heritage Site)
• Todai-ji (World Heritage Site)
• Nigatsu-do
• Kasuga Grand Shrine (World Heritage Site)
• Student presentations at three locations
• Return to host homes for the night

Friday, June 2

• Travel from host homes to Kyoto Station
• Golden Pavilion (World Heritage Site)
• Nijo Castle (World Heritage Site)
• Student presentations
• Return to host homes for the night

Saturday, June 3

• Travel from host homes to Kyoto Station
• Kiyomizu Temple (World Heritage Site)
• Gion district
• Student presentations
• Return to host homes for the night

Sunday, June 4

• Free day with host families

Monday, June 5

• Say farewell to host families
• Travel from host homes to Kyoto Station
• Travel from Kyoto to Shinagawa Station
• Group lunch in Shinagawa Ramen Alley
• Orientation to Tokyo
• City excursion options

Tuesday, June 6

• Full day Tokyo excursion options (choose 2 or more)
• Sensoji Temple
• Tokyo National Museum
• Meiji Shrine
• Chiyoda
• Tsukiji Market
• Akihabara
• Shibuya Crossing
• Shinjuku

Wednesday, June 7

• Early breakfast at hotel
• Travel from Shinagawa Station to Narita Airport
• Depart from Tokyo, Japan
• Arrive in the US two hours before you left Japan on the same day!