Itinerary

Karatsu
Karatsu
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!

Have a wonderful summer