Planned Cultural Activities, Excursions
KYOTO
Kyoto served as Japan's capital and the emperor's residence from 794 until 1868. It is now the country's seventh-largest city, with a population of 1.4 million. Over the centuries, Kyoto has been destroyed by many wars and fires, but countless temples, shrines, and other historically priceless structures survive in the city today.
Kyoto Cultural Activities and Excursions
Kyoto Neighborhood Tour
- Stroll along the streets surrounding your housing accommodations and get familiar with the local restaurants, shops, and public transportation stations (no entrance fees included).
- The museum's permanent collection is presented to the public in rotating exhibitions and consists of various cultural properties, including archaeological relics, sculptures, ceramics, calligraphy, costumes and paintings. It is housed in the spacious galleries of the Heisei Chishinkan, a building designed by Taniguchi Yoshio and opened in 2014.
- The temple is famous for its 1001 statues of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. The temple was founded in 1164 and rebuilt a century later after the original structure had been destroyed in a fire. Measuring 120 meters, the temple hall is Japan's most extended wooden structure. The name Sanjusangendo (literally "33 intervals") derives from the number of intervals between the building's support columns, a traditional method of measuring the size of a building. In the center of the main hall sits a giant, wooden statue of a 1000-armed Kannon (Senju Kannon) flanked on each side by 500 statues of human-sized 1000-armed Kannon standing in ten rows. Together, they make for an incredible sight.
- Opened in 2006, the Kyoto International Manga Museum consists of three floors and a basement, and most of its walls are lined with shelves of manga. Browsing this massive collection of manga is one of the museum's attractions.
- Nishiki Market is a narrow, five-block-long shopping street with over a hundred shops and restaurants. Known as "Kyoto's Kitchen," this lively retail market specializes in all things food-related, like fresh seafood, produce, knives, and cookware, and is a great place to find seasonal foods and Kyoto specialties, such as Japanese sweets, pickles, dried seafood and sushi.
- Nijo Castle was built in 1603 as the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Period (1603-1867). His grandson Iemitsu completed the castle's palace buildings 23 years later and further expanded the castle by adding a five-story castle keep. After the Tokugawa Shogunate fell in 1867, Nijo Castle was used as the Imperial Palace for a while before being donated to the city and opened to the public as a historic site. Its palace buildings are arguably the best-surviving examples of castle palace architecture of Japan's feudal era, and the castle was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. (Entrance fee included.)
Sanneneizaka and Nineizaka Streets
- The old cobblestone streets of Ichinenzaka, Ninenzaka, and Sannenzaka have prospered since ancient times. These sloping streets are lined with historic Japanese-style buildings that typify Kyoto, including many souvenir shops. Nearby Kodaiji Temple and Yasaka Shrine also make these narrow streets part of a popular sightseeing route centering on Kiyomizu Temple.
During a museum tour, you will learn about the traditional brewing process. A small cup of sake is included here if you want to sample their produce, but you may wish to wait until you visit a local café, where your guide will order you a sake-tasting set.
- Gion Is Kyoto's most famous geisha district, located around Shijo Avenue between Yasaka Shrine in the east and the Kamo River in the west. It is filled with shops, restaurants and ochaya (teahouses), where geiko (Kyoto dialect for geisha) and maiko (geiko apprentices) entertain.
- Visit with students (subject to availability and confirmation; no fees included at this time).
- Kiyomizudera is one of the most celebrated temples of Japan. It was founded in 780 on the site of the Otowa Waterfall in the wooded hills east of Kyoto and derives its name from the fall's pure waters. The temple was initially associated with the Hosso sect, one of the oldest schools within Japanese Buddhism, but formed its own Kita Hosso sect in 1965. In 1994, the temple was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- Daitokuji is a large, walled temple complex in northern Kyoto and the head temple of the Rinzai sect's Daitokuji temple of Japanese Zen Buddhism school. The complex consists of nearly two dozen sub-temples and is one of the best places in Japan to see a wide variety of Zen gardens and to experience Zen culture and architecture.
- Kinkakuji is a Zen temple whose top two floors are entirely covered in gold leaf. Formally known as Rokuonji, the temple was the retirement villa of the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, and according to his will, it became a Zen temple of the Rinzai sect after he died in 1408. Kinkakuji inspired the similarly named Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion) built by Yoshimitsu's grandson, Ashikaga Yoshimasa, on the other side of the city a few decades later.
- The temple is a Zen Buddhist temple and belongs to the Myōshin-ji (Temple of Excellent Mind) school, the largest among 14 Japanese Rinzai Zen Buddhist schools. The temple was established in 1590 by Horio Yoshiharu, a feudal lord, or daimyō, of Matsue in present-day Shimane Prefecture. This temple houses important historical objects that reflect Japan's multifaceted religious and artistic atmosphere from the sixteenth century onward.
- Sanzenin is a temple of the Tendai sect of Japanese Buddhism and was founded by nobody less than the revered monk Saicho, who introduced Tendai Buddhism to Japan in 804. Sanzenin is a monzeki temple, one of only a few temples whose head priests used to be members of the imperial family. (Entrance fee included.)
Siho-ji-Kokedera Moss Temple
- Saihoji, more commonly known as Kokedera, is one of Kyoto's Unesco World Heritage Sites. Kokedera means Moss Temple, referring to the temple garden's estimated 120 different varieties of moss. Outside of winter, visitors to the temple can walk through this spectacular garden, which has strongly influenced subsequent Japanese garden design. Kokedera offers a unique opportunity for visitors to participate in some of the temple's religious activities. Every visitor to Kokedera is asked to contribute to the observances of kito and shakyo (respectively, the chanting and copying of Buddhist scriptures, called sutra). (Entrance to this temple requires a reservation in advance – participants are chosen by lottery, so a visit cannot be guaranteed. The entrance supplement is priced separately as optional; it is not included.)
Free afternoon/evenings and THREE free days!
OSAKA
Osaka is often referred to as the "nation's kitchen" due to its abundance of delicious and affordable food options, and is also known for its lively nightlife. Osaka has a rich history and culture dating back to the 7th century. The city was once the capital of Japan, and it played an essential role in the country's development. Today, Osaka is a modern and cosmopolitan city home to a diverse population and a significant business, finance, and industry center. As Japan's second most populous city, after Tokyo, it is also known for its delicious food, lively nightlife, and rich history and culture.
Dōtombori and/or Nipponbashi districts
Tezuka Osamu Manga Museum
- The museum is located in the city of Takarazuka in northern Osaka Prefecture. The childhood home of Osamu, the town is known for its most significant attraction: the Takarazuka Revue. Housed in the Takarazuka Grand Theater, this musical theatre troupe composed entirely of women—the actresses play both male and female roles—has been celebrated for over a century.
- Since the gallery opened its doors in 2003, it has focused on internationally acclaimed artists such as Hitoshi Nomura, Norio Imai and Samuro Murakami, who stood at the forefront of postwar Japanese art, as well as Yo Akiyama, Shihoko Fukumoto and Genta Ishizuka who have cultivated a unique aesthetic to expand and deepen new forms of crafts, and younger artists who will forge the future.
- The gallery was opened in 1992 by Ryoichi Matsuo. It was initially located in Tezukayama, a residential suburb of Osaka. In March 2010, the gallery moved to Minami-Horie. The gallery was renewed as a contemporary art gallery in this new space and named 'Tezukayama Gallery' after its original birthplace. Since its opening as a contemporary art gallery, it has allowed emerging Japanese artists to exhibit their work in and abroad. Exciting, contemporary art from current Japanese artists is the gallery's primary focus.
- The museum is located in the city of Takarazuka in northern Osaka Prefecture. The childhood home of Osamu, the town is known for its most significant attraction: the Takarazuka Revue. Housed in the Takarazuka Grand Theater, this musical theatre troupe composed entirely of women—the actresses play both male and female roles—has been celebrated for over a century.
- Since the gallery opened its doors in 2003, it has focused on internationally acclaimed artists such as Hitoshi Nomura, Norio Imai and Samuro Murakami, who stood at the forefront of postwar Japanese art, as well as Yo Akiyama, Shihoko Fukumoto and Genta Ishizuka who have cultivated a unique aesthetic to expand and deepen new forms of crafts, and younger artists who will forge the future.
- The gallery was opened in 1992 by Ryoichi Matsuo. It was initially located in Tezukayama, a residential suburb of Osaka. In March 2010, the gallery moved to Minami-Horie. The gallery was renewed as a contemporary art gallery in this new space and named 'Tezukayama Gallery' after its original birthplace. Since its opening as a contemporary art gallery, it has allowed emerging Japanese artists to exhibit their work in and abroad. Exciting, contemporary art from current Japanese artists is the gallery's primary focus.
TOKYO
Tokyo is Japan's capital and one of the world's most populous metropolis, with a population of 13 million. Comprising 23 special wards, 26 cities, 5 towns, and 8 villages, Tokyo is the center of various activities in Japan, including politics, economy, and culture. It offers unlimited shopping, entertainment, dining, excellent museums, historic temples, and gardens.
Tokyo Neighborhood Tour
- Stroll along the streets surrounding your housing accommodations and get familiar with the local restaurants, shops, and public transportation stations.
- The Tokyo National Museum features one of Japan's most prominent and best collections of art and archeological artifacts, comprising over 110,000 individual items, including nearly a hundred national treasures. At any one time, about 4000 different items from the permanent museum collection are on display. In addition, visiting temporary exhibitions are also held regularly.
Asakusa Tour including Sensō-ji Temple
- Asakusa is the center of Tokyo's shitamachi (literally "low city"), one of Tokyo's districts, where an atmosphere of the Tokyo of past decades survives. Asakusa's main attraction is Sensoji, a popular Buddhist temple built in the 7th century. The temple is approached via the Nakamise, a shopping street that has been providing temple visitors with a variety of traditional, local snacks and tourist souvenirs for centuries.
- Shibuya is Tokyo's leading center for youth fashion and culture, whose streets are the birthplace of many of Japan's fashion and entertainment trends. It is also home to the famous 5-way "scramble crossing." Next is Harajuku and the famous Takeshita dori (Cat Street). Whether you are a goth, punk, or anything in between, a shop in Harajuku caters to you. Known as Electric Town, Akihabara was originally famous for its many electronics shops; however, in more recent years, Akihabara has gained recognition as the center of Japan's otaku (diehard fan) culture, and many shops and establishments devoted to anime and manga are now dispersed among the electronic stores in the district.
- Meiji Shrine is dedicated to the deified spirit of Emperor Meiji and is a popular place for traditional Japanese weddings. )
- Yoyogi Park is one of Tokyo's largest city parks, featuring expansive lawns, ponds and forested areas. It is an excellent place for jogging, picnicking and other outdoor activities. Before becoming a city park in 1967, the area where Yoyogi Park is located served as the site of the Olympic Village for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and, before that, as a residential area for US military personnel.
Calligraphy Workshop
- You will have a Calligraphy lesson and learn how, when writing kanji (Japanese pictographs), each stroke has a proper way to begin and end, and there is a correct order and path to follow. The slightest lapse in concentration will show in one's work. )
Studio Ghibli Museum (if tickets can be procured. If not, students can go on their own during free days.
- Ghibli Museum stands in the 4000-square-meter site in the middle of a green park. The three-story structure houses various exhibits, a play space, a movie theater, a restaurant and a shopping corner. Built specially to entertain Japan's younger population, Ghibli characters are used in a fun way throughout the museum, including the giant Cat Bus from Totoro, the Robot from Laputa and the harbor view from a window as admired by Kiki in the movie.
- Anime is considered one of the largest industries in Japan. The first Japanese animation was created in 1917. Nowadays, Japanese anime and manga, a Japanese comic book style, are popular worldwide for their details and wide range of expression. Participants will create their own animation in a workshop.
- The Tokyo City View observation deck is one of Tokyo's best. When the weather permits, views can also be enjoyed from an open-air terrace on the rooftop. Also located on Mori Tower's top floors is the Mori Art Museum, a modern art museum focusing on new artistic ideas worldwide.
- Mori Building Digital Art Museum Epson TeamLab Borderless is a cutting-edge immersive digital art museum on the artificial island of Odaiba in Tokyo Bay. It offers visitors an ever-changing wonderworld of sensory stimulation and delight.
- The Ad Museum Tokyo (ADMT) is dedicated to advertising and marketing. They collect and preserve advertising and marketing-related works, documents, and publications, all in the name of helping the public understand why advertising is essential.
- The Sumida Hokusai Museum is dedicated to the ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai, commonly called Hokusai. His most well-known works include The Great Wave off Kanagawa and Red Fuji, which are a couple of prints from the collection Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji. The museum was opened in November 2016 in Tokyo's Sumida Ward, where Hokusai was born and spent most of his life.
- The museum nicknames itself "Syabi". The museum opened temporarily in 1990 and moved to its current building in Yebisu Garden Place in 1995. At that time, it was one of the first photography galleries in Japan not to be dedicated to the works of a single photographer. Since then, most exhibitions have been themed rather than devoted to a single photographer. Still, exhibitions have been dedicated to such photographers of the past as Berenice Abbott (1990) and Tadahiko Hayashi (1993–94) and also to living photographers, including Martin Parr (2007) and Hiromi Tsuchida (2008).
- Established by Toshiko Okamoto, Taro's partner in both public and private life, the Taro Okamoto Memorial Museum first opened its doors to the public in 1998, a mere two years after Taro's death. 25 years have passed, but although the museum is housed in a small, residential-sized building, it has won the support of numerous visitors for how it coveys Taro's life and spirit to the present day. To date, the museum has held 84 exhibitions and welcomed 900,000 visitors.
- Nakano Broadway is a shopping complex famous for its many stores selling anime items and idol goods, including more than a dozen small Mandarake stores specializing in manga and anime-related collectibles.
- With the aid of supporters from a range of fields, The Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum, Waseda University, familiarly known as "Enpaku," was founded in October 1928 to commemorate the 70th birthday of Professor Tsubouchi Shoyo and the completion of the translation into Japanese of all 40 volumes of the "Complete Works of Shakespeare," a task to which the Professor had devoted half his life. Since then, as Asia's only museum dedicated solely to the theatre, Enpaku has been collecting works relating to the theatre and motion pictures in Japan and worldwide. Its extensive collection of about one million works that has been amassed over 85 years may be termed "the history of theatre" itself. Meanwhile, it also contributes to researchers from various fields, extending from the theatre and motion pictures to other areas such as literature, history, clothing and construction.
- In the "Special Exhibition Area," popular anime, manga, games and culturally valuable works are exhibited with digital expressions unique to DNP and a combination of natural and virtual (VR/AR) to create new content experience value. The "Store Area" sells goods linked to the exhibition and DNP original goods, such as high-definition reproduction. In the "pop-up store area," the characters on sale are replaced about every 3 weeks. Goods sold over-the-counter can also be purchased on the EC site "XRmall" operated by DNP (*some goods may be limited to over-the-counter sales). Many anime fans visit and love it as a base that widely disseminates Japanese anime culture.
Free afternoon/evenings and THREE free days!
Kamakura Excursion
- The Great Buddha of Kamakura is a bronze statue of Amida Buddha, which stands on the grounds of Kotokuin Temple. With a height of 11.4 meters, it has long been Japan's second tallest bronze Buddha statue, surpassed only by the statue in Nara's Todaiji Temple and some recent creations.
- The Shrine is a popular shrine in western Kamakura that people visit to wash their money (zeniarai means "coin washing"). It is said that money washed in the shrine's spring will double.
- The temple is famous for its eleven-headed statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. The 9.18-meter tall, gilded wooden statue is regarded as one of the largest wooden sculptures in Japan and can be viewed in the temple's main building, the Kannon-do Hall. According to legend, it was carved from the same tree as the similarly tall Kannon statue worshiped at the Hasedera Temple in Nara Prefecture.
- The Great Buddha of Kamakura is a bronze statue of Amida Buddha, which stands on the grounds of Kotokuin Temple. With a height of 11.4 meters, it has long been Japan's second tallest bronze Buddha statue, surpassed only by the statue in Nara's Todaiji Temple and some recent creations.
- The Shrine is a popular shrine in western Kamakura that people visit to wash their money (zeniarai means "coin washing"). It is said that money washed in the shrine's spring will double.
- The temple is famous for its eleven-headed statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. The 9.18-meter tall, gilded wooden statue is regarded as one of the largest wooden sculptures in Japan and can be viewed in the temple's main building, the Kannon-do Hall. According to legend, it was carved from the same tree as the similarly tall Kannon statue worshiped at the Hasedera Temple in Nara Prefecture.
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