Faculty-led travel courses · Asia
Japan Faculty-Led Travel Course
This program visits Japan's historic monuments, countryside and regional food traditions. Students see how centuries-old culture and a modern society exist side by side.
Good to know
- Language
- Japanese; English signage is common in major cities
- Currency
- Japanese yen
- Best season
- March–May and October–November
- Typical length
- 10–14 days (customizable)
Highlights
What students will see and do
- Senso-ji, TokyoTokyo's oldest Buddhist temple, in the Asakusa district, approached through the Kaminarimon gate and a market street.
- Fushimi Inari Shrine, KyotoA Shinto shrine famous for thousands of vermilion torii gates along a forested mountain path.
- Kinkaku-ji, KyotoThe Golden Pavilion is a Zen temple covered in gold leaf and set beside a reflecting pond.
- NaraJapan's first permanent capital is home to Todai-ji, a giant bronze Buddha and free-roaming deer in the park.
- Hiroshima Peace MemorialThe park and museum commemorate the 1945 atomic bombing and promote peace education.
- Mount FujiJapan's highest mountain, at 3,776 meters, is a UNESCO-listed cultural site and a national symbol.
Faculty-led travel courses
Courses that fit Japan
Professors build their own syllabus; ARAMFO arranges the visits that bring it to life.
Art, Architecture & HistoryA course could study Shinto and Buddhist architecture, gardens and traditional crafts.
Business & EntrepreneurshipStudents could examine Japanese manufacturing, service culture and management practices.
Education & Teacher PreparationA course could compare Japanese and American approaches to schooling and classroom culture.
Map
Where you will go
Academic and professional visits
- A local university faculty of education
- A manufacturing or technology company
- A traditional craft workshop
- A temple or shrine cultural center
Visits are chosen with the professor to match the course.
Itinerary
Sample itinerary
A starting point only — every trip is adjusted to your course, dates and budget.
Customizable. This sample shows the kinds of visits and places available. Days, pace and academic visits are built around your course.
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Day 1
Arrival in Tokyo
The group arrives in Tokyo and begins with a welcome dinner.
- Arrive and transfer to the hotel
- Welcome dinner with your guide
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Day 2
Asakusa and Ueno
Students see Tokyo's oldest temple district and the museum park of Ueno.
- Senso-ji Temple and Nakamise Street
- Asakusa Shrine
- Tokyo National Museum in Ueno Park
- Ameyoko market street
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Day 3
Kamakura
Kamakura was the seat of Japan's first samurai government and is full of temples and shrines.
- Hase-dera Temple
- Great Buddha of Kamakura
- Hokoku-ji Temple bamboo garden
- Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine
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Day 4
Tokyo to Kyoto
A bullet train carries the group to Japan's former imperial capital.
- Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto
- Fushimi Inari Taisha and its torii gates
- Kiyomizu-dera Temple
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Day 5
Kyoto Temples and Gion
Students see Zen gardens, a shogun's castle and the geisha district in one full day.
- Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
- Ryoan-ji Zen garden
- Nijo Castle (UNESCO)
- Evening walk through Gion
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Day 6
Day Trip to Nara
Nara was Japan's first permanent capital, and its temples house some of the country's oldest wooden buildings.
- Nara Park and its deer
- Todai-ji Temple
- Kasuga Taisha Shrine
- Kofuku-ji and Naramachi
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Day 7
Mount Koya
Koyasan is the center of Shingon Buddhism. Students spend the night in the mountains.
- Travel from Kyoto to Mount Koya
- Okunoin cemetery and temples
- Overnight at a temple lodging
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Day 8
Hiroshima Peace Memorial
Students learn the history of the 1945 atomic bombing and the city's commitment to peace.
- Travel from Mount Koya to Hiroshima
- Peace Memorial Park and Atomic Bomb Dome
- Peace Memorial Museum
- Talk with an atomic bomb survivor
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Day 9
Miyajima Island
Miyajima's Itsukushima Shrine, built over the water, is one of Japan's most famous sights.
- Ferry to Miyajima
- Itsukushima Shrine (UNESCO)
- Walk on the island or hike Mount Misen
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Day 10
Hiroshima to Takayama
A full travel day takes the group into the mountains of central Japan.
- Train from Hiroshima to Takayama via Nagoya
- Evening in Takayama
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Day 11
Shirakawa-go and Takayama
Thatched farmhouses in Shirakawa-go are a UNESCO World Heritage site. Takayama preserves its Edo-era old town.
- Shirakawa-go village
- Takayama Old Town
- Hida Folk Village
- Optional bicycle rental
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Day 12
Takayama to Tokyo
The group returns to Tokyo by rail and has a short city tour.
- Train from Takayama to Tokyo via Nagoya
- Short guided tour on arrival
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Day 13
Tokyo with Your Professor
A flexible day to explore with the faculty leader, ending with a farewell dinner.
- Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, by advance reservation
- Farewell dinner
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Day 14
Departure
Transfer to the airport for the flight home.
- Transfer to the airport
What is included
ARAMFO arranges everything
You choose the dates and the airport your group flies from. We handle the logistics and the academic visits so you can focus on teaching.
3–6 credit hours, offered through your own department · 8+ students and the professor's travel cost is covered by ARAMFO · Your dates and your departure airport
- Airfare from your preferred airport
- Hotels or student housing
- Meals as set out in the itinerary
- Transportation in the host country
- Tour guides and entrance fees
- University, company and professional visits
- A native guide with the group for the whole trip
- Customized dates and itinerary
More in Japan
Other ARAMFO programs in Japan
Get started
Plan a course in Japan
Tell us about your course and we will reply with a draft itinerary and cost.