2022 Charlottesville Japan Cultural Journey
| Travel Dates: |
June 1, 2022 -
June 14, 2022
Dates are tentative until flights are secured
|
| Group Organizer(s): |
|
| WTT Contact: |
|
| Program Tuition: |
$4,490 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
|
| Estimated Airfare: | $1,100 |
| Deadline(s): | Enroll with the promo code "letsgo2022" and save $100! |
Important Reminders
Passport check
Insurance Reminder
Fundraiser
Review all materials
What to Expect
Please read through all of the information below. More details will be added as your departure draws closer.
Itinerary
We do everything possible to abide by itineraries as originally planned, but decades of experience teaches that we must be flexible in our planning. Changes to a trip’s schedule are uncommon, but Walking Tree reserves the right to make adjustments to programming in the best interest of the group.
| Day | Location | Description | Lodging |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USA - Tokyo | Today the group will depart from the US to Tokyo, Japan. | Airplane |
| 2 | Tokyo | Say konnichiwa to your program leader, your expert on all things Japan and your travel partner for the duration of the program. At your hotel, throw on a yukata robe, pour a cup of green tea, and put your feet up to relax after a long day of travel. But don't relax too much! Before long we’ll be off to enjoy our first meal in the Land of the Rising Sun. | Super Hotel Tokyo |
| 3 | Tokyo | Rise early and greet the day at the Toyosu Outer Market, a sensory stimulating visit filled with entertaining sights, sounds and smells. Toyosu is a window into Japan's fishing, cooking, and dining heritage. Put your newfound seafood knowledge to use at a sushi making class. Your instructors are sushi experts and teacher for many sushi chefs in the area. You'll sample a huge range of Japan's signature dish, and learn how to tell the difference between different types of sushi and sashimi. After lunch, we'll visit the Sumo museum (Ryogoku Kokugikan) and the impressive Tokyo Edo museum. Learn about feudal Japan and the evolution of Japanese culture over time. | Super Hotel Tokyo |
| 4 | Tokyo | Learn the ins and outs of Japan's biggest cultural export and try your hand at manga, Japanese comics. Become your own story writer and illustrator. In no time you’ll have created your own comic and be ready for publishing. This afternoon we'll check out Asakusa, home to the Sensō-ji, a famous Buddhist Temple. This evening we'll hit up a karaoke lounge which is a quintessentially Japanese experience and one that you'll remember for a lifetime! | Super Hotel Tokyo |
| 5 | Kawakuchiko | Bright and early we'll head to Kawakuchiko at Yamanashi. Just 2 hours drive outside of Tokyo area. It offers a great experience of nature, onsens and endless views of Mt. Fuji. We’ll visit flower parks with owls flying around, a dairy farm for some authentic soft cream, and visit the ninja village for an unfogettable experience. End the day by taking a well-deserved break from all the movement by relaxing in an Onsen, a traditional Japanese spa. | Super Hotel Tokyo |
| 6 | Tokyo | Pass through the Meiji Shrine's sacred torii, a gateway to Japan's traditional architecture, and head to the colorful Oriental Bazaar in the Harajuku District, the heart of Japan's dynamic fashion scene. You'll get a firsthand perspective on Japanese pop culture from your leader as he or she guides you through Harajuku's hidden backstreets. After lunch we'll visit the infamous TeamLab at Odaiba City; a modern art exhibition seeks to navigate art, science, techonology, design, culture, and the natural world. Enjoy "En Tea house" for an experience of digital flowers blooming inside of your tea cups. Next, we will enjoy some solo time exploring the malls, Fuji Tv building and the Statue of Liberty. Be sure to grab some pictures in front of the life-size Gundam statue before we take a trip back into the Edo era at the Oedo Onsen Monogatari. | Super Hotel Tokyo |
| 7 | Kamakura | In the morning, we will lace up our hiking shoes and explore the Japanese countryside. We explore the Zen temples along the Daibutsu Hiking trail. In the afternoon, we will visit Daibutsu, the second largest bronze Buddha in Japan. End the day by taking a well-deserved break from all the movement by relaxing on the beach for a picnic. | Super Hotel Tokyo |
| 8 | Tokyo- Hiroshima | Say "Sayōnara" to Tokyo and depart for Hiroshima. We will be traveling on a Japanese bullet train, which will cut down our travel time from nine hours of driving to 4.5 hours through the countryside! Once in Hiroshima, we will go out for an evening of Japanese hot pot for dinner while preparing for our visit to Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park with an orientation and overview of the history of the city. | Urbain Hiroshima Central |
| 9 | Hiroshima | Today, we will visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, which contains a museum, the remnants of buildings destroyed by the 1945 atomic bomb and monuments to the people killed by this nuclear attack. Then we will visit the famous Hiroshima Castle, followed by the downtown district and Shukenin, one of Japan's most famous gardens. | Urbain Hiroshima Central |
| 10 | Hiroshima | We'll also make our way to Miyajima, known for Itsukushima Shrine’s giant Tori Gate which appears to float on top of the water. We will end the day with solo time and reflection on the previous days activities. | Urbain Hiroshima Central |
| 11 | Hiroshima- Kyoto | We will travel to Kyoto, the former capital of Japan for over 1000 years, to learn about the temples, castles, and districts that make this one of the most beautiful cities in the world. We will stretch our legs by taking an early evening tour of Gion, one of the oldest areas in Kyoto made famous by its old wooden teahouses where practicing Geisha and other artists can still be seen in the neighborhood. | Kyoto Ryokan Style Hotel |
| 12 | Kyoto | Start the day with a bus tour exploring the Kinkaku-ji, or Golden Pavilion as well as several other iconic sites in Kyoto. In the afternoon, we will visit a handicraft center and learn how to create traditional Japanese crafts from skilled artisans. | Kyoto Ryokan Style Hotel |
| 13 | Kyoto - Tokyo | In the morning, take the bullet train back to Tokyo. Once there, you'll be blown away by the neon lights of Akihabara Electric Town, a district devoted entirely to electronics, video games, manga, and anime. Enjoy visiting Akihabara's jam-packed shops, where you can supposedly buy any electronic device ever made. Stop for dessert at a local cafe. On your last evening in Japan, we're off to the ballpark to cheer for the home team at a baseball stadium. We'll also enjoy our final dinner together before our international flight the following morning. | Super Hotel Tokyo |
| 14 | Tokyo - USA | Fly home | Your own bed! |
Accommodations
In order to provide a safe and memorable experience, we follow strict guidelines when choosing group accommodations. Walking Tree partners with hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, locally operated, clean and safe. We inspect each partner hotel to ensure they meet these standards.
Urbain Hiroshima Central Hotel
Attractively located in the Hiroshima City Centre district, this modern, elegant hotel is also conveniently close to the some of the city’s main attractions. Students will be able to put on a kettle of tea and relax in slippers in their rooms between visits to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park or the Atomic Bomb Dome nearby. Free Wi-Fi access throughout the building keeps everyone feeling connected. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender and availability.
Super Hotel Tokyo
Start the day here with a traditional Japanese breakfast before setting out to explore Tokyo. This clean, three star accommodation provides modern amenities and a comfortable experience for all guests. Free Wi-Fi access throughout the building keeps everyone feeling connected. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender and availability.
Hotel WBF Kyoto Toji
Hotel WBF Kyoto Toji will be home sweet home during our time in Kyoto. The hotel’s central location will allow us to move easily around Kyoto. Japanese and western style breakfast is provided along with Wifi. Students will be split by gender in double, triple or quadruple rooms.
Group Flight
Once your flight schedule has been confirmed, the itinerary will appear here.
Walking Tree will secure a seat on the group flight for each participant unless otherwise instructed.
Travelers are responsible for checked baggage fees. Please visit the airline’s baggage webpage to learn if you should expect to pay anything.
We will provide a group manifest – complete with reservation codes and ticket numbers – to the Group Organizer/s before departure, and travelers will need to check in at the airport in order to receive their boarding pass and have documents verified. We recommend arriving no later than three hours prior to the scheduled departure, but contact your Group Organizer for specific details on exactly where and when to meet on the day of departure.
FLIGHT INTERRUPTION, DELAY OR CANCELLATION
Air travel can be unpredictable. Regardless of proper planning, there may still be instances when a flight is delayed or cancelled due to staffing shortages, weather, mechanical problems, etc. Please note that in such an event, Walking Tree Travel (WTT) is not financially responsible for unanticipated costs incurred by travelers en route. Our programs officially begin and end in the destination country, and because our staff doesn’t fly with the group, Group Organizers (the traveling faculty member/s) become the front-line advocate for the group in the event of a delay. In most cases of cancellations or delays, the airline will be the one who re-books travel or possibly arranges a hotel and food the night. Our primary role will be to keep families updated and provide support to the Group Organizer to reach a quick and effective resolution.
Host Community and Project Details
Packing List
arry on your own.
Finally, we recommend consulting a weather forecast for your destination.
CLOTHES
- Underwear (enough for the entire trip or plan to do laundry)
- Socks (a mix of breathable casual socks and a few moisture-wicking pairs)
- T-shirts (some quick-dry for humid days)
- Long sleeve shirts (lightweight for sun or bug protection, and temple visits)
- Light rain jacket or compact umbrella (essential for rainy season)
- Medium-weight jacket
- Comfortable/light-weight pants (great for temple visits or cooler evenings)
- Comfortable/light-weight shorts
- Durable athletic or walking shoes
- Slip-on shoes (helpful for cultural sites where shoes must be removed)
- Sandals
- Sleepwear
- Hat or cap for sun protection
- Set of slightly dressier clothes (for special visits or cultural activities)
TOILETRIES
- Your basics
- High SPF sunscreen
- Basic first aid
- Hand Sanitizer or travel wipes
- Medications in original packaging
MISCELLANEOUS
- Passport
- Student ID
- Sunglasses
- Journal and pen
- Book
- Camera
- Debit card and/or cash in USD or Japanese Yen
(About $100–$200 depending on souvenirs, snacks, etc.) - Durable, refillable water bottle
- Quick-dry towel (optional but helpful)
- Deck of cards or small games for downtime
- Small daypack for daily excursions
- Portable power bank
- Travel pillow and sleep mask (for flights or bus rides)
Support Team
At a minimum, one experienced Program Leader will travel on every trip. In addition to this full time leadership presence, Walking Tree has additional staff in all destinations and 24/7 support from our headquarters in Denver, Colorado. Below you’ll find the the team members involved in the preparation, planning and execution of your program.
Alicia Naruse
Japan Country Director
Pratt Institute – Industrial Design
Alicia was born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan. At the age of 11, she traveled to the United States to pursue an international education. Today, Alicia resides in Tokyo, Japan with her family where she works as an entrepreneurial and furniture designer. Alicia is good at adopting to new environments and learning new languages and cultures. Outgoing and adventurous, Alicia is passionate about making new connections and helping others in any way she can. Together with her Japanese husband and daughter, Alicia travels throughout different places in Japan. Alicia and her husband both share a passion for finding local treasures and having a good time.
Emory University – B.A. Sociology and minor in Latin American History
Luke’s path to student travel began in Mexico, during a year abroad in Mexico and Central America. This formative time led him to join an international volunteer program which, after graduating from college, sent him to the small village of San Gerardo de Rivas in south-central Costa Rica. Welcomed by the loveliest of host families, his experience in this tiny town is directly connected to the beginnings of Walking Tree five years later. His love for travel still burns bright, and today he’s lucky to have a wife and daughter who are equally passionate about exploring the world. Settled in Denver, he adores his family and colleagues, skies whenever possible, and is a devoted fan of all Colorado sports teams.
Group Roster
Below is a list of the travelers enrolled on the program.
Blog and Communication
During travel we work hard to keep families updated as frequently as possible with blog posts and photos, giving you peace of mind that your traveler is safe and thriving on their program. Students regularly contribute to these posts, providing families back home a great way to vicariously track the progress of the trip. You will be notified when the first update is posted, after which we recommend checking in regularly via the black “Program Blog” button at the top of this webpage.
Assuming your school allows the use of cell phones, most destinations are wired enough to allow participants access WiFi at different moments in the program, allowing them to communicate directly with home. Ask your Walking Tree representative about the degree of connectivity on your program.
GLC Curriculum
Walking Tree has developed a curriculum of activities meant to help travelers get the most out of their trip before departure, during travel and after they return home. These simple and engaging activities are meant to spark discussion, frame experiences, and prepare participants to travel ethically and effectively both on this trip and on future adventures.For more information about student learning objectives and the format of the curriculum, click on the ‘learn more’ button below.
To view and complete the Pre-Program Activities, visit our online portal at the button below.
Standards of Behavior
In order to run a safe and successful program, it is vital that travelers are prepared to be on their best behavior and bring enthusiasm and interest to each and every day. A communal atmosphere of trust and mutual respect is the foundational. As such, all individuals participating on a Walking Tree program are required to take responsibility for their actions and adhere to a high standard of personal conduct.
IMMEDIATE DISMISSAL
- Possessing, consuming or distributing alcohol or illegal drugs.
- Associating with participants while they are in possession of alcohol or illegal drugs.
- Behaving in a way that consistently damages the group dynamic or jeopardizes personal or group safety. This includes consistently displaying a negative attitude, intimidating or excluding other participants, sneaking out, disobeying group leaders, and any other behavior that is not conducive to an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect.
GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL OR IN-COUNTRY CONSEQUENCE
- Getting a piercing or tattoo.
- Stealing, or deliberately damaging or defacing any personal property, buildings or materials.
- Threatening physical or emotional harm, or brandishing a weapon.
- Possessing, consuming, or distributing tobacco or nicotine, including vape pens.
- Riding mopeds, motorcycles, or any other type of unauthorized vehicle.
- Being out of designated area or accommodations after curfew.
- Breaking group rules.
These standards of behavior are essential for the successful completion of your program. Please take the time to review these as a family and make sure everyone understands and agrees to them.
Health and Safety
We strongly recommend visiting the CDC Japan website to get the most updated information on health and vaccination considerations in your destination country. In addition, we encourage you to consult your personal family physician so you can be as informed as possible when making important decisions about vaccinations and other necessary health-related preparations before traveling.
Our in-country staff meticulously prepare for all programs. Walking Tree receives regular updates from the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to proactively stay ahead of any potential security concerns. Our in-country staff also verify the safety records of our partner organizations, vendors, and transportation providers, thoroughly vet homestay families through in-depth interviews and visits, and stay informed about important current events in the region.
Program Leaders are seasoned travelers who are CPR and First Aid certified, undergo thorough training in crisis management, and participate in comprehensive leadership training. We do our best to prepare for any eventuality and have detailed emergency protocols for our leaders, in-country staff, and U.S.-based staff.
We collect medical disclosures from all participants to ensure we can meet every student’s needs during the program. Please inform us immediately of any additional health issues not listed during your initial registration process. Leaders and in-country staff are prepared to respond promptly to any mental, physical, or emotional health concerns and follow comprehensive emergency protocols.
Insurance
While we work hard to ensure the safest experience possible for our travelers on program, experience teaches that travel can be unpredictable. For this reason, we recommend that all travelers consider a travel insurance policy with a Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) provision. Detailed explanations of plan options can be found via the link below.
To provide travelers and families with a quality option, Walking Tree has partnered with Travel Insured International, one of the most respected providers in the industry. Begin by getting a quote here.
IMPORTANT NOTE: in order to secure coverage that includes CFAR, you must purchase the plan within 14-21 days of your first payment to Walking Tree. Be careful when you read the tenets of the policy to ensure you understand the required timeframe for purchase. You must also insure 100% of your trip cost, so program tuition + flight. Please reach out to us with questions.