Japan: Past & Present

From neon-lit streets filled with people to quiet shines filled only with silence, come face-to-face with a culture thousands of years in the making. Take part in preparing your own cup of green tea using a traditional method. Explore the cities of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, traveling between them on the famous shinkansen bullet train. Meet the incredible ama pearl divers and dine with them while hearing tales of their lives and traditions. Meet the bowing deer of Nara Park. Explore the historic geisha district of Kyoto, Gion. See the beauty of the Arashiyama bamboo forest and the Golden Pavilion. Dive deep into the culture of Japan with the Women’s Association of Kyoto. Stay among Buddhist monks at a monastery on Mount Koya and wander the moss-covered paths of Okunoin Cemetery. Visit the Peace Park and Memorial Museum of Hiroshima and hear first-hand accounts of the atomic bomb’s devastation. See the famous O-torii Gate of Miyajima Island. Explore the neon-soaked streets of Osaka’s Dotonbori district. Discover the thousand facets of culture, art, and life that make up the incredible spirit of Japan.