Experience a day with our Exploration Japan program as students take on practices nourishing the mind, body, and spirit along the northern coast.
After a long scenic train ride, we made it to Toyooka, Japan! Our first stop in this beautiful area had to be Kinosaki, to take a lovely bath in the onsen and walk around the town.
The next day, we headed off to soba making class to learn from the professionals and pick up some Japanese vocabulary. Our whole group learned how to properly roll the dough and chop it into noodles. The best part? We got to have a delicious lunch with our own freshly crafted soba!
Later in the afternoon, we walked around the nearby city and visited a shrine. There we climbed a hill, and passed through tori gates.
Afterwards, we headed over to a high school, where we met local students, made keychains, and learned how to do Japanese calligraphy. This experience was extremely exciting and we got to see how Japanese schools differ from our own!
Our next venture? A zen experience with a Buddhist monk. There, we learned to calm our inner thoughts and the proper breathing techniques for re-centering oneself. After calming ourselves, we traced Buddha while looking out into the temple’s garden.
After leaving the beautiful temple, we took a bus to get the most incredible burgers! They were made with fresh wagyu beef and other local ingredients—beyond delicious!
We’ll be updating you again soon!
– Julius & Simone
To learn more about our Exploration Japan program, click here!
