The trips I lead are not technically tourist trips or what people might refer to as tours. They are about finding your way around and choosing your own path. Students have time to explore the city and enjoy their own adventures after some AM planned activities. The goal here is to help students become members of the world community, engaging in activities that enhance their understanding of the communities we are in.

On these days, we did a couple of activities…the main one was a trip to Kamakura and Enoshima. we traveled the hour train ride to this coastal town and then played on the beach, walking the stairs around the island and finding our way around the area.

Our first stop in Kamakura included my favorite ramen spot, now renamed Takasuru. It was as great as I expected. Many of us ate there and enjoyed the kindness of the new owners.

From there, we walked to the Daibatsu, the bronze Buddha perched on a platform that survived a tsunami in the 13th century. I’m always struck by the remarkable nature of this place. Situated in the hills that dot the landscape of this place, the buddha sits above the town, as if watching over the village.

Once we finished our visit, we walked the 800 meters to Hasedera Temple. The caves, shrines, and temples are remarkable, and the statue of Kannon in the shrine room is impressive, built into the side of the hill.

We left Kamakura for Enoshima, and students chose their adventure. A small group walked the stairs across the island while another played on the beach. After a brief trip into the water, they played hacky sack and were joined by some local folks.

By the end of this long day, most of us had walked 15 – 20 miles and were exhausted once we arrived at the hotel. We crashed and prepared for tomorrow.

On our last day in Tokyo, the group wanted complete freedom, and I let them find their way. Some went to a flea market, some to Odaiba, some looking for camera equipment, and others stayed close to the hotel. Everyone went their own way, and I was happy to accommodate their interests.

Now, it’s off to Kyoto, our houses in Higashiyama, and more wandering!

May you be happy, may you be well!

This trip, unlike most high school trips, is more of an adventure and less of a tour. In fact, my whole goal for this trip is to avoid the “T” word entirely and give students the power to explore the world. So, beginning with our walks through Asakasa and Ueno, we found ourselves wandering past shops, homes, temples, and shrines. One of the things I love to do with students is to walk through neighborhoods in the city. On this day, people were biking to work, walking their children to school, buying groceries, and doing the parts of daily living that make life manageable and sometimes wonderful.

We began our morning in the shadow of the Skytree Tower, then walking the 1.6KM to Asakusa and Senso-ji. I send students on a scavanger hunt to find the kitsune on the temple/shrine grounds. From there we walked to Ueno, passing through Kappabashi and the many shops with knives, kitchwarre for restaurants, and ceramic shops.

From there we made our way into Ueno Park and headed to the Tokyo Museum of Western Art. After a couple fo hours of visiting the museum, we spread out across the area. Some went into the markets below the bridges filled with speeding cars. Some ventured further afield into other parts of the city, and some of us made the long walk back to the Sumida River to walk the trails that line the waterway.

Through it all, this early interduction to Tokyo and Japan gave students some confidence in navigating the city on their own.

Today, we had a late start, and then grabbed a train to Shibuya. We put a student in charge of navigating the train system, and off we go! We hit Shibuya Crossing, then split up for lunch, finding Omoirice, Korena BBQ, and everything in between. Tower Records was a huge hit, and after lunch, we walked through the Meiji Shrine.

After those antics, I unleashed the students on Takeshita Street in the heart of Harajuku. The crowds were not at all what I;’ve seen in the past, and they dropped into places along this small avenue.

From there we split up; one group stayed in the Shibuya area, another went to the Nintendo Store, and a third traveled to Iyota the Stationary Store mecca in Ginza.

After dinner, we againh fanned out and finally, around 10:00PM made our various paths back to the hotel.

I don’t want to jinx it, and, right now, this trip is humming along nicely. Tomorrow we travel to Kamakura and Enoshima. Can’t wait for the group to see the Daibatsu, Hasedera Temple and climb the stairs at Enoshima. If you’re eondering. our mileage is starting to add up, as most of us are hitting 15 – 20 miles of walking each day. Like I said, Tokyo is a walking city, and sometimes the BEST way to see the world is on our feet!

May you be happy, may you be well.

From our home base in Albuquerque to our new spot in Asakusa, we’ve traveled across the globe to experience Japana nd Japanese culture in all its glory. As you can imagine, the flight across the Pacific Ocean is a long one…on this day, exactly 11:50 hrs to land in Haneda International Airport. The flight was uneventful (no wifi on this one), and the food plentiful. United Airlines seems to have upped the ante in terms of offering food for travelers.

We made it through the long flight to land and get acquainted with Japan. The experience of a new place combined with jet lag is a powerful, mind-numbing force. Navigating the crowds of humans to make our way across Tokyo to Asakusa is a challenge. After $$ was exchanged, hotspots purchased, we hopped on the Keikyu Line to Asakusa and our hotel. We’re staying across from the Skytree Tower and it’s presence is a powerful one looming over the streets in this area (technically Sumida City).

Our hotel check-in was efficient, and I’d definitely recommend this spot to fellow travelers looking for a reasonable price for rooms (LiveMax Asakusa Skyfront).

After a shower, we all headed out into the evening, walking the 20 minutes across the Sumida River to Asakusa. The weather was warm, and we fanned out to find ramen, Susi, and every other kind of food in this socially charged spot. The evening came to a quick close as we all made it back to the Hotel by 10 PM and everyone settled into our firt night in Japan.

Today, we’ll be walking all around Asakusa and Ueno, hitting some popular spots and some hidden gems. We’ll spend some time at Senso-ji Temple complex, walk through the back streets to find ceramics, small stationary shops, and a food market hidden under a bridge near the Yamanote Station in Ueno. We’re planning to visit a couple of museums, and then the students will have the area to thmeselves as they wander this part of Tokyo.

The day will be full, our eyes will be open, and the weather looks as good as it gets in Tokyo in the summer!

May you be happy, may you be well!