Kyoto and Tokyo, Japan : June 23-30, 2024

Japan is the land of the rising sun, a country that breathes culture. It is home to a fascinating history, and a nation that informs its future by learning from its ancestors’ successes and failures. Let's, together, experience something different from western countries, and learn about Japanese culture in a hands-on fashion. On this Teach With Love™️ program, we explore the country of Japan with our TWL Japanese friends (and family) in a way that is designed to seek authentic experiences rather than just tourist hot spots purposely.

Located in Kansai region of Japan, Kyoto is the heartland of traditional Japanese culture. This custom-designed program for our Teach With Love™️ Community is a perfect introduction to the hidden gems of Kyoto nestled in the heart of this ancient and modern city and its contrasting city Tokyo, where technological wonders are commonplace.

From meeting local Japanese friends to visiting shrines, temples and the Imperial Palace, which has served as the residential place of successive Emperors, we will immerse ourselves and witness various ceremonies and public activities throughout our visit to Japanese community spaces. Our friends will explain the history of a garden that combines the best of the 1,000-year-old landscape gardening techniques of Heian-kyo and introduce us to a special shrine built for a local scholar by his student in the eleventh century. Still today, his spirit is worshiped at the shrine and students from all over the country come to this shrine to pray to pass exams and improve their academic ability.

Kyoto is one of Teach With Love’s favorite cities. We will get to explore unspoiled historical alleys in Kyoto and get lost in its nostalgic narrow streets lined with traditional wooden Japanese homes, each with sliding doors and paper lanterns. Here in Kyoto is where you can spot a geisha in their iconic white makeup, perfectly coiffed hair, a bright kimono and traditional slippers walking along the sloped streets constructed in the year 807.

Another city loved by many, Tokyo, is one of the most exciting cities in the world. It’s full of forward-thinkers. Our TWL Japanese friends will help us learn how its’ residents grapple with changes, and how they adapt to new things. We’ll visit districts that are filled with new ideas to explore, each with its unique cultural experience….including a district built where a large castle once stood. Tokyo houses a number of wonders that you can only dream about!

We’ll also visit the Ancient City of Nara where we will see the Todaiji Temple from the 8th century. It was the world’s biggest wooden building for a millennium, and it houses the biggest bronze Buddha statue in the world. It’s the perfect place to look back on Japan’s ancient culture and dramatic history. Nara was Japan’s first permanent capital, between the years 710-794. It houses one of the most enchanting shrines you’ll see in Japan.  The shrine, in brilliant shades of orange, is filled with lanterns. With our TWL Japanese friends, we will wander through Nara Park, where deer roam freely. The deer are believed to be sacred messengers of the Shinto gods that inhabit the shrine and the mountainous terrain around it.

With the help of our Thought Leaders, the Teach With Love culturally informed principles will be woven into our entire approach for the Program. Our vibe is to “seek knowledge that emerges through continuing, hopeful inquiry in the world, with the world, and with each other” (Paulo Freire) and be present in each experience where you will expand your cultural knowledge, make beautiful connections and return with a reconnection to L.O.V.E. being the foundation to having culturally informed teaching.

Limited to: 10 educators
Program Length: 8 Days, 7 Nights
Activity Level: Moderate
Physical Level: Moderate
✈Arrive Into: HND or NRT
Thought Leaders: Arisbeth Rossi and Taína Benítez

What's included:

Itinerary

Day 1: June 23 - Overnight in Tokyo

• Checkin to Hotel

• Welcome Orientation

• Small exploration tour for early arrivals.

Day 2: June 24 - Overnight in Tokyo

• Breakfast at hotel

• Conversations and walking tour of Tokyo’s Akihabara neighborhood and Shibuya Center-Gai with our Japanese friends

Day 3: June 25 - Overnight in Kyoto, Japan : Traditional Machiya

• Breakfast at hotel, Leave to Kyoto, Japan

• Explore Kyoto from perspective of a Kyoto native and TWL Cultural Guide who is our host for the next three days!

• Kyoto Imperial Palace

• Heian Shrine

• Free night to unpack and explore neighborhood

Day 4: June 26 - Overnight in Kyoto : Traditional Machiya

• Japanese Breakfast

• Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

• Conversations with Kyoto natives about Ikigai, Japanese education and learn the significance of the life rituals that mark the milestones of their lives.

• Experience a Teacher’s Shrine where students from all over the country come to pray for passing exams and improving their academic ability.

Day 5: June 27 - Overnight in Kyoto : Traditional Machiya

• Breakfast

• explore unspoiled historical alleys in Kyoto and get lost in its nostalgic narrow streets lined with traditional wooden Japanese homes, each with sliding doors and paper lanterns.

Day 6: June 28 - Overnight in Kyoto : Traditional Machiya

• Visit Ancient city of Nara

• Visit Todaiji Temple from the 8th century. Was the world’s biggest wooden building for a millennium, and it houses the biggest bronze Buddha statue in the world.

• Visiting a community park called Nara where deer roam freely and there are several shrines throughout that our Japanese friends will show us!

• Explore Naramachi old houses and merchants

Day 7: June 29 - Overnight in Tokyo

• Breakfast at hotel

• Free Day! Rest, shop, visit museums or re-visit a neighborhood with your new friends!

Day 8: June 30 - Departure Day

• Breakfast at hotel

• Departure Day

 HOW IT WORKS

*Then do a happy dance right in your classroom, cause you’ve got plans next Summer!