By Andrew Sias
KMS Teacher & Travel Club Leader
This tour was led by EF Tours which is not affiliated or associated with Kingsley Area Schools
Exploring Japan: A Journey of Culture, History, and New Friendships
This past summer, I had the incredible opportunity to travel to Japan with a wonderful group of students, parents, teachers, and families from Kingsley, Oregon and Indiana. Our tour, led by the phenomenal Kiki, was a magical experience, filled with breathtaking scenery, rich history, and unforgettable cultural encounters. Traveling with our group were Andrea Fate and her children, Kinsleigh and Kalen, as well as Jennifer Hansen and her daughter Katie Hodges. Together, we embarked on a journey that offered both adventure and moments of profound learning.
Day 1: Tokyo - Tradition Meets Modernity
We landed in Tokyo on Friday, June 21, and after a delicious bowl of ramen in Chuo-Yaesu, we checked in at the Pearl Hotel Kayabacho. The next morning, we dove right into exploring the city, starting with the iconic Asakusa Kannon Temple and the Meiji Shinto Shrine, both serene spaces amidst the bustling metropolis. At the shrine, Kiki gathered our group into a large circle and asked each person to give an introduction. A highlight for some was wandering through Harajuku, famous for its unique fashion and eclectic shops. Shibuya Crossing, with its sea of people moving in all directions, left us in awe of the city's energy.
Later that evening, we visited Akihabara Electric Town, a haven for tech enthusiasts, before capping off our day with a sumo-style hot pot dinner. The combination of ancient traditions and ultra-modern experiences in Tokyo made our first days unforgettable. Katie Hodges was impressed with how Tokyo “was polite, clean and they took pride in the city and never seemed rushed. Always calm.”
Day 3: Tokyo Adventures with our Kingsley Group
On Sunday, our Kingsley group opted for a more personalized experience, exploring the quieter Chiyoda ward. A visit to a cat café delighted us all, providing a quirky slice of Tokyo life. We also strolled through the vibrant Ameyoko market before reuniting with the other groups for an interactive dinner of okonomiyaki, a Japanese savory pancake, at Dohtonbori.
Day 4-5: Hakone - Nature’s Majesty and Spiritual Depths
Our journey continued as we left Tokyo for the scenic region of Hakone. On our way to Hakone, we caught glimpses of Mount Fuji in the distance, adding a sense of awe to our bus ride. Kiki also led us in a game of Bingo to help us learn numbers in Japanese. The Great Buddha of Kamakura was beautifully framed with a bright blue sky. We were able to go inside the towering bronze statue. The tranquil Hachimangu Shrine had water lily-filled ponds with koi fish and other meticulous landscape features. We had time to explore Kamakura on our own, eating wasabi burgers, visiting shops of various artisans and immersing ourselves in the local charm before the bus ride to our evening accommodations.
Arriving at New Hakkeien, we embraced the tradition of changing into yukata, a casual summer kimono, and gathered for a kaiseki dining experience—a multi-course meal that offered a deep dive into Japanese culinary artistry. I loved looking around the room at each person’s reaction as they tasted each course, including raw fish!
The next day, we explored Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, ending up in Owakudani, known for its sulphuric volcanic gasses and hot springs. We took in stunning views from the Mount Komagatake cable car and cruising on Lake Ashi. Later that day we visited the historic Odawara Castle and went up to the top story enjoying the panoramic view of the city. The journey to Kyoto aboard the bullet train was an experience unto itself, with its speed and efficiency leaving us in awe.
Day 6-7: Kyoto - A Glimpse of Imperial Japan
Kyoto greeted us with its blend of natural beauty and historical significance. From the towering bamboo groves of Arashiyama to the elegance of the Golden Pavilion, we were captivated by the city’s serene atmosphere. We learned about the production of kimonos at the Nishijin Textile Center. Katie Hodges found it interesting, “that Kimonos are always wrapped left side over the right. The only exception is when dressing the dead for burial the right side is placed on top. It is considered incredibly bad luck to get this wrong. You'll look like the walking dead.” At Nijō Castle, we walked in the footsteps of the Tokugawa shoguns (without shoes of course!), soaking in the historical grandeur. Another interesting moment occurred when we decided to have lunch at a local McDonald’s—a tasty reminder of how different and similar cultures can be.
As we prepared to leave the hotel on Thursday morning, we were approached by a group of schoolchildren traveling from Shanghai, China, expressing in perfect English their wish to take selfies with us. It was a fun exchange, reminding us even more how travel can bring together people from different cultures.
Day 8: Nara and Osaka - Temples, Shrines, and Street Food
Our day in Nara allowed us to visit the incredible Todaiji Temple, home to a massive bronze Buddha, and the Kasuga-taisha Shrine, which is adorned with hundreds of stone and bronze lanterns. The deer at Nara bow as they approach and will allow themselves to be petted. We fed them crackers and saw a more aggressive side of these beautiful and revered creatures. Before we left Nara, Kiki gathered the entire group into a close circle in a quiet grove. She asked each person to hold our feelings about our journey together in our hearts and imagine them as a ball of color. Going around the circle she had each of us name our color and place it in the center. Once everyone had done that, she “released” our colors into the sky. We continued on to Osaka and Kiki played “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole over the bus speakers. She gave a farewell that did not leave a dry eye in the group.
Once in Osaka, we marveled at the vibrant Dotonbori canal street, where the neon lights, exaggerated sculptural signs and lively street food scene gave us a final taste of Japan’s energetic cities.
Back at the hotel, our Kingsley group was able to meet with Kiki to give her a gift to express our appreciation to her for making our trip so special. We will never forget her.
Friday morning we had a few extra hours so we made a brief visit to the Ikasuri-jinja Shrine in Osaka before we headed to the airport. As we reflected on our time in Japan, we realized that beyond the temples, shrines, and cityscapes, the other memorable part of the trip was the connections we formed—with each other and with the people we met along the way.
5 Things I learned on this trip - by Andrea Fate
I was surprised with how much food there was and how generous and proud the Japanese are with sharing their cuisine and traditions. There were food vendors along many streets offering sweet treats, local food and refreshing drinks. The portions of food served were bountiful. The streets are lined with vending machines that service ice creams and cold drinks.
Communicating was easier in bigger areas such as Tokyo and Kyoto. Most Japanese people in the bigger cities seemed to know a little bit of English. Many restaurants and shops had menus in English. As you got further from the city the English language was spoken less by the Japanese. Fortunately, the Google Translate app was a life saver. It was very easy to communicate with people using the app.
A fact that stood out to me is that there's a difference between shrines and temples. Shrines are places of worship for Shintoism and Temples are built to serve Buddhism.
A moment that stood out in my mind that changed my view on the Japanese culture compared to the US and other countries was that the Japanese architecture was often built within the surrounding landscape. Instead of clear-cutting areas bare there are houses and businesses within the tree and mountain lines. The synergy between nature and humans was very much demonstrated in many ways in Japan.
The most impactful feelings we felt as a family was the energy difference between the United States and Japan. The feelings we experienced in Japan were peace, calm, relaxed, joyous, inspiration and pure happiness. From the moment we stepped into Tokyo's airport we could feel the shift in energy. It's such a beautiful country with a culture of people that show respect to their land, themselves, and the people around them.
KMS Travel Club will be going to Ireland and England in June of 2025. Contact Andrew Sias at asias@kingsleyschools.org to learn more.
This tour will be led by EF Tours which is not affiliated or associated with Kingsley Area Schools
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