Our class syllabus is as follows:
Course
Description: In
this 12-day travel course, discover Japan’s intricate blend of
ancient traditions and cutting-edge modernity. Massachusetts College
of Liberal Arts will offer a Japan travel course from March 7-18,
2013. This credit-bearing course is to give students an intimate
experience of Japan’s history, religion, culture and society
through visiting historical sites, temples and shrines, museums, and
national parks. The trip will travel to Kyoto, Hiroshima, Kanazawa,
and Tokyo. Some of the highlights of the travel include:
·Visiting
palaces, temples, shrines, gardens, and castles. Many of them are on
UNESCO
World
Cultural Heritage list. .
·Riding
the thrilling Shinkansen “bullet” train, the first high-speed
train in Asia.
•Visiting
the Manga Museum in Kyoto to have a close encounter with cosplay.
·Staying
in a traditional Japanese Ryokan inn in Kanazawa, one of best
preserved
historical
towns in Japan.
·Immersing
yourself in the Japanese folk art, merchant houses, and
special-interest
Museums
in Kanazawa
·Strolling
through Kyoto’s narrow alleys during the annual Hagashiyama Lantern
Festivel
to experience the exquisite traditional culture and customs.
·Contemplating
at Hiroshima’s thought-provoking Peace Memorial Park.
● Visiting
the reclaimed land Otaiba in Tokyo to learn about Japan’s
achievements in
modern
technology.
·(Window)
shopping in Tokyo’s enormous and glittering department
stores
to experience their unsurpassable courteous service.
·Walking
around in the mind-boggling Akihabara Electric Town in Tokyo to find
all
kinds of electronic devices and gadgets.
·Dining
on Japanese food to take in its variety and visual and culinary
finesse.
Prior
to and after the trip, students will participate in the weekly
meetings on Thursday from 7-8:30pm in Bowman 201 to discuss issues
related to Japanese history, culture and society. Students will
finish assigned readings and write a book review. Students will
establish a course
e-portfolio
and keep a journal during the trip. After the trip, students will
submit a final project on their Japan experience into the
e-portfolio.
1/24
Introduction to basic information about the trip
1/31
Morton & Olenik, chapters 1-3
2/7
Morton & Olenik, chapters 4-6
2/14
Morton & Olenik, chapters 7-9
2/21
Morton & Olenik, chapters 10-12
2/28
Morton & Olenik, chapters 13-15
3/28
Morton & Olenik, chapters 16-18, book review due
4/11
After the travel: Presenting project in class.
4/18
After the travel: Presenting project in class.
Daily
Programs: March 7-18, 2013. Depending on weather and transportation,
our daily activities may change.
3/7
Thurday.
Departure from North Adams. Cross international dateline as we fly
to Japan.
3/8
Friday.
Arrive at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport. Take the train to
Kyoto and check into our hotel.
3/9
Saturday.
Visit the shinning Kinkakuji, Temple of the Golden Pavillion, and
the world’s best-known Zen rock garden in Ryoanji Temple, and
Kiyomizu Temple. Kyoto's lantern Festival in the evening,
3/10
Sunday.
Visit the Imperial Palace, Nijo Castle, Kyomizi and Manga Museum. In
the evening take a stroll along the Kamo River and the famous Gion
nightlife district.
3/11
Monday.
Take train to Hiroshima. Visit Miyajima island in the morning and the
Peace Memorial Park in the afternoon. Return to Kyoto in the evening.
3/12
Tuesday.
Take train to Kanazawa. Visit the Castle Park and Kenrokuen garden.
Stay in the traditional Japanese ryokan inn. Japanese banquet in the
evening.
3/13
Wednesday.
Continue our visit in Kanazawa. We will visit the famous ninja temple
and the historical districts.
3/14
Thursday.
Take train to Tokyo and check into our hotel. Weather permitting, we
will visit Shinjuku and the municipal government building in the
evening.
3/15
Friday.
Visit the Imperial Palace, Meiji Shrine, Asakusa Kannon Temple, and
Tokyo National Museum.
3/16
Saturday.
In the morning we will visit the Odaiba district and the Fuji TV
building. You will have the afternoon to exploring Tokyo on your own.
Suggested itinerary includes the Tsukiji fish market , the largest in
Japan; strolling the department stores in the Ginza business district
and the Electronic Town in Akihabara; experiencing Tokyo’s
nightlife either in Shinjuku or Roppongi Hills; Tokyo Tower; and
Tokyo Disney. You can also plan to go to a Kabuki theater.
3/17
Sunday.
Continue your exploration in Tokyo. You can also make an optional
day-trip to places like Kamakura, Nikko, or Yokohama, all within
two-hour train ride from Tokyo.
3/18
Monday.
Take the noon train to Narita International Airport. Border our
flight home. We will cross the international dateline and arrive at
Albany on the same day.
The Bag
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