Silly bus, we will use trains!

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.