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Japan

Arts, Food, & Culture

A 5-Week Gap Year Program

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35 Days

Explore Japan’s unique art, culture, and food through workshops, cultural activities, and language lessons. For students drawn to the region and interested in topics such as contemporary and traditional Japanese art forms, and an overall immersive experience in Japan.

From a serene meditation bell ringing out a Koyasan monastery to the cacophony of foot traffic at the Shibuya crossing, Japan is a fascinating merger of old and new.

Amidst the push toward cultural globalization in the internet age, Japan continues to uniquely blend long held traditions with innovative trends in technology and art. Through homestay with local families, immersive language lessons, Independent Study Projects, students will delve into the fascinating history, refined elegance, and cutting edge modernity that define Japanese culture.

group of young adults in front of red japanese-style gazibo with walkway

Highlights & Outcomes

Explore Traditional Arts

Engage in Independent Study Projects to learn about traditional arts and crafts

Connect with Communities

Interact with local communities to understand modern-day Japan beyond the well-trodden tourist spaces

Learn the Language

Take language lessons to learn basic Japanese language skills, or to build your fluency

Live Like a Local

Gain deeper understanding of Japanese life through short homestays with carefully selected families

big bronze statue
line drawing of Japan

Your Journey Starts Here

We begin our journey in the quiet mountain region of Wakayama, a peaceful setting where students ease into Japan and get to know one another. Surrounded by cedar forests and temples, we take time to adjust to new rhythms, share meals, and build the foundations of our learning community.

From the mountains, we travel to the seaside town of Kyotango for our rural homestay. Each morning, students gather for language lessons that strengthen everyday communication skills. Afternoons are spent engaging with the community, visiting coastal organizations, meeting local artisans, or exploring the cultural history of the region. Evenings with host families offer an intimate look at how Japanese traditions continue within modern households. We then shift to urban life in Osaka, where students begin their Independent Study Projects, either research-based or hands-on, supported by expert mentors. This bustling city becomes our classroom as we explore contemporary Japanese culture through food, neighborhoods, and innovative local initiatives.

Feeling more confident as travelers, students lead the next phase of the journey in Hiroshima, diving deeper into Japan’s complex history and the stories that shaped the nation. The program concludes in Tokyo, where we reflect on our travels and the many lessons gathered along the way.

Itinerary Example

Japan Semester

Itinerary Example
The following is a sample itinerary based on past courses; actual itineraries are dynamic and may vary.

  • Week 1

    japanese writing on green table
    underside of building roof with geometrical patterns

    Upon our arrival in Osaka, we will proceed to the mountain region of Wakayama prefecture, where we will settle into a guesthouse. Here, we’ll begin to build connections with one another, familiarize ourselves with the health and safety protocols for the course, and get acquainted with the environment where we’ll spend the next five weeks together. Following our orientation, we will stay in a Buddhist temple for 3 days to learn about the Buddhist traditions in Japan and build a foundation to better understand the influence of religion in Japanese daily life.

  • Week 2-3

    stone buddha with red knitted hat
    Red train with N21 on the lower right corner with people boarding it
    group smiling in front of red japanese building

    In Kyotango, students settle into coastal homestay life and build daily routines with their host families. Each morning begins with interactive language lessons that strengthen communication skills for real-life situations. After lunch, the group engages in community-focused activities, visiting a sea-waste recycling NGO, conducting beach cleanups, or exploring a kimono fabric workshop to learn about the history and shifting role of kimono making. Evenings are spent at home with host families, where students experience everyday traditions, shared meals, and the blend of cultural heritage and modern life that defines this welcoming seaside community.

    After Kyotango, students shift into an urban homestay rhythm in Osaka, experiencing life within one of Japan’s most energetic cities. Each morning, the group gathers to meet with their mentors and review the goals, tasks, and progress of their Independent Study Projects. Students set out for several hours of research or hands-on fieldwork, interviewing community members, visiting local organizations, or engaging directly with the topics that spark their curiosity. Evenings are spent with host families, offering a firsthand look at how tradition and fast-paced urban life come together in modern Japanese households.

  • Week 4

    people with big straw hats on picking tea leaves
    gold building with pond and trees
    girl giving presentation in front of the class

    Feeling more confident as travelers, students take the lead in the next phase of the journey as we head to Hiroshima. This student-led travel segment offers a meaningful opportunity to put into practice the navigation, communication, and cultural awareness skills they’ve built throughout the program. Working together, students plan daily logistics, coordinate transportation, manage daily budgeting, and make key decisions under the supportive guidance of their instructors. As they explore Hiroshima’s museums, memorials, and historic sites, they engage deeply with Japan’s complex past and the stories that continue to shape the nation’s present day identity. This phase challenges students to exercise leadership, collaborate effectively, and build independence, ultimately strengthening their confidence as thoughtful, capable travelers.

  • Week 5

    Group photo of people smiling at a restaurant
    mochi and green tea on a borwn counter top with red plate
    group of people smiling surrounded by maps

    The program concludes in Tokyo, where the energy of Japan’s largest city provides a dynamic backdrop for our final days together. While there is time set aside for students to explore the city’s diverse neighborhoods, visit iconic sites, and pick up souvenirs, the focus of this final phase is on reflection and intentionally concluding their time in Japan. Through group discussions, guided activities, and personal journaling, students revisit the experiences, relationships, and challenges that shaped their journey. We consider how insights gained, from rural communities to bustling urban centers, can be carried forward into their lives at home. In this space of thoughtful reflection, Tokyo becomes not just a final destination, but a place to synthesize learning, celebrate growth, and mark the end of their travels together.

person practicing Japanese writing
person's hand pouring tea
person scooping water
People grinding tea leaves
man showing people tea hands exposed long over green hedge

“I’ve never been away for an extended period of time where I did not really look forward to going home at the end…until this trip! It was an experience I’ll never forget, thanks to my incredible instructors for facilitating, a loaded itinerary that allowed us to pack as many activities into the month as possible, and the unbelievably welcoming and generous people we met at every stop along the way. For the first time ever, I didn’t want to go home…not even a little bit.”

Elizabeth H.
Summer Student

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people learning about machine
city with volcano in background
group sitting in circle in room with paintings on wall
white building by landscaped lake front

Program Components

Our Program Components are the building blocks of every travel experience we offer. Each program emphasizes different activities and themes to help you meaningfully connect with your surroundings. The Program Components are a great way to find an experience that best fits your individual interests and goals.

Low
Medium
High

Homestay

Two short-term homestays (5-10 days each) with a carefully selected local family. Depending on the community, students may be in an individual homestay, or stay with another Dragons student.

Religious & Spiritual Traditions

Introduction to Zen Buddhism, Shintoism, and various faith traditions prevalent in Japanese culture.

Independent Study Project

Mentorship options may include Japanese tea ceremony, Buddhist painting and art, Zen meditation, flower arrangement, drumming, lacquerware, and other selected topics.

Language Study

Regular small-group language lessons with professional Japanese instructors as well as ample opportunities for daily language practice with locals.

Social & Environmental Justice

Exploration of political, environmental, and social issues impacting Japanese society.

Learning Service

Meeting with community leaders, NGOs, and guest speakers to better understand pressing contemporary issues.

Trekking

Numerous day hikes, urban trekking, and possible overnight trek depending on group interest.

Rugged Travel

Travel on subways, buses, and regional high speed trains.

Optional College Credit

To deepen your experience abroad, you may choose to enroll in optional college-level coursework during the program. Those who enroll will be invoiced for an additional college credit fee on top of the program cost.

Students who take a college credit course will receive an official transcript from our university School of Record upon successful completion of the program. Taking advantage of the college credit option may make 529 plan funds eligible toward the entire program cost.

Learn About College Credits

Through our School of Record, you have the option to enroll in 1-2 of the following courses for college credit:

  • COLS 191: Self & Culture in Experiential Cohorts
  • CTE 191: Introduction to Leadership Development
  • CTE 292: Introduction to Ethical Volunteering
See Course Offerings

Meet a Few of Our Instructors

Experienced educators. Community builders. Life mentors. With deep regional expertise and local language fluency, our instructors are skilled at providing context for the student experience and building cultural bridges. We collectively draw upon personal networks to create opportunities for connection and guide students along their journey.

Meet Our Instructors

Frequently Asked Questions

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