Japan and South Korea Service and Adventure

Our adventure in South Korea begins in Busan, a vibrant port and home to the famous Busan International Film Festival. This is a coastal city home to some excellent beaches; it also has mountains, temples, and some of the tallest residential buildings in the world! You’ll discover the Gamcheon Cultural Village, which is where many South Koreans fled to during the Korean War. Then it’s back to downtown Busan to see the famous Jagalchi Fish Market…are you brave enough to try some of the seafood there? Oh, and did we mention the beach? Haeundae is the most famous beach in South Korea and possibly one of the busiest beaches in the world, attracting up to a million people on its busiest days, and you’ll get to be one of them! Those who want to can shop ‘til they drop at the Shinsegae Shopping Mall!

The Silla Dynasty capital of South Korea, Gyeongju is the cultural heart of the country. There are many temples, summer gardens, and royal burial tombs to explore in this laidback town. We will arrive in the morning so that we can make the most of our time by taking a walk through Tumuli Park, which has many burial mounds of kings, followed by seeing royalty’s summer playground, the Anapji Ponds. In the afternoon, we’ll leave the town and head to our mountain retreat, Golgulsa Temple, for a truly one-of-a-kind experience. At Golgulsa, you’ll learn about the Buddhist martial art of Sunmudo, which is a form of Taekwondo. Golgulsa is also where you’ll stay the night, waking up at dawn to pray with the monks and you will even have the chance to take part in a fascinating breakfast ceremony before enjoying a tea ceremony with the head monk of the temple! We’ll also give back to the temple with a few hours of community service.

Now it’s time for our last stop in South Korea, and Seoul won’t disappoint! You can take your pick from world-famous amusement parks, shopping, fine dining at Seoul Tower, and of course, a K-pop music show! We’ll also learn how to make Korean delicacies at our very own cooking class. The land of the morning calm, you say? More like the land that never sleeps! Sleep is for the plane ride home, as you’ll want to squeeze every last drop of fun out of your stay in South Korea before you say farewell!

The Korean portion of our trip will wrap up in this world-class capital city, which offers you a trip to the past through its many palaces and also into its space-age future with culture from its K-pop stars to its spaceship-like Dongdaemun Design Plaza. Most people know about Korea as a result of its noisy north, and you can even step into North Korea during a trip to the DMZ, albeit by only a few feet. In the evening we’ll have fun watching a performance by Nanta that will surely make you hungry for the many delicious Korean foods such as Bibimbap, Mangdu, and Bulgolgi. Furthermore, take part in a cooking class and learn to cook Korean classics. Have the chance to dance Gangnam Style in a K-Pop dance class. We’ll even visit the beautiful Gyeongbokgung Palace, with its pavilion roofs, pagoda gardens, and opportunities to dress up in Hanbok to take memorable photos in front of the picturesque scenery.

After a quick flight, our adventure in Japan begins amidst the bustling streets and sparkling lights of Tokyo. Hit up the famous Akihabara area, home to video games, anime, and manga, and shop in the colorful Harajuku District. Head to the top of the government building for incredible views of the city and stare in awe at Shibuya Crossing, the busiest street crossing in the world! Wander through the world-famous Japanese fish market and visit several stunning shrines. And no trip to Tokyo would be complete without tasting everything this bustling city has to offer, including ramen, sushi, and teppanyaki!

Our last two stops bring us to Hiroshima and Kyoto. Hiroshima today is dedicated to bringing peace to the world, a direct result of the destruction the atomic bomb brought to it during WWII. During our time here we will have the special opportunity to meet with a local survivor and hear his or her perspective on this tragic event. Every year our students are moved by hearing such a personal and emotional story, and come away with a greater understanding of the effects of WWII. In past years, our groups have even had the unique opportunity to be interviewed and featured on the local news for our global perspective!

After Hiroshima, it’s on to Japan’s cultural gem: Kyoto. This charming city is famous for its beautiful temples and shrines and we will have several days to explore its stunning golden temple, tranquil rock gardens, and ornate palaces. On the way to Kyoto, stop at the gorgeous 700 year old Himeji Castle!

Our time in Kyoto will also be very interactive. After learning about geishas, we will go for an evening geisha walk to spot them strolling about the historical city center. We will experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony and learn exactly what is involved with this ancient art. To enjoy nature, we will hike through a bamboo forest, as well as visit the famous orange torii gates at Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine.

Kyoto will also include plenty of opportunities to shop and play arcade games. Students who are brave enough will also be able to showcase their singing skills at a local karaoke hotspot!

After leaving Kyoto, we will have one last day in Tokyo to see whatever we may have missed the first time around before heading to the airport for our flight home. Whether it is shopping, exploring more temples, more arcade time, or getting in a few more bites of our favorite Japanese delicacies, our last day will be the perfect way to cap off our unforgettable time in Japan!