Visitors to Japan rarely witness the ancient traditions and modern style of everyday Japanese life. This trip will take you beyond the tourist pale to do just that. You’ll visit the imperial cities of Kyoto and Nara, where you’ll tour Kyoto’s seventeen World Heritage temples and castles; view a private performance in a historic Kabuki theater; and tour ancient Nara, Japan’s first capital (AD 710–784). You’ll also travel to the Noto Peninsula, a rural area rarely seen by westerners, with ancient pagodas, rice farms, and fishing villages, where you’ll stroll morning markets and enjoy Japanese barbecue with local fishermen. An optional post-program extension to Tokyo is available.

For more information, call Smith Travel at (800) 225-2029, or contact us via e-mail at alumtrav@smith.edu. You can reserve space on this or any trip by downloading and filling out our pre-registration form (available here in PDF format). You may fax the completed form to (413) 585-2015 or mail it to the address below.

Mail to:
Smith Travel
Alumnae House
33 Elm Street
Northampton, MA 01063

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Saki tasting and a lecture at the Ishikawa Brewery, plus demonstrations on the art of sushi slicing and soba noodle making Visits to a geisha house; a private home for a tea ceremony; and a traditional rice farm A meal with monks at Sojiji Temple, renowned center of Zen Buddhism Click here to download the advance trip flyer and registration form

Thomas R. Rohlich, professor of East Asian languages and literatures

Duration: 10 days Activity level: Moderately active Cost: $4,995 per person, based on double occupancy Single supplement: Price available upon request Deposit: $600 per person, payable to Thomas P. Gohagan & Company