Accommodations/ Students and faculty will be staying in hostel and dormitory-like facilities in Japan. In Tokyo, we will be staying at the Yoyogi National Youth Center. Located near Shinjuku with easy access to the subway system, this popular, renovated facility was once part of the Olympic Village. It has in-house restaurants, cafes, and conference rooms that serve a wide variety of educational activities. Costs for accommodations are covered in the program fee. Transportation/ Students are responsible for the costs of air and ground travel. Both Tokyo and Kobe have walkable streetscapes and highly efficient and modernized public transportation systems. We will spend a great deal of time walking and taking trains and subways. Bring comfortable footwear. Travel Documents/ Your passport must be valid for the entire period you expect to be outside the US, plus an extra six months beyond that. If you don't have one already, apply for one NOW through the U.S. passport office. It can take up to 2 months for a passport to be processed. So don't wait until |
the last minute. For non-U.S. citizens, valid passports are required. In addition, please check the following links for possible visa requirements -- Climate/ Summer is hot and humid in Tokyo and Kobe although the climate is considerably moderate compared with other Asian cities. August is the hottest time of the year in Tokyo with the average temperature of 87°F in Tokyo. Languages/ Understanding of Japanese will be helpful but not required for taking the seminar. Both Tokyo and Kobe have adequate English signs for foreign tourists especially in major public areas. Cultures/ While major Japanese cities are highly globalized, local cultures are still alive and well. Be prepared for etiquettes in eating, public manners and other cultural nuances. And, be ready to also experience a variety of exciting urban subcultures. Suggested references include Culture Shock, Japan. |
Communication/ You can stay in touch with your family and friends in the U.S. via the Internet and international phone cards. 3G cell phones may be used in Japan. You may rent mobile phones at airport at a reasonable price. Broadband Internet is available at the Yoyogi Youth Center for 500 yen a day. Additional Travel/ There will be free time during the trip for you to explore the cities on your own (and do some shopping). You may also want to arrive in Japan earlier and stay after the seminar to explore the country. |