The food, the floor, the fun, the fascinating facts: Everyday life in Japan for us

• The food we ate was really wonderful on this trip. Everyone got to try new
  things and expand their taste ranges over the days we spent in Japan. My
  favorite were the soba noodles, made from buckwheat. (Student '05)
• My favorite things that we saw on the trip were the very old and immaculately
  kept temple gardens that most people, even Japanese people, don't usually get
  to see. I felt honored that we could have that experience. (Student '05)
• For anyone interested in Japanese culture and religion, this trip is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; it offers an in-depth and, often times, behind the scenes view of Japan. (Student '05)
• The unexpected highlight of the trip was the company of the other students. (Student '05)

In Japan, the meal sizes are terribly small.

Members of Taisho University's Japanese traditional court music club show us their beautiful and unique instruments after playing at the farwell party

(photo by Aaron Smith)

This trip does require a fair amount of walking and hiking, but most of the scenery is so breathtaking, it's never a bother. Here we are arriving at Manganji temple, surrounded by the mountains in Nikko.

Here is some of that breathtaking scenery.

More beautiful scenes

The natural beauty never ceased to amaze us.

Here is one of the rooms at Manganji. Yes, most of the stay you sleep on the floor, but we all quite liked it. The matresses (futon) and the special tatami floor making it a great experience.

Students on the trip enjoying the farewell event at Taisho

Seeing tradtional Japanese arts (like this tea ceremony) is just one of the many perks of the trip. Drinking super concentrated green tea and eating japanese sweets is another.

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