What you’ll do

11 days in Tokyo, Kumamoto, the Nagasaki region, and the Kansai region
Optional 2 day extension

OVERVIEW
Experience a side of Japan that few travelers see. This unique educational journey takes students from the vibrant energy of Tokyo to the historic port city of Nagasaki and the dramatic volcanic landscapes of Kumamoto. Each region reveals its own rich story, inviting students to step into samurai legends, Buddhist traditions, WWII history, and Edo-period culture. Along the way, they gain powerful insights into how communities can adapt, rebuild, and reflect together.




What you’ll do
Day 1: Fly overnight to Japan
Board your international flight to Tokyo
Day 2: Tokyo
Meet your Tour Director at the destination airport
Day 3: Tokyo
Explore the Asakusa Kannon Temple
Learn about Edo Kiriko, a traditional glass-cutting art, then etch your own glass piece
Explore the serene pond, temples, and shrines of Ueno Park
Visit the Tokyo National Museum, Japan's largest and oldest museum
Day 4: Tokyo
Take a walking tour of Shibuya
Enjoy a Konbini lunch experience
Take a tour of Akihabara Electric Town, a hub for tech trends and fans of gaming, manga, and anime
Ascend Tokyo Skytree
Enjoy time to explore independently, making your own discoveries as you connect with local culture. Or groups can add this activity:

Karaoke
A trip to Japan wouldn't be complete without an evening of singing with friends in your very own private karaoke lounge. Belt your favorite jams in English or Japanese, or just clap along and enjoy a truly authentic Japanese pastime.
Day 5: Tokyo • Kumamoto
Fly to Kumamoto
Visit Kumamoto Castle and learn about how samurai-era fortresses were engineered
Explore Sakuranobaba Josaien, a vibrant cultural village modeled after a traditional Edo-period town
Day 6: Kumamoto
Explore volcanology and earth science at the Aso Volcano Museum, gaining insight into one of Japan's most active volcanoes
Enjoy a guided hike of Aso Crater, exploring the volcanic landscape and learning how local communities live safely beside an active volcano (weather permitting)
Visit the KIOKU Earthquake Museum to see preserved earthquake remains, learn seismic science, and reflect on community resilience
Day 7: Kumamoto • Nagasaki region
Travel to the Nagasaki region
Visit the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum to learn about the human impact of nuclear conflict
Stroll through Nagasaki Peace Park to see memorials honoring victims of the bombing and reflect on the importance of peace
Explore Dejima’s reconstructed merchant houses and streets to understand how Japanese and Dutch traders interacted during the Edo period
Day 8: Nagasaki region
Explore immersive exhibits at the Gunkanjima Digital Museum, focused on Hashima Island's abandoned coal-mining community
Enjoy a delicious lunch cooked using natural volcanic steam
Relax at a public foot bath naturally heated by local hot springs
Day 9: Nagasaki region
Tour the Heisei-Shinzan Nature Center and its surrounding trails to learn about volcanic geology
Take a tour of the geothermal Unzen Jigoku area
Enjoy a scenic cable car ride over Mount Unzen
Day 10: Nagasaki region • Kansai region
Travel to Fukuoka
Travel by bullet train to the Kansai region
Day 11: Depart for home
Board your flight home from Osaka
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Frequently asked questions
We’ll connect you with your personal Tour Consultant—someone who works with other teachers in your area and specializes in planning EF tours. They’ll walk you through this itinerary (along with other tours in our portfolio that match your curriculum or catch your eye), explain student pricing, and show you just how easy it is to partner with EF.
Once you decide to lead a tour, your Tour Consultant will help you get school administrators on board, students excited, and families ready to enroll. You’ll host an informational meeting to kick off the enrollment period, and we’ll provide everything you need—from a digital presentation to printed handouts, parent resources, and more.
You’ll have a dedicated Tour Director who will guide your group from the moment you land in your first destination until your final goodbye. They:
Take all the same transportation and stay in the same hotels as your group
Speak the local language (but lead the tour in English!)
Support you 24/7 as your right hand
Offer deep cultural context to help students feel connected to their destination
Handle all the logistics, so you don’t have to
Are the secret ingredient that makes your tour truly shine
Yes! You earn a free spot on tour as soon as six paying travelers enroll. For every additional six paying travelers, you earn another free spot for an adult chaperone of your choosing. For example, if 30 students sign up, that’s four free chaperone spots in addition to yours.
All travelers on international EF tours must have a valid passport. When it comes to documentation, every traveler and destination is different, so once your group starts enrolling, we’ll help direct you and your families to relevant resources.
Passports should have at least three blank pages and be valid for at least six months after your return date.
EF has set the standard for travel-based learning for over 60 years. Not only do our educational tours amplify the lessons you’re already exploring in your classroom, but they also help build more empathy, open-mindedness, confidence, and cross-cultural understanding.
Our educational philosophy, the EF Method, is built into every itinerary, so your students are immersed in a continuous journey of engaging, hands-on learning in real-world situations from the moment they step off the plane.
Yes! Plan to explore each destination primarily on foot, so be sure to pack your comfiest sneakers. You’ll have time to rest on the bus while traveling between cities and activities. If any travelers need accommodations, just let your EF Travel Team know in advance.
Every hotel your group stays in is required to meet EF’s rigorous standards for quality, safety, and cleanliness. (We have an entire team dedicated to ensuring that!) However, it’s important to remember that international hotels designed for student travel may feel a little different from what students are familiar with. For example, some hotels may not have an elevator. Rooms will have multiple single beds or shared double beds, and every room will have a private bathroom.
You’ll receive more detailed meal information closer to your tour, but here’s an overview of what to expect:
Daily breakfast is served continental-style at your hotel.
Most tours include daily group dinners, which take place at local restaurants (or your hotel) and feature a mix of familiar favorites and local dishes from a set menu.
Lunches are usually not included, but this varies by itinerary. If lunch isn’t included, this is the perfect opportunity for students to explore local markets and discover their new favorite food.
Travelers will share allergy or dietary information with EF after signing up, and we’ll help make the necessary accommodations.
We’re here to help! Start a live one-on-one chat with a team member.