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Middle School: Discover Japan

9 days in the Kansai region and Tokyo

Students in Akihabara electric town in Japan looking at Pokemon game.
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OVERVIEW

Dive into Japan’s unique blend of tradition, pop culture, and innovation on an adventure designed just for middle schoolers

Middle-schoolers are immersed in the Japanese way of life through creativity, curiosity, and hands-on discovery. Students feel the beat of taiko drums, taste their way through delicious local street food, and experience Tokyo’s vibrant pop culture through karaoke, arcades, and anime. Along the way, they explore ancient temples, peaceful gardens, and quiet shrines, seeing how Japan connects centuries of tradition with the innovation that continues to shape the world today.

What makes this tour special?

Download a tour overview
Connect with Japanese culture through interactive experiences designed for middle schoolers, like taiko drumming, karaoke, and arcade fun

Connect with Japanese culture through interactive experiences designed for middle schoolers, like taiko drumming, karaoke, and arcade fun

Discover the many sides of Tokyo, from Harajuku's colorful creativity to Shibuya's fast-paced commercial energy

Discover the many sides of Tokyo, from Harajuku's colorful creativity to Shibuya's fast-paced commercial energy

Savor Japan's culinary traditions with authentic dinners and vibrant street food

Savor Japan's culinary traditions with authentic dinners and vibrant street food

Middle School: Discover Japan route map

What you’ll do

Explore a sample itinerary

Day 1: Fly Overnight to Japan

Board your international flight to Osaka

Day 2: Kansai region

Meet your Tour Director at the destination airport

Day 3: Kansai region

Travel to Kyoto

Take a guided tour of Kyoto

Visit the Golden Pavilion, a Zen Buddhist temple

Take a tour of the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

Take a tour of Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine

Travel to the Kansai region

Day 4: Kansai region

Visit Todaiji Temple

Take a guided tour of Nara

Take a Taiko drumming lesson

Day 5: Kansai region • Kyoto

Visit Osaka Castle

Experience a Japanese arcade and game center

Visit the Cup Noodles Museum and discover how instant noodles became a global phenomenon

Take an in-depth tour of Osaka's Dotonbori canal street

Day 6: Kansai region • Tokyo

Travel by bullet train to Tokyo

Visit the Harajuku shopping district

Tour Tokyo with an expert local guide

Visit the Meiji Shinto Shrine

Explore Shibuya Ward and pay a visit to the Pokemon Center

Take a tour of Akihabara Electric Town, a hub for tech trends and fans of gaming, manga, and anime

Day 7: Tokyo

Try your hand at karate in an introductory martial arts class

Visit the Hamarikyu Japanese Gardens to stroll among Japanese greenery and seawater ponds

Venture near the top of the Tokyo Tower, the second tallest structure in the country

Day 8: Tokyo

Visit the Miraikan Science Museum

Explore the Asakusa Kannon Temple

Enjoy free time to explore around Odaiba

Belt your favorite jams in English or Japanese at Karaoke

Day 9: Depart for Home

Board your flight home from Tokyo

All of our tours are powered by our proven EF Method

Learn more

Your experience includes

Airfare & transportation
Hotels
Regional-style meals
Guided sightseeing
Entrances
Full-time Tour Director
Expert Local Guides
Personalized Learning Support
Continuous Support
Worldwide Presence

Travelers save when you lead this tour before October 1, 2027

See 2027 pricing

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Payment plan options

Pay over time interest-free or pay all at once

Fundraising

Every traveler receives a no-fee donation page

Global Citizen Scholarship

Every year EF awards $100,000 to student travelers

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Frequently asked questions

Let’s unpack that

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.

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