Day 5-7: Class+Excursion+Study Visit (June 24-26)

Lately, class has only been 1.5 hours a day, which is really nice.  It’s like being on vacation (or “holiday,” as other people refer to it).  Although the classes are informative and the professors are undoubtedly very knowledgeable, honestly, some of the professors are hard to understand at times.  Some professors’ English speaking skills are better than others, which require a little extra attention to decipher what is being said.  But overall, it has not been much of a problem.

Outside of class, it has been a lot of fun!  When off exploring Tokyo and beyond with the other GSP students, the people we meet are always very helpful with directions and patient/accommodating with us non-Japanese speaking people.

Day 5

Sake barrels at Meiji Shrine in Shinjuku

Gate above Harajuku St. 

Hanging out at Todai campus after a group dinner

Day 6: Excursion to Hakone (outside Tokyo)

View out the window of train to Hakone

Hakone Ropeway over volcano 

Odawara Castle

Hakone Open-Air Museum

Day 7: Study visit (Futako Tamagawa, Seijo Gakuen, Kitami, Kurokawa, and Haruhino)

Rice paddies

Site explanation

Shibuya crossing (post-study visit)

GSP and Todai students with professors