Getting ready to go

Text and photos by Professor Luke Strosnider, program director for the 2026 Japan Study Abroad trip.  

Excitement is building for our 2026 Japan Study Abroad, and our group recently met for a robust orientation session to help us prepare for our adventure.

During our gathering, we covered a lot of information: our itinerary, reviewing academic expectations, going over critical pre-departure tasks like how to access money, use our phones, packing tips, learning about cross-cultural guidelines for respectful travel in Japan, different kinds of Japanese cuisine, and much more. All while snacking on Japanese candy, rice crackers, matcha cookies, and green tea. 

To help begin to get a better sense of the city, students broke into groups and “explored” three areas of Tokyo using the maps on their phones: Kiyosumi-Shirakawa (the neighborhood where our hotel is located), Akihabara (known for its electronics, anime, and manga culture), and Shibuya (Tokyo’s ultimate tourist destination). The goal was to collaborate on a list of “things we want to see and do” in those areas; many exciting sights, shops, and restaurants were discovered. 

Former Landmark professor Ruth Wilmot's introductory lesson on Japanese language and culture was definitely a highlight of the day. Ruth spent many years living in Japan, led the first three Landmark study abroad trips to Japan as the program director, and helped the students in learning a bit about how the Japanese language is spoken and written. It was truly fascinating and certainly be helpful as we navigate Tokyo, Kamakura, and Nikko. Thank you, Ruth!