The final excursion to Nanzenji Sanmon!

The final excursion of the program 2017 was to climb up the Nanzenji Sanmon!  This was the first time during the history of Japan Study Abroad and GTS did want to do this as the final excursion.

It was located 5 minutes away from GTS' residence as well as Kyoto City Zoo, which we could not visit this time!

The excursion program began at northwestern part of Kyoto (the Golden Pavilion) and ended at the eastern temple this year!

It was one the greatest trips I have ever had!  Thank you, all!

The Silver Pavilion!

Only 5,6 days left in this trip.  We visited Ginkakuji (The Silver Pavilion) and the Philosopher's trail near by though no one seemed to philosophies but thinking of the weekend to come.

Silver Pavilion are a is the area GTS was born over 50 years ago and the temple is, of course, still there as well as some shops.

Though it is hot and humid but far better than usual summer!

During the weekend, some goes to Obama (to swim in Fukui Prefecture), Universal Studio (to enjoy in Osaka), to Tokyo (to meet family members), etc.

7/17 is the Gion Festival climax so we will meet many float and portable shrines on Monday morning!

Nishijin Textile and Kimono Show

Finally the rainy season called tsuyu is over and real humid and hot day has begun.

It got to 95F outside so it was the best to be inside to enjoy the Kimono Show.

It is the quality in Kyoto Nishijin Textile, which is one of the most famous stuff here!

Now the summer has just begun!

Bamboo Walk to Daikakuji Temple!

Afternoon trip began from Randen train Kitano Hakuibai-cho station to get to the famous Arashiyama.

We did walk through the tiny part of the bamboo walk so we continued to walk through bamboo forest via Nonomiya Shrine and Nisonin to get to Daikakuji Temple.

At Godaido in Daikakuji Temple, everyone has a chance to do SHAKYO (Buddhist scripture Han'nya Shingyo hand copying)

On the way back from the temple was, of course, by Kyoto city bus!

Half a group was lost in Nara! But......

Today was the Nara day!  It was really hot and humid and GTS pedometer says over 23000!

First we visited Todai-ji temple with many native deers and some successfully crawled through  the nose hole of Buddha prepared in the huge column.

Then we went up to the April hall from which we could view the Nara city!

Our final destination was supposed to be Kasuga Grand Shrine but just about half a group made it.

From Kasuga Grand Shrine we walked to Sagi-ike Pond and walked through the Higashimuki shopping street back to Kintetsu Nara Station.

Nijo castle in heat and Ninja Restaurant

After rainy Sunday, it was a hot and humid day today but Nijo Castle Squeaking corridor was still waiting for everyone.

5 students gathered in the evening and went to Ninja Restaurant not to eat but to enjoy the traditional Japanese music show.

Giant Buddha image is waiting for us tomorrow in Nara!

Weekend Peace Study and Miyajima!

Over night Hiroshima Trip gave everyone a new experience!  As soon as we get to Hiroshima, we walk around in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park where we could stop by all the important spots including the hypo-center.

After walking around we visited the museum (under renovation) where we had a chance to listen to the first-hand story by the A-bomb survivor and made everyone think what they should live from now on.

At night, Students from Hiroshima Jogakuin Univerisity made their presentation about food in Hiroshima and taught everyone how to make Origami Crane!  They also took some students to the mid town for dinner and other enjoyment!

The second day (today) was for visiting Miyajima by ferry boat and went through Itsukushima Shrine under heavy rain!

It was a long bus trip but hopefully everyone had memorable experience.

Monkey and Bunraku

It was rather hot and sunny day for us to climb up the My. Iwata to see many monkeys.  We are in the cage to feed monkeys outside.

It was really hot and humid day to climb up and down the monkey mountain.   We , however were eneded up at Gion to see Japanese traditional performance, such as tea, flower, Koto, Gagaku, Kyogen, and Bunraku!

Meiji Snack Factory!!

Finally the rain stopped and began hot and humid day again! Class was dismissed a bit earlier and quickly getting to the Meiji Factory area to have 20 minutes lunch break!

Everyone got a snack as a gift and had fun to see the process of making snacks!

We will get to the monkey mountain and later traditional Japanese performance in Gion at night!

Creating the unique Cup Noodle!

Light rain continued but our afternoon trip was to go to the Instant Noodle Museum in Ikeda-city, where Ando Momofuku, the inventor of cup noodle resided.

Every student had a chance to make her or his own cup noodle with designing by him or herself.
Some took only a few minutes, but some others took long time to make more exquisite design!

Another fun day even raining!  We will go to Meiji Snack Factory tomorrow!!!!

Heian Jingu Shrine with typhoon

Typhoon brought us a lot of rain while visiting Heian Jingu Shrine Garden and Kyoto Handicraft Center.

Rainy garden is often beautiful but it was a bit too much this afternoon, though it almost ceased soon.

We gathered again in Shijo so that we could visit Gion Corner to see the Japanese traditional performance show.

Guess what, the show was cancelled due to the typhoon though not much rain any more.  They must have decided early this afternoon!!!!

We will do revenge visit on coming Friday!!

New week with the Phoenix Pavilion!

On Saturday, some went to the ball park to see Professional baseball game, Tigers vs. Swallows!
Tigers won! so everyone got excited.

On Sunday, some went to Kenbukai Dojo to learn some martial arts technique as well as sword man ship.

Monday today, after lunch everyone was headed to the Phoenix Pavilion which is famous for Ten yen coin design.  Though it was quite hot and humid, having no rain was good!

Typhoon is approaching now so it will rain tomorrow but not bad for Heian Jingu Shrine Garden!