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Experience Japanese Cultures, Sustainability, and Volunteering 

Program Details

This program is split up in 2 parts.

  • JPNS 3000 (part 1) 7/2/2025 - 7/16/2025 led by Tomono Adachi.
  • JPNS 1700 (part 2) 7/17/2025 - 7/31/2025 led by Kaori Takimura.
  • Both JPNS 3000 and JPNS 1700 (Full program) 7/2/2025 - 7/31/2024. 

Selection Criteria:

  • Be 18 years of age or older.

  • Participants seeking academic credit for the program must be able to read the required text and participate in discussions. Students must have taken and passed JPNS 1020 with a C or better or show equivalent proficiency determined by the program directors regardless of taking JPNS 3000 and/or JPNS 1700.

Destinations:

  • Part one: Hokkaido, Kyoto, Shizuoka
  • Part two: Kanagawa, Tokyo, Niigata, Nagano

Cost

PART ONE COST: $2,615 (Airfare not included)

PART TWO COST: $2,100 (Airfare not included)

FULL PROGRAM COST: $4,000 (Airfare not included)

**If you are participating in the full program your student balance will temporarily have an additional $715 but this will be removed. Please reach out if you have any questions**

Deposit: $500 Deposit is due 72 hours after registration. If not paid in that timeframe, you may be dropped from your trip.

Payments can now be made online! Visit this website for instructions on how to pay your deposit online and future payments. Charges should show on your account within 24 hours after registration. As always, you can pay with a credit card as well. To keep our trip costs low, we encourage the use of ACH Bank Transfers, or payments by cash or check whenever possible.

Includes: insurance, tuition, room and board, domestic transportation, excursions, and some meals.

Not included: airfare, passport, incidentals, excess baggage costs, any unscheduled travel, and most meals.

 

Itinerary

Be sure to attend all pre-departure meetings!

7 Pre-trip lectures in June for JPNS 3000 & JPNS 1700
First research project will be given

PART ONE
7/2 -Arrival in Sapporo
7/3 - Lecture before noon all days in Sapporo. Tour in the local area (shopping, dining, public bath, clinic, etc)
7/4 - visiting Prevention Disaster Center
7/5 - visiting a special education high school
7/6 - visiting historical village
7/7 - experience ninja
7/8 - Lake Toya national park
7/9 - Otaru and explore the area until boarding. (overnight ferry)
7/10 - Arrive at Kyoto
7/11 - 7/12 - Kyoto Trip
7/13 - Group field trip, and leave for Shizuoka
7/14 - Meet Juntendo students/conversation practice with Japanese students
7/15 - Class visit at Juntendo University. Afternoon, come back to Tokyo
7/16 - Depart from Tokyo (for those who only take JPNS300)
Kanagawa (Kamakura)

PART TWO
7/17 - Arriving in Japan (HND) and travel from the airport to
Kamakura, Kanagawa                                                                       Kanagawa
7/18 - Lecture - Sightseeing in Kamakura after 1:30pm
7/19 - Continue visiting Kamakura
Tokyo Area
7/20 - Visit Edo-Tokyo Architectural Museum
7/21 - Lecture - Visit Tokyo National Stadium after 1pm
Sustainability in Architecture
7/22 - Explore Tokyo
7/23 - After 12:30pm - Review Volunteering Plans with iPledge
Niigata
7/24 - Traveling from Tokyo to Niigata for volunteering
7/25 - 7/27 Sustainability volunteer activities at Fuji Rock Festival with iPledge
Nagano
7/28 - Travelling Niigata to Nagano - Short hike in the area
7/29 - Nagano Suntory Factory - Learn about water sustainability
Tokyo
7/30 - Traveling back to Tokyo
7/31 - Depart HND Japan

Academic Courses

Students may enroll in six (6) of the following credit hours:

  • JPNS 3000: proficiency development (PART ONE of program)
  • JPNS 1700: conversational skills (PART TWO of program)

Program Directors

Tomono Adachi as been teaching Japanese at Weber State for 7 years. She is from Sapporo, Japan and received her Masters Degree in Kyoto. She is very well versed in the areas the program will be in.

tomonoadachi@weber.edu

Kaori Takimura has experience in translating and interpreting for various companies and in teaching Japanese for the short-term Defense Language program. She is well versed in the areas that the program is taking place. 

kaoritakimura@weber.edu

Trip Cancellations

If Weber State cancels a trip for any reason, all participants will be refunded 100% of funds paid to the school. If a participant withdraws from the program for any reason, they are subject to the refund policy found on the first page of the application.  Deposits are always non-refundable, unless the program is canceled by Weber State.  No refunds will be issued 30 days prior to program start date. 

Refunds will NOT be given to students due to COVID-19 concerns. Before programs were canceled in 2020, every student was given the option to withdraw from programs without penalty due to COVID-19. This year students are applying, cognizant of the pandemic. Weber State will not intentionally place students into high risk situations. We will work together with Program Leaders and Departments on canceling should the destination demonstrate increased risks, be they from COVID or any other concern. As such, students must abide by the standard refund policy.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Study Abroad Office at (801) 626-8711.