A wonderful trip. The itinerary provided a varied experience, including the major monuments and also visits off the tourist track which provided windows into the life of ordinary Japanese. We saw temples, castles, post towns and rural agricultural villages. We experienced lacquerware making, sake and miso brewing and a variety of regional cuisines.

Our fellow “scholars were a lively mix of personalities who had in common a depth of experience, curiosity and affability.

Our guides were splendid—delightful companions and insightful teachers. Arrangements appeared seamless, including our expeditions by public transport gave us a glimpse of day-to-day life of average people. They led discussions that were deeply informative, enlivened by revealing anecdotes. They ranged comfortably over geology, religion, history and contemporary society and events.

I learned a great deal about the history of Japan, its current situation and the relation between them. Our guides were intimately conversant with the country and also had a healthy level of scholarly perspective. I return from such a rich experience with much to think about and with a enriched understanding of my quotidian experiences.