UWWhitewater Study Tour to Kansai Region of Japan

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UW-WhitewaterStudy Tour to Kansai Region of Japan

• Spring Break 2006

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Basics

• Tour leaders
• Larry Neuman
• Kasumi Kato
• 8 days long. Fly into Osaka tour Osaka, Kyoto,
  Kobe and Nara.
• We will stay in tourist-class hotels most of the
  time, with 2-3 students per room.

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Weather

• The weather should be very pleasant. If we are
  lucky, we may catch part of the cherry blossom
  season. Expect it to be a little warmer than
  Wisconsin, but you will need sweater or a light
  jacket. Last year, the temperature ranged from
  60F degrees during the day to 40F degrees at
  night. We will probably have at least one day
  with rain.

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Travel

• Friday March 24 Depart for Japan (about
  noon), arrive late afternoon Saturday March 25 at
  the Kansai International Airport (KIX). We will
  stay Sat, Sun, Mon Tue night in Osaka, then go
  to Kyoto and stay there Wed, Thur, Fri, Sat
  night.
• Sunday, April 2 We depart early in the morning
  for USA, arrive mid-day the same day.
• We will leave from the Madison, Milwaukee or
  Chicago OHara airport (to be determined). It
  takes about 13 hours flying time between the
  midwest USA and Japan. Note Expect to be at the
  airport 2-3 hours prior to departure.

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Kansai Region

• Because this is a short trip, with will focus on
  a central area in Japan with several major cities
  and key historical sites all without about
  one-hour train ride. The Kansai (Japanese ??)
  region of Japan, also known as the Kinki region,
  is in the middle of Japan's main island, Honshu.

The Kansai Region
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Kansai
. The term Kansai refers to an area centering
roughly on the cities of Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe.
Kansai is used in a cultural and historic
context, and in contradistinction to Kanto (area
around Tokyo).
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Japanese language(Nihongo)???

• Speaking or reading Japanese is not a requirement
  for this study tour. However, you will find
  being able to speak some Japanese is a great
  advantage.
• Knowing how to say even a few Japanese phrases or
  being able to read some characters or Japanese
  script will help you get a lot more out of the
  trip.
• While many Japanese people speak some English,
  many do not and even if they do it may be with
  Japanese pronunciationm that may confuse you.
  Likewise, many signs are in English, but you can
  easily find yourself in an areas with all signs
  are in Japanese.

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Public Transportation
We will travel using regular Japanese public
transportation, not a special tour bus. It will
be a cultural learning experience.
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Walking
There will be a great deal of walking on this
trip. This is very common in Japan. Be prepared
to walk one or two miles a day each day. Japan
has many steep hills and lots of stairs.
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Osaka??We begin in Japans 2nd largest city,
Osaka. It is a modern city with 8.8 million
people, 7 of Japans population.
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Osaka Castle

• While in Osaka we will visit the world famous
  Osaka castle

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In addition to Osaka castle, we will visit a park
of old Japanese farm houses in Osaka
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We will visit Japans leading Human Rights Museum
in Osaka

• The museum presents a variety of collections and
  exhibitions on the cultural resources and human
  rights history of the buraku, women, ethnic
  problem, etc. The videotapes and film programs
  about war and environmental disruption are
  screened by the multi-vision screen.

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Kobe

• We will visit the city of Kobe and there tour the
  old European district (kintano), a sake brewing
  museum, and a mountain rope line to get a
  scenic view of the harbor area.
• If it can be arranged, we will also take in a
  Japanese baseball game that features the Hanshin
  Tigers of the Kobe-Osaka area.

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Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum

• Rice wine or sake is a major part of Japans
  historic culture. This sake museum is in Kobe's
  compact brewery district. There are life-size
  mannequins throughout the big two-story
  structure, caught in the act of inspecting the
  mash or stirring the yeast or performing any of
  the other many sake-making steps that are
  explained in great detail.

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Kitano

• Kitano-cho is a district at the foot of Mt. Rokko
  where many Western business people settled in the
  second half of the 19th century, after the Port
  of Kobe was opened to foreign trade. Former
  mansions of Western residents remain in the area
  and are open to the public

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?? Nara

• Well take a day trip to Nara is one of Japans
  most historically important cities. It was
  Japans capital, 710-784 CE and holds many
  important designated National Treasures, temples,
  shrines, statues, carvings and paintings.
• In Nara Park, nature and history are beautifully
  preserved. Nara park is also famous for its
  hundreds of tame deer that roam freely.

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We will briefly stop at a UW-W exchange
university in Japan, Kansai Gaidai. It is
between Osaka, Nara and Kyoto.
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Kyoto??

• We will spend four days in the cultural center of
  Japan and another ancient capital city (794 to
  1868) Kyoto.

Kyoto, is famous for its temples, shrines, and
other historic sites, and is a virtual storehouse
of officially designated National Treasures and
Important Cultural Properties.
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Kyoto

• In Kyoto we will visit major cultural and
  historical sites, temples and parks.
• Many of the sites are not just the most famous in
  Japan, but are designed World Heritage sites. We
  will also participate in a Japanese tea ceremony.

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Ryokan??

• We will to stay one or nights in a traditional
  Japanese inn, sleeping on the floor on tatami ?
  mats in futon ??. For this we may have 4-5
  people in one room, with a shared toilet and
  traditional Japanese bath.

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Onsen??

• We plan to visit an Onsen (natural hot spring
  spa) in the mountains outside of Kyoto. Onsen
  are extremely popular among the Japanese. We will
  review bath procedures and etiquette. Bathing is
  without clothing, there are separate baths for
  males and females.

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Kurama Village and Spa

• As most travelers to Japan quickly learn, onsen
  (hot springs) are one of the country's great
  pleasures. Tucked away among the cedar forests of
  Kyoto's northern hills lies the tiny village of
  Kurama. Famed for centuries for its Buddhist
  temple and legendary Tengu goblin, it has also
  become known for its mineral springs and
  traditional Japanese inn. A small mountain train
  takes 30 minutes to wind up through the forested
  hills to village of Kurama.
• The houses are all in the traditional style - low
  wooden structures with wide eaves, lanterns and
  bamboo-slatted windows. Ease yourself gently into
  the hot water and linger as long as you like. Not
  only is a visit to an onsen a marvelously
  relaxing experience, it is also good for you as
  the water contains certain revitalizing and
  health-giving minerals.

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Food (tabemono)???

• Food and eating is central to any culture.
  Japanese food is very different from what most
  Americans typically eat. It is important to be
  very flexible and willing to experiment with new
  food. Eating real Japanese food will be
  important to get the most out of the trip. NOTE
  The drinking age in Japan is 20 and alcohol is
  common with the evening meal.

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Chopsticks (hashi) ?

• Expect to eat with chopsticks because most
  Japanese meals will have them available and it is
  a part of experiencing the culture.

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FOOD
Much of Japanese diet is fish-based.
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New and Old

• The goal is for you to experience various aspects
  of todays Japan with its mix of traditional and
  modern.

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We will try to take advantage of on-going events
that take place regularly in Japan and have some
fun.

• We cannot always
• Tell in advance.

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Course Details

• This is a combination of academic coursework
  about Japan that will prepare you for the trip,
  as well as the trip itself. Full participation
  is both parts is mandatory.
• While in Japan, students are expected to
  participate in all activities. This includes
  attending all site visits and showing respect for
  the cultural and religious practices of the
  Japanese people.
• Students who do not believe they can participate
  fully in all aspects of the course and the trip
  should not enroll in this travel study course.

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Course Matters, Grades, etc.

• Class Points
• Pre-Departure Attendance 30
• Pre-Departure 3 Quizzes (25 points each) 75
• Pre-Departure class presentations 20
• 8-10 page Post-Return Written Portfolio 75
• Personal daily trip journal 30
• 10 min Post-return Class Presentation 20
• Total 250 points
• Grading
• 90.0 of points A,
• 80.0-89.9 points B,
• 70.0-79.9 points C,
• 60.0-69.9 D

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Course Matters, Grades, etc.

• The class will meet once a week for 75 minutes
  from January 17 to March 21 (10 meetings).
• Main Texts (we will read about ½ of both)
• Karan, Pradyumna. (2005) Japan in the 21st
  Century. University of Kentucky Press.
• Sugimoto, Yoshio (2003) An Introduction to
  Japanese Society 2nd ed. Cambridge University
  Press.

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Course Objectives

• The objective of this travel study course is to
  inform students about contemporary Japanese
  society by concentrating a major geographic
  region that is relatively compact. A major
  objective is to teach students about Japan as a
  specific society that differs from the U.S. but
  also show that Japan is a complex society that
  has diversity and inequalities. Students will
  learn themes that have emerged from a sizeable
  literature on the Myth of Japanese Homogeneity
  or Multicultural Japan that adds nuance to many
  stereotypes about Japanese society and culture.
• Three themes will be emphasized in the course
• (1) Regional Variations within Japanese society
• (2) Mixing of Traditional and Contemporary
  Beliefs/Lifestyles
• (3) Forms of Social Diversity in Japan today

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Course Assignments

• 1. Personal Journal Each student going to Japan
  is required to keep a diary/personal journal to
  record their reactions/reflections on their
  experiences. Each journal entry should be 1-3
  pages in length, neatly written, with the date
  and time indicated. Begin entries 2 days before
  departure and make an entry at least once a day
  for each trip day. The last entry should be
  reflections on returning to the States and
  recorded the day after arrival.
• 2. Portfolio on an aspect of Japanese society -
  Each student going to Japan is to keep and create
  a portfolio on an aspect of Japan that you will
  investigate while there. Begin to build
  portfolio before departure. Supplement the
  Whitewater, pre-departure information with
  photos, artifacts, and excerpts from your
  personal journal. After return, you may wish to
  reorganize or add to the portfolio.
• 3. Class presentation of your portfolio one week
  after returning.

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Requirements to enroll

• Minimum overall GPA
• 2.50
• Minimum overall credits prior to departure
• 30 total credits completed prior to departure
  (sophomore standing).
• Clean UW-W disciplinary record.

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Recommended

• Japanese language classes
• Class work on History of Japan
• Class work on East Asian Religions
• Visit to the Japanese garden in Rockford IL or
  the Japanese garden of Chicago Botanical Gardens.

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Costs

• INCLUDED
• Lodging (shared double or triple, except in
  Ryokan, then 4-5 per room)
• Transportation (RT airfare and public
  transportation inside Japan)
• All breakfasts dinners, but no beverages at
  meals although tea and tap water is often
  provided free.
• Admissions to museums, temples, baseball game,
  etc.
• Includes mandatory trip health insurance fee
• Estimated total 2,300 (depends on airfare
  changes, number of participants and exchange rate
  changes)
• Note that food, lodging transportation in Japan
  typically run 20 higher than the US.

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Costs

• NOT INCLUDED
• Shipping luggage between hotels in Japan (30-35
  total) THIS IS A NECESSITY
• Lunches (estimate is about 8-10 per day to be
  safe),
• Beverages at meals and between-meal snacks (cost
  varies), Example, expect to pay 1.20 for a small
  can of coke from a vending machine in Japan and
  3 for a soft drink at a restaurant.
• Any passport fees if you do not have a passport.
• Storage lockers (3 per usage, youll want to use
  them).
• Getting to/from airport in US, personal items,
  and souvenirs. Costs differ in Japan.
• Personal items and souvenirs.

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Warnings

• Health conditions are generally equal or better
  than in the U.S. You should still check with
  your doctor and bring medications.
• Get into shape. There will be a great deal of
  walking. Few Japanese train stations or public
  places have elevators, expect to go long
  distances and up many stairs.
• Be prepared to use Asian style toilets, Western
  style will not always be available. Some
  adjustment may be required.
• As with all UWW trips, misbehavior during the
  trip will not be tolerated. It may result in the
  offending student being sent back to the USA
  immediately, at his/her own expense. In
  addition, the student will receive a grade of F
  in the course and have note placed in her or her
  permanent UWW record.

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Warnings

• Packing extremely light is very important, you
  will be carrying it long distances!!
• As most of urban Japan, many places we will go
  will be extremely crowded and congested. It is
  important to be swift and alert to avoid getting
  lost or left behind.

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What Next?

• Get a passport if you do not have one.
  IMMEDIATELY! It can take months for it to be
  processed and you cannot leave the US for Japan
  without one.
• Apply for financial aid scholarships.
• Made non-refundable deposit of 300 by no later
  than Dec. 1.
• See International Education Office to register
  for LSINDP or SOCIOLGY 491 in Spring semester
  (it meets 345-500 pm on Thursdays). NOTEThere
  is a upper limit of 22 students.
• Practice eating with chop sticks, most Japanese
  restaurants we will go to do not provide forks
  and the only way to eat is with chopsticks.

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Financial Aid and Scholarships

• The cost of a study tour counts as part of your
  financial aid package (Grants Loans). There
  are also scholarships available.
• Students should contact the International
  Education and Programs Office or the Financial
  Aid Office for scholarship and grant applications
• As Soon As Possible.
• Absolute last date is November 15.

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Course Goals

• Learn a lot about Japanese society, customs and
  people, both past and present.
• Get to directly experience many aspects of real
  Japanese society as it operates today.
• Have some fun on Spring Break

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The May 2005 UWW Students that that went to Japan