Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures program!
Here are a few things to know and expect:
- Blog posts are written by onsite program staff and/or students and sent to our Headquarters team who will post the blog on this page.
- We typically receive 2-3 blog updates per week from each program, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post every day – that’s totally normal.
- Blog updates received late in the evening or overnight will be posted the following day.
- Blog updates received on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
- Due to many factors such as internet accessibility, program staff aren’t always able to send photos, so some blog posts may contain text only.
Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we hope you enjoy following along on these unforgettable adventures.
For frequently asked questions about the blogs, please visit our Program Blog FAQ page.
-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team
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BLOG POST FOR JULY 15
こんにちは! (Konnichiwa!)
Welcome to the Japan Cultural Kaleidoscope Blog!
We’re so excited to begin this adventure with your students and share our experiences with you over the next 14 days. Join us as we immerse ourselves in the culture, traditions, and natural beauty of Japan through unforgettable hands-on experiences.
During our journey, we’ll learn the art of sushi making, visit the Cup Noodles Museum and the Sumo Museum, participate in an Aikido experience, hike the trails of Mt. Takao, and take part in a traditional Japanese cultural experience. We’ll also canoe through Japan’s beautiful landscapes, travel to the iconic Mt. Fuji region, volunteer alongside local rice farmers, and contribute to a Fuji restoration project that helps preserve this remarkable environment.
Most of our group arrived by 5 pm today. After dinner, we surprised Ozzie with doughnuts from a local bakery and sang “Happy Birthday” to celebrate his special day. Happy Birthday, Ozzie! Nandana, Summer, and Oskar joined us later in the evening, and we’re happy to report that our entire group has now arrived safely and is settled in for the night, ready for the adventure ahead.
The energy of the group is already incredible, and we can’t wait to see how each student grows over the next two weeks through cultural immersion, service, leadership, and adventure. We look forward to sharing this journey with you!
The GLA Team,
Gina, Juna, Kate, Musha, Rodrigo, & Justin
BLOG POST FOR JULY 16
Ohayo gozaimasu!
Today, we had a day filled with both an opportunity to reflect on Japanese religion and explore modern Japanese culture in the streets of Harajuku. We started the day with the Orientation, where we talked about some rules and guidelines for success on a GLA trip. We also reflected on the definition of community, and we made a community agreement based on a mutual understanding of respect, kindness, and inclusion. Afterwards, we were given a lesson on Japanese culture, and basic Japanese phrases.
After lunch, we visited the Meiji Shrine, a beautiful place of worship for the Japanese religion Shintoism, which encapsulates the idea that everything in nature has a spirit and must be respected. Shortly after our shrine visit, we went to Takeshita Street in Harajuku for some well deserved shopping after a long day, before returning to the food court for dinner. We ended the day with mentor groups, where we did a quick reflection on our expectations and what we are looking forward to on the trip. See you tomorrow!
Leaders of the Day- Temi & Fisher
BLOG POST FOR JULY 17
Today the GLA Japanese Cultural Kaleidoscope students started with an early
hotel breakfast and then left for a Buddhist temple.
After using public transportation and the subway system they arrived at the Sensoji Temple, the oldest-established temple in Tokyo. They went sightseeing and shopping at the local artisan markets.
Before lunch the group headed to the iconic Tokyo Tower to take in the views and then attended a traditional Japanese sushi class.
Finally the students concluded the day’s program with an Aikido martial arts lesson before admiring the city from above at the Tokyo Municipal Government Towers.
Happy Birthday, Charlie!
Leaders of the Day: Matthew & Liam
BLOG POST FOR JULY 18
Today, we at GLA Japan visited Yokohama. It is the second-biggest city in Japan, with a population of 3.75 million, and it became popular through international trade with cargo ships.
We started our day by utilizing Japan’s public transportation to get to Yokohama. It took about an hour of train rides to arrive. Afterward, we took a stroll through Chinatown, where there were many food options everywhere.
After our walk, we headed to a boat tour where we explored a ship from the 1940s. After the boat tour, we walked over to the Cup Noodle Museum. During this tour of the museum, we watched a short film on how Cup Noodles were created. Afterward, we had the opportunity to design our own Cup Noodle containers and choose our noodle flavors and toppings. This brought out all of our creativity and drawing skills while we communicated with our peers.
To end our day, we took the trains back to the food court and had our Chow Circle.
Leaders of the Day: Jamen & Charlie
BLOG POST FOR JULY 19
The day began with a visit to a historic shrine that was once a place where warriors prayed before heading into battle. Walking through the peaceful grounds and passing beneath the towering gates created a strong connection to Japan’s history. The guide explained how samurai would come to the shrine to seek courage, protection, and good fortune before fighting. The quiet surroundings and traditional architecture made the experience both educational and memorable.
Exploring the shrine provided a closer look at Japanese customs and beliefs. Ancient lanterns, wooden buildings, and sacred pathways reflected centuries of tradition. Learning about the role the shrine played in the lives of warriors offered a deeper understanding of how religion and history were closely connected. Every part of the visit highlighted the importance of preserving these cultural landmarks.
Another highlight of the day was visiting a giant Buddha statue. Standing before the enormous figure was an unforgettable experience, as its size and peaceful expression immediately captured everyone’s attention. The statue represented wisdom, compassion, and inner peace, while the calm atmosphere surrounding it encouraged quiet reflection. The craftsmanship and history behind the monument made it one of the most impressive sites visited.
The day’s activities provided a meaningful opportunity to learn about Japan’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage. Visiting both the historic shrine and the massive Buddha statue brought history to life and offered a greater appreciation for the traditions that continue to shape the country today. These experiences created lasting memories and a deeper understanding of Japan’s history, beliefs, and values.
Leaders of the Day: Cam & Sammy
BLOG POST FOR JULY 20
The morning started off slowly with a great breakfast at our home base and some free time to sleep in before meeting in the lobby. Afterwards, we went to Akihabara, famous for its reputation as Tokyo’s “Electric Town”. We also visited the many multi story shops, which featured things like anime, manga, electronics, and gaming merch. As our smiles got wider and our bags got heavier (and our wallets emptier) our journey took us to Shibuya. A local team at SEKAIA taught us many things about Japanese culture, like folding origami cranes, making our very own kabuki theater masks, and even writing our names in Kanji! We got to try a few Japnese snacks and some Japanese tea as well. I think we might try a couple more.
In the evening, we took a visit to Shibuya’s massive PARCO mall, known for its high end fashion and vibrant celebration of Japanese pop culture. Each floor offered a unique experience, from the basement’s highly rated food and drinks to the 6th floor’s featured Pokémon and Nintendo themed shops to the rooftop park which provided a relaxing escape from the bustling city streets of Shibuya. Next stop, or rather the next crosswalk, was none other than the legendary Shibuya crossing, one of Tokyo’s staple attractions. Today was a great day, we’re looking forward to all of our future adventures!
Leaders of the Day: Oscar and Nandana
BLOG POST FOR JULY 21
Today we took a train to Mt. Takao where we embarked on a 2 hour hike to reach the summit. The scenery was beautiful and we were rewarded with a beautiful view of the surrounding landscape and a delicious bento box lunch. On our way down, we stopped at Izunagongendo Hall to explore and learn more about Shinto and Buddhist history. We took a tram the rest of the way down before hopping on another train to return us to the hotel.
To end our day, we had dinner and packed our bags in preparation to go to Yamanashi tomorrow.
Sayonara
Leaders of the Day: Antara & Bez
BLOG POST FOR JULY 23
Ohayou gozaimasu!
Today was our first full day in Yamanashi, and we traveled to a local rice farm. There, we learned about rice farming and the different tools the farmers use. After that, we assisted the farmers in tending to the fields. Next we each made our own homemade pizza in wood fire ovens, before going back out to the rice fields. Before leaving the owner shared how he got into farming and why he quit his job in Tokyo to move back to his childhood home.
Lastly we stopped at a stunning water fall before heading back to the hotel.
Leaders of the Day- Alex & James
BLOG POST FOR JULY 24
Ohayou gozaimasu!
Today was an eventful day filled with many exciting opportunities to experience new things. We started the day bright and early, heading to a local cooking workshop where we were instructed in the art of making hoto, a traditional noodle dish from Yamanashi. In groups, we collaborated to bring the meal to life as we learned about the cultural and historical significance of the dish from our knowledgeable instructors. After finishing the handmade lunches we had created, we embarked on the second activity of the day- canoeing.
Making our way across a lake near Mount Fuji, we soaked in the breathtaking scenery and fresh air. This experience was both relaxing and memorable, giving us a chance to appreciate the natural beauty of the area. Before returning to the hotel for the day, we made one last stop at some nearby shops to grab souvenirs and ice cream to top off this unforgettable day. Looking forward to what tomorrow brings!
Leaders of the Day- Ellie & Vlad
BLOG POST FOR JULY 25
Today we traveled to the foothills of Mt. Fuji for a truly unique opportunity that not many people get to experience—to explore and learn more about the historic mountain. We divided into two groups, each focusing on a different topic. The morning group spent time hiking designated trails while learning about and exploring the native forest and plant life surrounding Japan’s iconic landmark.
We completed our hike at the top of a steep hill that was once a major volcanic eruption site thousands of years ago. After learning about the small air pockets beneath the soil near the volcano’s vent, we conducted an experiment at its base. We all jumped at the same time, feeling the vibrations beneath our feet as the ground shifted over the hollow spaces below. What an awesome experience!
In the afternoon the 2 groups switched and the hiking group joined another local to help with reforestation and trail cleaning efforts.
In the forest the students conducted numerous tasks such as: cleaning trails by removing debris and branches, reinforcing fences to protect certain areas from deer and other wildlife, pulling rotting stumps and logs out of the ground to clear space for replanting endangered species, and moving large logs to protect the base of trees from being eaten by deer.
Following the excursion, the group took a quick stop by a Family Mart and returned to the hotel where we prepared for dinner. The group conducted chow circle and headed off to the buffet. After dinner, and a little rain, we returned to the hotel where we dried off and conducted a debate activity discussing real world issues. The powerful and thought provoking discussion concluded our night and the group went off to bed.
Happy Birthday Emery!
Leaders of the Day ~ Hunter & Liam
BLOG POST FOR JULY 26
Today GLA students drove back to Tokyo from the Japan countryside. During the bus ride, we admired the scenery of the mountains, fields, and villages as we watched the countryside turn into the city.
After about 2 hours of nonstop driving, we reached an outlet mall. We received money for a few meals and started exploring the mall. There were cool stores like BAPE, Beams, and Adidas, and even better food. Some of the boys got steak on the third floor that was extremely good. There were also gelato places that looked delicious. After seeing everyone pack into the bus with shopping bags from different stores, we got on the road again.
Immense traffic slowed us down, but we passed places like Shibuya and central Tokyo on the way.
We then took the train to the Imperial Palace. While we did not get the chance to see beyond it’s gates. We were able to get a glimpse of the history of the palace and learn about the current royal family from our local director. It was a long day but a very nice and peaceful day.
Leaders of the Day: Cole, Nash & Zoya
