Let’s get the paperwork out of the way so we can focus on the fun stuff.

Your passport must

• be valid for at least six months after your return.

• match your name and birthday on file with EF.

• have three blank pages available.

A visa may be required for travel depending on where you're traveling and/or your citizenship.

For more information on passports and visas, visit our Passports & Visas help center article.

Traveler tip: Make two photocopies of your passport and any additional travel documents: one to bring with you and one to leave at home.

Not to sound cliché, but we can’t say this enough: pack light! Different airlines have different carry-on policies and checked bag fees, so ensure your bag meets their guidelines by checking your specific airline's baggage policy.

Most travelers find it easiest to go without checking bag. Here are some tips for getting as much as possible into that carry-on suitcase:

• Wear your bulkiest shoes on the plane and pack the lighter ones. Same thing goes for jackets and heavier clothing.

• Packing cubes or vacuum seal bags can save space and help you stay organized.

• Make the most of your personal item by using a tote bag or backpack that you can reuse throughout the trip.

• Roll your clothes instead of folding them. Pack the bigger items first and use smaller items like socks and underwear to fill in the gaps.

Traveler tip: You'll be traveling by bullet train on this itinerary, where only one piece of luggage is allowed per traveler. With that in mind, we highly recommend a carry-on for your travels.  

Remember to pack light! You'll be toting your own luggage around at airports and hotels, so bring only what you need and ideally in a carry-on bag.

To see a full packing list, visit our What to Pack article in the help center.

To get started, here are the essentials:

• Passport—bring a photo copy and leave one at home too

• Visa—if applicable

• ATM card—call your bank prior to departure to alert them of your upcoming travel

• Purse or small day bag with a zipper

• Converter/adapter for any electronics

• Toiletries

• Medications and a copy of any prescriptions*

• Comfortable, casual clothing check the weather before you pack!

• Dressier outfit

• Raincoat and umbrella

• Reusable water bottle

• Comfortable walking shoes for example, one pair of sneakers and one pair of sandals

• Versatile layers

• A scarf or shawl—required when entering religious sites

• EF’s emergency numbers

  • Calling from within the US: 1-800-873-2250

  • Calling from abroad: 001-617-619-2913

 *All medications should be in their original containers. Put medications in your carry-on bag only in case a checked bag gets lost or delayed.

Traveler tip: You may have to remove your shoes to enter most Japanese homes, shrines and temples—make sure to pack easy to remove and comfortable shoes!

The best things in the world are free (like seeing Mount Fiji for the first time). Still, a little spending money can go a long way while you're abroad:

• Spending money: Budget $40 to $60 per day for pocket money. This will cover lunch each day, four dinners, souvenirs, and additional activities. If you’re an especially avid souvenir hunter, you’ll want to give yourself more wiggle room—financially and in your suitcase.

• Currency: Japanese Yen. We don’t recommend traveling with large sums of cash. At the start of your program, we recommend bringing the equivalent of $60 in the currency of the initial destination. After that, ATMs are the most convenient way to withdraw cash since they accept a wide variety of bank and credit cards.

• Tipping: We suggest $8 per day for your Field Director, inclusive of the day you arrive and meet your Field Director and ending the day you depart for home.

Traveler tip: Be sure to let your bank know you’ll be traveling so they can put an alert on your account and inform you of any international fees.

Traveler tip: Believe it or not, the most reliable place to withdraw yen using your debit card is at 7-Eleven. You can find them throughout the city. 

Imagine it: you’ve finally arrived. It’s been a few hours since you left home, but your feet are firmly planted on the ground again. Today’s challenge? Fight off jetlag and make the most of the day.

Unless you arrive at night, be prepared to hit the ground running. Staying awake on arrival day is the best way to fight jet lag and adjust to any time difference. If there are other groups on your program, you may wait at the airport for them to arrive. To make things a bit easier:

• Pack toiletries and a change of clothes in your carry-on for when you land.

• Stay hydrated—it helps reduce jetlag.

• Travel in comfort, not necessarily in style, and get as much sleep as you can on the flight before.

Your dedicated Field Director—a physical and cultural guide—will be with you throughout your program. Our Field Directors work tirelessly behind the scenes to coordinate logistics like managing reservations and making sure everything flows seamlessly, so that you can enjoy your time without sweating the details. They are there to acquaint you with each new city and make sure everyone is safe, confident, and making the most of every moment.

You'll spend most of your time abroad learning and exploring, but you should also know what to expect when you settle in for the night.

• Hotels: Our hotel partners absolutely must meet our standards for quality, safety and cleanliness. That means your rooms will be safe, clean, comfortable, and equipped with private bathrooms. Hotels are typically 30–45 minutes from the city center by coach bus or public transit or conveniently located to the sites you'll be visiting, which comes in handy if you want to explore different areas.

• What to expect: Hotels abroad may feature smaller rooms than you’re used to and may not have air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, television, or elevators. All the more reason to get out and explore.

• Rooming: You may share a room with someone from another group if you’re traveling with more than one college or university—which has led to more than a few incredible cross-country friendships. Since hotels vary from city to city, room assignments might also be different from one hotel to the next. Standard accommodations vary based on age. For more information, visit our Rooms & Roommates help center article.

Traveler tip: Electrical outlets in different countries may be different from the ones we're used to. Make sure you research what type of converter and/or adapter is needed for your travels!

P.S. Hotel rooms are often small in comparison to Western-style hotels.

You should expect food and portion size to be different than what you're accustomed to at home. Kick off each day with an included continental breakfast. Five dinners will be included, too. We work with local restaurants to provide plated meals inspired by the region, giving you the opportunity to experience authentic dishes.

Whether you are an adventurous eater or craving comfort food, you can find it all in Japan.

• Broth-based dishes and noodles of all kinds are eaten year-round, and at any time of day – don’t be surprised to see noodles in the breakfast buffet!

• Other common dishes: chicken with curry, ramen, shabu shabu (Japanese hot pot), and of course sushi.

• Rice and miso soup are served at most meals.

• If you’re feeling adventurous, try the takoyaki, or fried balls of octopus.

Traveler tip: Get some noodles and slurp away! Slurping loudly is very normal when eating noodles in Japan. Some say it helps aerate the food and enhance flavor. 

Here's how you'll get around to make the most of your travels.

• Flights: Overnight to Osaka and home from Tokyo.

• Public transportation: Public transportation passes are included in Kyoto and Tokyo and will be the main mode of transportation for included activities and exploration time.

• Bullet train: From Hiroshima to Kyoto and from Kyoto to Hakone.

• Bus: Main mode of transportation on the ground.

• Walking: Hands down the best way to explore a new city. Be ready to walk a ton (we're talking 5-7 miles per day) to see as much as possible.

Traveler tip: When you travel by bullet train to Hakone, larger luggage is typically sent separately and arrives the following day. You can use a backpack or tote bag as an overnight bag.

You will explore five cities in eleven days, so this program will feel fast! In order to maximize your time each day, you will leave the hotel bright and early and return some time in the evening (or later if you’re feeling adventurous). Most days will be a combination of planned activities and exploration time with some days being busier than others. You'll have a mix of time on the bus, public transportation, bullet trains, and walking to get around. Be prepared to walk between 5-7 miles per day.

You'll spend 1-3 nights in each hotel before moving on to the next, meaning there’s no time to waste! Transfer days can mean long bus rides where you can rest and recharge. Just be ready to hit the ground running in each new place.

Traveler tip: Arrival day will feel like the longest day on your program, we recommend sleeping on the plane as much as possible to be ready to hit the ground running.

Exploration time can vary depending on a few factors: the number of planned activities, whether or not your group has decided to add any optional excursions, and general travel variables like traffic. How you spend your exploration time is entirely up to you. You could sit in a cafe and people-watch, grab a few friends and discover a new part of the city, or do some souvenir shopping. On busier days, you might just have enough exploration time for a quick lunch.

Here is a rough breakdown of exploration time on your itinerary:

• Kyoto: Half day

• Tokyo: Half day (2)

There is so much to see and do, so do some research and plan ahead. If you need inspiration, here are our exploration time suggestions:

• Explore the famous Gion district of Kyoto

• Sample the street food stalls adjacent to Fushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto

• Spend some time in Shinjuki Gyoen National Garden in Tokyo

• Go shopping at one of Tokyo’s impressive shopping malls

Traveler tip: Tokyo is an enormous city, so when thinking about what you want to do during exploration time you might find it helpful to narrow it down by neighborhoods. Here are a couple of our favorites:

• Akihabara for gaming and anime

• Harajuku for shopping

• Yoyogi for its parks

Do learn common words and phrases:

• Kon'nichiwa = hello

• Sumimasen = excuse me

• Arigato = thank you

Bowing is an essential aspect of Japanese greetings and respect. The depth and duration of the bow can vary depending on the situation. A slight bow is used for casual greetings, while a deeper bow shows greater respect.

Punctuality is extremely important in Japan. Being a few minutes late is considered rude.

You should not tip at restaurants: gratuity is included in the bill and it can feel offensive or confusing if you try to tip on top of that. 

In Japan, you will not find many trash cans in public spaces. Do as the locals do and keep a plastic bag in your purse or daypack to put trash in until you see a trash can.

Public transportation in Japan is extremely efficient and can take you almost anywhere in the country with comfort and ease. While the trains are extremely efficient, due to the size of major cities such as Tokyo, its common for commutes to be more than 1.5 hrs. 

Public transportation can get crowded, so be prepared to have your personal space bubble burst. It’s important to be quiet and put your phone on silent mode; additionally, you should not eat or drink anything while riding the train. 

The Japanese population is fairly homogenous, with little ethnic and racial diversity. Beauty standards tend toward light, flawless skin, a petite figure, and a quiet personality. Travelers with darker skin may encounter stares or comments from locals that indicate some ingrained prejudices, but this is in most cases driven by curiosity or misinformation and not hate.