Japanese history, culture, geopolitics, and natural beauty

Kyushu and Okinawa

Travel beyond the well-trod centers of tourism to see Japan in a new light. Visits to active pottery villages and remote nature preserves make for an enlightening trip.

Overview

A study of two fascinating Japanese islands

This journey offers a deep experience of the region where Japan first encountered the West. We’ll see the historic port city of Nagasaki as well as the Goto Islands, home to the “hidden Christians.” Travelers will visit the vibrant city of Fukuoka, and no visit to Kyushu is complete without excursions to the famous hot springs of Mount Aso and the castle city of Kumamoto.

We’ll explore the many historically significant sites in Okinawa, which, to this day, remains a bastion of American military power in the Western Pacific; and the rich culture and distinct ethnic identity of Okinawa will be explored through unique crafts and amazing cuisine.

Dates

April 14–27, 2025

Duration

14 days

Trip size

34 participants

Minimum age

18 years

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Faculty leader

A different kind of classroom

With renowned Stanford faculty and scholars leading the way, every Travel/Study trip is a one-of-a-kind educational experience.

Daniel Sneider

East Asian Studies   

A lecturer in East Asian Studies at Stanford University, Dan has focused his studies on U.S. foreign policy in Northeast Asia, the foreign policy of Japan and Korea, and the formation of wartime historical memory in Asia.

Learn more about Dan

“Dan Sneider is an exceptional scholar with an extensive background. His lectures provided both the cognitive frame to better understand what we were experiencing and a more in-depth understanding.”

—Nan Gold-Von der Ahe and Vincent Von der Ahe, JD ’71

Personal ties to the region

This itinerary was conceived and designed by Professor Sneider and by his wife, Elisabeth Rubinfien, herself a former foreign correspondent for the Wall Street Journal in Tokyo, who spent most of her childhood in Japan and speaks fluent Japanese. They wanted travelers to get beyond Tokyo and Kyoto and explore favorite parts of Japan that are less frequented by foreign travelers.

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