The first educational student tour of Japan was held in 2007. Thirty-five students and staff members landed in Tokyo and traversed the island of Honshu to Kamakura, Mt. Fuji, Kyoto and Osaka. Visits were made to Himeji samurai castle, Tokyo National Museum, Gion Corner, Byodo-in, Ryoanji garden temple and Kiyomizu dera Temple. A special pilgrimage was made to the final resting place of the 47 samurai (ronin), Sengakuji. The Dojo returned to Japan in 2017 where students and staff members attended the holiday festival of Gion Matsuri. They registered 1,000 origami cranes at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in memory of the victims of the atomic bomb, attended kendo class (sword), Kyoshukin Karate class and even ninjutsu training in Iga ninja village. Other highlights included the "Eight Hells of Beppu", volcanic springs, Kiyomizu dera temple, Mt. Takasaki Wild Monkey Park, Miyajima Island and Kumamoto samurai castle to witness the reconstruction efforts from the April 2016 earthquake. The tour ended at the black belt graduation ceremony held at the grave of Miyamoto Musashi, the most famous samurai in Japanese history.
The Dojo returned again in 2023, after significant delays due to the global pandemic. In this third student pilgrimage, students participated in a gambit of martial arts classes and outdoor adventures. After landing in Tokyo, our students visited the presigious Ogasawara ryu kyudo school and studied reiho (etiquette and manners) and archery. Throughout the trip, our students practiced karate at the Japan Karate Association world headquarters and attended kenjutsu in Matsumoto. Taking time to hike a section of the Nakasendo Trail (samurai path) to Narai-juku, visit Matsumoto Castle, Lake Kawaguchiko cruise around Mt. Fuji and an epic canyoning adventure were among just a few of the many highlights!
Kyudo class at Ogasawara Ryu archery school.
Instructor William Gaffney at the gravesite of Tokugawa Ieyasu at Toshu gu Shrine.
The travel group stops for a photo moment before entering Matsumoto Castle.
A beautiful nightscape of Matsumoto Castle.
Kegon Falls in Nikko, Japan.
The Dojo staff members pose with their hosting JKA (Japan Karate Association) instructor after class.
Group photo at the world famous JKA Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.
A tranquil stroll through Narai Juku after a hike along the historic Nakasendo Trail.
A small, welcoming section leads us into the lush forest pathway and into the mountains on the Nakasendo Trail.
A Gundam stands proudly at the entrance to Diver City Mall in Tokyo.
Godzilla towers above the buildings in Tokyo.
Toshu gu Shrine, Nikko, Japan.
A detail of the intricate woodwork and gold-gilded rooftop at Toshu gu Shrine.
Elaborate wood carvings adorn the many important cultural buildings at Toshu gu Shrine.
A breath-taking view from the top of the Tokyo SkyTree.
The Dojo Instructor, William Gaffney during a return pilgrimage to the gravesites of Sengakuji Temple (The 47 Ronin).
Student instructors, Lee Lampiris, Philbert Smith and Gabriela Bautista are presented their black belt degree at Takeda Shingen Shrine.
One of the hundreds of resident monkeys at Jigokudani Monkey Park.
Canyoning in Nikko. White water sliding, repelling, cliff climbing and waterfall jumping. Epic outdoor adventure!
Sengakuji Temple, the resting place of the 47 Loyal Samurai.
A brief stop at Mt. Fuji Museum before cruising around the iconic volcano on Lake Kawaguchiko.
Purification fountains are found at the entrance of temples and shrines.
Children march in the Gion Matsuri parade.
Leading the pull effort of the enormous shrine.
Spotting from atop the massive mobile shrine during the Gion Matsuri parade.
Marching through the window of time.
The young boy serves as divine messenger for the event.
Kendo training at Kyoto Budo Center
Crossing swords during the exchange
Giving respect before giving a beat down
After class group picture at the Kyoto Budo Center, Japan
Complex view inside Kiyomizu dera.
Osaka Castle from across the bridge.
Bamboo forest towering above.
At Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima.
Participating in karate in Beppu, Japan.
Senior students from both schools join in kata demonstrations.
One of the 48 waterfalls in Akame, birthplace of the fabled ninja.
Famous alleyways in Kyoto.
Quiet night stroll in Kyoto.
Torii gate at Miyajima Island.
A monkey surveys the gathering crowd at Mt. Takasaki Wild Monkey Park.
Mischievious monkey captures the tail of a submerged playmate.
A view of structural damage to Kumamoto Castle from the 2016 earthquake in Kyushu.
View made famous by the movie, "Memoirs of a Geisha".
Just one of the "Eight Hells of Beppu" volcanic pools.
Black Belt graduates at the grave of Miyamoto Musashi.
Decorative garden fountain.
Intricate roof carvings at Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu Shrine.
Youths participating in the sport of sumo, Tokyo.
Summit of Mt. Fuji at sunrise.
Mt. Fuji's crater.
Famous tourist destination, the Golden Pavilion.
Detail of a Bugaku mask.
Bugaku court dance.
An apprentice geisha scurries to her appointment.
Geisha sightings in downtown Kyoto.
Blooming lotus.
Scenic gardens behind Himeji Castle.
Group picture at the entrance of Kiyomizu dera.
Group picture at Byodo-in Temple.
Himeji-jo samurai castle.
Byodo-in Buddhist temple.
View from the upper deck of Kiyomizu dera's water spouts
"Here's to longevity."
Drink from one of the three spouts; success in academics, longevity or wealth.
Image of the fountain "I am content".
Jizu, the guardian of lost children.
The Great Daibutsu, Kamakura, Japan.
Lanterns in Kyoto
Performance at Gion Corner, Kyoto
Stillness and simplicity of Ryoan-ji. The inspiration of The Dojo's Dunwoody design.
Group picture at Nijo Castle.
Arrival in Tokyo.
Horu-ji Temple. Home to some of the oldest wooden structures in the world.
Shinto priest in Osaka.
William Gaffney makes a pilgrimage to the grave of Lord Asano Naganori.
The final resting place of the 47 Ronin, Sengakuji Temple.
Smoky pachinko parlors were common in the cities.
