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June 27, 2003

This is one of a pair of foxes that flank the main gate at Fushimi Inari Shrine. Inari shrines are common throughout Japan, but Fushimi Inari is a particularly stunning example. Inari shrines are dedicated to the Shinto god of rice and sake and, by association, have come to represent success in business. The Webster High group washes their hands before entering Fushimi Inari Shrine. Which way should we go? Webster poses in front of this double path of torii (the reddish-orange gates) leading deeper into Fushimi Inari Shrine. The name of the business or individual who donated the torii to the shrine is carved and painted in black ink on each one. Even those who have never been to Japan likely find the torii a familiar image. Fushimi Inari is riddled with paths of torii just like the one behind this Webster student. Nope, this isn't the same path as the two in the photo above. Webster students purchase juzu bracelets, or Buddhist prayer beads, at a temple stall. Make a wish! Prayers for good health, good fortune, or even a new boyfriend or girlfriend are written inside these colorful papers and tied to a bamboo pole. Did anyone from Webster make a wish?

But... There's Still So Much More to Do! Today, June 27, participants in NP:J's second summer tour of 2003 said goodbye to Japan. For the last three days, they have been exploring the major sites of the Kansai region, focusing on the cities of Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka. Everyone arrived in Kyoto on Tuesday the 24th after parting with their homestay families. The heavy downpour that accompanied their arrival let up early the next day, leaving NP:J participants with a cloudy, but dry, day to sightsee on Wednesday. However, true to rainy-season form, the dry day that had been forecasted for Thursday was scattered with afternoon showers. Ah well! That's June in Japan. On Wednesday and Thursday morning, each teacher met with Takeyabu-san, NP:J's travel consultant in Kyoto, in the lobby of the Rihga Royal Hotel to determine the best course of travel for the school group's pre-planned itinerary. Takeyabu-san provided teachers with maps, bus numbers, and general advice on getting around the Kansai region. Teachers were very appreciative of Takeyabu-san's assistance, as most had rather full days scheduled. Although each group has a slightly different itinerary, there are a few sites that almost everyone decides to see while in the Kansai region: the Buddhist sites of Kiyomizu Temple and Kinkaku-ji (The Golden Pavilion) in Kyoto, and the Daibutsu (Big Buddha) at Todaiji in Nara. Yet, some groups do take the road less traveled to visit sites not commonly seen on a first trip to the Kansai region. This year, two groups visited Fushimi Inari Shrine, a massive Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of rice and sake (Inari) that dates back to the 8th century. A complete tour of the shrine grounds takes over two hours and covers at least 4 kilometers. The paths that wind through Fushimi Inari are lined with hundreds of red torii and off to the sides are smaller, more personal, shrines to Inari. You can see a few pictures of Fushimi Inari to the left. Thursday night, teachers met with TLI staff to go over Friday's departure procedures. This tour, departure times span from 6:30 AM until 6 PM. King Kekaulike High School from Hawaii is the lucky group that gets to spend almost another full day exploring Kyoto! Those groups that leave at 6:30 AM, however, had to have their bags packed and ready to go by 11 PM Thursday night. Of course, almost everyone is leaving with more items than they originally brought, so packing has been somewhat of a trick. Some participants probably had to purchase extra bags or sturdy cardboard boxes! While many are tired and happy to be returning home to their friends and family, it is also clear that the study tour has been a worthwhile and meaningful experience. In closing, the staff of The Laurasian Institution wants to convey a warm and hearty "Thank You!" to the families and friends of our students and to the teacher/chaperones who gave so much of themselves; and---last but not least---to our NP:J students. Watching you experience Japan (most of you for the first time) helps us rediscover this beautiful culture anew with each tour. We hope all of our NP:J students continue to show an interest in Japan and in becoming more internationally aware. We wish you the best of luck with your future! Sayonara! Hotel staff load the luggage for Clarkston High onto the bus. Does this look like the luggage of ten people? Uhoh... will it all fit? It took three or four minutes to get the last piece of luggage loaded... Goodbye Japan! Clarkston heads to the Kansai International Airport. It's going to be a long and tiring day. Everyone was a little worried about the long check-in line... but it turned out alright. The Webster group took the train, a lot, on Wednesday. They travelled from Kyoto to Fushimi Inari, then on to Uji, and on again still to Nara.