"The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists." — Japanese Proverb

In January, a group of Bentley University graduate students stepped off the plane in Tokyo where they found local EdOdyssey Program Leader Yuki Kudo waiting for them. Along with their faculty leaders, Susan Vroman and Bill Gribbons, they spent an action-packed week and a half in Japan learning about Japanese culture and business practices. 

Their travels would take them from the dynamic streets of Tokyo to the scenic town of Hakone, to charming historical Himeji, and on to Kyoto—the old capital, commonly known as the cultural heart of the country. 

Bentley University’s learning objectives? Students would demonstrate:  

• Knowledge of Japanese culture, demography, and how traditional values impact evolving workplace trends, and vice versa

• An understanding of the experience of working in Japan in comparison / contrast to the US workforce

• An ability to enact and apply culturally appropriate behavior in Japanese business settings

• An ability to identify traditional, prominent, and emerging management practices for Japanese business leaders

• An ability to leverage accumulated understandings of implicit and explicit business protocol when interacting with Japanese leaders and workers

• An ability to professionally act and interact in workplace and cultural heritage sites with respect to Japanese customs and mannerisms

• An awareness of cultural differences and similarities between Japanese and Americans in business, academia, and in general

• An awareness of the concurrent presence of traditional life with industrial achievements in modern life

• An awareness of the impacts of the complex business environment in Japanese management practices

TOKYO: SHRINES, TEMPLES & BUSINESS MEETINGS

Our adventures began in Japan’s capital city, Tokyo, with its modern skyscrapers—neon-lit at night—reaching impressive distances above us. In fascinating contrast, traditional culture still plays a strong role in the life and streets below. Tokyo is famous for its vibrant neighborhoods like Shibuya and Harajuku, historic sites like Senso-ji Temple, and its exciting food scene. We enjoyed: 

Visiting Meiji Shrine. A Shinto shrine right in the heart of Tokyo, Meiji Shrine opened in 1920 and is a symbol of the influence of Emperor Meiji and of the rapid modernization of the country. It’s famous for its huge torii gates. Yuki explained to students how to go through them and how some locals pray in front of the main shrine. Surrounding the shrine is a wonderful forest area with more than 100,000 trees. We enjoyed a long walk on the trails, soaking in the beauty of nature in the middle of the city.

Exploring the District of Asakusa and the Senso-ji Temple. Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple, Sensoji Temple was founded in 628 AD! At the temple, we learned about traditional Edo, marveled at the five-story pagoda, and took in its impressive entrance gate (Thunder Gate) with its giant red lantern. This is one of Tokyo’s important landmarks. Statues of the gods of thunder and wind symbolize protection for those who pass through. In the main hall, the scent of incense fills the air as part of a purification or cleansing ritual for good health and fortune. Nearby, the lively Nakamise Street was also fun to explore with its snack stalls and independent shops.

Connecting with Local Business Leaders and Employees. While in Tokyo, students had the opportunity to visit the Kawasaki branch of Toshiba and engage with the team. They asked questions about business structure and were interested in learning more about “nomikai”—an important part of Japanese business culture. This is the common practice of coworkers gathering to socialize, unwind, build relationships, and work on team bonding in an informal setting. Then they met with Mei Abe from MIXI over lunch. She shared her insights into Japan’s digital entertainment industry and kindly fielded so many thoughtful questions from our students she barely finished her lunch! Students also spent time at Indeed's corporate office where they explored their curiosity about women’s rights in the Japanese workplace among many other topics of interest.

Encountering the Kotoku-in Great Buddha. On the way to Hakone, our next overnight stay, we took the train from Tokyo to Kamakura to visit the Kōtoku-in Great Buddha, which is one of Japan’s most famous landmarks. Completed in 1252, the open-air statue stretches 43.8 feet tall, weighs about 121 tons, and is made mostly of bronze. Before a huge tsunami swept through the area in 1495, the statue was inside a temple building, but the temple was never reconstructed. 

Lighting Incense at Hase Temple. We also made a stop at the 8th-century Hase Temple. The main attraction here is an impressive 9-foot tall wooden statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, with 11 faces symbolizing different aspects of compassion. Students were able to light incense, which is a symbol of offering and respect and is a common practice at temples as the smoke is believed to purify the body and mind.

HAKONE: ONSEN AND A TRADITIONAL RYOKAN EXPERIENCE ON LAKE ASHI

Later that day, we traveled a bit further from Kamakura to the scenic town of Hakone, which is known for its hot springs, natural beauty, and unforgettable views of Mount Fuji. The Owakudani volcanic area and Lake Ashi are popular places to see here. Memorable activities for our students leaned heavily into tradition and included: 

Relaxing in an Onsen. Along with an evening of karaoke, interested students had an opportunity to relax in an onsen, which is a great Japanese custom. A soak in the natural hot spring bath is a real authentic experience. We learned about the specific etiquette that must be followed: Onsens are separated by gender, and wearing a swimsuit is considered inappropriate—although a small “modesty towel” is common. Always shower first. Enter the onsen. The modesty towel is typically placed on one’s head during the soak. Exit and finish with another shower. 

A Night in a Traditional Ryokan. The evening continued with another very authentically Japanese experience; students enjoyed a stay in a traditional ryokan where they had Lake Ashi and Mount Fuji views from their room windows. They enjoyed a Japanese meal during which at least one of the students tried sashimi for the first time and loved it. Yuki was impressed. After dinner, they each wore a yukata—a lightweight kimono provided by the ryokan (photos above). Students slept in peaceful rooms with minimalistic decor. In place of Western-style beds, they were able to try out a night spent on a futon which is rolled out on tatami mats made of woven straw.

Hakone-jinja Shrine and Heiwa No Torri. Before heading on to Himeji, we stopped to see the Hakone-jinja shrine, which dates back to the year 757 AD. We also saw the bright red Heiwa No Torri, or “The Red Gate of Peace,” standing tall in Lake Ashi and nestled by the surrounding mountains to create some breathtaking views and a sense of tranquility. This was a perfect place to pause and appreciate the nature and beauty around us.  

HIMEJI: VISITING HIMEJI CASTLE

Next stop: Himeji. Last spring, we shared a virtual wander through this city after our Japan-based Director of Program Operations Sarah Reid’s trip to explore during cherry blossom season. The highlight is Himeji castle and the beautiful gardens that stretch across its grounds, but the city itself has a charming old town with quaint streets to discover—like the well-known Miyuki Street—lined with teahouses, cafes, and traditional shops selling local snacks, Japanese crafts, local snacks, and souvenirs.

Himeji Castle and Gardens. We boarded our train from Odawara station around lunchtime, bringing along bento boxes to dig into on our journey to Himeji. Exiting the train station, we could spot the 17th-century “White Heron”—Himeji-jo castle—up on a hill ahead of us, dominating the skyline. We spent an afternoon learning about the history and architecture of this famous UNESCO World Heritage Site with local guides (with our shoes off, of course), climbing up seven sets of wooden steps. Students asked a lot of thoughtful questions, wandered through the castle grounds, and ended their day with an opportunity to explore Miyuki Street and the old town independently.

KYOTO: HISTORIC SITES, TEA CEREMONY CULTURE & BUSINESS MEETINGS

Before heading back to Toyko, we made one more big stop: Kyoto! This is a historic city with beautiful temples, traditional wooden houses, and lovely gardens—and you may remember that we shared some of Sarah’s adventures here last year too. Traditional geisha culture is still alive in Kyoto (especially in Gion), the pace of life is slower than in many big Japanese cities, and the turn of the seasons brings spring cherry blossoms, hot summers, vibrant autumn maple leaves, and snowy winters. Highlights for us were: 

A Trip to the Golden Pavilion. We spent our first morning in Kyoto visiting Kinkaku-ji, otherwise known as the Golden Pavilion, built in 1397. With its top two stories covered in pure gold leaf, it’s one of the city’s most recognizable landscapes. The pavilion is set in a “Japanese strolling garden,” and—fun fact: each floor was designed in a different architectural style.

Nishiki Market for Lunch. Lunch that day came from the bustling Nishiki Market—nicknamed “Kyoto’s Kitchen”—a real treat for the senses. This is a 700-year-old street food market with more than 150 tiny stalls selling everything from grilled squid to soy donuts to baby octopus on sticks with a boiled quail egg in the brain cavity. We were spoiled for choice, to say the least!

A Tea Ceremony in the Gion District. From lunch, we headed into a traditional tea house where we sat on the floor of a tatami-mat room, watched our host prepare matcha (powdered green tea), and learned all about this deeply spiritual and meditative practice with its slow and deliberate movements and rituals. There are parallels here with Japanese business culture where hospitality (a customer-first approach) is valued, there’s respect for proper etiquette, attention to detail is important, and harmony (or collaboration) is key.

Visiting Kiyomizudera Temple. We finished our first day in Kyoto becoming more familiar with the streets of Gion and visiting the “Pure Water Temple,” founded in 778 AD. One of the most impressive features is in the main hall of this temple: a wooden stage 43 feet above the ground that was built using traditional Japanese woodworking techniques—no nails involved. At the base of the temple is the sacred Otowa Waterfall. There are also stunning views of the city.

Connecting with Local Business Leaders and Employees. As we did in Tokyo, we spent a full day in and around Kyoto learning about Japanese business culture first-hand. In the morning, we visited a tea manufacturing business at KIRIN in the Shiga prefecture where students sampled three different types of tea and had an opportunity to understand how the business works and talk to employees. After a group lunch at Suddenly Dinner!—overlooking Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan—we enjoyed meeting with the team at Ohtsuka Sangyo Material Co to learn about the material handling industry in Japan and the relationship between Shiga and Michigan. “We did a company introduction and a plant tour,” Ohtsuka Sangyo Material Co shared in a public news release about the students’ visit. “The [students] asked a lot of questions related to our management culture during a Q&A session, and we really appreciate their interest in us. Even though there was snow on that day, we were so glad to welcome them all.” That evening, we shared a dinner with a group of Americans who work for SmartEd. They told us all about their perspective on living and working in Japan and the digital tech industry that is revitalizing education. 

WRAPPING UP

After a free day to explore more of Kyoto and a farewell dinner, we traveled back to Tokyo via Shinkansen (high-speed train) for our students’ departure to the US. 

“The students really appreciated getting to see multiple sides of Japan and Japanese business culture,” Sarah reflected. “From Tokyo and the incredibly formal setting with Toshiba executives to the beautiful countryside in Shiga where many corporations have their industrial production centers, the students really got to see many facets of business here in Japan. The companies that met with the students were incredibly kind and eager to answer all of their questions. The students also got to experience the more spiritual and historical side of Japan, which gave them the context needed to see how modern business practices developed over time. They really did an incredible amount in a very short period of time, and every student I talked to was already making plans to come back to Japan as soon as possible.”

Educational travel isn’t just about seeing new places; its impact goes much deeper. Through their interactions with the local community, exposure to cultural and business practices different from their own, and simply navigating the challenges that innately come with travel, students learn to adapt, shift perspectives, and look at other ways of being with a more open mind. Like the bamboo in the proverb at the top of this post, students who travel in this immersive way become more flexible and resilient which helps them to become more capable of navigating their journeys ahead. Instead of standing rigid in the face of the unfamiliar, students become more likely to bend, grow, and thrive because of it.

CREATE A CUSTOM PROGRAM WITH US

If you’re interested in creating a custom program with us, in Japan or one of our other host countries—Canada, Chile, China, Ireland, Italy, Peru, Spain, the UK, or even a domestic program in the US—our custom programs page is linked below. Reach out to start a conversation.