Japan Summer High School Programs with Rustic Pathways

I recently got back from a Japan and Korea Tokyo to Seoul Rustic Pathways trip. To say it was life changing is an understatement. The experiences I had will be kept tight within my heart. I saw two beautiful countries I now want to move to. Shoutout to Scott, Chang, Chet, and Scarlett.

Feedback:
My biggest piece of advice is I would suggest adding opportunities to see the cities at night given how cool they are.

Food:
During my trip I was extremely well fed and everything was delicious. I loved our morning and nighttime konbini runs. When going out to eat we were allowed to eat really well and had a budget that was extremely reasonable.

Lodging:
On my trip all lodging was comfortable and safe. The guesthouses had a great vibe and really contributed to the ideas of the program.
The hostel in Japan was great and had lots of amenities making that part of the trip very smooth.

Activities:
Meeting the locals and participating in the activities was amazing. I loved our South Korea community service. We had a mix of classes and sights and it was a very good balance. I saw almost everything I wanted to see in both cities. It was a great challenge by choice experience.

Transportation:
It was great getting to use the public transportation and experience that part of the culture. Getting to use the train card and learn the train system was a great experience.

Community:
I have done lots of summer programs. Rustic is definitely the best one I’ve done. You make friends so fast and I feel like your program leaders and managers don’t censor you and you can genuinely partake in good conversation.

The itenerary/ Pacing:
This program was paced really well with a full itenerary. Scott and Chang designed a very good, memorable experience. Chet and Scarlet both made our experience super easy and enjoyable and helped keep the program going.

Thank you for an amazing experience and I hope I travel with you guys again soon!

Had a great time the whole week. The food was great and the group coordinators made sure to confirm mine along with everyone else’s every needs were met. I’d like to issue a special shout out to our counselor Sydney for putting in the extra work taking people on late night convenience store runs when they were desperately needed along with having a great attitude all week. The housing was great as well, with my time in the city being very enjoyable, along with the home stay family being very welcoming and understanding.

This trip was absolutely amazing. I’m a 17-year-old male, and I had an absolute blast. The counselors had a vast understanding of the area and took us to some amazing spots. I feel that I deeply connected with all three of my Counselors. Throughout the trip, they constantly asked if we wanted to visit anywhere or do anything specific, and every time we asked, our request was always met. I definitely recommend this if you’re looking to explore Japan. Initially, I was a little scared of how much free time we were going to have, but after arriving, I quickly realized that we had a lot of it. This was truly an amazing trip. Thank you so much to Scott, Tim, and Ashley. I will truly remember and cherish this trip for the rest of my life.

Though there was less service than expected, the service trip to Japan exceeded all other expectations. The group leaders were well informed about the locations, we were taken to various different places, all with a different kind of impact, we were encouraged to think about the purpose of the trip for ourselves and how we could accomplish our goals in Japan. It truly was a very well thought out and carefully planned trip, with an amazing team to support the students. I highly recommend. Thank you.

This was an amazing experience and so unique and eye opening to the culture of this beautiful place. This program tours throughout all of the different parts of Japan and the Japanese culture. From the bustling streets of Tokyo to the quiet gardens of Kanazawa. The program leaders led us each with their different skills to help us make the most of this trip. We were able to learn so much about the different foods, cultures, activities and everything we need to know about Japanese life. From the amazing housing and train rides. Our program leaders made this an unforgettable experience.

All the planned activities were both exciting and educating in both traditional Japanese culture and practices along with more modern things such as pop culture. The group leaders were so special and impactful to the overall experience and community that was built within the group. Thank you for providing the space for this experience.

Words cannot explain how amazing this trip was. As an avid fan of Japanese culture and Japanese media, this trip was something I have been dreaming about for years. Not only did we experience city life in Tokyo, but we lived in a more smaller area to see what life was like beyond a huge city in Japan. In Tokyo, we ate amazing authentic food as well as shopped depending on the interests of people within the group. The adults with us were easily approachable and easily the most friendly people in the world. They’re willing to accommodate for the needs of others and are flexible with adjusting plans if needed based on the wants/needs of others. I can’t express how much this trip has not only changed me as a person, but has prepared me for life beyond school and given me a brand new mindset beyond what I considered to be the ‘norm’.

The experience I had here was one I will never forget. They always made us feel safe and welcome where ever we went. I will never forget this trip and i encourage anyone thinking of going or thinking of it for your kids i would 100% send them or yourself on this trip. If you want a trip to try new foods this is definitely one i would recommend for anyone thinking of someplace to get new clothes this is that place and anyone just wondering if this is the trip you should go on… It is!! Be adventurous and go to Japan!!!!