Grinnellian Adventures: Japan: Land of the Rising Sun, Past & Present
October 16–25, 2026
Join us for a one-of-a-kind journey through Japan, a thoughtfully designed, faculty-led experience that blends cultural immersion, intellectual engagement, and meaningful connection. This small-group tour invites alumni and friends to travel together through Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Osaka, guided by the insight and expertise of Mariko Shigeta Schimmel, professor of Chinese and Japanese and East Asian Studies, and John Shors, bestselling author and founder of John Shors Travel.
Whether you're drawn to Japan’s ancient traditions, modern innovation, or breathtaking landscapes, this tour offers a seamless, all-inclusive experience that allows you to focus on discovery, reflection, and community.
Highlights
- Ride the iconic bullet train through Japan’s scenic countryside
- Explore sacred sites including Fushimi Inari Shrine, Senso-ji Temple, and Kyoto’s Zen temples
- Visit world-renowned gardens: Shinjuku Gyoen, Heian Jingu, Tenryu-ji, and Nanzenji
- Enjoy a hands-on sushi-making class in Osaka
- Journey through Kyoto’s bamboo forest by rickshaw and stroll Nishiki Market
- Reflect at Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park on an optional day trip
- Stay in elegant, centrally located hotels
- Engage in thoughtful conversations and cultural insights with Professor Schimmel throughout the tour
This tour is limited to 18 guests to ensure a personalized and community-driven experience. All lodging, meals, activities, and tips are included (everything but alcohol and one dinner) making this a truly worry-free adventure.
Email john@johnshorstravel.com for additional details, or to reserve your spot on this tour.
Faculty & Tour Leaders
Mariko Shigeta Schimmel
Associate Professor
Chinese and Japanese
East Asian Studies
Mariko Shigeta Schimmel is associate professor of Chinese and Japanese and East Asian Studies at Grinnell College. Her scholarship centers on modern Japanese literature, with particular focus on political and aesthetic radicalism, modernist and proletarian movements of the 1920s and 1930s, and the role of humor, absurdity, and nonsense in cultural expression. She has published widely in both academic and literary journals and has presented her research at national and international conferences, including invited talks at major universities.
Professor Schimmel is known for her interdisciplinary approach to teaching, blending literature, film, and cultural studies to foster cross-cultural understanding and critical inquiry. Her courses range from Japanese language at all levels to explorations of Japanese horror, popular culture, and experimental writing.
Education and Degrees
- Ph.D., East Asian Languages and Literatures – Yale University
- M.A., Media and Governance – Keio University
- B.A., Policy Management – Keio University
John Shors
Founder and President, John Shors Travel
John Shors is an internationally bestselling novelist. His eleven novels have been translated into nearly thirty languages. Inspired to take readers on literary tours to the settings of his stories, he launched John Shors Travel in 2013 and has taken more than 1,000 guests on trips to six continents. A native of Des Moines, John attended a writing workshop at Grinnell College as a teenager. He currently lives in Boulder, Colorado, with his wife and two children.
Education and Degrees
- B.A. English, Colorado College
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Itinerary — Oct. 16-25, 2026
A brief overview is shared below. A more indepth itinerary is shared on the Japan Grinnellian Adventure trip website hosted by John Shors Travel.
Day 1: Friday
- Arrive at Narita International Airport (NRT)
- Check in at Dai-ichi Hotel Tokyo
- Welcome Dinner
Day 2: Saturday
- Enjoy a buffet breakfast at the hotel
- Yoyogi Park Stroll
- Depart for Shibuya
- Lunch at Tsuru TonTan
- Return to the hotel to enjoy some free time
- Dinner
Day 3: Sunday
- Enjoy a buffet breakfast at the hotel
- Depart for a tour of Asakusa Temple complex
- Lunch
- Depart for Tokyo Digital Art Museum
- Return via train to the hotel and enjoy free time
- Dinner
Day 4: Monday
- Enjoy a buffet breakfast at the hotel
- Check out from Dai-ichi Hotel Tokyo
- Depart for Tokyo Station
- Board a Bullet Train, bound for Kyoto
- Lunch
- Arrive in Kyoto
- Check in at Cross Hotel Kyoto
- Tour of the legendary Fushimi Inari Shrine
- Return to our hotel in the city’s center, and enjoy free time
- Dinner
Day 5: Tuesday
- Enjoy a buffet breakfast at the hotel
- Depart for Arashiyama
- Rickshaw Ride
- Lunch
- Visit the garden at Tenryuji Temple
- Optional: Walk up nearby “Monkey Mountain”
- Return to the hotel and enjoy free time
- Dinner
Day 6: Wednesday
- Enjoy a buffet breakfast at the hotel
- Depart for a walking tour of Nishiki Market
- Lunch
- Depart for Nijo Castle
- Return to the hotel for free time
- Dinner
Day 7: Thursday
- Enjoy a buffet breakfast at the hotel
- Today’s itinerary will give guests two very different options
- Independent Dinner
Day 8: Friday
- Enjoy a buffet breakfast at the hotel
- Enjoy private, individual free time to further explore the local area
- Check out from Cross Hotel Kyoto
- Lunch
- Depart from Kyoto to Osaka
- Check in at Swissôtel Nankai Osaka
- Enjoy free time
- Walk to Dotonbori
- Dinner
Day 9: Saturday
- Enjoy a buffet breakfast at the hotel
- Private sushi-making class
- Lunch
- Depart via vans for Osaka Castle
- Return to the hotel for free time
- Farewell Dinner
Day 10: Sunday
- Enjoy a buffet breakfast at the hotel
- Check out from Swissôtel Nankai Osaka
- Tour with John Shors Travel officially concludes
Email john@johnshorstravel.com for additional details, or to reserve your spot on this tour.
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Pricing
- $8,595 per person, based on double occupancy
- $10,595 per person, based on single occupancy
To reserve a spot for this tour, a nonrefundable $2,000 deposit is due to John Shors Travel by February 1, 2026.
Price Includes
- Accommodations at two four-star hotels and one five-star hotel
- All transportation within Japan
- Meals and non-alcoholic drinks
- Fees (temples, tours, guides, etc.)
- Excursions (rickshaw ride, cooking class, etc.)
- All tips
Price does not include
- International airfare to Tokyo and returning from Osaka
- Alcoholic drinks and one dinner
- Activities during free times
- Hotel incidentals such as room service, mini bar, Internet and phone charges, laundry, etc.
Additional Notes
- John Shors and Mariko Shigeta will accompany the group for the entire trip. The maximum size for any group is 18 guests, plus guides.
- Exact tour details may differ slightly from what is listed above, depending on recommendations from local guides; as restaurants close, streets are refurbished, etc.
- This trip includes walks of up to one mile, and over uneven terrain.
- We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance for your trip. For your convenience, you can explore options from John Shors Travel's trusted travel insurance partner RoamRight.
Email john@johnshorstravel.com for additional details, or to reserve your spot on this tour.
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FAQ
Who is invited to join this trip?
All Grinnellians are warmly invited! A Grinnellian can be an alum, a family member of an alum, and/or anyone who supports the College. We also welcome your guests - they do not need to be alums.
What can I expect on the trip?
This will be a fun and intellectually engaging adventure, offering many opportunities to reconnect with your Grinnellian curiosity and sense of global citizenship. Alongside Grinnellians and faculty and local experts, you'll explore Japan's rich history, diverse cultures, and vibrant modern life - with plenty of time for reflection, conversation, and discovery.
What are the physical requirements?
This trip is designed to be accessible for most travelers. Activities generally involve light walking and the ability to stand for some periods of time. Chair use can be accommodated, and there is flexibility throughout the itinerary to suit different energy levels. You are welcome to rest or opt out of specific activities according to your comfort.
Who is organizing and supporting this trip?
Grinnell College has contracted John Shors Travel to provide expert organization and support for this adventure. A staff member from the Office of Development and Alumni Relations will also travel with the group to assist guests and faculty leaders throughout the journey.
Will I receive a packing list?
Yes - after registration closes, we will provide all participants with a suggested packing list to help you prepare.
Is travel insurance required?
Travel insurance is optional but recommended as with any travel adventure. You may purchase coverage through the provider of your choice.
May I bring a guest?
Yes! Grinnellians are welcome to bring guests. Your guests does not need to be an alum.
What if I need assistance during the trip?
A Grinnell College staff member will be on the trip to provide support to guests and our faculty leaders. You will always have someone to turn to if you need assistance at any point.
Questions?
Contact Guinevere Natarelli, associate director of alumni and donor relations, at wallacegu@grinnell.edu or call 641-269-4633. You may also contact John Shors at john@johnshorstravel.com.
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