Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources

Attain a basic understanding of Japan’s agriculture, food, and natural resources while gaining insight into its culture, language, art and history. Spring is the perfect time to see the cherry blossoms in bloom, enjoy an ikebana class, practice forest therapy, and visit lovely temples and shrines. Tour the Tokyo Tower and a natural disaster center, take a ride on the bullet train, and sample new and interesting cuisine. Check out Sumo wrestling or kendo training, learn about Kobe beef, and maybe even try your hand at Karaoke!

Quick Information

Location

Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka provide an opportunity to experience diverse areas of Japan. From the large, bustling city to the quiet natural environment and landscapes, these three locations allow students to compare and contrast the new modern aspects of life in Japan with the long-standing cultural traditions of its people. This island country offers much to do and see from an Olympic Village converted into a park and tame deer in Nara to the neon lights and street vendors of Dotonbori.

Accommodation and Meals

Students will be housed in group accommodations for the duration of the program. Rooms will be shared, and the number of participants in a room will vary. All housing costs are included in the program fee.

Some meals are included in the program fee; however, students will be responsible for most of their meal costs. As the program itinerary is finalized, an estimate for out-of-pocket meal expenses will be provided. Please note that the individual spending habits of each student will vary, so participants should use the estimate as a baseline and adjust according to their own eating habits.

Program Travel

International round-trip air travel will be arranged for the Japan group. This flight generally departs from and returns to Lambert International Airport in St. Louis, MO.  Transportation from Columbia to Lambert will be the responsibility of the student.  Typically, the flight departs very early in the morning and returns very late in the evening. So, students should plan accordingly and may want to make hotel arrangements for the evening before their departure. The faculty program leader, Sonja Wilhelm Stanis, Ph.D., travels with the group flight to facilitate airport check-in and transfers. The airfare estimate is included in the program fee below; however, this estimate may fluctuate as group reservations are made and the flight is finalized.

All in-country program travel is organized by CAFNR and is included in the program fee. Some individual local transportation costs may be accrued by students wishing to explore program locations independently during their free time.

Academics

Students are enrolled in three credits of AFNR 2191: International Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (humanities; graded A/F) for the spring semester. Students should work with their advisors to determine how these credits will count toward their individual graduation plans. Please be aware that there will be mandatory orientation classes prior to departure. Dates and times for the class meetings will be available shortly after the confirmed program participant list is finalized, generally around mid-November. Participants will be notified of the class meeting details via email.

Estimated Cost

Missouri Resident Tuition (3 credits, spring semester): varies per student. See website for details.