Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures Custom Group program!
Here are a few things you can expect:
- We typically receive 2-3 blog posts per week here at GLA Headquarters from our program staff and students, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post daily – that’s totally normal.
- Blog updates sent on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
- Due to many factors, including but not limited to internet accessibility, photos may not always be available to post onto the blog. Sometimes onsite program staff are only able to send text back to Headquarters, where our team updates the blog.
Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we hope you enjoy following along on these unforgettable adventures.
For frequently asked questions about the blogs, please visit our Program Blog FAQ page.
-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team
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BLOG POST FOR SEPTEMBER 30
Dear Atmosphere Academy Japan 2025 families:
Haikei! We are so glad all students have arrived! We greeted them in Osaka and straight away headed off to the beautiful bamboo forests of Arashiyama. We hiked up to see the snow monkeys and then through the mystical bamboo forest, then on to the Teryuji Temple to explore its gardens and ancient buildings.
We then headed back to Osaka where we stopped for a nice dinner and orientation, and then after our very full day made it back to our comfy hotel. Tomorrow we are off to the famous Nara park to hand feed the deer!
Over the next 9 days we will explore Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyoto, and Tokyo- trying local foods, learning local crafts such as painting Japanese fans and making Wagashi, a Japanese dessert. We will see Sumo wrestlers training, take bullet trains, cruise Lake Ashi, and explore Tokyo by subway. It will be a blast! We hope to learn tons about Japanese culture and will see some amazing sights.
Student leaders of the day will be writing a blog post every one to two days to keep you updated about all the great things they have been up to. Our schedule is packed so besides the blog we won’t be on our phones very often. We truly hope the students enjoy this cultural experience in Japan.
Keigu!
The GLA International Director team: Heather, Brooke, Adham, and Clint + our Japanese Local Director teams: Yu-san, Tai-san, and Hiro-san
BLOG POST FOR OCTOBER 1
Hello Families!
This morning we went to breakfast at 7:15 on the 21st floor. The view was amazing and we were able to see the city from there. After that we took the bus to Nara deer park where the deers roam around freely, even cross the crosswalks! You can feed them special crackers, they really love them. It was a fun experience and I would love to do it again.
After that we went to Nara plaza and we had the chance to get food and to go shopping. Then we checked out a big Buddhist temple and learned about their religion and their customs. Afterwards we went to the Todai-ji Temple and saw many statues of different Buddhist figures. It is one of the biggest wooden buildings in the world, impressive, and the main Buddha inside was huge.
Then we took a bus ride over to the Fun Fun Plaza and took the elevator to the top of the Umeda Sky building. From there we could see the Osaka Skyline and we watched the sun set. Afterwards, we went to eat at a Korean barbecue place called Chiyayamachi. It was all we could eat and we cooked the vegetables and meat ourselves at the tables, it was fun and we tried lots of different things.
Tomorrow we have an early start to catch the bullet train to Hiroshima, which will be an interesting excursion.
Colnlin Nuñez
BLOG POST FOR OCTOBER 2
Today we got to ride a bullet train! It is amazing how smooth and fast it is. We had breakfast and then went to the station. Once we got on the sleek train we were going 200 mph but it felt smooth and quiet.
Our trip today was to Hiroshima. When we arrived in the center of town we had some free time to shop and find interesting places to eat. Some of us went to a place that specialized in fried cutlets with salad – it was good.
We then met our Hiroshima guide who walked us around the center of Hiroshima and explained the history. Seeing photos of the same area after the nuclear blast makes it feel real. We then walked to the big outdoor memorial area and then spent several hours inside the museum. The displays really bring the events to life. And the stories behind the objects we saw were very sad. The overall message of peace was the strongest of all after seeing how much the people of Hiroshima suffered.
After the museum we went to an okonomiyaki place. It was really cool- there were a whole bunch of little restaurants and we split into about 9 groups and each one went to one of the little places. We sat at the little bar and the chefs cooked right in front of us, using spatulas to make what is sort of like a thick pancake or omelette but really different. They smother it in a special barbecue sauce at the end and there are lots of different toppings and fillings. It was fun and we liked them, even though they have cabbage!
Joseph Holguin
Amber Shim
Luis Castillo
BLOG POST FOR OCTOBER 3
First we checked out of our hotel and took the bus to Kyoto. We then went to the Manga Museum where we saw many different genres of manga. The museum showed us the history of manga as-well as how manga covers are made. There were sections where you could draw your very own manga cover which was very nice because we got a glimpse into what manga artists need to do in order to catch the eye of the reader. After the museum we ate lunch at a local mall where we saw different foods both western and local.
After lunch our pod and part of pod 2 visited Todoh Senior High School where we interacted with different students from the local school. We got a glimpse into school life for Japanese students and into their culture. They introduced us to their lives and introduced us to important things in their culture such as the tea ceremony. We had a lot of activities with them and really got to talk to them a lot. Everyone had a lot of fun with paper airplane flying contests, origami, learning some Japanese phrases, charades, all in small groups of American and Japanese students together.
Afterwards we went and ate hot pot in which we got to eat Japanese dishes such as thinly sliced pork and vegetables we cooked in a boiling broth at our tables, which was fun.
Gabriel Balbuena
BLOG POST FOR OCTOBER 4
Today we were able to gain a better understanding of Japanese culture. Our group was able to learn more about the tea ceremony and the Japanese sweet (wagashi) that they eat during it. We learned to make the treats and drank plenty of delicious matcha. After lunch we had more hands on learning— painting our own Japanese fans! They are really pretty and that was fun.
In the afternoon we then visited a huge, beautiful temple in the old part of Kyoto made without any nails. The name of the temple was Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Our tour guide gave us great insight into how it was made and the meaning behind the colors: pink and white for spring cherry blossoms, green for summer’s lush foliage, and fiery red, orange, and yellow for autumn leaves, symbolizing renewal and vitality. With little time to spare, we were able to go grab some gifts for our family and friends.
As we left, our group was able to take the time to connect and learn more about each other through heads up as we navigated through traffic. Before dinner we were met with a very intriguing performance telling us a bit more about Japan’s history. Unfortunately, we were late for our dinner reservation, but we made the best of it by heading to the mall and grabbing some food of our choice. We made it back to the hotel and were able to get a full night’s rest.
Athena Ojeda
BLOG POST FOR OCTOBER 5
We arrived to Tokyo station from Kyoto, after a ride on the Shinkansen bullet train, where we split up to all get different foods, we were able to try authentic ramen and traditional Japanese restaurant food. After we all finished eating, we gathered up and took a stroll down the Japanese Character Street, where there were stores of all kinds; anime, video games, and other famous franchises. We explored and shopped for a while before heading out to the famous Shibuya crosswalk (the Times Square of Japan). When we were done crossing a couple of times, we made our way to dinner, where we had a western style buffet (American style). The buffet was located at a beautiful park where we were able to see a small replica of the Statue of Liberty, along with a wonderful view of the rainbow bridge and the Tokyo skyline behind it. We finished eating and spent time taking pictures with our pods, friends, and solo photos. Finally, we headed to our new hotel and prepared for the next days adventures!
David Tiburcio
Day six, and so far, so good! 🙂
We had a big travel day today, journeying from Kyoto to Tokyo. It was only about two hours, quick and totally worth it. The minute we hit the station, we grabbed lunch right there and managed a couple of minutes to explore Character Street. The food? Absolutely unreal. I had the 洋食屋さんのオムライス 森キビーフシチューソース (“Western-style restaurant omelet rice with Moriki beef stew sauce”). When the server brought it over, I actually saw smoke puffing from the plate, you know instantly that’s going to be good, and it definitely was. After a little shopping, we charged over to Shibuya, basically the downtown hub of Tokyo. We’re getting our atmosphere post done there, and you know our team has to win! We finished the night at a buffet a total relief and a nice break from all the new foods we’ve been trying this trip. And there was an incredible view there! Now that we are all in Tokyo, we are going to make these last few days unforgettable!
Luis Ron
BLOG POST FOR OCTOBER 6
After having a long night’s rest, the pod gathered into the bus and made their way towards our sushi making class. Unfortunately, one of the students lost their wallets, which would have been bad; however, it was found by a kind person who found the student online using the information inside the wallet. The student’s chaperone Mr. Yuan was able to go pick up the wallet and return it safely to our student with nothing missing. Japan is amazing!
We then learned how to make sushi and the importance behind the making of it. We each made up a whole beautiful platter of sashimi with tuna, salmon, squid, okra, asparagus, shrimp, fish eggs and lots of other things. Once we made our sushi, we were able to eat our own creations for lunch— it was all really good!
After eating, we separated into smaller groups with our chaperones and took on a challenge. The challenge was based in the famous Tokyo Tower where we had to take photos according to the challenges, submitting their best photos and waiting for the winners to be announced. After Tokyo tower, we were given the challenge to navigate the subway systems on our own (a staff member behind us) and find our way to dinner, where we had a traditional Japanese set meal that had steak, rice, fried chicken and many more traditional Japanese foods. At the end of the day, we headed back to the hotel to get our good nights rest.
Ethier Espacia
BLOG POST FOR OCTOBER 7
By Joelkis and Alan
Today we woke up early and left at 7:15. Breakfast was a grab and go meal that we ate on the bus. It was about a three hour ride with a stop in the middle. Then our bus had a slight transmission problem so we got to join another group’s bus. It actually made the trip way more fun because everyone was laughing and talking making the energy great.
When we arrived, we had a good lunch before heading to Hakone Volcano. The view of Mount Fuji was amazing and looked unreal. We took a gondola up the mountain and the smell hit us right away. It smelled like eggs because of the sulfur in the air. At the top there was a shop that sold black eggs which are boiled in volcanic water. The shells turn black and people say eating one adds seven years to your life. A couple of us had the eggs so we will be fine for another while.
After that we got back on the bus for another three hours to see the Japanese countryside on the way to dinner which was a buffet style food with everything in it. After we explored the biggest mall in Japan and had time to get and bring home things we needed. It was a long day but definitely a fun and engaging one.
-Alan Del Rosario
Today on October 7th we woke up at 6:30 and be down at the lobby at 7 to get to Hakone which was a 3 hour bus ride from our hotel. Since we had to wake up so early we had a boxed breakfast which included potatoes, sandwiches and pasta. On the way there we made a rest stop and our pods bus had some transmission issues but it was ok because we got to hop on the other bus with our other friends and got to Hakone easily that way.
When there, we saw Mount Fuji and Hakone volcano which is inactive. It created a lot of acidic sulfur which made the trees perish and made the air have an interesting aroma like eggs. After we explored the volcano we got on the bus and left for dinner. We had an international style buffet where we ate chicken, rice, sushi, pizza, and fries. Then we explored the biggest mall in Japan and made our way back to the hotel.
-Joelkis Acevedo
BLOG POST FOR OCTOBER 8
Today, we got to sleep in a little- much needed rest after such a busy week. We then took the bus to a temple, it was surrounded by a street where assorted goods could be purchased. The temple itself was sprawling and had a station where fortunes could be told. After leaving the temple we went to lunch and then a shopping district popular among fans of anime and other related forms of media.
Afterwards, we went to see a sumo demonstration. It was impressive and explained the history and purpose of various aspects of the sport and its place in Japanese culture. After the demonstration, they challenged the students and staff to push the wrestlers out of the ring, only the head of the history department, Dr. Johnson, won. From there we went to a Japanese set dinner for a big dinner all together, at a really nice place. The view was amazing and we had a spectacular sunset as we ate. Then we boarded the bus to the hotel.
Julius Ovalles
