Meet your fellow high school student travelers and one or more of your leaders at the San Francisco airport, and fly together to Osaka, Japan.

Spend your first days in Japan in the bustling hub of Osaka and get to know your fellow students, leaders, and On Assignment team. Explore the Dotonbori district, home to a dazzling array of neon, animated signs, food, shopping, and culture along the Kizu River. Ride the enormous Ferris wheel at the center of this district for stunning city views, and eat some of Osaka’s famous okonomiyaki. This hub of the Kansai region is often called “The Nation’s Kitchen,” and offers a huge array of culinary treats. While here, take day trips to some of Japan’s most important historical sites. In Himeji, witness one of Japan’s most famous monuments and a UNESCO World Heritage site. See the castle where the fate of the shogunate was decided 400 years ago. Learn about the Battles of Sekigahara and the Summer War, and the birth of the Edo era. In Nara, feed the domesticated deer that roam the spacious park surrounding Japan’s first and oldest capital city, including one of the country’s oldest daibutsu, or “Giant Buddha” statues.

Head off the beaten path of the Pacific coast and explore the Japanese countryside as you head to the less-populated side of Honshu for one of Japan’s “Nihon Sankei”—or “Three Most Beautiful Views”—at Amanohashidate, or “Bridge in the Heavens.” The beaches on this unique stretch of sand that encloses Miyazu Bay from the Sea of Japan (East Sea) is the perfect place to ride a bicycle among the ancient pines, or sun yourself next to the waves. Have a picnic on the beach and hop in for a swim before you head to a traditional onsen hot spring town to bathe in restorative waters and taste local specialties. Along the way, meet and meditate alongside the Buddhist monks at a beautifully landscaped temple devoted to the healing hot spring waters. Visit the ancient structures of a castle outpost and try handmade zaru soba noodles before hopping aboard a train to reconnect with the urban side of Japanese life.

Next, travel southwest to Kyoto, an ancient capital city, and explore one of the country’s most extensive networks of intact cultural sites. Visit the world-famous UNESCO World Heritage site of Kiyomizu-dera, view and photograph the visual rock garden puzzles of Ryōanji, witness the famous multi-level pavilions of Kinkaku-ji, and walk the “Philosopher’s Path” through tranquil Japanese garden landscapes. Travel to Arashiyama and wander bamboo forests filled with ancient shrines and temples, see a maiko show performed by geisha and participate in chadō, the traditional tea ceremony.

From the ancient temples of Kyoto your train winds northeast past the famous Lake Biwa and takes you to the edge of Gifu and Ishikawa prefectures. Get outfitted at the ancient “imperial resort” town of Kanazawa to hike through a dormant volcanic crater covered in wildflowers and natural wetlands at the base of Mount Hakusan. Ascend from there to the majestic views atop one of Japan’s three “holy mountains'' and stay in a traditional pilgrim’s lodge. Descend to a UNESCO World Heritage site at Shirakawa-go village, an immaculately preserved straw-thatch roof community nestled in Gifu’s verdant valleys. Stroll Edo-era streets lined with traditional architecture and interact with this living history as people go about daily life in a place dedicated to preserving thousands of years of history and culture.

Return to modern urban Japanese life in the mega-city of Tokyo, one of the largest cities in the world. Celebrate the end of your journey at iconic spots in Japan: Tokyo Skytree, Tsukiji fish market, Sensō-ji, and more within close proximity to centrally located accommodations. Get a hefty dose of Japanese pop culture at Takeshita Street in the Harajuku district and take in the burst of colorful stores, Tokyo fashion, and themed cafes. Present your On Assignment projects to your group and spend your final night celebrating your Japan experience with your group before heading home to share all you have seen and experienced.

Fly from Tokyo to San Francisco with your group and a leader, then continue on to your final destination.