Most student tours follow the "bus and gift shop" route. FKTI is different. We leverage 30 years of local relationships to move your teen off the tourist path and into the heart of authentic Japanese culture.
🏯 28 Days of Discovery
Our month-long journey balances deep immersion with wide exploration:
- Two weeks in Kyoto: Japan’s cultural soul and our home base.
- Two weeks on the move: Exploring Hiroshima, Kanazawa, Nagano, Mie, and Tokyo.
🏯 What Does a Typical Day Look Like?
We don’t just "see" sites; we engage with the people who live there. A single day might include:
- Morning: A deep dive into Zen Buddhist philosophy at a 550-year-old temple. Our host, a 5th-generation monk who studied neuroscience in the U.S., explains how meditation affects the brain's neurochemistry.
- Lunch: Handmade ramen at a neighborhood shop where the father-and-son owners treat our students like family.
- Afternoon: Navigating the Hozu River rapids with boatmen practicing a 400-year-old tradition.
- Evening: Sunset at the Iwatayama Monkey Park and a walk through the towering Arashiyama Bamboo Forest.
There are 27 more days on the itinerary just as full and engaging as that!
🏯 The FKTI Difference: Why Us?
1. "Fukai Kankei Taiken" (Deeply Connected Experiences)
Our name reflects our mission. We connect students with artists, artisans, homestay families, and community groups through relationships our founder has built over three decades.
2. Small Groups, Big Impact
While other companies herd 30+ kids on a bus, we cap our trips at 12 youth age 13-18. This allows us to visit authentic locations, and meet people that larger groups simply can't manage.
3. Comprehensive Preparation
We don't just send them on a plane. Every student receives 5–6 months of free pre-trip language and culture training so they land in Japan ready to engage, not just observe.
4. Expert Mentorship
The trip is led by Greg Stoddard, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 30 years of youth development experience (including leadership roles at Boston Children’s Hospital, the Boys and Girls Clubs, and The Home for Little Wanderers). He’s fluent in Japanese and a veteran of 25+ trips to Japan. He is joined by a fluent, adult female trip alumna who provides peer mentorship and cultural bridge-building.
5. A Mission-Driven Nonprofit
FKTI is a registered 501(c)(3). Because of our nonprofit status, roughly 1/2 to 2/3 of your tuition is a tax-deductible contribution.
🏯Ready to start the journey?
Help your teen build indelible memories and a global perspective that lasts a lifetime.
Reach out via email greg@fkti.org or call/text 617-447-5491 to set up an in-home consultation or community meet-up.
Check out our 3 minute promotional video on YouTube.
Visit Us: www.fkti.org
Follow the Journey: Instagram - TikTok - YouTube
Deeper Dive: View Sample Itinerary Summary
Learn More about Greg: LinkedIn - Resume
