Sushi, Shrines, and Shinano River Shenanigans
July 22, 2025
Kon’nichiwa!
We’re having an unforgettable time here in Japan and can hardly believe it’s already Day 14! Over the past few days, we’ve been immersing ourselves even more in the heart of this beautiful country, and our bond as a group has grown stronger than ever.
On day 10, we stayed in Osaka which is a city full of character, history, and energy! We started off the day with a visit to the Osaka Castle which is a stunning historic site originally built in the 16th century. It’s surrounded by a lovely park and offers panoramic views of the city from the top. While we were there, we played an intense game of poison dart frog where Turner absolutely dominated. Afterwards, we went to Sushi School and learned how to make our very own sushi. Throughout the class we learned about the intricate art of sushi making and new Japanese phrases. Addy and Charlie V.E., neither of whom had ever had raw fish before Japan, devoured their creations and left no crumbs. Afterwards, we went to Nara park – famous for their sacred friendly deer – and hiked up Kasugayama. From there, we visited the temple of Todai-ji which is the tallest wooden structure in the world. Inside the temple, Evie enlightened the group about the giant green Buddha which she had learned about in AP Art History. Later that night we enjoyed an authentic Japanese tempura meal and the whole group was astonished at the number of skewers Chris and Charlie H. ate. At the end of the meal, we had the whole restaurant cheering them on yelling “one more beef!” We all laughed with fully bellies and then roamed the streets of Osaka back to our accommodation.
On day 11, we headed up to Kyoto to do the Kibune-Kurama hike which winds through tranquil cedar forests and temple grounds flanked with red Japanese lanterns. After hiking all day, we went to the Nishiki Market which was a vibrant street lined with vendors and famous for its assortment of street foods. All of the guys tried A5 wagyu on a skewer; Walker had his topped with caviar, and Charlie V.E. even ate a whole octopus tentacle! After eating a cup full of chocolate covered strawberries, Kate and Caroline explored an authentic chopstick shop. Later, we ventured back to Osaka and had a delectable dinner of cook it yourself savory pancakes.
The following day, we traveled to Gunma and stopped at a nearby farm where we picked peaches and tried fresh apple juice. Later, we pulled up to our accommodation nestled in a sweet little mountain town that hugged the nearby river. As we breathed in the clean mountain air, we suddenly felt right at home. Kate and Cate spent the afternoon swimming in the chilling river water while Miles battled each of the guys in grueling matches of ping pong. In order to prepare for tomorrow’s activities, we took a relaxing dip in the Onsen. We then finished off the day with Moonup on the roof where Addy serenaded the group on guitar.
The next morning, we woke up with a vigorous energy and a sense of adventure as we prepared to both raft and canyoneer in one day! All of us zipped up in our wet suits, strapped on our helmets and were ready for the day. We hiked deep into the canyon and paraded around the river as if it was an outdoor waterpark! We slid down rocks, jumped into deep pools of water, and water wrestled until we were all exhausted. As we got off the river with tired legs, and great big smiles on our face we were reminded of the simple joy of splashing around in the water with friends. When we got back, Crawford and Turner cooked up some barbecue smothered in Teriyaki. After fueling up, we hoped back on the river to raft. Walker led one boat, ironically named Walker’s Angles, that was rumored to be the loudest boat that the Shinano river had ever heard. With the sun beaming down on us and the cool splash of river water below, we were on par for having our best day ever! While cliff jumping, Kate even screamed “I LOVE JAPAN!!” After what truly was the best day ever, we headed back to our accommodation, relaxed in the sauna, showered off and had an incredible buffet waiting for us.
Our moonup that night was lead by Margaret and Evie who posed the question, ” how do you want to be remembered.” Everyone went around and was very intentional about their answer. Afterwards, we leaders remarked that their answers are exactly how we will remember them on this trip, and it was cool to see that they are living out their days in a way that parallels how they want to be remembered. After a touching Moonup, the girls all piled into one room for a sleepover, and the guys -led by Crawford- went to Chris’s room for a tea party before having their own sleepover too.
We spent our last day in Gunma rafting and canyoneering again, but this time was for the true adrenaline junkies- the water was colder, cliffs were higher, and the energy was at an all time high! We slid down waterfalls into bubbling pits of water, listened to the roar of the river water around us, and laughed as we were filled river sillies. Kate, Margaret, and Cate were the daredevils of the group and were always the first to go down, with Charlie V.E. shortly behind them. When we got back, Chris, Evie, Kate, Cate, Turner, Charlie V.E, and Addy got into a super competitive card game of Presidents while the rest of us relaxed and enjoyed our last afternoon in our quaint mountain town.
This morning, Taylor, Kate, Addy, and Cate headed down to the river one last time for a cold plunge before we all hopped onto the bus to head to Fuji! As we drove away from our peaceful mountain town this morning, spirits were high and hearts were full. Our group, once strangers, has grown into something truly special – a team that laughs hard, supports each other deeply, and leads with intention. It’s been incredible to watch each person step into their own, especially as leaders. Us leaders are beyond proud of every single one of these kids for rising to every challenge with grace, heart, and a contagious sense of fun. Now, as we look ahead to the next adventure – summiting Mount Fuji – we do so with excitement, strength, and unity. The group is jiving, thriving, and fully alive with the spirit of Moondance. We can’t wait to report back soon!
Mystery In Motion
July 16, 2025
A Haiku for You
The mystery trip
Full of supposed and fun
Where will we go now?
We kicked off the trip with a travel day from LAX to Japan. After gathering the group at the airport, we set off on Singapore Airlines toward our first destination—Tokyo! Everything went smoothly upon landing, from customs to meeting one of our guides and transferring to our hotel. We kept things classic Moondance for night one with a pizza dinner—with a twist: some pies topped with anchovies and others with basil and garlic made it feel distinctly Japanese. We had our first Moonup under the Tokyo sky and passed out some sweet alumni gifts to honor the time these students have given to Moondance.
We began our first full day with a traditional Japanese breakfast before heading out to Kegon Waterfall. Plenty of pictures were taken in front of what is a true spectacle of natural beauty. For lunch, we enjoyed a traditional multi-course Japanese meal overlooking Lake Chuzenji, with miso, rice, nabe, pickled veggies, and fish. After lunch, we made our way to the Nikko Toshogu Shrine, where we braved a serious thunderstorm and learned some ancient lessons to help us push through the downpour.
Later, we stopped at a convenience store where everyone grabbed snacks they didn’t recognize, taste-tested, and ranked them — no surprise, the shrimp puffs came in last place! We walked down a narrow side street to a cozy spot for a traditional nabe dinner. Before Moonup, Chris and Taylor led a special tea ceremony, and we wrapped up with some ghost stories fitting to the stormy skies.
Our next day started with some shopping and exploring through a popular market — the Nakamise arcade. Both Charlies and Abby bought traditional Japanese robes, while Kate picked up a Japanese hat! We tried Japan’s supposed “best” matcha mochi, and Addy and Cate ended up on Japanese TV trying it!
Afterwards, we had a tempura lunch and headed to the Japan Sky Tower—the tallest point in Japan at 300 meters—where we took in panoramic views of the entire city. From there, we wandered into another shopping area but found a grassy spot to bring a little Moondance energy to the day, playing favorites like Barnyard and Schmodus amidst the urban chaos.
Next, we visited an interactive art museum where we waded through pools of water, wandered mirrored rooms, and explored a maze of sensory-challenging spaces. Addy and Evie made quite the splash, and Caroline really let her goofy side shine. Everyone let loose and enjoyed the playful energy of this unusually fitting urban Moondance activity.
Dinner was at a western-style mall buffet where the group laughed about the unexpected nachos and waffles. Then, we went to a Japanese staple—and potential Moondance first—karaoke! Charlie H. stunned us with his passionate rendition of My Heart Will Go On, and Walker gave an impressive performance of Pompeii. Everyone sang their hearts out. We ended the night with a Moonup in a park near the hotel, capping off our unique day of Moondance exploring Tokyo.We kicked off our next adventure with a travel day to the southern peninsula of Japan near Osaka, where we would begin the second leg of the trip. Our day started with a bullet train from Tokyo to Osaka, a breathtaking ride with oceanfront views on one side and towering mountains on the other. Many in the group took advantage of the peaceful ride to read, write, and take in the views from their window. From Osaka, a bus took us to the quiet beach town of Wakayama—our entry point to the Kumano Kodo. The Kumano Kodo is an ancient pilgrimage trail network that has been walked for centuries by those seeking spiritual renewal and clarity. There, we met our guide Mike, who quickly became a group favorite thanks to his kind and caring demeanor.
After dropping our bags at the inn, we followed the call of the ocean—suits on, we all ran to the beach and jumped right in. It was the perfect reset after our days in Japan’s largest city. That evening, we had our first true Japanese culinary experience. We ducked under a four-foot-tall doorway into a place that felt more like a family home than a restaurant. Seated on the floor, we were served a nine-course masterpiece—excellent nigiri (to Miles’ delight), local fruits, and dishes prepared with intention to fuel our upcoming trek. Mike and his co-guide Shu encouraged us to begin the meal with a toast, which our LoDs, Caroline and Charlie H., led beautifully. Our guides explained the significance of each course, tying it all back to our upcoming journey through the mountains. We ended the night with a Moonup on the beach and even caught a surprise fireworks show from a nearby coast.
Little did we know just how challenging the hiking would be! We started the day with a mile-long, 30-degree incline—but what really made things difficult was the humidity. Even our Southeast-based hikers had never sweated like this before. Day one on the Kumano Kodo was a 14-kilometer kickstart into what would become an empowering, enriching, and character-building few days.
Mike introduced us to the tradition of collecting trail stamps to mark significant historical spots along the route. Charlie H., Crawford, Addy, and Kate took this very seriously and made sure to keep their stamp books at the ready. Charlie even picked up a walking stick to take on the trail.
The Kumano Kodo has been walked for centuries by people searching for renewal—leaving behind what they no longer need, and carrying forward what matters. For our group, in this transitional moment between high school and college, the meaning of this pilgrimage really resonated. We had lunch near a mountain overlook in an old wooden hut, a quiet and beautiful spot to rest.
With thousands of vertical feet climbed, this was a day that demanded leadership—and this group showed up. Everyone, in their own way, stepped up and inspired each other to keep moving. Our accommodations that night were tucked beside a slow-flowing river, where we cooled off with a swim while some took turns with their first onsen experience. We put on the comfortable robes given to us by our accomodation and sat down in a glass-walled dining room with views of the river and surrounding mountains. Dinner was another multi-course meal: sushi, rice, miso, salad, eggplant, and more—eaten with much gratitude after a day well earned. As Crawford and Turner said, “we earned our pillow”.
Our second full hiking day was a much-needed shorter hike: 8 kilometers through the mountains to a beautiful shrine, followed by a sweet treat of soft serve ice cream. We learned today that Margaret is the queen of catching frogs! That night’s accommodations were in a 70s-style Japanese mountain lodge with genuine Japanese floors, mattresses on the floor, a central table, and balconies overlooking the valley beneath the mountains.
The group enjoyed the onsen and even found a ping pong table. The dining experience here was our best yet—a 12-course meal that many said was the best dinner they’d ever had. We closed out the evening with late-night chats and us leaders were fortunate to see a group beginning to blossom.
This was the group’s favorite hike day: a 14-kilometer route with less elevation change and far more serenity. We practiced mindfulness with a monk walk and soaked in the quiet of a trail so remote, we didn’t pass another person the entire day. At the end, we had time to relax and play in a river. Kate, Cate, Chris, and Charlie swam out to a small waterfall, climbed it, and perched on rocks to take it all in. We had finally made it to the other side of the peninsula. A bus and ferry took us to our next accommodation—a retro hotel built into a cliffside that could have only been imagined in a fever dream. The group wandered through its long hallways, and after dinner, we made creatively self-made Coke floats and explored the scenic coastal surroundings.
An early wake-up for our final day on the Kumano Kodo brought us to our final grand shrine of the Kumano Kodo, perched above the water. It took 428 steps to reach the top—and Kate and Addy counted every single one. We walked around the grounds and down toward a massive waterfall, surrounded by stunning natural cliffs and forest.
We’re now relaxing on a bus ride to Osaka, where we’ll spend a few days back in the city before setting off again on a more rustic adventure.
Onward and upward, Chris and Taylor
Charlie H: What’s up fam, I’m having the absolute time of my life. It’s super cool being fully immersed in the Japanese culture and eating some of the best food I’ve ever had. I hope yall are doing well and having as much fun as I am. Tell NFL I said what’s up. See yall in a few. -Charles Edward Hildreth
Charlie VE: Hey everyone! I am having a great time. You would all be proud and surprised of all the food I’ve tried. I love sushi now and all kinds of fish. Emily will be happy. We just did the coolest pilgrimage trail where we saw pieces of Japanese culture and shrines 700-1000+ years old. I’m missing yall a lot and excited to see everyone in 2 weeks.
Crawford: Dear Family, I’m having a splendid time in Japan and we just finished hiking the Kumano Kodo. It was super cool and we got to eat a lot of amazing food and see a lot of cool things. We have a great group and are currently on the way to Osaka and I can’t wait to see what else we are doing! I miss yall and I hope yall are doing great back home. Tell my friends I’m still alive and better update me when I get back. Love yall and see yall soon! – Crawford
Turner: Hey Family I’m have a great time in Japan. I got to meet a really cool guy named Mike who led us through the kumono kodo. The food is great, Helen, Lizzy, and dad would love it and mom would definitely not. Tell Hawkins that I need to meet Corley and McKee. Tell Wilson I have his old leader chris who is amazing. Overall I am having the time of my life in Japan.
Miles: Hey Mom Dad and Emily! I’m having the best time so far and Japan has been amazing. We just finished a really cool hiking section and have been getting some great food along the way. It’s been super nice to be here and have no worries and I’m soaking up my last year as a camper. I miss and love you guys! -Miles
Walker: Hi Mom and Dad! I am writing this on the bus after four days of the coolest hike ever. At the beginning of this trip we went to this like interactive art museum which I know y’all would love. Please show this to Wes and tell him that the squad has to come here and that we are doing an onsen. I love y’all so much and can’t wait to tell the fam about this wonderful place – Walker
Cate: Hi Yall! I have been having the best time in Japan! We just finished trekking which was super cool and we have seen so many awesome things! I am excited to see what comes next and hope everything is well at home! I love and miss yall!
Kate: Hi yall! We just finished trekking and it was so amazing! This group is perfect and I am having the best time ever!! I hope everything’s well at home, I love and miss yall! -Kate
Addy: Hi everyone!! We are having the best time ever, the group is so awesome and leaders are perfect!! We just finished a super awesome trekking section and are now on our way somewhere new! Love and miss you all!
Evie: Hi fam. Evie here. Japan is freaking amazing. I wish I could tell y’all everything as it happens, but as a summary — we explored Tokyo for a few days and then went trekking for four. It’s a different kind of beauty here, and it’s insanely peaceful wherever you go. The food experience is unlike anything I’ve tried, and it’s so cool. I’m going to start using chopsticks back home. We also stay in the coolest places (more on that later) and they give us new PJ’s (yamatas) every night. I don’t know what’s in store these next 2 weeks, but it’s so exciting. As for the group — they’re perfect. We never stop having fun. I love and miss y’all so much!!! I hope everything is great in Nash 🙂 Give Honey a kiss for me.
Caroline: Hi mom, dad, and jack!! I hope yall had fun in Peru and miss me so much. I’m having fun in Japan and can’t wait to see yall again… hopefully with my chipotle burrito in hand. love ya. BYEEE!
Margaret: Hey Family, plus hunter, hello! I am having an amazing time looking at a bunch of temples and waterfalls. Been getting in some good hikes which has been a highlight! Lots of onsens too.. yall should look it up. I love my group and have for sure made friends for life. I love yall so much!!!!
The Mystery Unravels!
July 9, 2025
Hello Mystery Trip Families!
We heard from our leaders that the group has landed safely in Tokyo! The trip is off to a great start, and we cannot wait to hear more stories from their adventure! Please remember our leaders and students will be unplugged during their trips, but we will be posting trip updates throughout the next week! This will allow you to follow along with the trip. You can also follow us on Instagram, @moondanceadventures, to see more of what we are up to!
-Moondance HQ
