As part of the Cultural Activities for Students at NAIST, 38 tour participants (31 international students, 3 Japanese students and 4 staff members) visited Heianjingu Shrine, the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto and the Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts (FUREAIKAN) on June 16th, 2019. This tour was held to introduce Japanese culture and history to stimulate participants and further develop their beliefs, etc., which will become the foundation for the roles they will undertake as researchers and engineers.

 The tour first visited the brilliant vermillion "Otenmon", which was rebuilt using its original style from the late Heian period (11th-12th centuries). Then participants visited the "Daigokuden" with both the "Sakon no Sakura", or "the cherry tree on the left", and the "Ukon no Tachibana", "the mandarin orange tree on the right", and then visited "Shinen" (a garden of 2,000 or more blooming irises at Heianjingu Shrine).

 Following this, the group toured the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, where Director Yanagihara gave a welcome greeting to participants, and then they were given the commentary on Japanese modern art by the curator. They enjoyed the various art and craft items at both the collection exhibition (permanent exhibition) and the special exhibition called "The Treasures and the Tradition of "Lâle" in the Ottoman Empire".

 Finally, at the Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts (FUREAIKAN) participants were given a commentary on Kyoto traditional crafts by the curator and then closely admired a craftsman making Japanese candles.

 The students enjoyed the day exploring Japanese culture and history, and students commented that "It was fun not only to learn but also to experience culture" and that "These activities helped for me to understand different cultures."