The global explorers club

Japan Unit Study

Explore the culture, geography, and traditions of Japan with our hands-on, secular country unit study. Read My First Book of Haiku Poems and a collection of Japanese folk tales, explore the science behind earthquakes and tsunamis, and study the geography of Japan’s islands with mapwork and notebooking activities. Learn about artists like Isamu Noguchi and Hokusai, and create sumi-e paintings and mon-kiri symmetry cutouts. You’ll also enjoy simple Japanese recipes like ramen and mochi and learn how to play Hasami Shogi.

Hands-On Geography and Cultural Activities for Kids

Japan Unit Study, part of the Global Explorers Club's literature-based geography curriculum with cultural activities for kids, including The Writing Revolution resources, Circle Round folk tales, mapwork and notebooking, traditional games and recipes, and more.

Our Japan unit study is designed for both homeschool families and classroom educators. Whether you’re supplementing your social studies curriculum or building a full geography unit, this resource invites students to discover a world of learning through a variety of stories, lessons, and hands-on activities.

$7.00

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💡Need help getting started? View our Quick Start Guide for Asia for simple tips on using our curriculum and planning your week.

What’s Included in the Japan Unit Study

Preview of the Japan Unit Study, part of the Global Explorers Club's literature-based geography curriculum featuring hands-on cultural activities for kids

What you get

With your purchase

Explore Japan through geography, literature, science, art, and hands-on learning activities with our ready-to-use printables and an optional digital planning tool.

Japan Notebooking Page: Students record important facts, color the national flag, document their favorite discoveries, and draw scenes from Japan’s geography, culture, plants, and wildlife.
Japan Mapwork Activity: Students will locate major cities, geographical features, and cultural landmarks on an outline map and are encouraged to personalize their maps with illustrations, labels, and symbols that reflect what they’ve learned about the country.
Literature Study: Explore the beauty of nature through My First Book of Haiku Poems and enjoy tales from Japanese Children’s Favorite Stories.
Circle Round: Listen to several folktales from Japan and follow up with guided writing activities based on Judith C. Hochman’s The Writing Revolution method.
The Writing Revolution Resources: Build writing skills with sentence-based exercises that connect directly to what students are learning about Japan.
Earthquakes & Tsunamis: Learn about earthquakes and tsunamis with our science notebooking activity.
Elapsed Time Task Cards: Build real-world math skills by solving elapsed time problems connected to places throughout Japan.
Artist Study: Learn about Hokusai and Isamu Noguchi and their influence on both Japanese and global art and design.
Creative Arts: Try your hand at Japanese-style sumi-e painting, design mon-kiri symmetry cutouts, and craft a wishing tree inspired by Tanabata traditions.
Cooking Class: Learn how to make ramen noodle soup and mochi.
Global Games: Play Hasami Shogi, a traditional Japanese game that’s a blend of checkers and tic-tac-toe. A printable game board is included so you can start playing right away!

Our Mongolia unit study homeschool resource includes a digital planner plus ready-to-use printable lesson plans and cultural activities for kids.

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Bonus Printables & Planning Tools

Along with your core activities, you’ll also receive our Japan unit study overview sheet, a country-specific Global Explorers cookbook page, our Discover Japan: Bingo Challenge activity, and more than a dozen additional printables to support hands-on learning. Plus, you’ll get access to our optional Notion planning tool to help keep your lessons organized and easy to navigate.

want to explore more of asia?

Unlock all 20 country unit studies, along with exclusive bonus resources like 3-part map cards, a Market Math activity, and Infinity Street, in our complete Asia Continent Bundle.

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who we are

At the Global Explorers Club, we believe in an education that respects each child’s unique personhood, fosters a love of learning, and embraces the diversity of the world. Our unit studies are designed with flexibility and freedom in mind, allowing your family to explore each topic at your own pace and according to your interests. Whether you’re completing every activity or selecting just a few, the goal is to inspire a sense of wonder and connection to the world.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our Japan unit study is best suited for ages 6–12, but activities can easily be adapted for younger or older learners.

The duration is flexible and depends on how deeply you want to explore each topic. On average, you might spend 2-4 weeks on this unit.

You’ll receive PDF files for easy printing, plus an optional Notion database for digital planning.

Subjects covered include geography, social studies, language arts and literature, science and math, creative arts, cooking and culture, and character education.

Yes! This resource is ideal for homeschool and classroom use. You may use it as part of world geography, social studies, or cultural enrichment.

Yes, the unit study includes a curated list of books, websites, and extension ideas to support continued learning and exploration.

Grab Your Passport to Japan and Start Your Adventure Today

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Our Japan unit study homeschool resource includes a digital planner plus ready-to-use printable PDF activities for your homeschool geography curriculum.

Make the Most of Your Japan Unit Study

Ready to dive in but not sure where to begin?

Our Asia Quick Start Guide walks you through how to plan your week, use the printable resources and Notion planner, and adapt the lessons to your schedule. Whether you’re learning about Japan over a few days or stretching it into a full unit, this guide will help you make the most of your time together.

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