Foreign Tour Central: Women's Basketball in Japan
8/21/2026 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
A daily travel blog from the Columbia women's basketball team's 2026 Foreign Tour of Japan
TOKYO — Columbia women's basketball went on a foreign tour through Japan from August 11-21. The Lions spent the first few days in Kyoto, followed by a visit to Hiroshima, and four days in the capital city of Tokyo.
Columbia WBB Foreign Tour Itinerary:
August 11 | Depart New York City for Japan
August 12 | Land in Osaka, Bus to Kyoto
August 13 | Kinkaku-ji & Kiyomizu-dera
August 14 | Exhibition Game #1, Fushini Inari Taisha Trail
August 15 | Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Traditional Tea Ceremony
August 16 | Bullet Train to Hiroshima, Peace Memorial Museum
August 17 | Bullet Train to Tokyo, Orientation
August 18 | Tokyo Skytree, City Exploration, Exhibition Game #2
August 19 | Exhibition Game #3 vs. Japanese National Team, TeamLab Immersive Experience
August 20 | Sightseeing & Karaoke
August 21 | Return to New York City
DAY 1 – Departure & Arrival
The Lions departed Newark Liberty International Airport on Tuesday, August 11, around 10:30 a.m. ET, and landed in Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Wednesday, August 12, around 1:15 p.m., local time. They then took a short connecting flight from Tokyo to Osaka, before bussing to the historic former capital of Kyoto. After settling into the hotel, the team walked to the Kyoto Tower Sando for dinner.
DAY 2 – Kinkaku-ji & Kiyomizu-dera
Following a traditional Japanese breakfast at the hotel, the team gathered for a day of exploring historic Kyoto's Japanese temples and shrines. They first toured Kinkaku-ji, which translates to "Temple of the Golden Pavilion". It was first constructed in the late 14th century after the property was purchased by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the third Ashikaga Shogun, who transformed it into a massive, luxurious retirement palace. Following his death in 1408, it was converted into a Buddhist temple. Its top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf. It has burned down numerous times throughout its history. The present structure was rebuilt in 1955.
Temple hopping through Kyoto 🏯
— Columbia Women's Basketball (@CULionsWBB) August 13, 2026
🎬 @BLVCKPICS #RoarLionRoar // #EDGE // #OnlyHere 🦁🗽 pic.twitter.com/iBqJxMPlyd
The second temple the Lions visited, Kiyomizu-dera, literally translates to "Pure Water Temple". The name comes from the sacred Otowa Waterfall located within the temple grounds, where clear, pristine mountain water has flowed for over a thousand years. Its history dates back over 1,250 years to when it was founded in 778. The grounds spread over 130,000 square meters along the mid-slope of Mt. Otowa in the eastern part of Kyoto. Most of the present buildings were reconstructed in 1633. In 1944, Kiyomizu-dera Temple was registered on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List as one of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.
Following a full day of temple exploration, the team had free time for dinner and to explore downtown Kyoto in the evening.
DAY 3 – Exhibition Game 1 & Fushimi Inari Taisha
Columbia played its first game of the foreign tour on Friday, facing off against Ritsumeikan University Biwako Kusatsu Campus. After an exchange of gifts between the two sides, the game got underway at around 1:45 p.m., local time. The Lions led for all but 42 seconds and were ahead by as many as 25 points in the fourth quarter on the way to victory. Riley Weiss scored a team-high 17 points and collected a team-high nine rebounds. Incoming transfer Mary Ashley Stevenson (Purdue, Stanford) scored 16 off the bench with four assists, four rebounds and a block, while Hilke Feldrappe, a second-year transfer from Mizzou, rounded out a trio of double-figure scorers with an even 10. Columbia also dominated on the glass, 53-35.
New country, same Lions 🇯🇵🩵#RoarLionRoar // #EDGE // #OnlyHere 🦁🗽 pic.twitter.com/LxsGrsioEs
— Columbia Women's Basketball (@CULionsWBB) August 14, 2026
Friday's evening activity was a trip to Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kyoto's most iconic Shinto shrine. It is world-famous for its paths framed by over 10,000 vibrant vermilion torii gates winding up sacred Mount Inari. Founded in 711 A.D., it serves as the head shrine dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice, agriculture, business prosperity, and good fortune. The stone foxes at Fushimi Inari Taisha are known as kitsune. They are not the gods themselves, but rather the sacred messengers of Inari, the Shinto deity of rice, agriculture, business, and prosperity. Historically, wild foxes hunted the mice and rats that ate the farmers' rice crops. Because foxes protected the harvests, ancient farmers viewed them as a blessing and a natural partner of Inari, the god of agriculture. Over the centuries, this practical relationship evolved into the religious belief that foxes were the deity's literal guardians and messengers.
The team returned to the hotel afterward to end the night with free time in Kyoto.
DAY 4 – Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Traditional Tea Ceremony
The team's third full day in Kyoto began with a trip to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, a famous natural bamboo forest located in the western outskirts of the city. Featuring towering stalks of moso bamboo, the enclosed walking trail cuts through the dense green stalks, gently climbing uphill toward mountain villas and shrines. The sound of the bamboo rustling in the breeze has even been recognized as one of Japan's 100 Soundscapes, a designation celebrating the country's most treasured natural sounds. Tenryu-ji Temple and the Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama are the two anchor attractions flanking the Bamboo Grove. The temple features the wondrous 14th-century Sogenchi Garden. Together, they represent a perfect mix of ancient Zen history and active wildlife engagement.
The team then boarded the bus back toward downtown Kyoto to learn and take part in a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony. This is a ceremonial way of preparing and drinking green tea, typically in a traditional tearoom with a tatami floor. Beyond just serving and receiving tea, one of the main purposes of the tea ceremony is for the guests to enjoy the hospitality of the host in an atmosphere distinct from the fast pace of everyday life. Inside, the team learned about Zen tea philosophies, watched a master demonstration, and whisked their own matcha.
Following the tea ceremony, the team spent the rest of the day getting a final chance to explore downtown Kyoto. They will head for Hiroshima on Sunday morning.
DAY 5 – Travel to Hiroshima, Peace Memorial Museum
Sunday morning started with a ride on Japan's famous Bullet Train, the Shinkansen, a world-famous network of high-speed passenger trains reaching speeds of up to 200 miles per hour. The team boarded a 9:33 train at Kyoto Station, arriving in Hiroshima Station at 11:11, covering the 230-mile route in roughly 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Once at their destination, the team had a quick lunch before being guided through the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. The park includes the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, which collects and displays belongings left by the victims, photos, and other materials from the event. After spending over an hour in the museum, the team's tour guide took the Lions over to the A-Bomb Dome, which is the skeletal ruins of the former Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, and the building closest to the hypocenter of the nuclear bomb. It has been left as it was after the bombing in memory of the casualties. The tour of the park also highlighted the moving history behind the Children's Peace Memorial and the Peace Bell.
A deeply poignant day at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial 🕊️🇯🇵
— Columbia Women's Basketball (@CULionsWBB) August 17, 2026
🎬 @BLVCKPICS #RoarLionRoar // #EDGE // #OnlyHere 🦁🗽 pic.twitter.com/WIeT33DAQq
After checking into the hotel around 5 p.m., the Lions had a few hours of downtime before ending the day with a team dinner at Micchan Sohonten. It is the birthplace of Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki.
DAY 6 – Travel to Tokyo
Monday was mainly a travel day for the team. The Lions departed their hotel in Hiroshima around 9 a.m. and boarded a 10 a.m. Shinkansen bullet train to Tokyo. The nearly 510-mile journey takes a little less than four hours on the high-speed train. The train arrived just around 2 p.m. The Lions met up with their tour guide for the Tokyo portion of the trip and boarded the bus to their hotel. After checking in and a mobility session to shake off the train ride, they had a team dinner at The Warehouse, located on the second floor of Aloft Tokyo Ginza. They capped the day back at the hotel with a film session to prepare for their next two exhibition games over the next two days.
DAY 7 – Tokyo Skytree & Exhibition Game #2
Tuesday began with a trip to the Tokyo Skytree. Measuring 2,080 feet, it is the world's tallest tower and the third-tallest structure. On the way there, the team passed through the Tokyo ward of Sumida and the neighborhood of Ryogoku, which is home to many sumo wrestling training stables, where active sumo wrestlers live, train and eat. They also saw the Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena, which hosts official 15-day Grand Sumo Tournaments three times a year.
Once at the Tokyo Skytree, the Lions took the elevator up 350 meters to the first observation deck. The elevator carries a top speed of 600 meters per minute, or just over 22 miles per hour. They then took a second elevator to the higher deck, measuring 450 meters in the air. From this deck, there is a 360-degree panoramic view of the entire Kanto region. On clear days, views stretch nearly 70 kilometers and reveal Mount Fuji in the distance.
The team then bussed back to the hotel to eat and get ready for their second exhibition game of the trip. Before the game, the players and staff hosted a youth clinic with local students from American School in Japan (ASIJ).
Tuesday's game was against Rikkyo University Niiza Campus, which posted a 14-5 record last season with an 11-3 mark in league play. They achieved the team's highest national finish in program history, making it to the quarterfinals of the national tournament and earning league promotion to Division 1.
As for the game, Riley Weiss scored 10 first-quarter points to help the Lions jump out to a 27-16 lead. The Lions then piled it on in the second quarter with seven different scorers, highlighted by eight points from Mia Broom in the period. They led by as many as 25 in the third quarter to coast to victory. Broom finished with 14 points, seven assists and five rebounds, while Weiss scored 20 points in 20 minutes to go with four steals, five rebounds and a pair of assists. The Lions totaled 24 assists, 13 steals and outrebounded Rikkyo 56-34.
The team wrapped up a busy day with dinner in downtown Tokyo.
DAY 8 – Japanese National Team Game, teamLab PlanetsThe game knows no borders 🏀🌏
— Columbia Women's Basketball (@CULionsWBB) August 18, 2026
An honor to play against @RIKKYO_WBB 🙏 Thank you for having us 🩵
🎬 @BLVCKPICS #RoarLionRoar // #EDGE // #OnlyHere 🦁🗽 pic.twitter.com/DWFeoUNT9s
The Lions were up early on Wednesday to prepare for an exhibition game against members of the Japanese National Team. The game was held at the Ajinomoto National Training Center in Kita City, Tokyo. It is Japan's premier, state-of-the-art sports training complex dedicated to elite Olympic and Paralympic athletes. The main facility opened to prepare Japanese athletes for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics.
The Lions jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead, but Japan scored 10 of the next 15 points to take control. The hosts led by as many as 11 in the first half as the Lions adjusted to their disruptive defense, which caused 13 turnovers. A 9-1 Columbia run to close the half brought the Lions within three. Fliss Henderson and Riley Weiss had nine points apiece at the break, while Okamoto Miyu led Japan with 11.
The third quarter saw four ties and eight lead changes. Columbia did work inside, scoring 16 of their 19 third-quarter points in the paint. The Lions also took better care of the basketball with just three turnovers in the period. The two sides were separated by just a point heading to the fourth.
Columbia scored eight of the first 11 fourth-quarter points, taking a 63-59 lead on an Alicia Mitchell bucket down low from a Nasi Simmons steal. However, Japan answered with an 11-0 run to go up seven and later extended the lead to 10 with 3:35 remaining. The Lions battled hard down the stretch and got back within five points in the final seconds. Riley Weiss finished with a game-high 17 points, followed in scoring by 13 points apiece from Fliss Henderson and Hilke Feldrappe.
After the game, the team returned to the hotel to prepare for a trip to teamLab Planets, a popular, fully immersive digital art museum in Toyosu, Tokyo, created by the art collective teamLab. Visitors explore the venue entirely barefoot, wading through knee-deep water and interacting with massive, sensory-rich light and projection installations that respond to human presence. The experience has visitors walk through water, touch glowing orbs, and step inside mirrored rooms where projections shift continuously around you.Incredible experience competing against @JAPANBASKETBALL Women's National Team in Tokyo 🇯🇵 🏀! Shoutout to @kjmts16 '09CC for helping make all of this come together on a trip of a lifetime 🦁
— Columbia Women's Basketball (@CULionsWBB) August 19, 2026
📸 @BLVCKPICS #RoarLionRoar // #EDGE // #OnlyHere 🗽 pic.twitter.com/ZciBoOtmlq
A busy Wednesday concluded with an alumni event and dinner at Peninsula Tokyo. The event brought together the Columbia women's basketball program, the Columbia University Alumni Association of Japan, and the American School in Japan. Coach Griffith and Columbia men's basketball alumnus KJ Matsui hosted a fireside chat for attendees. There was also an introduction of the players, and a group photo of everyone in attendance to cap off the event.
DAY 9 – Sightseeing & Karaoke
After eight full days of planned events, the team had an unplanned day to sightsee throughout Tokyo on their last full day in Japan. Many of the Lions went to Shibuya, a major commercial and entertainment center in Tokyo, famous for the Shibuya Scramble Crossing. It is known as the world's busiest intersection, where thousands cross the street at the same time from all directions. Shibuya is also a major shopping hub. It attracts millions of shoppers annually with its massive multi-story department stores, specialized subculture boutiques, and sprawling retail complexes
The team gathered in the evening for a fun night of Karaoke before heading back in to pack for their morning flight back to New York.
DAY 10 – Return to New York City"This is not a time to say goodbye, but rather, see you again." 👋
— Columbia Women's Basketball (@CULionsWBB) August 20, 2026
Thank you to @ColumbiaAlumniA of Japan and @asij for coming together with us for a special dinner in Tokyo 🇯🇵
🎬 @blvckpics #RoarLionRoar // #EDGE // #OnlyHere 🗽 pic.twitter.com/SIADtss0MC
Friday in Tokyo began with hotel breakfast at 7 a.m. local time. The team then boarded the bus to depart for Haneda Airport. Their flight left right on time at 10:50 a.m. JST and arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport around 11 a.m. ET.
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