Reviews

Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It’s the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you’re interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers.

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99 Reviews

4.5 out of 5

John Lace

Reviewed November 2017

Japanese exploration

A great tour, which we both enjoyed tremendously. A wide variety of interesting sites to visit and different modes of transport to experience. Being able to visit Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima, Takayama, Matsumoto, Yudanka and Tokyo was just superb and everything went exceedingly smoothly with all the trains, buses, subways, trams, and PIRATE ships! The group was 18 in number and we always were able to travel together and experience all the sights. Hotels were good and offered restful nights and hot spring water baths at one. Meals were usually together and fish eaters were well catered for alongside the meat eaters. The two luggage transfers were great and suitcases were whisked off to be reunited a couple of days later. The trip schedule meant that most days we had several sights to visit and even on ‘free-days’ our guide, Ayaka, skilfully put together individual packages depending on our needs. The variety of experiences across the main island of Japan was wonderful.

Most Inspirational Moment

Too many to mention but obviously the emotions of Hiroshima Peace Park, the busy food markets, the opulent shrines and temples, the extensive art treasures in Kyoto and Tokyo, the snow monkeys in snow, the hot spring bath in snow as well, Mount Fuji, the impressive time keeping of Japanese Rail, the patience, knowledge, good humour and infectious laugh of Ayaka.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ayaka brought together a sizeable group in a calm and unflustered manner and made sure that we were able to fully experience the 'wonders' of ancient and modern Japan. Ever present and always preparing material for free days and helping us get deeper into Japanese society, made the whole tour a really memorable experience. Thank you.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Book for next year

Byron Campbell

Reviewed November 2017

Ancient & modern Japan

This was a brilliant trip with a great group of fellow travellers. It took us along the length of Honshu, from the coast, cities, and into the mountains, using very efficient public transport – the Shinkansen & Tokyo metro which are experiences in themselves. We saw friendly deer, excitable snow monkeys and dressed-up dogs in prams (an example of an eccentric sight Japan will offer many of). It offered relaxing moments like bathing in the hot springs and warming sake, to quite intense moments like navigating busy train stations and some longer days on our feet exploring parks and cities.

Most Inspirational Moment

I travelled to Japan to particularly catch the autumn colours - amazing! Late November was the perfect time of year for acers and they are a sight the country over, so Japan kept giving beatiful views throughout the two weeks. Ginkaku-ji in Kyoto gave my favourite moment for autumn colour - it's optional, but I v much recommend. If in blossom, the Philosopher's walk would be stunning as it's lined with cherry trees, again this was optional.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ayaka had great enthusiasm, was very humourous and she was very well organised. She moved 18 people several times through Tokyo stations at rush hour without loosing anyone! She offered great advice on sights to see on our free time, and gave useful maps with recommendations highlighted. She knew her Japanese food, and I particularly liked the group treats she sourced in Kyoto and she got us into some lovely restaurants despite being a big group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

There's more walking than may seem obvious in the trip notes, and most is on paved urban surfaces, so it could be quite uncomfortable by the end of the longer days. So take comfy shoes and be prepared for several miles on one or two days. Tokyo's rail carriages get busy and cramped, and the stations themselves at rush hour take a lot of patience. But, for me it was part of experienceing the modern side of Japan so added to the understanding of what it means to be a local. Busy! There's more time in Tokyo then I'd really appreciated, so I'd recommend doing more research than I did on your options so you can make the most of it.

Claire Palmer

Reviewed November 2017

Thoroughly enjoyable trip

Excellent trip giving a great introduction to the culture & history of Japan.

Most Inspirational Moment

- autumn colours - Hiroshima - Kyoto golden temple - snow monkeys - bullet train - Nara It was all fabulous!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ayaka did an excellent job of organising a group of 18 people & keeping us on track. She was always cheerful, friendly & helpful.

Advice for Potential Travellers

There was more walking than I expected. It was fine for us but I think it's worth letting travellers know that you could be walking 6-7 miles a day. There was also more transport changes than we expected.

Trevor Hoyland

Reviewed November 2017

Japan - Ancient and Modern

Having wanted to visit Japan for some years my wife and I picked the Exodus trip – ‘Japan – Ancient and Modern’ because it seemed to offer an interesting range of locations and was a few days longer than trips offered by other companies. The opportunity to spend nights in ryokans sleeping on the floor, bathing in onsens and experiencing traditional Japanese hospitality was also a factor as were travel by train between destinations and sightseeing on foot. The reality lived up to and beyond our expectations, we loved Japan and its people. The country is safe, ordered and steeped in a unique culture with a wealth of sights and sounds so very different from western societies. The trip took us to many historically important sites, to places of religious significance, both Buddhist and Shinto and to the quiet back streets and public spaces and gardens of ancient towns and the serene districts of the bigger cities. These were juxtaposed with the ultra modern cityscapes of Tokyo, a city which would take half a lifetime to explore and the reality of travel by bullet train and the technological wonder that is the Japanese toilet. Although the trip is full on, up early and off most days, there is also built in some time for personal exploration or just resting and taking in the passing scene. My only negative comment would probably be about the snow monkeys, which are never at Yudanaka at the time we visited, they are still feeding in the woods and have recently had their babies and don’t come down to the hot springs until later in the year when the snows come. I suppose the clue is in the name. In any event Yudanaka itself is not to be missed and the hotel and onsen at which we stayed were superb. Through Exodus we arranged to fly home seven days after the 16 day trip had finished and spent a further week visiting two locations of particular interest to us with an extra day and night in Tokyo. Exodus staff were extremely helpful during our researches and the success of this extra time was in no small way down to their expert knowledge and readiness to give advice. All in all a wonderful experience which has whetted our appetite for a return visit to Japan to explore some of the many fascinating destinations it has to offer.

Most Inspirational Moment

There were many inspirational moments, first ride on the bullet train, the view from the top of a skyscraper of Tokyo at night, monks moving quietly through the grounds of their temples, watching the devotions of local people at the various shrines and temples, the sudden view of Mount Fuji from the window of a train and entire hillsides covered in trees in their autumn glory illuminated by the afternoon sun. There were inspirational moments around every corner.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our leader was Alena Eckelmann and the success of the whole trip was linked directly to her hard-work, enthusiasm and deep knowledge of the country. She has excellent language skills, has lived in Japan for the last 10 years and was able to move us around the country safely, despite the obvious pitfalls in moving a group of 18 on and off crowded Japanese trains and buses. Her priority at all times was for the group to get the maximum enjoyment from their holiday whilst keeping us safe and well. This she did with a gentle sense of humour, clear historical and cultural information when appropriate and precise instructions about what was happening next, where we would meet and what our options were for our free time. Always patient, always good-humoured, flexible when necessary, Alena was the cornerstone of what was for us a wonderful experience.

Advice for Potential Travellers

As a taster experience for what is a fascinating country with many, many regions to explore I believe Japan - Ancient and Modern is excellent. A well chosen itinerary with good accommodation and comfortable travel arrangements for a pretty full-on trip. Much of the exploration is on foot and days start early and sometimes finish late. Pack light, bring your comfortable walking shoes, an umbrella and an open mind and you will have a great time.

Rob Robinson

Reviewed November 2017

Captivating Japan

A brilliant introduction to Japan, its people and its culture. A top notch guide and a friendly, cohesive group made up for the terrible but unseasonal weather. Despite raining for 15 out of 18 days it didn’t stop us from completing the itinerary (except for a landslide which closed the park where we were due to see the snow monkeys). And it was a packed itinerary, so not much downtime (which you might or might not prefer). The biggest disappointment for me however, was the lack of autumn colour. It was really too early in this part of Japan so I think Exodus should revise their note where it says “Best for autumn colour”. I was expecting to find the food to be a challenge but it wasn’t, the food was good with plenty of choice and variety. The Temples, shrines, gardens and parks are exactly as you would expect. What you might not expect is that some ancient sites sit cheek by jowl with modern high-rise buildings but usually not the main tourist sites. The Shinkansen was actually better than expected, not to be missed. Plenty of ordinary folk wearing traditional dress, especially in Kyoto.

Most Inspirational Moment

The "matter of fact" video testimonies of the survivors from Hiroshima. I felt that, although the city will never forget and the degree of forgiveness is hard to assess, it has, nevertheless, "moved on".

Thoughts on Group Leader

If you get Akemi you will be in very good hands.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you are unlucky enough to get bad weather make sure you have packed some waterproof shoes.

Zofia Chustecka

Reviewed November 2017

Wonderful time in Japan

Had a great time on this trip, it lived up to its promise of seeing Ancinet and Modern Japan

Most Inspirational Moment

Staying at the traditional Japanese houses, sleeping on a futon, eating traditional Japanese food while wearing a kimono, doing origami with the hostess and best of all bathing in the outdoor hot sprngs in the dark - that was the best moment for me!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ayaka Tsukamoto was a wonderful group leader, she was unrelentingly cheerful and helpful and enthusiastic even in torrential rain and even when there was a typohoon that caused trees to fall on railway lines and landslides stopped the usual route up to the snow monkeys -- she persevered and made alternative arrangments so that our ploans could still be carried out. Ayaka was also most helpful in helping us to plan our itineries for our free days and she came along to some of the sights we wanted to see to help us out. I think she went out of her way to help, way beyond the call of duty, and she made the trip fun and highly enjoyable, in fact she made the holiday!

Linda (Jessie) Jessen

Reviewed June 2017

Ancient and Modern Japan

This tour was amazing on many levels. From the beginning, communications were prompt, helpful, and clear. All questions and concerns were addressed. The tour preparation information was very helpful and appropriate, assisting in smooth transition for the tour. The tour guide, agenda, and opportunities for personal impute, made the tour like a customized personal tour. Attention to needs and wants of the participants was consistently attended to, making the tour so very pleasurable and memorable.

Most Inspirational Moment

For me, Kyoto was the most fascinating. I loved the intact area, undisturbed from wars and major conflicts. The traditions, history, and sites there were wonderfully interesting. The Geisha and Maiko performance was a definite highlight for me, seeing the age-old traditions and styles of performance. I also loved Takayama, the area and the museum of Hokusei, the famous artist/genius! The gardens, walks, the people. All wonderful. Fuji, and oh, oh, oh, the food. Wonderful people, caring, helpful, and so respectful.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ayaka Tsukamoto was attentive, professional, giving us choices, asking for interests, and making them happen whenever possible, which was often! She was personable, positive and fun! We were a small group, but quickly became like a family, having such a great time.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared to have an exciting time. Recommend reading up on Japan, as this will only make the trip even more appreciable and meaningful. Also, be prepared to do a lot of walking... not difficult, but lots of walking. Learn just a handful of phrases, like thank you, please, etc. Read the info sent to us, as it is meant to help, and it does! You will love this trip!

Bethany James

Reviewed June 2017

Ancient and Modern Japan

This is definitely a trip worth booking. Japan is such a beautiful place and my partner David and I really felt that this tour is ideal for a first visit. If you would love to see Japan but are unsure which places to visit or how to work out the transport systems then this trip is ideal, you truly see a diverse range of places and are able to experience so many different things. If you’re like me and get a bit anxious with trains, buses and lots of people then I highly recommend booking this trip. Having a tour guide in Japan really allows you to relax and truly take everything in while your guide does all the confusing stuff for you.
From beautiful, traditional Kyoto to the hustle and bustle of Tokyo and everything in between, this trip is really worth experiencing.

Most Inspirational Moment

It's extremely hard to just pick one inspirational moment of this trip as there so many. Kyoto is a beautiful, friendly place with so many hidden gems which might be missed without a tour guide. However, the day trip to Nara has really stuck with me and if you're an animal lover like me then this should not be missed! What's not to love about crowds of cheeky deer bowing to you for a snack in front of the stunning view of a giant buddha statue. Truly amazing.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ayaka Tsukamoto was an ideal group leader! She was extremely knowledgeable in every part of the tour and never ceased to go the extra mile, during free time to roam certain places she made sure she found us to tell us extra little facts and stories so we really knew the history of the places we were visiting. On our free days Ayaka went out of her way to make herself available and ensure a day never was wasted, she gave us all the information we needed to visit the places we wanted and had no problem accompanying us when we were unsure where to go. Ayaka has such a great sense of humour and really made us feel at ease in a country with a completely different culture to our own. She never rushed our group and allowed us to go at our own pace while making sure we never missed anything important. Ayaka truly made our holiday one to remember!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Comfy shoes are definitely a must, there's quite a lot of walking but it's definitely worth it. I was surprised at just how hot it was some days so make sure you take plenty cool clothes, we got lucky with just one day of rain so make sure you take a light raincoat too! I definitely over-packed my suitcase and didn't wear half the stuff I took, it's a casual trip so don't go nuts. I was far too strict with myself when buying souvenirs etc. and now i'm home I definitely regret not buying the things I wanted. There's so many lovely little things to take home, if you like it just buy it!

David Hunt

Reviewed May 2017

Ancient and Modern Japan

A well paced tour of Japan. We saw a lot but it never felt rushed. The mix of city, both Kyoto and Tokyo, with the smaller towns and countryside was well balanced. It’s an amazing country, so different to Britain, with the modern skyscrapers sitting side by side with the temples, shrines and gardens. The sight of the snow topped mountains at the same time as the cherry blossom was beautiful. The people are friendly and polite and despite my expectations I enjoyed the food.

Most Inspirational Moment

Difficult to say - Kyoyo; visiting the beautiful temples and shrines, particularly seeing the Miyajima floating tori; travelling on the Shinkansen; lying in the onsen after a busy day; seeing Mount Fuji without the clouds. I could go on and include everything as it was all so good.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Brilliant! He guided us around calmly and without hassle through the very efficient but complicated transport systems of Japan. He was always there for us but never intrusive. He took us on some of the optional trips on the free days or otherwise gave us detailed instructions on how to get there. He took us to a variety of Japanese restaurants, explaining what it was and how to eat it! His English is excellent and he was very knowledgeable about the history of Japan, plants and generally about everything we asked him. He kept the information and instructions simple so that we weren't overloaded and repeated it when necessary. One, if not the, best guides I've had on my 15 or so group holidays.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take good, comfortable shoes that are easy to get on and off. The weather varied quite a bit so take clothes for warm and colder weather.

GABRIELLA GALEA LAURI

Reviewed May 2017

The Land of the Rising Sun Ancient & Modern Japan

A great organised holiday full of activities, exciting days and a superb highlige holidaht everyday

Most Inspirational Moment

I would put the question as the most inspirational momentS not moment. So many too mention but will mention the most memorable ones for me. Visiting Matsumato Castle in the evening, when the castle was all lit up, with the reflections of the castle shimmering on the moat. We were surprised to even go on the inauguration lighting evening with musicians playing within the castle. Another inspirational moment was being with the snow monkeys, how beautiful and cute to see a mother monkey affectionately holding and bonding with her baby monkey. The philosopher's path and bamboo forest were really a fantastic highlight of the holiday, highly recommended and to top up the fantastic memories we were very lucky to see Mt Fuji with its snowed peak, such a magical moment.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader Ayaka Tsukamoto was very well prepared and knowledgeable, very energetic and always happy to advice or help when asking for optional favorites. She even went out of her way to find ways & means of pleasing some members of the group to see the sumo wrestlers. Ayaka is very promising, engaging, highly spirited and great to lead a group of new travelers from all walks of life, quite amazing. One needs to be adaptable, flexible and engaging and that was Ayaka.

Advice for Potential Travellers

A good level of physical strength and health is considered as there is quite a lot of walking on this tour especially in trains stations, quite a lot of steps to take. I would definitely carry some cereal bars or nibbles for long journeys. Do take a thick jacket or thick fleece as it was colder than expected in Kyoto in April and it rained too so always pack an umbrella. Make sure to take the optional day tours to see Mt Fuji (if lucky weather wise) and also to do the Philosophers Path & Bamboo Forest. If you don't like fish or don't eat shellfish make sure to communicate this as Japanese food is very fishy. Make sure to take part in the Hiroshima pancake, it was DIVINE and such an enjoyable evening to see live cooking and then eat.

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