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.

Simply use the selector below to search our trip reviews and start reading real feedback from real Exodus travellers who have ‘been there and done that’!

Lots of our clients also like to post handy tips and advice about their travels. It’s great to know what to expect on an Exodus adventure before you go, so make the most of their experience and you’ll make the most of yours!

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Once you return from your Exodus adventure holiday, you will be emailed a link to add your review. Any feedback collected is posted onto our website, totally unedited.

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101 Reviews

4.5 out of 5

Marin Popa

Reviewed October 2025

thoughtfully designed itinerary

The itinerary was thoughtfully designed, allowing us to explore a wide range of fascinating destinations throughout the trip.

Activity level was 1, not 3 as advertised.

The hotels were comfortable, with two exceptions:
Hotel SUI Kyoto Kiyomizu in Kyoto – Situated on a busy main road, the hotel suffered from significant noise even during nighttime hours due to poor sound insulation. Breakfast was consistently overcrowded.
Route Inn Kawaguchiko – The room was small and dimly lit, with a window facing a concrete wall just two metres away. The décor was dated; it felt like the last renovation was done in the 1980s, and the breakfast offering was disappointing in both quality and variety.

In contrast, Hotel Monterey Akasaka in Tokyo stood out as the best accommodation – stylish, comfortable, and well located.

Dining independently was a highlight of the trip. We enjoyed excellent meals at various local restaurants, often at very reasonable prices. However, the two complimentary dinners provided in Takayama were surprisingly poor in quality. In hindsight, it would have been preferable to explore dining options on our own that evening as well.

Public transportation was generally a positive experience and added to the trip’s authenticity. That said, the day spent navigating Kyoto’s local buses and trains resulted in more time waiting than sightseeing. Additionally, the transfer from Kawaguchiko to Tokyo consumed most of the day. A chartered bus would have significantly reduced travel time to under two hours, and allowed for a more relaxed and efficient transition.

Most Inspirational Moment

Highlights: Nijo Castle and Golden Pavilion of Kinkaku-ji in Kyoto, Nara, Miyajima island, Kenrokuen Gardens in Kanazawa, Higashiyama Walkway and the floats museum in Takayama, Matsumoto City Museum of Art, Oishi Park, and Itchiku Kubota Art Museum in Kawaguchiko, Tokyo National Museum.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Harou, our leader, was an efficient organiser; he ensured we never missed a train or bus, and kept us up to date on the daily schedule and weather forecast. While the logistical aspects were well managed, I feel the experience would have been enriched by more contextual information about Japan’s history, contemporary society, and local customs. Insights into the significance of the places we visited would have added depth to the journey.

Shanshan Lu

Reviewed September 2025

A dream trip has come true!

I had wanted to go on this trip for years, and my dream finally came true! It was a fantastic trip that combined all the highlights of both modern and ancient sights within two weeks. I really appreciated the balance between group activities and free time to explore at our own pace. Our tour leader Kan was excellent, and everyone on the tour was lovely. I feel incredibly grateful to have explored Japan with such a wonderful group of people. We shared plenty of laughs along the way and I made some friends on this trip 🙂

Most Inspirational Moment

Too many! The village in Shirakawa-go was absolutely breathtaking, and the Hida no Sato museum was beautiful and peaceful. Kanazawa and Takayama were my favourite places on this trip, they gave me a genuine feel of ancient Japan. Oishi Park was also stunning!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Kan is brilliant! He’s a lovely person with a great sense of humour. He was always ready to help whenever needed, and I felt well looked after throughout the trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The activity rating for this trip is adequate. Although it’s a leisure trip, it may involve long walks to access sights and public transportation, so wearing comfortable shoes is essential. I also recommend packing light for the overnight stays, as you’ll need to carry your luggage on the train until you reach the hotel.

Mary MacGregor

Reviewed October 2024

Pure magic

I’ve wanted to visit Japan for many years, and this more than lived up to expectations. There were times that I felt overwhelmed (Tokyo), and times that I was walking in the woods. A nice mix of free time and structured tours.

Most Inspirational Moment

Philospher's Walk in Kyoto

Thoughts on Group Leader

Gary was excellent. Very thoughtful and well organized.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This is all done by public transit, which is easy and efficient. But there tend to be a lot of stairs, you need to be on time, and you should pack lightly. Do not bother with a bathing suit -- onsens don't allow them.

Allister Brimble

Reviewed April 2024

A great overview of Japan

This is a really good tour. Starting in Kyoto where you visit a number of temples, then moving through the countryside to various locations, then to Hiroshima and finally to Tokyo for the modern part of the tour. By the end you get a really good sense of what Japan is. The group leader, Gary was excellent! With a few small tweaks with regards to some of the accommodation I’d have given 5 stars.

Most Inspirational Moment

The food and friendly Japanese people!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader Gary was the highlight of the tour. He was very knowledgeable and very efficient at organising groups.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You might have to sit on the floor to eat at one of the hotels. It's a great experience but you will struggle if you have stiff legs or knee's. Bring comfy walking shoes as you can be doing 20000 steps a day.

Kenny Boyd

Reviewed April 2024

A fantastic introduction to Japan

This train tour of many contrasting areas of Japan gives an excellent experience introduction to a beautiful exciting country. An excellent variety of accommodation close to transport hubs made exploring very easy.

Most Inspirational Moment

There was no single moment but it was all about the experience. The country is very different from the west but safe and friendly so easy to comfortably explore.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Quinlan was the perfect guide. Infinitely helpful and patient. Knowledgeable and energetic. Well organised and great company.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don’t come to Japan cold. Do a little research on cultural differences, food and the language. It’ll make life much easier. Smart phones make navigating the cities easier (Japanese sims from Amazon?) and travel cards on iPhones make life easy too. You need a little cash but not loads; Most places use cards but there are a few exceptions that should be prepared for. Public transport to and from airports are easy but do your homework in advance.

Paula Reason

Reviewed April 2024

A packed trip full of Japanese delights

A full programme that explores Japan both ancient and modern. The kindness and civility of all the people that we met was lovely

Most Inspirational Moment

Japanese art and culture…. Many moments

Thoughts on Group Leader

Tadaoki was kind and gentle and was with us the whole trip. Kan came in halfway through and was like a magician making any problem disappear and making our wishes come true. I wanted to see some Japanese woodblock art which did not seem possible on the schedule with museums shut on a Monday but he made it possible.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The schedule is packed but there is still plenty of time for your own things. Plan these and book in advance like teamLab and the imperial palace in Tokyo. Research ways to see Mount Fuji as you still have a day with your rail card to travel for free from Tokyo

Peter Kane

Reviewed April 2024

Ancient and Modern Japan

Overall positive, a good overview of Japan, covering a lot of ground from Kyoto to Tokyo. The group of 15 bonded well and guide was excellent. Transport on bullet train excellent
Areas for improvement – quality of accommodation fairly basic, around 3*. Strengthen context/tours of big cities to give more of an overview.

Most Inspirational Moment

Visit to Hiroshima, very moving.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Quinlan

Advice for Potential Travellers

Learn a little Japanese before you go, as helps to breakdown barriers.

Reply from Exodus

Thank you for your thoughtful review of the “Ancient and Modern Japan” tour! We’re delighted to hear that you found the group dynamic and our guide exceptional.

Regarding your feedback on the accommodation, while some properties may seem more basic, particularly the traditional ryokans, we do, however, strive to ensure they provide authentic and comfortable experiences. The 4-star properties on this trip offers a high standard of comfort. The 1 night in Matsumoto is indeed a 3-star hotel, but with its proximity to the station and the rooftop onsen, it offers a unique and enjoyable stay. We trust that they provide a level of service and amenities that you might expect from a 4-star hotel in other countries.

We appreciate your suggestion on enhancing the context and tours in the big cities, and we will certainly consider how we can provide an even more comprehensive overview in future trips.

Thank you again for your valuable feedback and for traveling with us. We hope to welcome you on another adventure soon!

Sharon Lindsay

Reviewed April 2024

Stunning cherry blossom

I enjoyed my trip. I had not considered the impact of the trip relying on public transport. Also, there were fewer opportunities to eat dinner as a group with the leader which I suspect reflects how busy it is in Japan. On previous trips with Exodus, I have particularly enjoyed learning about the local way of life from a local guide but realistically on this mode of transport there was very little opportunity to have that insight even if the guide had been local.

Most Inspirational Moment

Cherry blossom at Kamakura

Thoughts on Group Leader

Charles was an adequate tour leader. I do feel that leading a group using public transport in a very busy country is very challenging.

Advice for Potential Travellers

I feel there is a real need to ensure that wifi connection is available to access Google maps. I did not anticipate how much free time there would be; Google maps is really essential. Research and booking of activities before leaving for the trip would ensure best use of free time. There was no option to go to a tea ceremony as advised in the trip notes. There were other activities which perhaps could be shared e.g. team labs.

Reply from Exodus

Thank you for sharing your feedback on your recent trip to Japan. We’re glad to hear that you enjoyed your time, but we also acknowledge the areas where your experience didn’t fully meet expectations.

While the use of public transport is the most efficient way to navigate the country, we understand the challenges associated with relying on public transport, especially during peak travel seasons in Japan and while it offers a glimpse into daily life, it can sometimes limit opportunities for in-depth cultural interactions. We have recently taken steps to address these concerns by reducing group sizes and revisiting some logistical aspects of the itinerary to make the experience more comfortable and enriching for our travellers.

With regards to the free time, we’ve received similar feedback earlier this year regarding the need for more detailed suggestions in the trip notes for free days. In response, we’ve worked closely with our local team to enhance our day-to-day itinerary descriptions. We’ve now added many more suggestions and details to help you make the most of your free time, with activities that are both realistic in terms of timing and availability.

Your feedback is invaluable in helping us improve, and we hope these changes will enhance the experience for future travellers. Thank you again for sharing your thoughts!

Noreen Orton

Reviewed April 2024

Disappointing trip organisation

Japan did not disappoint despite 3* hotel stays, lack of opportunities that purported to be arranged locally by your tour leader and are subject to availability none of which were available, poor planning of travel necessitating tickets bought on the day at the station, basic information provided at tourist sites and lack of organisation that curtailed one of the main Japanese sites.

Most Inspirational Moment

Matsumoto castle at night and Okochi Sanso Gardens (not on itinerary)

Thoughts on Group Leader

A lovely man but questioning his experience of leading a group. Provided only information on sites that we read in leaflets, should have purchased train tickets evening before or early in morning rather than have us constantly wait for him to buy tickets whilst we waited, when asked about arranging a tea ceremony I was sent web links even after informing him there was no spaces all March and into April. He did provide links to Tokyo possibilities however several were for groups and others for minimum 2 people - difficult when a solo travellers.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Book all activities before trip - cultural, theatre, tea ceremonies, sumo wrestlers etc. do not rely on guide or company. Ensure you have read up on all temples/shrines before trip. Do not expect group dinners and there will not be one at the beginning of the trip.

Reply from Exodus

Thank you for taking the time to submit a review about your recent Exodus holiday, Noreen. We are pleased to read that you enjoyed Japan overall, although we were concerned to receive your comments about your tour leader, aspects of your accommodation and general organisation of your trip. We appreciate the impact our leaders have on our customers’ overall experience in destination, so we were saddened to learn that yours appeared inexperienced in delivering a tour that met your expectations. According to our local team, your leader passed all the necessary training and has regularly and successfully led a variety of Exodus tours throughout the past six years, with generally good feedback, which we trust shows why we were confident to assign him to your trip. We acknowledge, however, that improvements can always be made, and we will be following up with him as a matter of priority to ensure that any skills gaps are addressed ahead of future departures, with a specific focus on improving his local knowledge. In terms of purchasing train tickets, this cannot always be done in advance and, in any event, the most cost-effective option is for our leaders buy them on the day. We appreciate that customers enjoy the flexibility that optional activities offer, so we are regretful that the visits you were interested in were unavailable. Our trip notes do indicate that all these activities are subject to availability, and it appears that the sudden surge in post-pandemic tourism in Japan has led to tickets being booked up much earlier than anticipated. We are, therefore, considering removing these entirely or adding information to our literature about booking well in advance to avoid disappointment. We recognise that Hiroshima is often a highlight for our customers, so we are sorry that you felt this part of the trip was rushed. This day involves a two-hour train journey each way and the sites can be particularly busy during the peak season, which limits the amount of time groups have here. We are currently considering adding a night here next season, which sadly cannot change things for you, but hopefully shows that we are endeavouring to act on your feedback. Finally, we regret that you found the room you were allocated at the last hotel to be rather cramped, as this must have taken some of the shine off your trip. Japanese hotels in urban areas are known for featuring small rooms as most are used by solo travellers on business trips and because cities such as Tokyo are so densely populated that space is at a premium. Nevertheless, we would never wish for our customers to be uncomfortable and please be assured that your comments will be factored into any future discussions about accommodation choices. We hope this addresses your feedback and that this experience has not deterred you from traveling with Exodus in the future.

Kelly Reid, Product Manager

Niamh Byrne

Reviewed April 2024