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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!
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.
Alternatively you can navigate to the relevant trip page and add your review via the Reviews tab.
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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.
Philospher's Walk in Kyoto
Gary was excellent. Very thoughtful and well organized.
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.
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.
The food and friendly Japanese people!
Our group leader Gary was the highlight of the tour. He was very knowledgeable and very efficient at organising groups.
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.
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.
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.
Quinlan was the perfect guide. Infinitely helpful and patient. Knowledgeable and energetic. Well organised and great company.
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.
A full programme that explores Japan both ancient and modern. The kindness and civility of all the people that we met was lovely
Japanese art and culture…. Many moments
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.
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
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.
Visit to Hiroshima, very moving.
Quinlan
Learn a little Japanese before you go, as helps to breakdown barriers.
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!
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.
Cherry blossom at Kamakura
Charles was an adequate tour leader. I do feel that leading a group using public transport in a very busy country is very challenging.
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.
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!
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.
Matsumoto castle at night and Okochi Sanso Gardens (not on itinerary)
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.
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.
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
The holiday was an interesting introduction to a country with an intriguing culture
Seeing Mount Fuji and walking the back streets of Kyoto where there are many temples and shrines tucked away.
He was at all times polite and good humoured.
Consider carefully when to visit Japan. It was cold and quiet wet in March. Later would definitely be better for viewing gardens.
The guide was not experienced. An example was he did not give details of where the group should meet up and at what time when visiting a temple on day 2. One member of the group got lost. We wasted time looking for her and then time when she managed to contact the guide for him to go and get her. The guide had little knowledge and essentially managed to get us from one place to another. He read short extracts from a book (2-3 minutes) at each site, in very broken english, which was not detailed and provided no further information than reading the placards at the shrine / museum we were at. Save for the ryokan in Yudanaka, the accommodation was of a much worse standard than the cost of the holiday warrants. Ryokan at Takayama (which is 2 star) was unacceptable level given the price paid. It is simply unacceptable for seventeen people to share 2 toilets for 2 days (there were 4 toilets, 2 male and 2 female unless you went to a different floor where there was another 2). It was rundown and the food was below par. The sushi was frozen, which you would not expect in Japan. The description in the itinerary was misleading. The visit on day 2 to historic Gion did not take place in the early evening as suggested but instead at around 3 pm and the guide simply pointed down a street and said there were no Geishas. Because this was done earlier, we then went to Nijo castle, which we should have gone to first, and it was closed as the guide took us there after 4 p.m. That was a wasted afternoon of travelling rather than an interesting day of culture. Day 8, there was no stroll at night to the castle. Day 10 there was no evening orientation tour of Tokyo as suggested.
The snow monkeys in Yudanaka where good.
The guide was not experienced. An example was he did not give details of where the group should meet up and at what time when visiting a temple on day 2. One member of the group got lost. We wasted time looking for her and then time when she managed to contact the guide for him to go and get her. The guide had little knowledge and essentially managed to get us from one place to another. He read short extracts from a book (2-3 minutes) at each site, in very broken english, which was not detailed and provided no further information than reading the placards at the shrine / museum we were at.
Do not book this trip, it is a waste of money.
We would like to thank Parwinder for his review, although we’re very sorry to hear of his disappointment with his departure of Ancient & Modern Japan. Parwinder’s leader underwent a thorough training program before first leading for Exodus at the start of this year, including shadowing one of our most experienced and well-performing Japanese leaders, and the feedback he received previously from the two departures he led personally was very positive. We are, however, aware that this leader received more disappointing feedback from Parwinder’s group, and upon being made aware of this we immediately contacted our local manager in Japan. Our local manager has conducted detailed follow-up with Parwinder’s leader and, since Parwinder’s trip, he has received further instruction and has led another departure with success. Overall, the scores our leaders receive for our trips in Japan are high, averaging 4.20 out of 5 from our customers who have travelled this year. We, nevertheless, regret that Parwinder did not have a similar positive experience, and recognise that his leader’s poor organisation on this occasion led to some frustrations with the itinerary, which we find from experience is structured well and accurate to the trip notes.
Regarding the accommodation on this trip, we feel that the description in our trip notes sets our clients’ expectations appropriately. Accommodation in Japan is extremely expensive and we feel that this trip provides good value for money; each property is clean and comfortable and the stays at ryokans serve as a way that our customers can experience traditional Japanese life. We would point out that the other clients on Parwinder’s trip rated the accommodation very highly on their feedback forms, though we are sorry that Parwinder did not have such a positive experience.
We are in touch with Parwinder and hope to be able to promptly resolve his disappointment to his satisfaction.
– Kelly Reid, Exodus Product Manager
This is such a well designed itinerary to see the real Japan, from their rich history and Culture to the modern side it was amazing how you travel through their history along the trip. You get to see a LOT of places along the way in a manner that feels like you have accomplished a lot but not too quickly. I think anyone going to Japan has to be prepared for a lot of travelling and moving around, especially as almost everything is on public transport. Don’t let this put you off as it is the best public transport in the world! So clean, always on time, friendly and respectful people – coming back to the UK after the trip was a real shock after we got experienced to the Japanese way.
Staying in the Ryokans up in the Japanese Alps was a surreal experience. We had an 11 course dinner at a traditional homestay and it was a real pinch me moment. Everyone was keen to learn about Japanese Culture, try the food (myself included), and it was just such a wholesome experience. Managing to go 2 weeks only using Chopsticks and no cutlery was a very proud moment too :)
Keigo was incredible. His attention to detail and knowledge about everywhere made all the difference. Without him we would have been totally lost and only had a fraction of the experience.
Be prepared for a lot of walking, often in tourist sites and on the transport system. The country is an attack on the senses to really try to just immerse yourself in the surroundings instead of always hunting for the perfect photo. Be prepared for all types of weather - an umbrella can come in handy.
