Mt Fuji & The Japanese Alps

Our Clients’ Reviews

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. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

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  Steph Wilson

  MT FUJI & THE JAPANESE ALPS

  

  Written September 2009

  A little bit of everything, fabulous trekking, amazing cities and wonderful people topped off with delicious food, amazing views and lots of fun. Japan is truly a great country and should be a must on any adventurer's list. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Climbing Mount Fuji summit before dawn, watching the zigzagging snake of people up ahead and following behind by torchlight and hearing the pilgrims blowing their horns and chanting made me feel like I was part of something special. The tension was mounting as we neared the summit racing the rising sun.

  Then sitting on top of mount Fuji watching the sunrise with a hip flask of brandy and contentment in our hearts.

  Riding on the metro across Tokyo Bay was a beautiful sight especially at night.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  An amazing leader and teacher, full of energy and fun. He was a very hard worker and strived to make our holiday the best.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Go, go, go.

  Don't be scared to have a go at the language, the people are so friendly and polite.

  It is the safest I have felt on my own in a strange place.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Tokyo is a mad place, just like you see on films but even better. A visit to Harachuko is a must to see the wierd and wonderful fashionable young things.

   
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  Lesley Hastwell

  MT FUJI & THE JAPANESE ALPS

  

  Written September 2009

  A fabulous  trip and itinerary . Japan is mesmerising and  the Japanese mountains are beautiful.Yarigatake was perhaps a bit tougher than we expected but we loved it and we all all arrived safely in Tokyo  with some wonderful  shared experiences of fantastic wilderness , high mountains  and great stories to take home with us. Our first Exodus experience and to be recommended. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  The mist at the top of Yarigatake and crossing the ridge to get there.

  The simplicity and ease of life in the mountain huts.

  Fujiyoshida and sitting naked and content in a steaming Onsen hot bath with the rain steadily falling around us as  a threathed typhoon  mometarily interrupted our trip.

  Fuji San peeping out from the clouds to give us a glimpse of her beauty  as the typhoon threat passed and the weather eased!

  Kyoto ,Gion ,the culture of the geishas and the sight of a fast footed geisha in the darkness flashing silently to her apppointment.

  Tokyo at first sight and then at second third and fourth sight!!.

  Our guide's  enduring good humour despite having a few cats to herd in the group.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  The aptly named Super Steve .

  A great guide with wonderful skills .  he made the trip work at every level and went out of his way to ensure that every individual in the group had a good, safe and fun time.  

  He is a fluent Japanese speaker with a love of the culture and an understanding of many of the idiosyncracies of Japanese Culture and modern Japanese life. He made us quickly feel at ease with the Japanese experience which can at first seem impenetrable and mysterious .

  We felt very fortunate to have him as our Guideand companion on the trip. 

  He could also party with the best of them!

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  A good walking pack and good boots are essential . The hair dryer can stay home . Dont pack too much!

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Just do it and enjoy!

   
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  Sarah Dietz

  Fast paced and fabulous!

  

  Written August 2009

  This is a fast paced and really well organised trip, with amazing food, stunning views and fabulous walking/climbing. It offers cultural and historical insight, city days and hikes in remote countryside, plus two of Japan's highest mountains. This holiday has it all! 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Loads....Walking in the beautiful Kiso valley and staying in the traditional Ryokan was amazing. The meal that night was a massive highlight. The Onsen (hot spring baths) were gorgeous and chatting with Japanese women as we bathed was great. (The Japanese people were incredibly friendly everywhere!) Climbing to the summit of Mt Fuji in darkness, with monks chanting ahead of us, to see the sunrise.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Steve gives 110%, not just shepherding us on and off trains and mountains with perfect timing and efficiency, but his Japanese lesson on Mt Yari was great fun. He'll have you ordering beer and negotiating the Tokyo underground like a local! Full marks!!

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  REALLY PACK LIGHT...I read this advice on someone else's review but still carried too much. All the Japanese hotels and onsen provide hair dryers, shampoo etc. The mountain lodges do not allow soap, so basically wherever you can wash everything is provided. ( A travel towel is useful)

  I like to read and carried three books but only read half of one as there was always something more interesting to look at.

  Add a couple of days to your trip at either end if you can, you only scrape the surface of Kyoto and Tokyo in a day and a little time to recover from jetlag before you hit the ground running would be useful!

   
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  RICHARD BYHAM

  MT FUJI & THE JAPANESE ALPS

  

  Written August 2009

  You want two weeks in Japan? You want to climb two mountains? You want culture and great food? You want to watch the sunrise in the land of the rising sun? .... You got it! 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Sat on the top of Mt Fuji watching the sunrise over the clouds below you is not something you'll forget in a hurry. Hopping on and off the local buses and trains with the locals was definitely the best way to travel around the country; this is no coach tour. Mixing with the locals in the restaurants and bars - always welcoming whether they spoke any English or not. 'Are you drunk?' in Japanese always guaranteed a good reaction from a fellow drinker - "Yopporai dess ka?".

  And Tokyo. The neon at night. The shops by day. The giant robot. The rush hour trains. The markets. The people. I'll be back...

   

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Steve was committed to making sure everyone went home with a newfound love of Japan. We did. He walked more miles than anyone else on Yarigatake when he was going back and forth making sure all sixteen of our spread out group were doing fine. And I wouldn't have done the last climb to the summit without his help. A big mountain and a big sense of achievement for a vertigo sufferer. Thanks.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  A couple of extra nights in Tokyo would be a great way to finish the trip. The day and half there just scratches the surface of this amazing city. Traveling light will help when carrying all your luggage from train to train. Go for a drink at The Mushroom Bar in Kyoto at 3am. Perfect for that "Where on earth am I???" feeling...

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Traveling in Japan.

  Left my heart in Tokyo.

  When can i return? 

   
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  Giles Tuck

  MT FUJI & THE JAPANESE ALPS

  

  Written April 2009

  An excellent and varied trip in a fantastic country. The trip offered a very broad introduction to Japan, from the quiet refinement of Kyoto to the dizzying sensory overload of Tokyo, via breath-taking vistas from the top of Mt. Yari and the chaos of Mt. Fuji at 5am. Although highly organised, and at times fast-paced, there were plenty of opportunities to get away from the modestly sized group and explore the cities at your own pace. The Japanese people we encountered were consistently friendly and helpful despite my own complete lack of language skills. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  There were lots of moments, but perhaps the most memorable was seeing sunrise from the top of Mt. Yari and seeing Mt. Fuji appear through the clouds on the horizon. Other highlights included walking through the miles of Tori gates in the forest outside of Kyoto, sitting in an outdoor spa bath on top of a mountain in the middle of a thunderstorm and eating noodles beneath the bullet train tracks, alongside salary men in Toyko.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Steve was a great team leader; an experienced hiker and fluent Japanese speaker meant that his Japanese social skills were as polished as his mountain craft. Plus he knows the very best bars in Kyoto!

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Heed the Exodus advice about packing light: Japanese trains aren't built for big cases and you'll find yourself jumping on and off them with some speed; you'll be grateful for small bags! Invest in a good camera; this is the excuse you need for buying a new one; there's so much to see!

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Mt. Fuji was a real surprise. It's a relatively simple climb, but nothing can quite prepare you for the sheer number of people on the route, the basic facilities and the utter exhaustion encountered on this part of the trip. Having said that, it's only 24 hours out of the whole trip and is a real achievement of endurance, tolerance and team work. I wouldn't want to dissuade anyone from doing the trip; just be prepared for a bit of a slog!

   
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  Lesley Tully

  MT FUJI & THE JAPANESE ALPS

  

  Written September 2008

  This is a wonderful, well organized and well worthwhile trip.  Every opportunity was presented to ensure all participants got the 'most' out of the time available. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Feeling so comfortable in a different culture so quickly.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  The Group Leader was exceptional, his knowledge of the culture, environment and language added significant value to our tour.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Mt Fuji may or may not be the experience you expected.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Don't hesitate, go.

   

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