Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Always difficult to know how to answer this one, as we saw so much. For me it was the people, as they were all so respectful and Japan felt very safe from a traveller's perspective.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Chiko Hansen was always smiling, full of energy and kept all of us on time. As with any trip like this there were a couple of hiccups (not of Chiko's making), but she managed to keep us together.

Advice for Potential Travellers

As mentioned, there is a lot of walking in this trip. Although technically you could describe it as leisurely (not climbing mountains!), due to the amount I would rate it more like a 3, especially if you want to see everything. I had taken a pair of hiking boots which was overkill, but sturdy walking shoes are highly recommended. There was more free time than on other Exodus trips I have been on, so planning ahead would help. That includes meals, as not many are included. Despite the hotel in Kyoto being very central, not many of the nearby restaurants stayed open beyond 9pm. We did find a food court at the top of the railway station that stayed open until 10pm, but not until the second night.

Most Inspirational Moment

As others have said, too difficult to choose just one. The many shrines where locals are praying while tourists gaze upon them, the giant Buddha at Nara, the Golden temple and gardens, the scenery of the Japanese Alps with the autumn colours, the monkeys, the excitement of the bullet train's speed and the unforgettable experience of the Onsen.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Chiko Hansen worked very hard to ensure we all saw as much as possible. She offered suggestions and accompanied people on visits that were outside the itinerary. It was tough for her to try and keep 15 people together in the busiest railway station in the world. She is incredibly energetic and it could be hard work trying to keep up! It is a huge benefit that she is Japanese (though now lives in Australia) and so could give us insights into the Japanese way of life. We ate with Chiko in some great local restaurants that the ordinary tourist would not have found. On the downside, her sense of direction was not always the best and she had to be persuaded to occasionally stop to allow eating or comfort breaks.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for more walking than the trip notes suggest. Quite a lot of energy required and good idea to carry snacks and water in a small backpack. Take comfortable shoes that are easy to slip on and off for temple visits. Do plenty homework to help decide what you want to do on the free days as some places will need advance booking. If you want to see the Tokyo fish market make a plan to go early (0600-0700?) as when we went at 1000 it was closing. Evening eating places seem to close by 9pm, so plan to eat fairly early. Look out for the "Western style" toilets as you have to squat in the Japanese ones

Suggestions

This is a fast paced tour and although one gets to see a lot there can be a feeling that it is all a bit rushed. For example I could have spent much longer than 1 hr 45 mins at Matsumoto castle.

Most Inspirational Moment

I had several inspirational moments, but the two that stood out the most was our visit to Hiroshima and our walk through the bamboo forest in Kyoto (it had a zen feel to it).

Thoughts on Group Leader

Yuri was fantastic -- she did a great job keeping 16 different personalities happy and on the same page. She was very organized and made it look easy, but that was due to a lot of behind-the-scenes work on her part. She also handled a difficult situation very deftly. It was fun traveling with her!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared to walk quite a bit -- the walking was very pleasant and enjoyable, but more (including navigating your way through the train stations) than indicated in the trip notes.

Suggestions

Heated toilet seats and steamless bathroom mirrors -- they think of everything in Japan!

Most Inspirational Moment

The tranquility of japanese gardens, quality of food, cleanliness, meticulous organisation and punctuality of public transport, warm friendly hospitality.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Chiko Hansen was amazing and escorted us to places such as Fushimi Inari Taisha and Arashiyama Bamboo Grove from Kyoto (as featured in the movie 'Memoirs of a Geisha'. She gave me a schedule of train times from Takayama to go to Kanazawa to Kenrokuen garden which was amazing and a schedule to make my way back to Kyoto after stopping off at Himeji castle (featured in 007 film 'You Only Live Twice' after the day at Hiroshima. She introduced the group to a wide array of delicious japanese food.

Advice for Potential Travellers

As I read in a previous review it pays to do some research on what possibilities are available on free days. If you stay at the Hotel Metropolitan in Tokyo, I highly recommend the Est restaurant offering fine dining with a European (mainly french) set menu. Also in Tokyo the New Otani hotel has an amazing japanese garden with waterfall and huge koi and offers various dining options.

Suggestions

Make sure you have comfortable hard wearing slip on shoes as lots of walking involved. English translation was widely available and as a solo traveller sometimes doing things independently was not as daunting as I had expected.

Most Inspirational Moment

A difficult question to answer, Japan is culturally so different to the UK that there was something different at every turn. Hiroshima was a very moving experience.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Chiko was an excellent tour leader, providing additional guiding not part of the tour itinerary for the group on free days as well as details on excursions for those wanting to do additional trips alongside the itinerary.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Japan is not as expensive as the guidance in the trip notes suggest, entrance fees not covered by the tour price were typically much lower than you might expect to pay in the UK and eating out was not as expensive either.

Most Inspirational Moment

One thing which will remain with me is the museum at Hiroshima with its depiction of utter devastation and ruin. I was impressed by the many temples, the historical villages and the Hokusai gallery. I also loved the ryokans and soaking in the baths surrounded by women of all ages, shapes and sizes.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mayuko was remarkable. She managed to shepherd 17 of us around (using only public transport) for 14 days without losing any of us. She's knowledgeable, interesting, energetic: an ideal guide and leader. She built our confidence: when she led us to our hotel in Tokyo I felt pretty overawed by the public transport system but a couple of days later I was getting around with the level of confidence I'd feel in London (but with a greater feeling of safety). I think we all felt looked after to the level which suited us.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you travel in March / April, take suncream, waterproofs, fleeces - everything you'd take if you were going on holiday in the UK in springtime! Don't take an umbrella as you can buy one very cheaply there. If you want to bathe at the ryokans, you will need to take off all of your clothes (single sex facilities).

Suggestions

If you eat fish, you'll be happy. If you're a veggie who doesn't eat fish (i.e. a proper veggie!) or a vegan, you might find your diet limited. There's a real lack of fresh fruit and veg in the cuisine: if you're hoping to manage 5-a-day you might struggle! Fruit on sale in shops and markets is phenomenally expensive. Beware of Kyoto's and Tokyo's stations. They're often embedded in shopping centres so you lose all sense of direction: you end up wondering not only whether to go left or right but also whether to go up or down!

Most Inspirational Moment

Several highlights: Nara's big buddha and deer, snow monkeys, neon lights of Shinjuku, Arashimaya early in the morning, Muyijima, cherry blossom everywhere.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mayuko was excellent. She was extremely well organised, friendly, a good sense of humour and utterly professional. Getting 18 people on and off public transport across Japan is no mean feat.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Exodus' pre departure administration was poor (not my usual experience with them) so be prepared to have to double check invoices etc.

Suggestions

I chose this trip above others to Japan as it included a visit to see the snow monkeys. If you are keen to see them you can go earlier than the group by local bus. This gives you more time but you will also be there with hardly anyone else around. Having now tried them I think staying in a Ryokan for one night is enough for the experience.

Most Inspirational Moment

Hiroshima! Would have liked to spend longer here as was a little rushed. Watching the bathing snow monkeys.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Mayuko Terao was an excellent guide-ensured that the group worked together well and everything ran very efficiently. She tweaked our itinerary as typoon Phon-Phon was due t hit and knew we were all looking forward to seeing the snow monkeys which we did. She also managed to get us in to see a morning training session at Sumo stables!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take comfortable footwear and travel light. If you forget anything, you should be able to buy in Kyoto. Have an idea before you go what you may want to do on your free days. Can decide at the last minute but if you want to do or visit something specific it's good to plan ahead.

Suggestions

We found everyone we met extremely friendly and polite. Japan was extremely clean and everything ran to time-very efficient! If a sign says something opens at 7.30am,it will! Try the Onsen's-great experience.

Most Inspirational Moment

Several: 1. The Peace Park in Hiroshima, and in particular the 'Atomic Dome'. Very moving. 2. A quite-unexpected visit to Tokyo Zoo, and time to see the giant pandas munching through loads of bamboo. 3. A garden of azaleas in full bloom - very colourful. And cherry and plum blossom. 4. Mount Fuji in all its glory, from the air on flight out of Tokyo. 5. The cleanliness, the politeness, the hi-tech toilets.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Good, though whilst he didn't lose any of us in the crowded streets and stations, etc., I felt he should have checked more often that we were all together.

Advice for Potential Travellers

1. Public conveniences are plentiful, but most did not have any means of drying hands after washing - so I recommend taking a small hand-towel for such purposes. 2. During the holiday we stayed at 3 different ryokans, which varied in standard from OK down to very, very basic. 3. Take some ear-plugs to shut out noise of snoring sleeping companions!

Suggestions

Go!!

Most Inspirational Moment

We went for the cherry blossom - and it was at its most beautiful in the little town of Takayama.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Good, but I think it was his first time with Exodus and he hadn't quite expected the independence of his group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go! and then go again.

Suggestions

Not nearly as pricy as we'd expected. And great food - even though I really don't do fish, and certainly not raw fish (as in sushi).