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our guide in Tokyo was fabulous – lovely person, very attentive and really seemed to care that we had a good time.
Kyoto particularly but the whole trip was fab
She was wonderful, couldn't fault her at all. She went over and above in making suggestions of things to do. For me, I'm vegetarian which was trickly, however she really tried hard to help.
Good communication, jam-packed itinerary, fabulous guide (Taka)!
Kyoto, the ninja temple in Kanazawa, the Onsens, tips for food from guide, having breakfast looking at Mount Fuji, the kimono museum.
Taka was great! Setting up a WhatsApp group at the start of the trip, keeping in touch with me when I was delayed, recommending places to eat, joining the group for meals etc, good humoured, tailored suggestions to group members eg she knew I would love Don Quixote???? A strong 10 out of 10!
A very good itinerary and a good introduction to Japan.
Seeing Mount Fuji was Beautiful. Hida folk village was wonderful. Nara park, beautiful gardens, shrines, temples and cities. It was all good.
Mami is a likeable enthusiastic leader who was calm, kind and friendly. She was helpful and conscientious.
Overall a tremendous trip. It is very demanding and requires considerable fitness. Mt Fugi was tremendous to see.
Such beautiful trees and gardens .. even the moss was lovely!
Seeing Mount Fugi was a stand out moment. We were so lucky to see it so clearly on both days!
Charles was a very good leader. He was very good at getting the group (ages 26 - 77 years) through all the vagaries of public travel. Having lived in Japan he was knowledgeable on Japanese customs, beliefs and ways. Advice for Exodus. I found the journey Kobe to Kanazawa very tiring, travelling on three trains and a bus. I wondered if this leg could be modified possibly using private transport on this day. I also wondered if it would be possible to meet more Japanese people.
Travel one or two days before the start of the trip so that you are not tired at the beginning of the adventure. Our best meal was one where 4 of us ordered something different and shared. Our time in Tokyo was short so planning and booking venues in advance is the key. Enjoy it all!
Itinerary
The trip was really great–I loved the diversity of going to smaller, traditional places as well as the modern cities. There were times when I thought we would have more free time than we did–Kyoto (tour activities ended at approx. 3:30), Kobe (arrived 1 hr before the gardens closed so didn’t go), and Hiroshima (tour activities ended at approx 4 pm). I loved all of the places that we went too–in retrospect I would have added additional days in Kyoto (I arrived a day in advance) and benefitted greatly from my flight home being delayed giving me a full extra day in Toyko that I hadn’t planned for. The tour is very fast pace and you do walk alot–so just bring a really good pair of running shoes with you!
Hotels
All were good–my favourite was Hotel Toyko in Takayama. I rented a private onsen for an hour which was very nice and enjoyed the unique art they had on each floor. I really appreciated the washer/dryer in the hotel room–while I had enough clothes it was nice to wash them and be able to go out for dinner at the same time and not feel in a rush to get back to the room (it was free and they did provide soap if you don’t have any). The hotels in Kyoto and Tokyo were nice as well–the first modern and the last traditional. All of the hotels were really clean, provided great breakfasts, and had toiletries if you forget any (and if you wanted pjs to wear).
Transportation
The bullet trains were very cool as were all of the trains. They are very prompt! The subway system is easy to manoever–I used Google Maps to tell me what stop to get off and where to walk and never got lost (even in Toyko). The trains are very quiet and clean–getting onto and off public transit is done in lines so there never is a rush and in most cases the train/subway cars were empty. The bus system in Kyoto makes getting between places slow so factor that in. Also, the connection from Osaka to Kyoto was pretty easy to do but made harder with getting off a transatlantic flight. Doing this again, I would fly direct into Tokyo and then get to Kyoto the next day. Felt very safe and comfortable walking around by myself–even in the evening. The locals are very helpful if you want to confirm directions.
Food
I am normally a very fussy eater and I didn’t have a problem finding things to eat. In fact, I wish I had more time in Kyoto in the traditional area to have some of the different food options the shops offered. I also didn’t have time to get a hot drink from a dispensing machine! I found breakfast made me full and then we would go somewhere at dinner that would fill me up (I often had noodle dishes). I would have been ok finding my own dinner in Takayama instead of group meals–the different styles of eating were good to experience. While I liked going out to eat with the group, it was tough having to have the bill together–it would have been easier to be able to pay for my own food.
My favourite place was Takayama--the scale of the City was really manageable. I loved wandering in the historic centre, going into the craft galleries to purchase one-of-a-kind pieces, and doing the Higashimya Walking Course. Kyoto- Nijo Castle had a really interesting and beautiful interior. I really enjoyed going there. While I liked seeing Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion), it wasn't my most favourite experience as you follow a set path with a lot of people. Ryoan-ji temple had a simple rock garden with a lot of meaning--I liked the surrounding landscape. Seeing Fushinmi Inari Taisha in the late afternoon/early evening was a cool experience. While we saw 4 geisha standing at a corner in Gion it wasn't my favourite experience as we didn't really get to experience the area. I'd suggest doing the historic areas on your own during the day to actually see and do more. My favourite Kyoto experiences I did myself-- a tea ceremony adjacent to a traditional garden, Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion) had an amazing garden, the Philosopher's Walk with temples along the way, and the other temples/shrines I went into. I bought a Goshuin book at my first shrine and for the remainder of the trip would get it filled with the 'stamps' from the shrines/temples that I visited which is fun and a great souvenir. Nara- The Buddha in the Todai-ji temple is huge! It was really cool to see. I also liked the walk through the woods, with the many deer, to Kasuga Shinto shrine. We saw quite a few kids in kimonos celebrating their age year which was a nice cultural experience. The shrine itself was very interesting with all the lanterns. Miyajimma Island- The Torii gate was nice to see upon approach by ferry but more so from the beach while walking to the Itsukumshima Shrine. The Shrine itself was different as it is built overtop the water. It was quite busy! We went to the gardens on the island which were nice to walk through with the fall leaves. Hiroshima-The walk around the Atomic Bomb memorial was very moving. I wish we could have talked to the survivor that was nearby. After going through the musuem which was rather crowded, I went into a few smaller buildings on the site that had exhibits on peace talks and foundations from the site. In particular, I liked walking the whole of the park--seeing the different memorials, the burial mound, and areas of paper cranes that were off the path of many. We spent about 2 hours at the museum and park complex--which was enough time but didn't allow for time for other activities in the City. Kobe-We got into Kobe rather late in the afternoon so after eating dinner a small group of us walked along the harbour which is nice and then though the street(s) that was China town located beside the hotel. It did look like it would be an interesting place to visit--but with not a lot of time the stop wasn't monumental. Kanawaza- The gardens are very beautiful and very manageable in scale. The best was seeing the fall foligage at night when it was illuminated--it is very crowded but worth seeing. The adjacent Castle was a quick visit. During our day walking tour, I enjoyed going to the Samarai house and garden, having silver/gold foil ice cream, walking the Samarai and Geisha districts (I saw one), and the Omicho (fish) market. I did a separate cooking course in the evening where I learnt how to make sushi and other Japanese food which was a lot of fun--and we got to eat the food. It was a great experience. I also went with a small group to the Ninja temple which was very very cool! They provide you with an English write up as you do the tour but as you can see all the trap doors, etc. it's still very engaging. The art gallery did look really interesting--I only went into the shop as it wasn't open late and I went to the garden at night instead. Shirakawa-go- This was an interesting village. I went into 2 of the buildings--the temple/museum was really interesting and the house/farm offered insight into the way they lived and worked (silk farming) in the area. The visit did seem a bit rushed but I think it's because our group walked to the top and then it took awhile for the group photo. Takayama- Hida no Sato Open-Air Museum was really interesting. It felt rushed as we went at the very end of the day--I think at least 2- 2 1/2 hours likely is needed here. It was a really manageable site with quite a few old buildings you can go into. In addition, there were artisans (only the wood carver when we were there) that you could watch do traditional crafts. The market and walk in the historic area was nice--this was a City I could have had an entire free day to myself though. I went to the Government House which was really interesting and enjoyed the walk along the Higashiyama (literally a temple/shrine every few metres along the 1/2 hr walk--the short version). The walk was nice as there were very few people doing it so you had the sites to yourself. I enjoyed going into a few shops of artisans--I did go into the Festival Float museum but it wasn't a highlight though seeing the floats was cool. I would have liked another full day here and it is a place I'd go back to. Our group did a tea ceremony but it didn't have the atmosphere of the one I did separately--still nice but more 'commercial' feeling. Matsumoto- Walking the interior of the Castle was a different experience than your typical Castle in Europe. With the exception of artefacts and displays, it is empty and you go up narrow stairs into smaller rooms as you go higher in the building. I am glad to have done it. I also went to the Art Museum--enjoying both traditional art and the Yayoi Kusama exhibits. I found Nawate and Nakamachi Shopping streets interesting--Nakamachi had really nice craft/art gallaries and shops as well as restaurants. I went back to see the castle at night after a dinner of fried chicken and noodles and it was very attractive. Kawaguchi-Oishi Park and the walk from Itchiku Kobata Art Museum offered great views of Mt. Fuji (it was a clear day!). The Art Museum offered beautiful kimonos to look at. It was a pretty small musuem with somewhat larger gift shop areas (offering a lot of scarfs). The garden outside was really nice and the architecture is Gaudi inspired. Toyko- Going to see Senjo-ji temple at night was amazing--the shops that line it have a lot of traditional food, wood prints, and a 100 yr old pet store (for those who like me have to shop for their puppy). We spent a lot of time in Ueno Park--there were interesting temples/shrines to see but I was expecting more places that we were going to go that day so it was a bit of a surprise. On the free days, I went to see Senjo-ji temple during the day as well as nearby shrines, I visited Meiji Shrine which is very cool (there was a wedding, baptism, celebration of the Emperor/Empress, and harvest festival), Shibuya crossing at night, and then Skytree the next morning (with another great view of Mt. Fuji...at 9:30 there are no crowds either). I also had arranged to make chopsticks which was a lot of fun, experience teamlabs Borderless (the tea room was very cool), and went to a Sumo Festival (where I did sumo and learnt about the sport). While I saw a lot (and filled my goshuin book with stamps), there was so much more that Japan offers that I would love to do and see!
Our group leader was very good--he kept us organized and on time for all our train/subway/ferry journeys and was very knowledgeable on the history and culture of the places we visited. For several days, we had a trainee tour leader who also joined us that was a treat as she provided us with a lot of additional information on Japanese culture. It was nice to have two leaders for several days of the trip. Our group leader was very dedicated to our group--he stayed until the very last day in spite of having a family emergency/health matter. He made sure that we were comfortable and knew Exodus was having a new tour leader meet us at the hotel on the last day to assist with flights/getting to airport if needed.
Book extra days in Kyoto and Toyko if possible. Look into additional activities (especially cultural) that are offered in the places you are going--I booked on days that I knew I would have free time or in the evening so to not conflict with the trip. They were among my favourite memories. Travel with cash--many places (i.e. shops, restaurants, temples/shrines) do not take credit card/debit. You can get cash easily if needed. Travel with extra power source for your cell phone if you use it to take photos & for directions, etc. There aren't chargers/power outlets available (I did hear that tourist bureaus have them). Pack light especially for days that you have to carry your own bag--I got a backpack that was large enough to do so which made it easy to go in train stations and to hotels. If I had known there was going to be in-room laundry in Takayama I would have packed less overall in my large suitcase. There is great food in department stores/train stations which are similiar to food courts you would find in Europe. The grocery stores have great selection of food. Even Seven-11 Food was good and cheap. The food at restaurants was very filling and not expensive (compared to Europe). Bring comfortable shoes--you walk at least 15 000 steps a day. And bring a bag for garbage as there are no garbage bins on streets--though you eat at establishments instead of out. If you need to throw something out it does help to have a small bag to carry in your day bag. Expect to take a lot of photos. Always go out with full battery power--and have back up. Japan uses the same plugs as North America so you don't need to travel with universal plugs/converters. Good wifi is handy to get around Cities easily (aka google maps). Taxi and public transportation are cheap, fast, and reliable.
Stunning trip. Taka, our guide, was just superb, and really helped make the trip as incredible as it was. Loved visiting all the different places, and using public transport
Taka, our guide! Matsumoto Hiroshima
She was just superb. Super calm in EVERY situation, but absolutely effective. Great sense of humour. Very clear and controlled. Managed people missing ferries and buses with grace and calm and her communication was brilliant in each of these scenarios. She looked after all of us in every circumstance. For me, she was a big part of why the trip was so brilliant.
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.
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.
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.
Brilliant organisation and logistics combined with an amazing itinerary and a hugely knowledgeable guide.
The ancient cultural aspects of Kyoto such as the shogun's castle, geisha district and the inability gates. The edo era experiences in Kanazawa and Takiyama. The excitement of Tokyo and freedom to explore the city. The group was a great mix of people who all enjoyed Japan. Our guide Hide San made the trip so enjoyable for everyone
Hide San's enthusiasm was incredible and he managed our whole trip with great energy and humour. He had planned each day carefully to ensure we had enough time at each location and his knowledge was excellent. He is a huge reason why this trip was so enjoyable. He was unflappable and he made everything seem effortless.
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 🙂
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!
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.
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.
the hotels were nicer quality than my expectation. The tour guide was very good at providing recommendations for places to eat and was very nice and proactive with questions asked.
I think the tour group was great. I liked having independence to see the sites on my own. I also felt like I really got to know the country by using the public transportation. We had a very good feel of both modern and ancient japan based on the itinerary.
I thought Kan did a good job guiding us. Maybe some more information about restaurants in advance so reservations could be made would be helpful but I thought he was really nice and did a great job leading us through the country.