Most Inspirational Moment
Big things? The sheer scale of the space age buildings in Tokyo, standing not far from delightful back alleys with great restaurants and bars. Or the traditional dwellings and tea houses of Kyoto, with the promise of a sighting of geishas in the early evening. Hiroshima. The artistry of so many shrines and temples. Smaller things? The lovely student lad who, when we couldn't find our way back to our hotel, insisted on taking us all the way to the front door - then bowed at us as if we had done HIM a service. Snow monkeys - hilarious. The tiny bars in the Golden Gai in Tokyo. The first ryoken - and the first onsen.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Keigo Ninomiya . What a wonderful group leader; indeed, what a wonderful friend. He loved his country, and was desperate for us to experience and enjoy as much of it as possible. This was a man who did not accept that a "free day" was a day of respite for himself. Keigo was with us EVERY day and EVERY night. Our itinerary was so much more full than the extensive programme outlined in the trip notes. We visited temples and shrines which were not covered in the notes, we went to great restaurants (ie great food and drink, for modest prices, in traditional Japanese places), we went to Japanese theatre. in Tokyo. On one particular night in Tokyo, after our meal, a small group of us wanted to visit the Golden Gai. Keigo was immediately obliging, and led us to the place and to a delightful little bar, which could accommodate no more than a dozen people. We stayed there until 1.00am. Keigo was up bright and early the next morning, having arranged the theatre visit on our "free day". THAT was the kind of commitment he had throughout our trip. I have had great guides on every Exodus trip. In an exalted group, Keigo is the top man. Thank you so much, Keigo.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Bring a portable umbrella. Expect rain in Japan. Do a bit of basic homework about bars and restaurants before you go. Eating can be fairly cheap. The small supermarkets are well stocked with sandwiches, etc, for a modest lunch. There are PLENTY of small supermarkets, close to hotels, where you can stock up on essentials. Hotels have kettles, so if you have a supply of tea bags and/or coffee to supplement the handful of items supplied by hotels, it might make things easier. Day tickets for buses are about 600 yen, and if you are travelling on your own in Kyoto or Tokyo, these can be a good investment. Western food and drinks are available, but if you go into a "British Pub", such as "The Hub", which is behind the Kyoto Tower, you'll pay about £7 for a pint. There are also "Irish Bars", such as the one at the rear of Kyoyo railway station, where Guinness, or an equivalent, will cost 1000 yen, which is comfortably more than £7 a pint. Japanese pale beers, in Japanese places, are a MUCH better purchase.