Ancient & Modern Japan

Customer Reviews

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  Dorothe

  · April 7th, 2023
  What an adventure of a lifetime! Kohei Nishido’s genuinely kind, responsive, flexible, and insightful nature made our travel encounters with Japan profoundly life changing. With his heartwarming ability to intertwine the customs and culture of the people with respect to the history and geographical natural beauty of Japan, unique experiences always seemed just around the corner! Our deepest gratitude to all our fellow traveler's who also gave us memories that will last a lifetime. Thank you for celebrating our Wedding Anniversary with us!
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  Exodus Adventure Travels commented on this review

  We would like to sincerely thank you for taking the time to post a review of your experience on our Ancient & Modern Japan tour and we are so pleased to hear that you enjoyed your adventure. We were especially happy to hear that you found this trip life... Show more
  
  Trip date: March 2023
• OM

  Orlando

  · May 6th, 2019
  The positive: The tour covered a large number of very beautiful and interesting places and provided a rich overview of both classic and modern Japan. As such the tour fulfills the promise of its title and description. Most of the members of our 14 people group ranging from late 20s to midd 50s indicated that they were very happy with the overall experience and the performance of our guide. The negative: Even though this tour is rated for all ages, from the perspective of a 77 year old in reasonable good shape I would not recommend this tour or guide to people who is not willing or able to march everyday at a rapid pace in long walks and up and down long stairs at attractions and in very congested subway stations. This rapid marching reduced significantly my enjoyment of the trip. It precluded the possibility of looking around and taking pictures without falling dangerously behind the group. In a very congested subway station it led to my being tripped by a low lying carry-on dragged way behind by a young women. The fact that in many instances our rapid marching was followed by significant waiting periods indicates that this rapid marching could have been avoided without falling behind schedule, but our guide was not willing or able to adjust his walking pace. On another dimension and inspired by my good memories of college boarding, I opted for sharing accommodations, something which proved to be a major mistake, particularly because in our first hotel the twin beds were in direct contact and could not be separated. Fortunately, with the effective support of our guide I was able to get separate rooms for the entire tour with a total additional cost similar to the tour additional charge for separate rooms. A final problem was a botched booking of my transportation to the airport that took a few hours from my last day in Tokyo.
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  Trip date: March 2019
• SH

  Susan

  · March 30th, 2019
  The tour covered most of the things I wished to see in Japan and more. Ayaka was brilliant taking us to various destinations on trains, buses, a ferry and the metro in Tokyo without losing any of us. Our trip to Mount Fuji was superb. The rain stopped as we reached the viewing area and Mount Fuji was there in full splendour. Also the snow monkeys were at the pool but it was too warm for them to have a bath. They were great fun to watch. Some of the temples were amazing. Overall a very good insight to Japan ancient and modern. We experienced a karaoke, modern but unfortunately did not experience any traditional entertainment. I feel that it should be on the itinerary not as an optional. I was disappointed that traditional Japanese theatre was not included on our trip. Also your advert says that the age range is 16 to 99 years of age! There was a lot of long walking involved and I would think that people in their 90s and some in their 80s would struggle with the distances.
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  Trip date: March 2019
• ND

  Nena

  · December 9th, 2018
  The itinerary was packed full but this allowed us to see so much around Japan in a short period of time. Lots of walking and use of public transport but that was apart of the fun. Our tour leader Yōko was sweet, organised and helpful in any situation. Even offering to show us places on our free days. I highly recommend this tour to anyone if you’re keen to see a lot and happy to use your walking shoes in doing so.
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  Trip date: November 2018
• LJ

  Linda

  · June 5th, 2017
  My tour of Modern and Ancient Japan was amazing. Great communications, coordination, accommodations, and tour guide that was exceptional!
  Trip date: May 2017
• LJ

  Linda

  · June 5th, 2017
  My tour of Japan for 16 days was all and more than I expected. Communications was excellent, coordination and actual program was wonderful. Our tour guide was not only personable, but professional, competent, and very supportive.
  Trip date: May 2017
• A

  Philip Barker

  · November 7th, 2010
  A good mix of old and new Japan with lots of free time to do your own thing (do your research!). If Japan is on your list this is the trip for you as you'll see so many of the highlights. Staying in the two great hotels that bookend the trip make the trip fairly relaxed as you cram lots into the day but can settle back into your room without constantly being on the move!What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?The visit to Hiroshima is strangely uplifiting despite the sadness of the history. Matsumoto was a suprising highlight; the crow castle is beautiful and there is lots to see on the walk back to the station (Exodus you should make this a day not a morning!). The snow monkeys were brilliant and if you're a wildlife photographer you'll get some AMAZING images.  What did you think of your group leader?Steve was incredibly passionate about Japan.  He got us from A to B. Sometimes a little too impatient though and the odd innocent question can evoke the 'Steve glare'.... I mean it looked like chicken but was actually rice..Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Read a book called 'Japan Through the Looking Glass' by Alan MacFarlane.. a really good book on Japanese culture and pyschology.. why they do the strange little things they do.  Be careful of the deer in Nara park and at Miyajima Island.. I lost a yen note from my pocket to one!Really do try and do some decent research on Kyoto and Tokyo so that you can get the most out of your free time. Is there anything else you would like to add?Try an onsen hot spring.. especially a local one.. don't be shy.  Once you've seen everyone's bits no one cares and you'll be suprised how relaxing it can be.Definitely check out the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto in your free time.. this is the temple with thousands of red arches stretching up into a forest. 
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  Trip date: November 2010
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  Gregory Tebble

  · November 3rd, 2010
  An incedible journey giving a diverse insight into the truly fascinating culture of an amazing country. I have never taken so many photographs on this type of holiday before.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Where do I start?  Without exception, everything on the itinerary lived up to or surpassed my expectations.  It is quite often the small things that make the holiday even greater and in this respect I would say that launching myself onto the Tokyo subway and finding my way to various sites on our free day was both exciting and rewarding.  The poeple too are so friendly and helpful.  Its a pleasure to shop without being constantly hassled.  The lack of litter, the respect people had for public property, the lack of vandalism, that feeling of security and safety walking about on the street.  It all made coming home to England like visiting a third world country.What did you think of your group leader?Steve was passionate about Japan and as a fluent speaker of the language gave us an insight into several different aspects of Japanese life that we might not have otherwise experienced.  He was also very good at catering for all tastes and ages on the trip.  His skills at getting us all on the trains, subways, buses etc on time never ceased to amaze.  It wouldn't have been such a good holiday without him.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Get your yen before you travel and and take extra memory cards for you camera!!  Japan is not as expensive as you might fear, but it is still pretty expensive.  When you've travelled on Japanese rail you'll never want to travel on UK cattle trains again.Is there anything else you would like to add?There are so many diverse and amazing things to do, see and experience, so just go for it.  Jump right in and enjoy it, especially the Tokyo subway!!  Kyoto is a beautiful city both the ancient and modern parts, the journey through central Japan was both beautiful and amazing.  The snow monkeys, the ryokans, Matsumoto Castle, and Tokyo is simply amazing and totally bonkers.  There is always something to engage your attention, senses or camera.
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  Trip date: November 2010
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  Jan Simpson

  · October 19th, 2010
  If you want to visit a country with a fascinating culture, full of surprises and apparent contradictions, (with traditional and modern Japan being there, but not always in the places you would expect) then this trip is for you. The details intrigued me: vandal-free vending machines lining street pavements, the dedication of shop assistants in wrapping your purchases perfectly and beautifully, heated toilet seats, as well as, of course, the historical sites full of craftsmanship and even more intricate surprise details to spot.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Lots of moments every day, but here's just a few:The Manga Museum in Kyoto, located in a former school, giving an in-depth insight into the long history of comic book graphic art of Japan and how it has influenced western art and film-making.The traditional theatre and puppet show in Kyoto, although a very “touristy” experience, it offered an interesting snippet of what these arts are all about. I found the scene from the puppet theatre amazingly moving and the comedy sketch genuinely funny. (All explanations given in a good English language leaflet.) Miyajima Island temples – watching 100-day baby-naming ceremony, showing the temples being used today as they should be and not simply there as a relic of a past age. Then trying to find enlightenment in the pitch black tunnel of the 33 (or was it 36) goddesses underneath the temple.Walking through the Hiroshima Memorial Museum, watching the varied reactions of the Japanese school parties and then looking at an exhibit – a child’s rusted tricycle salvaged from the day the bomb dropped. The beautiful tone of the peace-bell rung by us and school children in the park.Staying in the traditional guesthouses, (ryokans), wearing the yukata, trying to remember the fine detail of slipper etiquette, meeting the families who ran them, and watching the owner's archery demo – definitely “Zen and the art of archery” personified.The guided tour of Tokyo which managed to include the full range of the varied experiences on offer in the capital. If you only had 1 day to spend here, this tour would cover it.Tokyo National Museum – a visual feast of art, costumes and samurai armour, with a free, illustrated, 8-page booklet in English to take away.Eating tempura vegetables especially the pumpkin - delicious.At the local markets: seeing very expensive boxes of mushrooms, at £100 a small crate, next to the largest apples on earth for 50p, definitely needing two hands to eat and a meal in themselves.What did you think of your group leader?A very versatile guide, both socially and intellectually, able to relate to everyone on their own terms and talk about any aspect of Japan you might be interested in, whether it's baseball, haiku poetry, history of the Edo period, varieties of saki, the Japanese apartment rental system, recent Japanese films, music or the Japanese alphabets. He knew Japan very well and was able to show us any aspect of the country we wished to see, from peaceful forests with stands of bamboo, hilltop viewpoints and busy markets to local people playing croquet by the river, at the pochinko and gambling halls, or in Tokyo counter-culture bars.  As a tourist in an unfamiliar country, it was reassuring to know that we were with a very capable guide, who would be able to deal with any eventuality or emergency, and I had complete confidence in his abilities.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Sample a traditional Japanese breakfast of rice, boiled egg and pickled vegetables at least once.Try as many things flavoured with green tea as possible, such as ice-cream, lattes, donuts, and Kit-Kats.Open your mind to all the experiences Japan has to offer and leave your preconceptions at home.Is there anything else you would like to add?A very rewarding country to visit. Why not make this trip an 18 day-er or even a 3 week-er, there's plenty to see and do to justify it.Or now that the flight times back to the UK have been changed to a late evening departure on the Friday night, that gives 4 whole days in Tokyo, which was welcome, given how much there was to see, but that also gives an opportunity to allow an extra day in the mountains. Felt the brief aquaintance with Matsomoto was far too fleeting and would have liked an extra day there, but then could say that about all the places we visited. A evening in Miyajima watching the sun going down and staying in a ryokan there too would have been great! 
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  Trip date: October 2010
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  Tanja Brenner

  · December 6th, 2009
  This trip is an excellent introduction into Japanese culture and offers a perfect mix of organised group activities and individual time to explore Japan on your own.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?- Staying in traditional ryokans and visiting the onsen - The shrine in Fushimi-Inari with the forest walk under 1000s of red torii gates - Amazing food (apart from the miso soups perhaps– sorry!), especially the dinners in Takayama - The open and welcoming people we met along the way - Everything about TokyoWhat did you think of your group leader?Steve was a great trip leader – he knows literally everything there is to know about Japan and has got incredible enthusiasm and passion for this country. He worked very hard to ensure people had all the information for individual trips and was always helpful and good-humoured. Getting 18 people on and off all sorts of public transport without losing anybody certainly deserves an award of some sort!Do you have any advice for potential travellers?- Go to the public bath if you get the chance - best opportunity for gaijin moments but also very relaxing and a truly Japanese experience - Get out for drinks in the local pubs and bars - Public transport is incredibly efficient and a lot easier to navigate than I expected - You may want a couple of extra days in Tokyo at the end - there is just too much to see and doIs there anything else you would like to add?Stop thinking about it and just go! I'm planning my next trip to Japan already...
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  Trip date: December 2009