Ancient & Modern Japan

Ancient wooden temples, raked-pebble Zen gardens and chanting Buddhist monks

juxtaposed with space-age towers, neon lights and bullet trains; Japan’s

captivating blend of old and new is legendary. As we explore the southern and

western stretches of Honshu, Japan's largest island, we discover the

country's unique culture amongst the serene shrines and gardens of Nara and

Kyoto and the rarely visited mountainous heartland of castles and spas. Our

last stop is the vast and futuristic capital city of Tokyo: sprawling,

inimitably busy, welcoming and extraordinary.

In Kyoto, Matsumoto and Tokyo, our hotels are centrally located and of a comfortable standard with excellent modern facilities and English-speaking staff. Please note, room sizes in Western hotels in Japan are generally smaller. If requesting a double bed, these can be smaller than Western double bed sizes, so couples may prefer twin beds.



For three nights, we stay in traditional ryokans and minshukus; traditional inns/guesthouses where we can experience the rhythms and customs of the Japanese countryside. Ryokans and minshukus, while comfortable and full of local character, do not run along the same lines as Western hotels and all have their own unique style. Some are more like Japanese B&Bs (minshukus) with a homestay/guesthouse feel – guests make their own Japanese style beds up, while others are managed more like a standard hotel (ryokans) with bedding made up for guests. Rooms do not generally have private facilities and bedding is usually in the Japanese style with thick futons placed on tatami mats on the floor. Rooms are always doubles or twin-share but bathrooms and showers are generally communal. Please be advised, while females and males will have access to separate gender-specific bathrooms, inside showering and bathing facilities can lack the level of privacy of a Western-style shared bathroom.



Please note, free wifi is available at every hotel.



Single supplements



Single supplements can be pre-booked for 10 nights at the hotel accommodation in Kyoto (five nights), Matsumoto (one night) and Tokyo (four nights) only.



In Takayama (two nights) and Yudanaka (one night), single supplements are not available and rooming is based on twin share (sharing with another group member of the same sex).



Please be advised single supplements are limited, payable at the time of booking, and subject to availability. In Japan, single supplements are often accommodated in either an actual single and/or double for sole use.



2024 departures



Please be advised that the below accommodations are just a list of the standard hotels used for 2024 departures. However, there may be some departures where groups stay at similar hotels of the same standard and quality.



Kyoto (five nights): Onyado Nono Kyoto Shichijo

Takayama (two nights): Groups stay at one of a small selection of traditional guesthouses used by Exodus.

Matsumoto (one night): Dormy Inn Matsumoto

Yudanaka (one night): Biyu no Yado

Tokyo (four nights): Shinjuku Washington Hotel



Onsen (Japanese public bath)

For many visitors to Japan, the onsen is unfamiliar territory. An onsen is a Japanese hot spring and the bathing facilities and inns frequently situated around them. The combination of a strict bathing etiquette, that nudity is involved and compulsory, and that the water temperature is often hotter than most whirlpool baths can cause some reluctance for first timers. However, once the courage is mustered, you may discover that a dip in an onsen is likely to become one of the highlights of your visit to Japan. We can try an onsen in Takayama, and some hot springs in Yudanaka. Please be aware, you may be refused entry if you have large and visible tattoos. Some accommodations may have private baths available for reservation.