Japan
Japan: An Exploration of History, Culture and Society
Program No. 19724RJ
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Japan: An Exploration of History, Culture and Society
Japan: An Exploration of History, Culture and Society
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Participant Reviews
Based on 45 Reviews
SHOWING
Any trip is made of many parts, all the participants become a small family for a short period of time. Katsumi as Tour Leader was a maestro, assisted by E.K., then Junko. Bill Sensei was historian extraordinaire and the group members all worked to coalesce. No one alone could have handled all the logistics, travel, food experiences, hands on projects and lodging like RS for this trip. I look over my Japan pictures literally every day and I'm reminded how lucky I was to have this group to travel with. Remember, what's shared at the Onsen stays at the Onsen!
— Review left January 27, 2026
Previous reviews of "Japan: An Exploration of History, Culture, and Society" accurately described the positive aspects of this particular travel itinerary and I found them to be spot on. Each day explores a different aspect of Japan while allowing the traveler to travel like Japanese citizens enjoy, see incredibly important sites like the Hiroshima Peace Memorial and the beautiful shrine and Buddhist temples on Miyajima Island, learn how to make buckwheat soba noddles, soak in the hot waters of an onsen, and feast in a very cool "diner" like restaurant while enjoying Hiroshima's famous dish: okonomiyaki. As a vegetarian, yes it was not as easy to accommodate my diet as on other group tours, yet Walk Japan and Road Scholar clearly went to great lengths to make this trip possible for me, which another company might not of been as willing to do. Given the incredibly masterful organization and execution of this fast paced itinerary, the superb instructors along the way, the energetic and engaging personalities of my fellow participants, the diversity of the activities and experiences, and the competency of Junko, E.K. and Isana as our wonderful trip guides/leaders/"in training" personnel, made this trip one earning wholeheartedly a 5 star review from me. Just a note of advice: google translate came in very handy as locals and service people are very willing and use to communicating through this format. It did come as a surprise to me as to how little English is spoken, which did make this traveler all the more appreciative of the kindness, patience, and assistance demonstrated by every Japanese person I encountered.
— Review left December 2, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed my time on this program. I would encourage anyone with limited knowledge of Japan and looking to expand their experiences, to go!
— Review left November 29, 2025
The trip was fantastic. It incorporated lots of educational and hands on experiences, different kinds of travel, many Japanese dining experiences, traditional ryokans (2 locations) and hotels. The tour leaders were terrific, they knew a lot and made the travel easy. The group (19 people) was ideal, we got to know everyone during the tour.
— Review left November 10, 2025
My program in Japan was exceptional. I actually teared up at our last dinner together, as did several others. Our group bonded together, & I truly enjoyed being with every person. Our leader was exceptional. This was my third Road Scholar trip, & I look forward to participating in more. Thank you!
— Review left November 8, 2025
A truly wonderful experience. Our program was so well thought out and executed. We got a real feel for Japanese culture and everyday life. Couldn't have asked for a better Group Leader, Mari, and Assistant Leader, Katsumi. I particularly enjoyed the traditional Japanese hotels, onsens, and banquet meals. We used many forms of transportation from bullet trains to trolleys to buses to taxis to explore Japan. The countryside is beautiful and the Japanese people we met were very kind, patient and polite.
— Review left October 16, 2025
We just returned from this amazing trip. It was exactly as described and it exceeded our expectations. Our tour leader, Mari, was amazing. She got to know everyone in our group, was highly organized and communicative, gave daily briefings including Japanese language tips, and used every possible opportunity to share Japanese culture and experiences throughout our day. She was very articulate, funny, and highly experienced, handling our missteps with calmness and poise. Katsumi, our assistant guide, shared his Japanese life experiences throughout the day and demonstrated remarkable patience with our sometimes wayward group. The local guides were very knowledgeable, highly educated and passionate about sharing their areas of expertise with us. The itinerary took us to a variety of diverse locales across the country, with every type of transportation, and the accommodations were top-notch. Meals were carefully chosen to give us a real taste of Japanese cuisine. The experiences were culturally significant, and careful planning assured we were not with heavy crowds of tourists. We had ample free time to explore independently, and the guides offered us generous support and recommendations. We would recommend this trip to anyone wishing to get a real understanding of the fascinating country that is Japan.
— Review left October 14, 2025
Fantastic program that provides and great insight to not only the history of Japan but the culture of the people of this country. Highly recommend.
— Review left October 14, 2025
What a wonderful time I had on this busy but fun program .IT WAS SAD TO LEAVE ALL MY NEW FRIENDS AND LEADERS.tHANKS AGAIN ROAD SCHOLAR
— Review left October 13, 2025
Touring Japan, from Tokyo to the welcoming city of Fukuoka in the south was a life changing experience. The beauty of the mountains, the surprises around every corner of the busy cities we visited, the serene quietude of a Japanese green garden, and the meditative quality of pondering a landscape garden; these experiences will live in my heart for many years to come. Road scholar guides helped make travel to a county halfway across the world easy, but also helped me push out of my comfort zone. What more could you ask for from your travel journeys?
— Review left October 12, 2025
This program on the history and culture of Japan was absolutely crammed full of relevant and memorable experiences. The others in our group were beyond usual fitness levels for retired folk and that was helpful for keeping the pace. We thought we’d eat many meals out, but so much was provided us that we liked, we were not hungry enough! All arrangements excellent.
— Review left October 10, 2025
Wonderful trip! Our guides were excellent, very friendly, competent, and knowledgeable. The hotels were comfortable and well-located. We learned a lot about the history and culture of Japan, and got to see many beautiful and interesting sites, including lots of cherry blossoms - a highlight of the trip for me! Another highlight was spending an afternoon with a local family who were very welcoming and hospitable. A very enjoyable experience.
— Review left July 29, 2025
We loved our trip to Japan! Such a beautiful country; such lovely, hospitable people!
We appreciated the reading materials & book suggestions that were sent ahead of the trip.
The trip itself was very well organized. Our tour leader, Mariko Okada, and assistant Katsumi Kameishi, were knowledgable, enthusiastic, attentive & patient. They did a great job in ushering the group through a wide variety of experiences. The local guides were also excellent.
The group size at 16 people, was just right, enabling us to get to know one another while providing the opportunity to meet a variety of people.
We appreciated the balance of urban & rural experiences, and the opportunity move about the country in a variety of ways - from bullet train to local trams. We felt we got a real glimpse of the culture of Japan from the ancient to the modern. Some of the experiences, such as the tea ceremony, our lunch on a family farm, the stays at traditional ryokans, and the personal stories of a Hiroshima survivor offered unique glimpses of Japan.
The hotels were comfortable and well situated. We especially enjoyed the onsen experience. Personally, I really loved the gardens of Japan, so it was wonderful to find a beautiful garden at every shrine, and temple & castle.
And the food everywhere was amazing- beautifully presented & delicious.
I can’t say enough good things about well planned & executed the trip was. Going to Japan was a life long dream for me - I’m glad we went with Road Scholar!
— Review left June 17, 2025
This trip showed me that Japan is so much more than Tokyo and Kyoto. I loved the countryside and the onsen baths, and the food was wonderful.
— Review left June 10, 2025
This was an outstanding introduction to Japan. Each day was full of new adventures. Our trip was in March, and there was some unseasonable cold weather, including some snow in the Japanese Alps. This meant our tour guides had to do some last minute adjustments to the schedule, but they handled this all very smoothly.
So if your trip is in March do come prepared with some cold weather clothing.
— Review left May 16, 2025
Another brilliant trip by Road Scholar.
— Review left December 10, 2024
I loved every minute of this trip. Our guides were competent, professional and fun! Masaki made sure everything went smoothly for all of us. The specialty guides were also all good. I enjoyed Kathleen so much-perhaps because I could identify with her and she brought Japan alive from an American perspective.
Hiroshima was so impactful. Seeing the atomic bombing from a Japanese perspective was thought provoking. I also enjoyed the mix of city and rural on the tour.
The group was fun and got along well. A good mix of people and perspectives.
— Review left December 9, 2024
This trip was a wonderful experience. The guides were great. I would recommend this trip!
— Review left October 18, 2024
I was on the tour only a few days as I fell and broke a hip. The guides were excellent. Hiroko was such a help after I was injured. We should have taken the tour when we were younger. Sitting and sleeping on the floor were very uncomfortable and the cultural experience didn't seem worth it. It was so hot one day in Tokyo that there was a heat advisory. I think we should have gone to an indoor museum instead of the Emperor's garden. The Soba noodle cooking was fun.
— Review left October 15, 2024
This program provided tremendous insight into the country and its people.
— Review left June 5, 2024
Can't say enough good things about "Japan - An Exploration of History, Culture and Society"! This program was a wonderful way to experience this fascinating and complex country.
— Review left May 5, 2024
This program was exactly as described and provided a great overview of Japan from geographic, cultural, historical perspectives. I VERY HIGHLY recommend it!
— Review left May 3, 2024
What an eye opener! From the bustle Tokyo's business area to the serenity of a traditional mountain lodge I gained a whole new perspective.
— Review left May 3, 2024
I had heard from a friend that the Japan trip was the best he had ever done. I agree and the food is a big part of the trip.
— Review left April 21, 2024
We'd heard from a friend that this was the best Road Scholar trip he'd been on, and we'd agree. Great organization, education - not just on culture and history but also on Japanese etiquette, how to get around, and other practical information. Leaders were great, organized and knowledgeable. And the food!!!
— Review left April 18, 2024
One of my my favorite RS trips so far. And John McBride [instructor] is The Best!
— Review left April 3, 2024
Comprehensive experience of historical Japan, cultural Japan, lifestyle of Japan
— Review left April 1, 2024
Our program in Japan was AMAZING! Our group leaders (Diane and Hiroko) were splendid, candid, insightful and fun. There were 20 of us in our group and they were all great sports, enthusiastic and just plain fun to be sharing an adventure with. If you're sitting on the fence considering a RoadScholar trip - I'd advise going for it. You won't find better value or people.
— Review left December 16, 2023
Best trip I ever took, I loved every minute of it. Fascinating country and outstanding guides. If you can only take one trip this should be it.
— Review left December 15, 2023
Our Japan by train trip was by far the best led and had the most interesting lectures of all of the 4 programs I have attended both in US and abroad.
— Review left November 4, 2023
Our just completed trip to Japan fulfilled our expectations for a comprehensive introduction to Japanese history, culture and current society. Kristina and Shima, our Swedish/Japanese and Japanese/American study leaders could not have been more knowledgeable, energetic, flexible and organizationally astute. Based on our experience this time, I recommend that all trips have at least one female leader.
The variety of experiences in eight different places over 17 days made for a dizzying adventure, but one so well organized that our deeper understanding and appreciation of Japan will inspire us to dig deeper into Japanese literature and current events. If we were younger, we would return in a few years to Japan.
We loved the variety of Japanese cuisines offered to us, the wide-ranging suggested readings and many of the hotels. My one recommendation and a consideration for us when we plan another long trip with Road Scholar is that you upgrade some of the hotels. Our Ryoken lodgings were charming and the station hotels in Hiroshima and Hakata Station were very good. The same cannot be said about the Nagasaki hotel, Cuore, that felt more like a two-star hotel. At over $10,000 per person, the trip was a pricey one. Would better lodgings for a few thousand more negatively impact enrollment? I'm not sure a higher price would be a deal breaker given the overall level of excellence in all other categories.
— Review left October 13, 2023
This program allows its participants to be thoroughly immersed in the Japanese culture. The guides are remarkably capable of handling any situation in many bustling busy cities. I particularly enjoyed our many rides on Japan's many forms of mass transit.
— Review left September 30, 2023
Japan is a fascinating and beautiful country. We’re glad we went. This is our fourth Road Scholar trip and it lived up to the standards we have experienced with the other tours. Our leaders, Kristina and Kaho worked hard to provide us with a good assortment of accommodations in six big cities, two traditional inns, plus museums, restaurants (bento boxes), temples, shrines, gardens, a tea ceremony, shopping areas, castles, and even lovely and scenic mountains ( snacks, too).. We really enjoyed soba noodle making and block printing. They kept is on the move using trains, bullet trains, subways, buses, street cars, and taxis. We got out early each day and mostly went as a group although we had enough free time to explore on our own. Kristina and Kaho were very familiar with the cities and countryside and were well-versed in Japanese culture, history, and traditions. Last but not least, they accompanied us right up to check in at the airport. We learned a lot while having a great time alongside our fellow travelers. So, we highly recommend this tour. Go!
— Review left June 30, 2023
One of the best RS trips I have taken. This is a comprehensive introduction to Japan. Both of our guides were excellent at their respective functions (logistics and commentary).
I was especially impressed that our group of 19 were able to negotiate trains, buses, trams, and subway travel to almost all of the places we visited with very little hassle. Great job Kaho.
The information presented gave a good historical perspective as well as what is going on today in Japan. I liked getting the info packets in the beginning and all along the way. I am also glad we got the earthquake training as we were all woken that same night by a small earthquake.
Highlights included the Onsen at the traditional as well as more modern Ryokan and walking on the Nakasendo Way.
We had free time in each location with plenty of suggestion for things to do.
— Review left June 28, 2023
Phenomenal program. This was a bucket list trip for me. I left Japan feeling like I really got a good taste of the country. I experienced everything from the cities to the country. Our tour guides Kaori and Reina were awesome. They both went above and beyond to make sure the trip was perfect. I can't believe how wonderful this program was.
— Review left May 11, 2023
I had wanted to travel to Japan for years so I was delighted to see this trip advertised. It covered all the sites I wanted to see and allowed me to better understand the broader history of Japan and not just the Japan of the 1940’s. I cannot say enough about the guides, Kaori and Reina. They were knowledgeable, organized and so much fun. The country is beautiful and the food is delicious. It is not just raw fish. The people are so hospitable and kind and the public transportation, especially the bullet train, is amazing. If you have ever thought of going to Japan, please consider this program.
— Review left May 7, 2023
This was a wonderful immersive trip into Japan's history and culture, a delightful blend of the historical and the modern. Our group donned kimonos, slept on futons in a traditional ryokan, soaked in an onsen, made block prints and soba noodles then hopped on the world's fastest, cleanest trains. We visited a fraction of the many shrines and temples so important to understanding the nation's history and the culture then went to a baseball game organized by our group leader (go Carps!). Enough cannot be said about our Group Leader Masaki, always so patient and helpful, who went out of his way to make sure we had the best experience as a group and as individuals. We were also so lucky to have retired professor William Steele whose passion and knowledge about the history of Japan was infectious and illuminating. These extraordinary guides made this the trip of a lifetime.
A few notes:
-We arrived a few days early to visit Mt. Fuji. While the group lucked out
and was able to see it from the train, this is a serious omission in my
opinion as it is the iconic symbol of Japan. For many of us this trip was
our only opportunity to experience it.
- Visiting in April we were rewarded with amazing blooms not just the cherry
blossoms, but the ornamental peaches, dogwoods and azaleas as well.
- We were happy with most of our accommodations especially the Iwaya ryokan
in Kiso-valley and the Tokyu Stay in Takayama. However the Hotel Gimmond
was subpar and the food inedible.
- This trip definitely earned it's level 4 Let's Go rating! But there
were numerous opportunities to relax and soak in the experience. Masaki
made sure everyone was accommodated in their comfort zone.
— Review left April 30, 2023
We tried filling out the survey online, but it got submitted without the most critical "issues". I feel strongly enough to try to get them in here.
1 - There was too much emphasis on history, as opposed to society and culture, although all three were advertised foci of the program.
2 - Too much time in Dejima. We could have had some free time in Yufuin, gotten to Nagasaki an hour later, and still had time enough.
3 - Too much time in the Kyushu museum at the cost of less than adequate time in Daizaifu.
4 - The food at Hotel Gimmond was terrible - a bad attempt at Italian, and the breakfasts were worse.
5 - Too many temples, they lose their charm and significance - unless you are already an expert.
6 - Trip handouts were distributed in a big, heavy packet at the beginning - when we were exhausted from travel - and went straight into our luggage.
— Review left April 2, 2023
This was another first class Road Scholar experience. I'm sure Japan is lovely anytime, but in November with fall colors blazing in the forests and even the cities, the views were spectacular. The accommodations ranged from luxury hotels to traditional ryokans where we wore kimonos, bathed in hot spring water, slept on the floor, and loved the experience. If you like to walk, try foods you may never have encountered before, and learn about Japanese culture, I recommend this trip. I've put together a website to help me remember everything and you are welcome to have a look.
http://paintrock.net/japan
— Review left December 13, 2022
This was an in-dept study of Japan- it's history, uniquite culture, and response to modern sociatal demands
— Review left October 7, 2022
Road Scholar is a great educational experience that takes the worries out of travel.
— Review left October 6, 2022
A great trip with a balance of hands on cultural interactions and on the move in-depth lectures of all that we saw and experienced ! We are still in awe of this beautiful,friendly,clean and historic country.
— Review left December 9, 2019
This trip through Japan was an amazing experience. It provides a wonderful introduction to Japanese culture and history with expert guides and scholars. An extraordinary journey.
— Review left November 24, 2019
Excellent. Fulfilled a lifelong dream.
— Review left June 14, 2019
Our program coincided with the blooming of the cherry trees in Japan, and these blossoms made over the entire country into a fairyland of beauty.
— Review left April 14, 2019