Kimkim Trip Reviews

Lots of good things to say about our specialist Jimena. She took great care of us.
Our guides were knowledgeable and gave us the history and information we needed as we toured Peru.
Special thanks to our guide Guido and driver Willy.
The sites, the hotels , the transportation were first class.
We learned a lot about Peru!!

Hotel Reviews

Tierra Viva Miraflores Centro

Miraflores

A nice hotel with all the amenities needed. Front desk was helpful and getting a taxi or uber here was no problem. Overall a good stay😁

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the main walking area in the Miraflores district. Safe, lots of shops and restaurants and money exchange

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

A nice three star hotel. Close to everything we needed

Los Portales Cusco

Cusco

Only stayed here overnight. Nice enough hotel. Breakfast was fine.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Within three blocks of the main square

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ava Valle Sagrado Spot

Urubamba

Stayed here during our trip to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Nice three star hotel. Comfortable, good breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleaned every day. Great staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tierra Viva Cusco Saphi

Cusco

Nice three star hotel. Staff was friendly and the breakfast good. Clean rooms, king bed, hot shower, enough space for our luggage.

Authenticity & Character

Location

A couple blocks from the plaza de Armas.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Moray Terraces

Peru

A great outing with our guide Guido. Lots of history, great location. Loved the site. Everyone should come here.

Quality of Experience

K

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Machu Picchu Exploration

Peru

An amazing experience from beginning to end. Wilson our guide was great. Full of knowledge and passionate about the Incan history. We had a great time

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Soft hike from Yanahuara to Ollantaytambo

Sacred Valley

A walk through the Sacred Valley! Interesting plants and history as we walked. Guido our guide was knowledgeable and kept to a pace we could handle.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lunch at Chuncho Restaurant

Peru

We stopped here for lunch and our expectations were high after having marvelous meals on our previous tours. The waiter told us that we would be served the special of the day. It turned out to be a chicken quarter of breast and wing on the bone. It was not cooked through and impossible to get the meat off the bone. The potatoes tasted like flour and the vegetable was a pepper. A dish of beans and corn were also on the table to be shared but the skins on them were tough and hard to peel. All in all it was an unappealing meal and impossible to eat.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Loop

Transport

Lunch at Ama

Peru

An amazing experience here. Great good, quality , variety and great service. Wonderful to hear the work AMA is doing.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cusco Walking City Tour

Cusco

A very interesting walk through Cusco city. Lots to see, a lot of history and our guide was terrific

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our 2 week trip to Japan was amazing! Our specialist, Adeline, answered all of our questions, booked hotels and activities, made restaurant reservations and (most importantly) booked all of our train travel from place to place.
We especially liked our "off the beaten path" shrine tour in Kyoto. We had a personal guide to show us multiple temples and little neighborhoods. He was a local and felt more like a friend showing us around than a bland umbrella-in-the-air guide.
Adeline both recommended activities and restaurants and then took our "must haves" to make a seamless trip.
About half way through the trip, we knew we needed a relaxed street food night. We had a dinner reservation and one quick message to Adeline, the reservation was cancelled without charge and we were free to eat whatever yummy snacks we could find!
My husband had been to other parts of Japan on a work trip and still had Tokyo Station Anxiety! IYKYK. Having never been to Japan myself, this would have taken me forever to plan!
We will definitely use Kimkim again and have already recommended it to numerous friends.
ありがとうございます

Activity Review

Small Group Food Tour in Local Neighborhood

Tokyo

This was a really cool small group food tour. Our guide Suzy, showed us local places where she ordered and everyone shared/tried multiple items. We learned a lot about what actual Japanese people eat versus what is advertised for tourists. We met some awesome people and had a great time!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I had never used Kimkim before, but I am likely to in the future. From start to finish, everything just went smoothly. Two years ago when we went to Kenya and Tanzania (using another agency), we had a series of disaster after disaster. My wife and I kept looking at each other this time and wondering when everything was going to fall apart. Spoiler alert: It never did. From the initial planning on where in Morocco we wanted to go, to constant communication with Nihad our trip planner in the time leading up to it, everything just worked.

Our driver was amazing, knowledgeable, and got us from place to place safely, and was also a wealth of knowledge about Morocco in general. The city guides were incredible and patient, answering all of our questions.

We told our trip planner that we really didn't want the "tourist experience." In other words, we didn't want to be with 30 other people following a guide holding a flag aloft shuffling us from place to place. We didn't want to see Morocco as Americans. We wanted to understand from Moroccans what made Morocco special to them. And Kimkim delivered.

I would definitely choose Kimkim again.

All our drivers were excellent. Alberto and Pepe stood out from the rest. Our guide at Pompei, JonLuca, was excellent, as was our guide at the Coliseum and Forum. I can’t remember her name.
Gatto Bianca in Capri was my favorite hotel. Did the chair lift in Anacapri, and the Blue Grotto in Capri. Tons of fun.

Coraima & team were professionals. They honored all requests, helped me work through the perfect itinerary while always being available for questions. The trip went exactly as planned. Recommendations for all tours, hotels, attractions, and food were spot on. Enjoyed our trip immensely. I felt well-supported throughout the duration of our trip. Would happily use kimkim again esp Coraima & team if possible.

The people we interacted with were just fine. Since there were only two of us I thought that it would have been better if we were transported in smaller vehicles. The big vans were a bit of an overdo. I should mention that Stefano who drove us to San Marino was especially good.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Porta San Mamolo

Bologna

The room was small and no view. Also somewhat noisy. Did not compare to the other hotels on the itinerary.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Florence

Bellagio

Great room with a very nice veranda overlooking the waterfront.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel la Colonnina

Monterosso

Staff was great and the room was fine. No view.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Cinque Terre Train Card

Italy

Quality of Experience

Transport

Cinque Terre Sunset Boat Tour

Italy

Loved this tour. Weather was spectacular and the guide was good. Stop for swimming was a real bonus.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Transfer from Orvieto train station to your hotel

Orvieto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Alps Excursion: Bernina Train Tour from Lecco/Varenna/Bellagio

Italy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Good information and was flexible when weather was not good. Also St. Moritz is not to my taste.

Transport

The planning process, our driver, and each and every guide…all were spectacular and exceeded our expectations!

The service was exceptional with special attention to my needs and of my group. Chiara was so great and Alesandra our driver to Santa Caterina was wonderful!
The tours were so informative and helpful.
Martina met us at train station was very helpful and kind.
It was a pleasure to meet all of the drivers and tour guides!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Principe di Villafranca

Palermo

Authenticity & Character

Unique and very charming

Location

Room was very comfortable and clean

Staff

Always willing to assist me as I needed cane to get around.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Always good service

Hotel Capri Sorrento - Adults Only

Sorrento

Authenticity & Character

Excellent rooms and facilities

Location

Close to city center

Staff

All the staff were very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were luxurious and breakfast was superb

Orazio Palace Hotel

Rome

All of the accommodations were very nice

Authenticity & Character

Luxurious again beautiful rooms

Location

Close to city center and attractions

Staff

Always helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hotel Cavour

Florence

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel San Michele

Cortona

Beautiful quaint location my favorite of all!

Authenticity & Character

Old world charm felt like I was staying in an villa

Location

City center was steps away and location was so beautiful

Staff

The girls at front desk were so helpful especially with help our car

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private cooking class at Podere il Casale in Pienza (self-drive)

Italy

Our host made us feel like we were home

Quality of Experience

Food

Everything was delicious!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cinque terre from Florence (SEMI-PRIVATE)

Italy

Would have liked to be able to spend more time at this location. Felt a bit rushed

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

For me the amount of buses and trains was difficult

Private Colosseum, Forum Tour & Palatine hill

Rome

Amazing and beautiful

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine chapel and Saint Peter's Basilica

Rome

Overwhelmed by the beauty

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Golf Cart Tour of Rome by Night with Drinks

Rome

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit of The Amalfi coast Villages Full Day

Italy

Beautiful breathtaking views

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver was excellent

Transport

Full Day Guided Tour of Palermo - Visit Monreale

Italy

Monreale was gorgeous wished to have an extra day in Palermo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Florence and Accademia City Tour

Italy

Loved Alesandra are guide she was very knowledgeable

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful trip to Iceland with kimkim
A special thank you to Guðmundur Óli (Gummi), who was incredibly patient and helpful throughout the planning process.
Our group changed from more than 20 people to just 13, and he handled all the adjustments with great care and flexibility.
We really appreciated his recommendations and the beautiful places included in our itinerary.

The hotels were excellent, and we were very happy with the accommodation choices.
A big thank you also to our driver, Bessi from Moonwalker, who was so helpful, accommodating, and cooperative throughout the trip.
We truly appreciated his care and flexibility, especially when the weather affected our plans.

Unfortunately, we experienced heavy rain on our arrival day and throughout the following day, which meant we had to skip some planned stops for safety. This was entirely due to the weather and beyond kimkim’s control. The team did their best to adapt the itinerary so we could still enjoy our time in Iceland.

All 13 of us came away very happy with the experience. Thank you to Gummi, Bessi, and the team for helping us create such lovely memories of Iceland. We would happily recommend them

Our guides Pedro in Lisbon and Manuel
In Porto were exceptional.

My wife and I decided to go to Italy as a "Big Trip." We found we were quickly overwhelmed by all the seemingly amazing places; we didn't want to do a bus tour, and we also didn't want our first time in Italy to be a cruise. Enter Kimkim: we were paired up with Melanie, and she was a fountain of information and extremely helpful. She worked with us through a number of different itinerary iterations; we even ended up revamping the trip because of some flight changes and date adjustments. She was always there to help. At booking, there were some additional pivots due to availability changes, and it worked out great.

The trip itself was overall amazing, 17 days total. We stayed in Sorrento, Florence, Venice, and Rome, and had numerous other tours to visit nearby attractions. We got to see everything we wanted to. Melanie and Agota were there every step of the way with daily reminders and check-ins over WhatsApp. We had trains and cars and boats on this trip, and it all worked out great.

The tour guides and drivers we had were great, happy to answer questions or talk about things in the area. The private food tours were one of the highlights, for certain. The small group tours were also intimate and educational. I wish I could remember all our guides' names.

If I had one tip for others, it's make sure you are specific with the tour outlines and your desires. We mistook a couple of tours as "small group" on the itinerary; turns out the "small group" was the two of us on a coach with 40+ others. The tours were done well, we just were expecting something different.

It's not just about when things are going well that matters, it's also how it's handled when they don't. The one hotel still had Agota's name on the reservation, and we had some confusion with driver pickup locations due to a hotel change. But it was all quickly rectified and didn't hold up our trip at all. A couple of tours were early starts, and the hotels couldn't supply the included breakfast, so we were issued compensation. One of the tours ended up being quite different than the agreed itinerary, and they quickly worked with us to find a happy resolution.

Any time we're considering complicated itineraries in a place where we don't know where to even begin, I would happily use Kimkim again.

What a great 12 days in Japan! Hilda was an excellent organizer and helper from beginning to end. We had very specific things we wanted to do that were not that easy to arrange (i.e. hiking parts of the Nakasendo Trail) and Hilda managed it with grace. Her attention to detail (including photos of train stations and visitors centers, obtaining train seats that had the luggage space right behind the seats, arranging knowledgeable and personable tour guides, etc) was exceptional. We were traveling with our 30 year old daughter, so having logistics taken care of but not being with a big tour group, was really important to us. Thank you for a memorable trip!

Hotel Reviews

Magome Chaya

Tsumago

Great experience in a charming town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kanazawa Chaya Ryokan

Lovely rooms and exceptional service.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Matsumoto Hotel Kagetsu

matsumoto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tokyo Day Tour with Tsukiji Outer Market & Senso-ji - East & Central

Japan

Yukari our guide was excellent. We enjoyed using the subway.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yukari was knowledgeable, enjoyable to be with, easy to understand, and took us to a great lunch place.

Transport

Lived taking the subway.

Half Day Nara Park & Todai-Ji Temple

Japan

Very fun petting the dear and swing the castle.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was our first experience with KimKim or any private travel company and we would say it was excellent. Their recommendations were all good, including what tours to take and in what hotels to stay, the guides they provided were always knowledgable (some were superb) and their Corbieco Travel's communication to us was always timely and helpful.
Emrah, our local specialist was more than patient with our many questions and trying to accommodate our needs. He was an excellent resource and a wonderful person. Our guide in Cappadocia, Canon was superb as was Umut in Ephesus.

Overall, we had a great and memorable experience and would use KimKim again and we have already recommended the Turkey team to others

My trip to China was incredible!

Mike was a local agent, how know when, where to head to the mountains. I enjoyed our great conversations and his company.

I felt secure and taken care off at every moment which is quite important for a solo traveler like me.

The planning by my local specialist was great, she tailored the trip to my needs and budget.. could not say more than Amazing service!!

This is my third trip planned by Kim Kim, will keep traveling using their services.

Activity Reviews

Marvel at the Picturesque Landscape in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Zhangjiajie

The mountains are spectacular, it is worth the trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tianmen Mountain – Skywalks, Cliff Roads & Heaven’s Gate

Zhangjiajie

The fog was disapointing.. so be aware it can happen!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wellington by Blue Orchid Hotel was an excellent choice for accommodations during our trip. We could walk or take Uber Boats water taxi to all venues in London — Westminster Abbey, Churchill War Rooms, Tower of London, London Eye and Victoria Palace Theatre. The tour bus tour to Kent for stops at Leeds Castle, Canterbury and Dover was particularly enjoyable thanks to our guide, Debra.

Hotel Review

Wellington Hotel by Blue Orchid

London

The rooms were comfortable. The location was ideal. The staff was friendly and professional. Anthwin’s espresso martini is the best!

Authenticity & Character

More spacious lobby.

Location

Walking access to Abbey, Museums and theatre.

Staff

Lobby bar staff were attentive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nice shower.

Activity Reviews

Tower of London Timed Entry Tickets

London

Particularly enjoyed speaking with guide located near Crown Jewels and getting full description of how specific items are still used during annual ceremonies and other special royal events.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We arrived via Uber Boats water taxi.

Tickets to Westminster Abbey

London

There was a fairly large crowd present during our visit.

Quality of Experience

Transport

Walked to venue.

Small Group - From London: Oxford, Cotswolds, and Stratford Upon Avon Tour

London

Disappointed that coach tour finished two miles from start point.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Would have preferred an option of a smaller group tour.

Canterbury, Dover Cliffs & Castle and Leeds Castle is included

London

Very nice for a coach tour. Enjoyed visiting all three locations.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Debra was an excellent host.

Transport

Would have preferred a smaller group tour if offered.

Hampton Court Palace - Half Day Tour - With return transport

London

Museum displays were great and grounds were impressive. Missed seeing the altar room as it was closed on the day of our visit.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Entry tickets to The Churchill War Rooms

London

Impressive amount of information contained in the tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walked to venue.

An Evening at the West-End! Tickets to a Show of Your Choice

London

The show, Hamilton, was fantastic.

Quality of Experience

Excellent voices.

Transport

Walked to venue.

Cloak & Dagger

London

Great review of London history.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Main guide was quite good. Assistant was difficult to understand at times.

Transport

Walked to venue.

We absolutely loved our trip to Turkey! Everything was seamless - transfers, meals, hotels - no problems. Our guides were tremendous- Zekiye in Istanbul, Efe in Cappadocia, and Mr. Ozan in Izmir. Zekiye whizzed us through lines and found wonderful local experiences for us. Efe gave us excellent historical context, and Ozan's enthusiasm for his home city and the historical sites was infectious. Every minute of this trip was a delight - we are already talking about returning to Turkey soon!

Activity Reviews

Discover Byzantine + Ottoman Istanbul

İstanbul

Zekiye was the best guide! She zipped our way through the city - her knowledge helped us quickly navigate crowds and find wonderful local experiences.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Eminönü Heritage Tour: Explore the Historical Bazaars and Ottoman Architectural Sites of Istanbul

İstanbul

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hot Air Balloon Tour at Sunrise

Cappadocia

Wow - that's all I can say. We were speechless throughout this amazing ride through the cliffs and valleys of Cappadocia. The ride was exceptionally well organized and run - we had the most precise landing on a small trailer and the coffee and pastries before takeoff and the champagne after landing were a wonderful touch. Truly we were in awe the entire time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kaymaklı Underground City

Cappadocia

What a fascinating place! Efe showed us all the best spots and navigated the nooks and crannies beautifully.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Priene: A beautiful ancient Ionian town

Turkey

Mr. Ozan brought us to this hidden gem... what an incredible spot with glorious Greek ruins! I can't believe more people weren't clamoring to see this amazing site!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimkim representative, Aleksandra was fantastic! Always friendly, responsive and professional! Our drivers, were first rate! Thanks to all for the help in making the experience awesome! Doug Johnson

Our October 2026 journey through Japan was a culturally rich, stunning, and unforgettable experience. For two weeks, we traveled from Tokyo to Hakone, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Kobe. - each destination offering its own unique beauty, history, and warmth. This trip was more than a vacation; it was a year long project brought to life through the dedication of Elizabeth and the incredible support of our local travel specialists Maru with MYTravel - as well as the local
guides who ensured we experienced Japan with depth, comfort, and authenticity.

The kindness, professionalism, and cultural insight of our guides made this trip one we will remember for the rest of our lives.

Upon arrival in Japan through our final departure, Maru went above and beyond to ensure every transfer, guide contact, and train station pickup was clearly communicated. When an issue arose, she resolved it quickly and thoughtfully. Her presence allowed us to enjoy Japan without worrying about the details. The coordination from Elizabeth and Ivan also contributed greatly to the success of this journey.

Local Guide Services
Kyoko was an exceptional guide who gave us an unforgettable day exploring Tokyo! We visited the beautiful Imperial Palace Gardens, the incredible Senso-ji Temple, the peaceful Meiji Shrine, and the famous Shibuya Crossing. We walked 9 miles throughout the day, taking in the sights, culture, and energy of this amazing city. Kyoko did a wonderful job guiding us through Tokyo and making the experience both memorable and enjoyable. We also enjoyed a fantastic lunch, with a great vegan restaurant for the girls and a delicious pork restaurant for the guys! We were exhausted by the end, but in the best possible way! We highly recommend Kyoko to anyone looking to experience the best of Tokyo.
Anime Lovers Tour with guide Nori- Nori was a great guide, but unfortunately, the tour itself fell short of our expectations. Rather than focusing on the history and culture of anime, much of the experience centered on shopping along Takeshita Street for souvenirs and tchotchkes. The Samsung Galaxy and TeamLab virtual experience was a fun and enjoyable highlight. Overall, I would recommend this tour primarily for kids who enjoy shopping and anime-themed merchandise, rather than those looking for a deeper understanding of anime culture.

Wasake – Sake Experience with Instructor Anh was outstanding. We had so much fun tasing 13-15 different Sakes while learning about the sake-making process and what makes each on unique. Anh was knowledgeable, engaging, and made the experience so entertaining. We highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Japan.

Tokyo Sumo Tour with guide Key. This was an unforgettable experience! Key met us at the train station in Kawasaki and took us to a sumo stable, where we learned about the demanding life of a sumo wrestler and watched an impressive demonstration by two wrestlers. When volunteers were invited to participate, we got to learn some of the stretching and movements ourselves—it was so much fun! The experience ended with a traditional sumo hot pot lunch shared with the wrestlers, making it even more special. Key was a wonderful guide, and this was a unique cultural experience we highly recommend!

Odaiba District Tour with Zain
The Futuristic Odaiba District tour was disappointing. Although the guide tried to accommodate us, he had been misinformed about who he would be meeting and expected to conduct the tour in Taiwanese. He was not knowledgeable about the area, leaving us to Google buildings and landmarks ourselves. This guide should not be assigned to American travelers and Zain should be more knowledgeable of the areas he is exploring with travelers.

Hakone with Mochi
Mochi was an EXCEPTIONAL guide who went above and beyond to make our Hakone experience unforgettable! From exploring the Hakone volcano, visiting Hakone Shrine and its famous Peace Gate on Lake Ashi, to touring the historic Hakone Checkpoint and sailing across the lake, every stop was memorable. Mochi truly went the extra mile when dinner plans became complicated, ensuring we found a suitable dining option. The following morning, he made a special stop so we could witness Mt. Fuji in all its majestic glory! His thoughtfulness, flexibility, and dedication made this an outstanding experience. We highly recommend Mochi to anyone visiting Hakone!

Hiroshima with Wais
Wais was equally exceptional. His depth of historical knowledge and ability to convey Hiroshima’s past with clarity and compassion made our visit truly meaningful. His approach and engaging explanations left a lasting impression. We then went on a food tasting tour and we had a fun time sampling Hiroshima’s local specialties, including okonomiyaki, onigiri, mochi, momiji manju, and ice cream with mochi. Even with some picky eaters in our group, everyone enjoyed trying new things and experiencing the local food culture.

Hiroshima Museum - Day with guide Toshi
Our day with Toshi was another excellent experience! He was flexible, attentive, and genuinely committed to making sure we had a meaningful visit. We spent ample time at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, which was especially important to us, before exploring more of Peace Memorial Park as Toshi thoughtfully explained the significance of each area. We then visited beautiful Miyajima Island to see Itsukushima Shrine and its iconic floating torii gate. Toshi made our day both memorable and meaningful, and we highly recommend him as a guide!

Geiko/Maiko Tea Ceremony in Kyoto – This was an outstanding cultural experience! We learned how to prepare traditional matcha tea and gained fascinating insight into the dedication, discipline, and demanding life of a Geiko/Maiko. It was a wonderful opportunity to experience an important part of Japanese culture firsthand. A memorable and enriching experience that we highly recommend to anyone visiting Kyoto!

Kyoto and Nara with guide Naoko
We spent three wonderful days exploring Kyoto and Nara with Naoko, who was truly exceptional! She consistently anticipated our needs before we even had to ask, making every day seamless and enjoyable. In Kyoto, we visited the iconic Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, beautiful
Nanzen-ji Temple, the stunning Golden Pavilion, historic Nijojo Castle, and Kennin-ji Temple. We explored the charming Gion district, admired Yasaka No Tou, and enjoyed browsing the shops and sampling local specialties at Nishiki Market. In Nara, we visited the famous Deer Park and the impressive Great Buddha Hall.
Our days were filled with walking, exploring, and discovering Japan’s rich history, culture, and beauty. Naoko’s knowledge, thoughtfulness, and incredible attention to detail made these three days truly unforgettable. We highly recommend her to anyone visiting Japan!
Bamboo Forest Guide with guide Akira. Our day with Akira was another memorable adventure exploring Kyoto’s beautiful temples, peaceful Zen gardens, and the magnificent Bamboo Forest and Okochi Sanso Garden. One of the highlights was lunch at Shigetsu, the traditional Zen vegetarian restaurant, where we sampled an array of dishes we could barely identify! It was a fun and unique culinary experience that gave us a taste of Japanese Buddhist cuisine. Akira made the day special as we continued discovering Japan’s rich culture, history, and beautiful scenery. Highly recommended!

Himeji and Kobe tour with Aki. Aki gave us a fantastic day exploring Himeji and Kobe! We began with a visit to the magnificent Himeji Castle, an impressive Japanese landmark. We then headed to Kobe, where we enjoyed a delicious sampling lunch featuring the famous Kobe beef. Our day ended at the beautiful Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens, where we took in the stunning scenery and peaceful surroundings. Aki made the experience enjoyable and memorable, combining Japanese history, incredible food, and beautiful landscapes. Highly recommended!

Hotel Experience in Osaka
Upon arriving in Osaka, we encountered a significant issue with our hotel reservations. Our itinerary included two rooms with two beds, yet the hotel informed us that no such rooms were available because the reservation had not been made correctly.
We immediately reached out to Maru, who quickly provided alternative hotel options that met our needs. After considerable discussion with hotel management, they were able to accommodate one of the two rooms. While we appreciated the eventual resolution, the service at the Osaka hotel was disappointing and did not reflect the hospitality we experienced elsewhere.

Other Hotels
All other hotels—especially those in Kyoto and Tokyo—provided excellent hospitality, cultural warmth, and comfort. Their service and attention to detail enhanced our experience at every turn.

Overall Impression
Japan is a country of extraordinary beauty, deep history, and gracious hospitality. Our two week journey was enriched by the professionalism and dedication of guides like Kyoko, Mochi, Wais, Naoko, and Toshi, whose knowledge, warmth, and genuine care shaped our experience in unforgettable ways. This trip was a culturally wonderful, once in a lifetime experience made possible by the thoughtful coordination of Maru, Elizabeth, Ivan, and the many local guides who supported us along the way.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Groove Shinjuku

Tokyo

Beautiful hotel, amazing staff, clean spacious rooms and fabulous breakfast. Location was very close to the train station. Only reason it did not receive 5 stars is the noise level coming from the street. There must be a hospital close by because you could here sirens from emergency vehicles all night long along with the trains coming and going. We were on the 18th floor and the noise still could be heard.

Authenticity & Character

beautifully decorated, modern hotel

Location

close to train station

Staff

Very friendly staff, always willing to help

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hakone Yunohana Prince Hotel

Hakone

Stunning hotel and grounds with beautiful spacious rooms. Bathrooms were a bit sparse compared to the rest of the room which was amazing. We did not realize the restaurant would not have any western style foods and there would be a set menu. Unfortunately we are picky eaters and were unable to use the restaurant for breakfast or dinner. Time did not allow for us to use the onsen as we were only there for one night and we got in late. Hopefully next time. It was lovely to watch the sunrise from our room and see the deer roaming the grounds in the early morning hours.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

GOOD NATURE HOTEL KYOTO

Kyoto

I cannot say enough wonderful things about this hotel. The hotel itself is Gorgeous! Rooms are huge and beautifully decorated. The bathroom is a dream! The staff went out of their way to make our stay more enjoyable including walking us to a restaurant for lunch that was several blocks away to make sure we found it. They took great care of our luggage when we had to send it on to the next hotel. Breakfast was outstanding and plentiful. The location was within steps of everything! We were even able to make use of the spa which was incredible!! I highly recommend the fabulous hotel and its staff.

Authenticity & Character

Beautifully decorated

Location

Steps away from shopping, trains, etc.

Staff

The staff went above and beyond to make our stay special

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Monterey Le Frere Osaka

Osaka

We immediately encountered a problem when checking in. We reserved 2 rooms with 2 beds. We were given 2 rooms with one queen size bed in VERY tiny rooms. I was sharing a room with my adult son. A queen size bed was not going to cut it. We asked for them to accommodate us and they told us they had nothing available. My son went on an online hotel site and it said they did have a room with 2 beds available. After MUCH back and forth from 3 staff members, they finally gave us the room with 2 beds. The rooms with one bed were extremely small. Two people could not pass each other in the room and one person had to climb into bed from the foot of the bed as the bed was up against the wall. Breakfast which was included was very good and plentiful. They rooms were clean and the location was great, within walking distance to shopping and the train station.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Royal Park Hotel Hiroshima Riverside

Nice hotel on the river. Staff were welcoming and friendly. Rooms were clean. Location was close to restaurants but a distance from the Peace Memorial. Breakfast was included and plentiful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Itsukushima Shrine and Memorial Park Tour

Hiroshima

Our day with Toshi was another excellent experience! He was flexible, attentive, and genuinely committed to making sure we had a meaningful visit. We spent ample time at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, which was especially important to us, before exploring more of Peace Memorial Park as Toshi thoughtfully explained the significance of each area. We then visited beautiful Miyajima Island to see Itsukushima Shrine and its iconic floating torii gate. Toshi made our day both memorable and meaningful, and we highly recommend him as a guide!

Full Day Tokyo City Tour with Senso-ji Temple

Tokyo

Kyoko was an exceptional guide who gave us an unforgettable day exploring Tokyo! We visited the beautiful Imperial Palace Gardens, the incredible Senso-ji Temple, the peaceful Meiji Shrine, and the famous Shibuya Crossing. We walked 9 miles throughout the day, taking in the sights, culture, and energy of this amazing city. Kyoko did a wonderful job guiding us through Tokyo and making the experience both memorable and enjoyable. We also enjoyed a fantastic lunch, with a great vegan restaurant for the girls and a delicious pork restaurant for the guys! We were exhausted by the end, but in the best possible way! We highly recommend Kyoko to anyone looking to experience the best of Tokyo.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kyoko was exceptional

Transport

Tokyo Sumo Practice Tour

Tokyo

Tokyo Sumo Tour with guide Key. This was an unforgettable experience! Key met us at the train station in Kawasaki and took us to a sumo stable, where we learned about the demanding life of a sumo wrestler and watched an impressive demonstration by two wrestlers. When volunteers were invited to participate, we got to learn some of the stretching and movements ourselves—it was so much fun! The experience ended with a traditional sumo hot pot lunch shared with the wrestlers, making it even more special. Key was a wonderful guide, and this was a unique cultural experience we highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Animé Lovers Tour: Harajuku

Tokyo

Anime Lovers Tour with guide Nori- Nori was a great guide, but unfortunately, the tour itself fell short of our expectations. Rather than focusing on the history and culture of anime, much of the experience centered on shopping along Takeshita Street for souvenirs and tchotchkes. The Samsung Galaxy and TeamLab virtual experience was a fun and enjoyable highlight. Overall, I would recommend this tour primarily for kids who enjoy shopping and anime-themed merchandise, rather than those looking for a deeper understanding of anime culture.

Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Fushimi Inari-Taisha

Kyoto

We spent three wonderful days exploring Kyoto and Nara with Naoko, who was truly exceptional! She consistently anticipated our needs before we even had to ask, making every day seamless and enjoyable. In Kyoto, we visited the iconic Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, beautiful Nanzen-ji Temple, the stunning Golden Pavilion, historic Nijojo Castle, and Kennin-ji Temple. We explored the charming Gion district, admired Yasaka No Tou, and enjoyed browsing the shops and sampling local specialties at Nishiki Market. In Nara, we visited the famous Deer Park and the impressive Great Buddha Hall. Our days were filled with walking, exploring, and discovering Japan’s rich history, culture, and beauty. Naoko’s knowledge, thoughtfulness, and incredible attention to detail made these three days truly unforgettable. We highly recommend her to anyone visiting Japan!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Naoko was exceptional

Transport

Visit Nishiki Market & Gion district

Kyoto

We spent three wonderful days exploring Kyoto and Nara with Naoko, who was truly exceptional! She consistently anticipated our needs before we even had to ask, making every day seamless and enjoyable. In Kyoto, we visited the iconic Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, beautiful Nanzen-ji Temple, the stunning Golden Pavilion, historic Nijojo Castle, and Kennin-ji Temple. We explored the charming Gion district, admired Yasaka No Tou, and enjoyed browsing the shops and sampling local specialties at Nishiki Market. In Nara, we visited the famous Deer Park and the impressive Great Buddha Hall. Our days were filled with walking, exploring, and discovering Japan’s rich history, culture, and beauty. Naoko’s knowledge, thoughtfulness, and incredible attention to detail made these three days truly unforgettable. We highly recommend her to anyone visiting Japan!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Treasures of Nara: Deer & Divinity Tour

Nara

We spent three wonderful days exploring Kyoto and Nara with Naoko, who was truly exceptional! She consistently anticipated our needs before we even had to ask, making every day seamless and enjoyable. In Kyoto, we visited the iconic Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, beautiful Nanzen-ji Temple, the stunning Golden Pavilion, historic Nijojo Castle, and Kennin-ji Temple. We explored the charming Gion district, admired Yasaka No Tou, and enjoyed browsing the shops and sampling local specialties at Nishiki Market. In Nara, we visited the famous Deer Park and the impressive Great Buddha Hall. Our days were filled with walking, exploring, and discovering Japan’s rich history, culture, and beauty. Naoko’s knowledge, thoughtfulness, and incredible attention to detail made these three days truly unforgettable. We highly recommend her to anyone visiting Japan!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

World Heritage Himeji Castle Visiting & Kobe Beef Sampling

Osaka

Himeji and Kobe tour with guide Aki. Aki gave us a fantastic day exploring Himeji and Kobe! We began with a visit to the magnificent Himeji Castle, an impressive Japanese landmark. We then headed to Kobe, where we enjoyed a delicious sampling lunch featuring the famous Kobe beef. Our day ended at the beautiful Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens, where we took in the stunning scenery and peaceful surroundings. Aki made the experience enjoyable and memorable, combining Japanese history, incredible food, and beautiful landscapes. Highly recommended!

Half Day Sagano Bamboo Grove and Tenryuji Temple Tour

Kyoto

Bamboo Forest Guide with guide Akira. Our day with Akira was another memorable adventure exploring Kyoto’s beautiful temples, peaceful Zen gardens, and the magnificent Bamboo Forest and Okochi Sanso Garden. One of the highlights was lunch at Shigetsu, the traditional Zen vegetarian restaurant, where we sampled an array of dishes we could barely identify! It was a fun and unique culinary experience that gave us a taste of Japanese Buddhist cuisine. Akira made the day special as we continued discovering Japan’s rich culture, history, and beautiful scenery. Highly recommended!

Half Day Explore the Futuristic Odaiba District

Tokyo

Odaiba District Tour with Guide Zain. The Futuristic Odaiba District tour was disappointing. Although the guide tried to accommodate us, he had been misinformed about who he would be meeting and expected to conduct the tour in Taiwanese. He was not knowledgeable about the area, leaving us to Google buildings and landmarks ourselves. This guide should not be assigned to American travelers and Zain should be more knowledgeable of the areas he is exploring with travelers.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hakone one day tour with Fuji view spot

Hakone

Hakone with guide Mochi. Mochi was an EXCEPTIONAL guide who went above and beyond to make our Hakone experience unforgettable! From exploring the Hakone volcano, visiting Hakone Shrine and its famous Peace Gate on Lake Ashi, to touring the historic Hakone Checkpoint and sailing across the lake, every stop was memorable. Mochi truly went the extra mile when dinner plans became complicated, ensuring we found a suitable dining option. The following morning, he made a special stop so we could witness Mt. Fuji in all its majestic glory! His thoughtfulness, flexibility, and dedication made this an outstanding experience. We highly recommend Mochi to anyone visiting Hakone!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mochi was exceptional

Transport

The 10 Tastings of Hiroshima: Street Food

Hiroshima

Hiroshima with guide Wais. Wais was equally exceptional. His depth of historical knowledge and ability to convey Hiroshima’s past with clarity and compassion made our visit truly meaningful. His approach and engaging explanations left a lasting impression. We then went on a food tasting tour and we had a fun time sampling Hiroshima’s local specialties, including okonomiyaki, onigiri, mochi, momiji manju, and ice cream with mochi. Even with some picky eaters in our group, everyone enjoyed trying new things and experiencing the local food culture.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Geisha Tea Ceremony in Kyoto

Kyoto

Geiko/Maiko Tea Ceremony in Kyoto – This was an outstanding cultural experience! We learned how to prepare traditional matcha tea and gained fascinating insight into the dedication, discipline, and demanding life of a Geiko/Maiko. It was a wonderful opportunity to experience an important part of Japanese culture firsthand. A memorable and enriching experience that we highly recommend to anyone visiting Kyoto!

Quality of Experience

Sake-Making Class

Tokyo

Wasake – Sake Experience with Instructor Anh was outstanding. We had so much fun tasting 13-15 different Sakes while learning about the sake-making process and what makes each one unique. Anh was knowledgeable, engaging, and made the experience so entertaining. We highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Japan.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

WE just returned from an INCREDIBLE Japan trip
Sandy customized all as I asked her and understood my needs
We mostly did all our tours organized by her or her suggestions
It was VERY useful and convenient having an agent on the ground in Tokyo-all her tips were amazing -I messaged her often in the day and being on the same time zone was amazing.She even helped me on packing items -We took carry on only so I had space to shop.She educated us on cabs and trains and tipping.
I LOVED all the hotels she picked out-we reached a stage where we had seen enough temples and shrines and she pivoted and we were so happy with her choice.
Friends of ours were there at the same time and I think ours was better organized -we did 2 nights Tokyo-then drove to Fuji and the lakes on our way to Hakone-we spent 2 nights there-then bullet train to Kyoto for 3 nights and then bullet train to Uno to get ferry to Naoshima for 2 nights-art island -then bullet train back to Tokyo for 5 nights-you dont need to go to the other mountain or another big city-Japan is so frenetic and busy that its good to do CITY_COUNTRY_CITY_COUNTRY _CITY
We loved it-the country is the best country I have traveled to and I have traveled a lot-the people are so polite and kind and humble-the food is outstanding and everything about it -bar a cab driver on the last day trying to rip us off was perfect

From the first discussions with Sarah through the actual trip, the interactions with everyone were pleasant and professional. The trip was well planned and well conducted. The drivers showed up when they were supposed to, the guides were ready for us when we arrived, and all ticketing and other arrangements were handled. It was a most stress-free experience. The little things mattered, such as identifying ahead of time that one of our ferry schedules had changed, so they booked a flight for us at no extra cost. The extra nights booking in Bohol was a nice touch because of a late flight.
Special mentions to Ed, our driver in Luzon for several days, our guides Bridget. Paula, and Aladdin in Luzon were amazing. Our boat guide in Coron was also wonderful but his name escapes me. Our local contacts were always ready to help when needed.