Japan Travel Agents

We had an amazing time visiting Japan. Cory was fully present and extremely helpful from start to finish of our trip. I appreciate her organization of paperwork, bullet train tickets, chronological order of documents, and specific instructions on using each. This made getting around easy. We loved our guides, especially Pam. She is generous and kind and took us to places not on our itinerary. All the food tours were unique and enjoyable. Cory tweaked our itinerary based on our requests and offered unique experiences. I will recommend her services to friends. I appreciate having to ways to see Mt Fuji since Hakone gave us a foggy day when the ropeway wasn’t running. Along our journey people we met often asked about our favorite experience, a question I could not answer because each moment offered something special. That’s a credit to Cory. I do think it would be helpful to tweak itineraries a bit based on seasons as December days are shorter than spring and summer.

Hotel Reviews

Shiba Park Hotel

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Love the library decor and display of paper products.

Location

An easy walk to a station to catch the train.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Suiun

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Daiwa Roynet Hotel Hiroshima-ekimae

Authenticity & Character

This hotel is part of a high rise and has exceptional views but is very modern.

Location

Great location in relation to Hiroshima Station but a ways from attractions.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

KAYA Kyoto Nijo Castle

Kyoto

Authenticity & Character

Location

A bit off the beaten path.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mitsui Garden Hotel Kanazawa

Kanazawa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy to walk to major attractions.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Miyako City Tokyo Takanawa

Even though the room was small, it was organized well and offered a good view and seating. Love the wet room and efficient use of space.

Authenticity & Character

Location

A good place to start given the Gateway across the street.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Japan

We were the only ones in this tour, and it felt as though the guide was going through the motions. The entire experience was rushed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nishiki Market Brunch Walking Food Tour

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Nara Day Trip with Half Day Walking Tour (Lunch included)

Japan

The deer are aggressive!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony with Kimono Wearing (Higashiyama)

Japan

Quality of Experience

You might discover you like matcha tea.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our host was fascinated by the size of my husband’s hands. 🤣

Private Kyoto Temples & Gion Tour

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Pam is an amazing guide. She knows all the best photo spots.

Transport

Discover the secret gems of Kanazawa - Private Walking Tour

Kanazawa

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Izakaya food tour in Shinjuku (14 small tastings)

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Max was very knowledgeable and personable.

Meiji Jingu Shrine with Private Guide

Tokyo

Our guide knows a lot about the Shinto religion and made it possible for us to attend a service offered only a few times a year. This was a special day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sumo Show with special, sumo nabe lunch included

Tokyo

Tons of fun and laughs w/ excellent audience participation. Very good food and service, too. They give you a photo and a gift bag.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Asakusa, Senso-ji Temple, Nakamise Dori with Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide

Tokyo

Loved visiting the temple but felt a bit rushed by our guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide needs to know the exchange rate. I think he gave me the Euro or British pound rate when I asked. I should have checked the rate myself.

Transport

Sandy planned and supported our family trip to Japan (a food-focused itinerary with Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hokkaido), and I can honestly say she made the whole experience feel effortless — even when it wasn’t.

From the planning stage she was proactive and transparent: she flagged when hotels were selling out, offered alternatives quickly, explained things like ryokan room sizes and shared bathrooms, and matched accommodation to the kind of “Japanese experience” we wanted (inns, futons, breakfasts, onsen where possible). She also gave practical advice that genuinely mattered on the ground — luggage rules for the Shinkansen, what to expect at onsen (and tattoo limitations), and what we needed for arrival procedures.

What impressed me most was her care and problem-solving once we were travelling. We changed plans and added an extra night in Tokyo; she immediately worked through options and locked in rooms for all five of us. We hit payment limits and she offered solutions (split payments / alternate options) so we could keep moving. When a booked cooking class had to be cancelled due to a genuine emergency at the host’s home, she reorganised our day and processed the refund quickly. When we spotted an airport mix-up in the itinerary, she corrected it straight away. When we asked last minute about extra luggage for a flight transfer, she upgraded us to a van so we weren’t stressed or late. She also helped with special requests (including securing rugby tickets and train travel) that weren’t part of the original plan.

Throughout the trip she checked in, sent clear day-by-day details, and made sure we had contacts and instructions — so we could relax and enjoy being together rather than constantly troubleshooting. Sandy made our first organised tour abroad a genuine breath of fresh air. We’d use her again in a heartbeat and recommend her to anyone who wants a trip that’s well planned and well supported.

Part 2 from Emily G: A few highlights and recommendations from this trip: Hakone - spend at least two nights and days in Hakone - hot springs area. A great place to wind down at the end of the trip. Lovely. Go to the Open Air Museum! Leisurely enjoy the baths. Ride the gondola (ropeway) and take walks. Loved MIyajima Island (after a sobering and important day in Hiroshima). Had only one night and wished we had 2. Much to explore and at a slower pace. Loved Takayama - much more than Kanazawa. 3 nights there is good. Bike ride outside of town with Tomo! Dinner at Alba! (tiny place, make a rez, tell Juske you learned about it from the women from San Francisco, etc). Two days walking on the Nakasendo Trail. So beautiful to be out walking in nature most of the day and not too hard at all - but i would add a 3rd day if you have time. All of our hotels were comfortable EXCEPT don't stay at ACAI in Kyoto. Too "hip", tiny rooms, you can do better. Of course you will visit the many shrines, temples and castles and I enjoyed them much more than I expected - and you will go to Tokyo (explore the neighborhoods), Osaka, Kyoto (go to the Philosophers Walk) if this is your first visit; and we heard of SO many other places to explore. One more thing - among the many benefits of working with KimKim are the many guided excursions and day trips/city tours that they plan. Every guide was Excellent! and went above and beyond in many ways, Ask for Yumi in Tokyo; Sumi in Kyoto; Fumi in Kanazawa. Ernesto in Nara; Mayumi in Nara and Hiroshima. Arigato! BTW, this trip went so well that we are already planning a second KimKim trip in February in New Zealand and impressed with the help of our specialist, Michelle!