Kimkim Trip Reviews for Japan

This was my first time using KimKim and first trip to Japan.

Shona is truly amazing! I’m truly grateful for all her help! She was very thoughtful in everything she arranged. She helped ensure I got to do everything I wanted to, in the multiple cities I visited, while staying within budget. The activities, tours and guides were fantastic!

Shona was always there during my trip as well, to ensure an authentic and memorable experience! I met so many great people, made so many memories, and took so many great photos.

Thank you, again!

Both guides we had were excellent: Mr. Peter and Ms. Young. Very energetic and knowledgeable. We did pretty much everything a tourist would want to do, seeing Mt Fuji was probably the coolest experience.

Our family had a dream trip expertly curated by Cannon from kimkim. It was my first time using this service and it delighted and exceeded expectations at every turn. Going to Japan for the first time seemed intimidating to plan and Cannon was with us every step of the way making sure we were prepared and enjoying every minute. Our guides and activities were all fantastic. Jason was particularly wonderful. He was knowledgeable, fun and easy to spend an action packed day with and attentive to our pace and preferences. Each driver and guide made contact the evening before and was right where they said they'd be each excursion. The app was easy to use and having it and Cannon in our "pocket" was a great comfort as we navigated each new place. We had an incredible time exploring a wonderful country and created memories we will treasure always. The experiences hit all the right notes and left us excited to plan our next trip! Thank you KimKim for making travel adventures so easy, accessible and absolutely enjoyable!

Hotel Reviews

Shinagawa Prince Hotel

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kyoto Umekoji Kadensho - Private Bath Facility

Authenticity & Character

Location

Proximity to train

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tokyo Dome Hotel

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hakone Yumoto Fujiya Hotel

Hakone

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full-Day Hakone Adventure: Mt. Fuji Views & Lake Ashi Cruise

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Nara: Temples, Deer, and Historic Streets

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver was the best! So sweet and friendly.

Transport

Our driver!

Nishiki Market Brunch Walking Food Tour

Japan

Great guides! Josh was so fun and knowledgeable and made sure we tried lots of new things at the market and walked away with new knowledge and full stomachs.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kyoto’s Cultural Treasures: Fushimi Inari-Taisha, Kiyomizu-dera & Gion District

Japan

Jason was very knowledgeable and was very attentive to our preferences and pace. It was a lot to see in a day but it was so much fun!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ninja Experience in Kyoto (Family & Kid Friendly)

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tokyo: Sumo Show Experience with Drinks and Photo

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sushi & Home Cooking Class from Market to Table near Asakusa

Tokyo

Super fun and our teacher was wonderful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chase Cherry Blossom with Tsukiji Outer Market in Tokyo

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great guide

Transport

From Hakone to Kyoto

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overall, our trip experience was very well organized and executed. We felt that we got a good exposure to Japanese culture as a whole with our brief visit. Lenny was very responsive and helpful, especially when we were in-country. We appreciated her responsiveness and advice regarding my soy sauce allergy, understanding that it was a hard subject to address.

Activity Reviews

Greater Sendai Friendship Force – Cultural Exchange and Journey

Sendai

Our cultural exchange was very successful and enjoyable. It was the perfect follow-up to our overall cultural introduction tour to Kyoto, Tokayama, Kanazawa and Tokyo.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

It was wonderful to be hosted by local Friendship Force club members.

Best Of Shibuya Food Private Tour - Evening

Tokyo

We really enjoyed our food tour in Shibuya and learning about the food culture of Tokyo.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our Shibuya Food Tour guide was very good and thorough.

Half-Day Eastern Tokyo Tour with English-Speaking Guide and Private Vehicle

Tokyo

We had limited time to tour Tokyo and our guide did the best he could. His English skill was limited, however, and we wished we had been warned not to eat very much for lunch in preparation our Shibuya Food Tour that evening.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had a hard time understanding our guide’s English.

Kanazawa Full Day Tour with English Speaking Guide (Private)

Kanazawa

Our American guide was very thorough and helpful for giving us a good experience in Kanazawa.

Transfer from Takayama to Kanazawa, including a visit to Shirakawa-go

Japan

Shirakawa was a wonderful place and our driver/guide did a great job.

Takayama Full-Day Tour with English-Speaking Guide

Takayama

We enjoyed our day tour and lunch suggestion. It was very informative.

Dinner with Maiko in a Traditional Kyoto Style Restaurant Tour (Small Group)

Kyoto

We enjoyed our interaction with geiko as well as the dinner.

Tea Ceremony in Kyoto (Private)

Japan

Very well done and thorough.

Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo forest & Garden Half-Day Walking Tour

Kyoto

Bullet train from Shinagawa to Kyoto

Japan

Exceptional guides, especially Kyoto.
Drivers were fine but limited English so not much conversation there.

Hotel Reviews

Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kyoto ekimae PREMIER

Kyoto

Great location with direct access to shops, restaurants and subway

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hakone Hotel Kajikaso

Hakone

Very different experience with foot bath, dinner and breakfast in the room and sleeping on floor mats

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

the b asakusa

Tokyo

Great location and ample breakfast variety

Authenticity & Character

Location

So close to walk to subways, restaurants and temple

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kyoto's Cultural Treasures: Fushimi Inari-Taisha, Nijo Castle and Kinkaku-ji

Japan

Excellent and knowledgeable guide. Interesting history

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Explanations from the guide

Transport

Guide met us at our hotel..very convenient, then walked

Half Day Samurai Ninja Museum and Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

Felt rushed through the museum

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Museum guide a bit hard to understand

Transport

Clean vehicle and enjoyable ride

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi with Oishi Park

Japan

Wonderful boat cruise and views of Mt Fuji

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Little English but very accomodating

Drive to Hakone with Mt. Fuji Tour

Japan

Driver was good..little English but we managed

Quality of Experience

Driver was open to time we requested or needed at each location

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Master Tokyo's Must-Sees: 5-hour Tsukiji, Akihabara & Asakusa Highlights Tour

Tokyo

Very good tour, knowledgeable guide and good pace.

Quality of Experience

Food

Waygu beef was excellint; sushi not so much ...

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Found our way to meeting point

Tokyo Night Foodie Tour in Shinjuku

Tokyo

Guide was great but the food not so much for me!

Quality of Experience

Food

I'm sure it was very good...if you liked sushi 🍣!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We walked to location

Authentic Sumo Experience in Tokyo: Enter the Sanctuary

Tokyo

Very nice experience at a Sumo Stable! Wrestlers were engaging, entertaining and funny!

Quality of Experience

Authentic wrestlers who were very sharing of their life

Food

Eat like a Sumo! Delicious soup!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I worked with Ben for a number of months to personalize a very special trip to Japan. He could not have been more accommodating, and he answered every question in a timely manner. He made wonderful suggestions, and we weren’t disappointed anywhere along the line.

We had three different guides, Ursula, Sorata, and Pitt - each lovely and knowledgeable. We enjoyed spending our days with them very much.

Everything promised was delivered, and even more. Ben even arranged for a birthday cake for me - a delightful surprise.

Our time in Japan was filled with wonderful memories, beautiful experiences, and gracious interactions. We can’t wait to come back!

Hotel Reviews

PROSTYLE Ryokan Yokohama Bashamichi

Yokohama

Good location, nice room. Easy access to subway, restaurants and shopping.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

THE KNOT HIROSHIMA

Hiroshima

Love this hotel! Great location next to the Peace Park. Easy access to shopping and food. Overall, a nice hipster boutique hotel, if that’s where you’re looking for. Nice high floor bar.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Onyado Nono Namba Natural Hot Spring

Osaka

Our only disappointment on the trip. This hotel, although in a great location and clean, is not the most comfortable. Tiny room. We could barely put our clothes or suitcases anywhere. It feels more like a family budget hotel, and we were paying luxury prices.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gion Elite Terrace

Great location! Clean and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Kamakura Ancient Capital Tour: Great Buddha & Zen Temples (Public Transport)

Japan

I had visited, Kamakura before, but my husband had not. I wanted him to see the Buddha and bamboo forest and it could not have been a more perfect day, weatherwise. We thoroughly enjoyed it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Miyajima’s World Heritage & Serene Temples: Guided Full-Day Tour with Public Transfer & Ferry

Hiroshima

This was always on my bucket list, and it did not disappoint. Beautiful setting, nice day overall.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Osaka's Dual Charms Guided Tour: Tsutenkaku, Namba Yasaka Shrine & Kuromon Market with Public Transportation

Osaka

The tower, — it’s a bit touristy. If you like going up the Eiffel Tower, or to the Statue of Liberty, or to the top of the Empire State building, then this is that type of experience. But we enjoyed walking in the nearby neighborhood and stopping by Four for a night local lunch. We also had a nice walk through a beautiful park. Be careful at Kuromon market if you order Uni. They hide the prices a bit, and there might be a little sticker shock at the end.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Himeji: Exploring Japan’s First Famous Castle and Tranquil Gardens （by public transport）

Osaka

Fascinating castle with an interesting history. The gardens nearby were beautiful. Be prepared for a lot of steps.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hidden Paths of Arashiyama:Tea Ceremony ,Moss Temples and Kaiseki Dinner with Maiko Performance（Private Guide, Public Transportation）

Kyoto

Arashimaya was fabulous! Highly recommend going there - just glorious in spring. The tea ceremony and Maiko experience felt a bit touristy, but if you want to be dressed in a kimono for tea, then this might be for you. But our guide Ursula was wonderful!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our Spring Japan trip was organized by Sandy, and it was amazing! I've always heard that Japan is a country worth visiting and it's true! What a place :) Sandy answered many questions from our group before we traveled and during our visit. Our guides made sure that our excursions ran smoothly. Yuki went above and beyond in explaining history and special features of the sites we visited. His love for Japan made our trip very enjoyable. The trip exceeded expectations.

Hotel Reviews

The Royal Park Canvas Osaka Kitahama

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kyoto Tokyu Hotel

Kyoto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Miyama Village Tour From Kyoto

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

Everyone worked hard to see that we enjoyed the tea ceremony.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Had trouble finding the location. The Staff at the location was Amazing.

Transport

Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi Tour with Onsen experience

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Asakusa Sumo Club: Sumo Show Admission with Chankonabe in Tokyo

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chase Cherry Blossom with Meiji Jingu in Tokyo

Tokyo

Beautiful Gardens!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Learn the Secrets Behind Sushi in a Cooking Class

Osaka

The teaching chefs were incredible.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful 14 day trip to Japan organized by Eleanor. It was our first trip to Japan, and we saw and did everything we wanted to and more. We have never used a service or tour group for our travels before this trip.

The itinerary created by Eleanor was completely manageable and ran smoothly- no problems at all. It was mostly self guided (our choice) but with selected guided sections that were very enjoyable and worthwhile. She kept in touch periodically along the way just to make sure things were going as planned.

There were many cities and adventures we wouldn’t have chosen without Eleanor’s recommendations (such as 2 short day hikes along the Nakasendo Trail and Kiso valley, tea ceremony in Kyoto, onsens and sentos at all hotels). The guides and drivers recommended by Eleanor were all excellent. Japan was absolutely memorable and fantastic on all levels. We look forward to going back. I highly recommend Eleanor and kimkim if you are planning a trip to Japan.

We had a great time with a quick one-week stopover in Japan. Really enjoyed Kyoto gardens and temple/shrines. Picture and weather perfect day in Hakone - doing the loop - with the iconic snow-capped Fuji. Toyko is much to big for just 2 days - but loved the Palace Garden and the Asakusa area was buzzing.

Hotel Reviews

Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku

Tokyo

Very modern city hotel. Very clean quite and comfortable. Helpful staff. Breakfast buffet at their main building was excellent.

Authenticity & Character

It's a very modern hotel - clean, quiet and comfortable.

Location

Fun to be right in the Asakusa area and easy access to subway

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tokinoyu Setsugetsuka

Hakone-machi

Clearly a good resort experience with baths and very close proximity to the transit needed to make the loop

Authenticity & Character

If you like to dress up - they provide all the robes and such. Very nice hot baths and spacious rooms. However zero flexibility with set menu and over the food is average taste

Location

2 minute walk from train station / cable car

Staff

Had issues communicating and had issues with seating on reserved 2nd day dinner. We were first in lline for our shift and they sat us (initially in a dark corner table with no view of anything- while the many garden view tables were all open and available. After a few challenges trying to communicate our issue they finally re-sat us at a good view table. But it was not friendly and barely accommodating. No flexibility and as non Japanese speakers found communication bumpy.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Large clean room - plenty of towels and good garden view

Hotel Vischio Kyoto by GRANVIA

Kyoto

Nice quiet room. Really amazing breakfast buffet. Location next to train station made navigation and transfers really accesible

Authenticity & Character

Great shower - clean and comfortable - Japanese food available at breakfast buffet

Location

2 minute walk to train station

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean. Firm beds

Activity Review

Half Day Sagano Bamboo Grove & Arashiyama Walking Tour (Join-in)

Kyoto

Yuki our guide made this our top highlight of all our time spent in Kyoto. Especially enjoyed the pacing and allowing us some peaceful time to soak in the very private Zen garden. She also moved us thru the more busy tourist areas, finding great spots for pictures and explanations. Tofu lunch was amazing, best authentic food on our entire trip in a beautiful house (glad we ate there over the temple lunch which was not available that day). Plus she sent us over 50 photos she took of our day together. Yuki also was extra special post tour - riding the train with us to get us right to the market and taking extra time later to send suggestions for a shop in Toyko where we might find masks (we collect masks from our travels). Yuki made the whole day exceptional

Quality of Experience

Great locations, Guide and Learnings - highly recommend (especially for the less touristy stops)

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yuki is exceptional

Transport

it was a walking tour -

Thank you Ada, and all those involved in organizing an unforgettable cherry blossom trip to Japan.

Hotel Reviews

Richmond Hotel Premier Tokyo Schole

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Onyado Nono Matsumoto Natural Hot Spring

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Morino Hotel

Kiso

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Taoya Kisoji

Tsumago

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Umekoji

Kyoto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hiroshima Tokyu REI Hotel

Hiroshima

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Karuizawa Hotel Longing House

Karuizawa

This was our least favorite town we visited, and our least favorite hotel. It is far from the hiking trail and the activity in the city. It had the least authentic Japanese vibe of everywhere we visited. The huge old dirty teddy bears sitting out in the rain were not a welcome greeting. The outstanding customer service we received throughout Japan was lacking in this town and this hotel. The room was fine. The breakfast was good. I would not recommend visiting this town or this hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Throw away old disgusting giant teddy bears that contaminate both indoor and outdoor spaces.

Location

There could be a free shuttle from the train station.

Staff

No one at desk, have to ring a bell and wait.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Half-day Tokyo Highlights: Meiji Jingu & Senso-ji Temple

Tokyo

Naomi

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was a must going alone to Japan for the first time. Greg made everything super easy and even changed my trip when I had a major delay.

Our trip to Japan was a positively life altering experience and the team at kimkim really executed a beautiful itinerary and took care of all of the arrangements for us.
Our specialist Jessica was very responsive and was available to answer any questions or concerns. Her itinerary for us flowed and that was the overall feeling for our time in Japan.
Our guides Chinami ( Hakone) , Fumiko ( Tokyo), Yoko (Kyoto) and Takehiko ( Kobe) did an outstanding job explaining the highlights of our sightseeing and handling the transportation details in a timely and expert manner. They were warm and informative and we had a lot of fun learning about Japan from them.
The kimkim app was invaluable in keeping us on track and not overwhelmed as we covered a lot of places in 10 days. It was nice to have a record of everything we did on a daily basis because the app did all the work! In short we loved our experience with kimkim and would use them again to plan a memorable trip.

The trip was amazing and Cannon was very helpful with the planning and extremely responsive. He tailored the trip to our requirements and was available for any questions we had. Everything was planned perfectly and he followed up with us along the way to ensure that things were running smoothly. He even arranged to have a birthday cake delivered to our hotel! Would definitely go back to Japan and would definitely use Cannon and kimkim again!
Our tour guides were also excellent - Ken, Ayumi, Yuki, and Naoko.

The trip took us to good locations and we saw what we came to see. However, much of the best parts of the trip were without the guides provided. Only two guides out of the many we had were memorable. The others were so-so or poor. In some cases, proficiency with English was insufficient to have meaningful conversation. On the trips, the food was commonly not great. In some cases, no choice about the specific meal was provided. In other cases, the meals were up to us to find with no particular guidance. The foodie night in Osaka led us to mediocre quality street food. The plan had problems. The plan had us go to a restaurant in Kyoto that was closed on that day. The plan scheduled us to go to the same temple on both of the first two days. We asked for a change ahead of time but that change was not communicated to the guide before we got there (or at least, she was unaware of the change). In one case, the plan sent us to a destination that intended us to climb many stairs but no notice of that was communicated in the plan. Given our age, that was a potential problem. Fortunately, we were with one of the good guides who noticed this and was able to take us to an alternative destination. The hotels were largely fine, although the ryokan in Hakone felt more like a commercial hotel than an inn. There was no indication in the guide that the train trip from Osaka to Kanazawa started with a local train and then transferred to a bullet train. Given the expense, I would not use kim kim again, but would pick local guides via Get your guide or equivalent.

Our visit to Japan was amazing from beginning to end. Our guides Nao and Yuki were wonderful. Nao was so happy for us to view Mt. Fuji and the beautiful cherry trees which were in peak form that day. She was happy to bring us shopping for some specific things and picked a great lunch spot on our Mt. Fuji day.
Yuki was especially concerned with us understanding him and even brought visual aids with him. He was constantly concerned with our comfort and happiness. He made time for us to stop for ice cream and shopping, brought us to my favorite lunch spot with the conveyor belts delivering our food and was very patient with our group of 8 women. He was a great translator during our tie dye experience and seemed to really enjoy showing us around.
We loved the first and last hotels, as they were a bit smaller and gave more personal service. The Kyoto Tokyu Hotel was very nice but maybe a little big and touristy for my liking, although they had a lovely gift shop.
I enjoyed Tokyo and Osaka as cities and also the surrounding areas. In Kyoto, maybe because of where we stayed I did not get a good feel for the city itself. However, we loved the tea ceremony, day in Miyama and the Philosopher’s Path, which we did from Kyoto.
All of our activities were so well planned and we enjoyed them all. Thanks to Sandy for the arrangements and for including everything we asked for.
Japan was so clean and beautiful. The people we met were gentle and polite. The food was delicious. The public transportation was easy to navigate. The bullet train was clean and comfortable. We even got lucky with the weather. Our only rain was during a travel day and our day at Mt. Fuji was sunny and clear.
Thank you, Sandy, for putting together a trip that I will remember fondly forever.
I will go to Kim.Kim again when planning my next adventure.
Marianne O’Shaughnessy

Hotel Reviews

The Royal Park Canvas Osaka Kitahama

I loved the size and location of this hotel. It was next to the subway stop and a short walk to the river.

Authenticity & Character

Breakfast was beautiful and delicious.

Location

Loved jumping on the subway and walking along the river.

Staff

Very friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was clean but a bit cramped for two of us.

Kyoto Tokyu Hotel

Kyoto

This hotel was a bit big for my liking. Too many big tour busses, a line up for breakfast in the morning and locates on a busy street. However, it was clean and beautiful inside and the gift shop is lovely.

Authenticity & Character

A bit too big and commercial

Location

I would have like to be in a quieter area where I could stroll to shopping and food.

Staff

Staff was friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were a bit cramped for 2 people but very clean. I didn’t love the step up to the bathroom.

Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku

Tokyo

The Asakusa View Hotel Annex was wonderful. I think being in the Annex and not in the larger hotel across the street was good. I like the feel of a boutique hotel and I got it here. The food was good, the staff friendly and helpful and the rooms were roomy and made the most out of the space. 2 of us were very comfortable here.

Authenticity & Character

The breakfast included traditional Japanese foods and the geisha show in the evening was enjoyable.

Location

On a pedestrian mall and easy to walk and shop any time of day.

Staff

The staff was friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were spotless and they made the best use of space so 2 people were very comfortable.

Activity Reviews

Learn the Secrets Behind Sushi in a Cooking Class

Osaka

The ladies teaching us today were wonderful. We really got to experience the art of making sushi.

Quality of Experience

Teachers were great! The kitchen was clean and organized.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They were great teachers, organized and patient.

Transport

We took taxis here today and did well.

Osaka-Nara day trip with Osaka Castle

Osaka

I loved visiting the Nara deer park, the temple with the large Buddha as well as Osaka castle. However, the museum at Osaka castle was a bit overwhelming and there wasn’t time to read all the information. I enjoyed our stop for Ramen for lunch and our stop later for ice cream and shopping. We stopped at an observation tower late in the day and I could have skipped that. I know Yuki was doing his best to show us everything.

Quality of Experience

Yuki was forever trying to make us happy

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yuki and Mr. Li were wonderful

Transport

Vehicle was comfortable and our driver great.

Full Day Miyama Village Tour From Kyoto

Japan

Our day began with a tie dying activity on our way into Mijama. It was fun learning about the indigo ink that is popular in the region. Then touring the village with the thatched roofs and visiting their small museums was very interesting.

Quality of Experience

Our tie dying activity!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yuki was fun and informative, as always.

Transport

Driver was always there when we needed him.

Fushimi Inari Taisha and Kinkakuji Temple

Kyoto

This temple area in the city was beautiful. Mao taught us how to purify ourselves to approach the temple and hue to bow in front of the temple. It was interesting learning about the religions of Japan.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Bamboo Grove and Monkey Park Tour

Kyoto

Loved our walk around the monkey park. It was beautiful and the monkeys were sweet. I enjoyed feeding them and seeing the babies.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was great and so was our driver. The staff at the park were all very friendly.

Transport

Our driver was always there when we needed him

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

Don’t miss this experience! It was so much fun picking out a kimono to wear and getting dressed up. The tea ceremony was wonderful, we learned a lot and had a great time.

Quality of Experience

The staff was great and the girl leading our ceremony was wonderful

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We were on our own today-took a taxi to the spot, had a little difficulty getting there. The staff at the tea ceremony was wonderful.

Transport

Had a hard time communicating with the taxi driver but it all worked out.

Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi Tour with Onsen experience

Tokyo

Knowing that Mt.Fuji isn’t always visible made our day so much more spectacular. We had a clear view of the mountain all day. To add to it, the cherry blossoms were at their best the day we visited. It was a magnificent day!

Quality of Experience

Our guide Nao did a great job. We made the decision not to climb higher on the path because it would be another 2 hours. I think it was a great decision as we had a wonderful view from where we were.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was wonderful today

Transport

Our driver was always there when we needed him.

Asakusa Sumo Club: Sumo Show Admission with Chankonabe in Tokyo

Tokyo

This was a fun activity. A great way to spend lunchtime. Probably the most touristy thing we did but I’m glad we included it.

Quality of Experience

The MC was knowledgeable and spoke both English and Japanese perfectly. The wrestlers were entertaining and fun to watch.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chase Cherry Blossom with Meiji Jingu in Tokyo

Tokyo

The wooded area we walked through was beautiful and I enjoyed the temple and museum.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Had the trip ended before the last few days our rating would be higher. While we learned early on in our travels that we were often overscheduled for our taste, we consign some of that fact to our inexperience as travelers on such a complicated and lengthy itinerary. But toward he end, scheduling of trains and advice about luggage that produced a very compressed day in beautiful Hakone, and that cut short our stay at a ryokan that kept us from fully enjoying what we'd paid handsomely for, really hurt our experience. That same scheduling issue rushed us to Tokyo so that we could sit around with nothing to do while we waited for our hotel room to become available. As noted, we're not experienced enough travelers to have picked up on these shortcomings before they happened but, to Cory's credit, in the times when we did request revisions to other trip plans she responded quickly and effectively.

I also give her credit for easing the concerns I felt about having received a diagnosis of gluten intolerance in the weeks before the trip began. Cory was very helpful in finding places that could accommodate my restrictions--something that isn't necessarily easy in Japan given the predominance in its cuisine of gluten-containing soy sauce.

All in, while we had a great time overall in lovely Japan we were disappointed by plans made toward the end of the trip that wasted our money and hurt our experience in what should have been a highlight of the experience.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel the Celestine Tokyo Shiba

Tokyo

The location was less appealing to us than the Blossom Hibiya because it was a hike to Ginza, but otherwise we liked the hotel. The breakfast was pretty good, and they get extra credit for having placards showing the presence of allergens like wheat that are helpful for the gluten-intolerant. We had already upgraded our room at significant expense, so it was commodious and comfortable, with our only complaint being the lack of English-speaking TV channels and odd lighting controls. Staff was lovely.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Blossom Hibiya

Minato

Well located close to Ginza and very attractive, our first room was simply too small for us--although probably typical for Tokyo but our upgrade was a pleasure. The facility is beautiful and well maintained, and staff was lovely and helpful. The breakfast was pretty good but it would have been helpful to have placards stating the presence of allergens like wheat for a glucose-intolerant guest like myself.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kanaya Resort Hakone

Hakone

The setting is lovely, the facility, while more modern than we expected (which is a good thing for us but might not be for everyone) is beautiful and well kept, and the food was Michelin-star worthy in its creativity and flavor. Staff were helpful despite there being some instances where stronger English skills would have been helpful. Still, the overall experience was superior, and we strongly recommend Kanaya.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cross Hotel Kyoto

Kyoto

The room we upgraded to after finding the one we originally had was very nice and came at an attractive price, but the hotel itself comes across as a haven for tourists seeking the lowest price. Staff was very good, but the breakfast was boring and limited, and the activity in the lobby was more like a train station than a hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Hotel Sanraku Kanazawa

Kanazawa

Although not the best room, the overall experience at Hotel Sanraku was one of the best of our two week Japan trip. The room's shortcoming was in not having a separate space for the toilet. But the breakfast--and in particular the information about ingredients in the offerings that were very helpful to someone who has a gluten intolerance--was a standout, as was the location and sheer attractiveness of the lodging.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony with Kimono Wearing (Higashiyama)

Japan

The Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony with Kimono Wearing in Higashiyama was a highlight of our trip. We truly loved the experience, which was both fun and culturally enriching. It was a wonderful and memorable part of our stay in Japan.

Both of our guides were good. One we were with shortly and was a more focused day of getting to many places. He did a good job of coming up with some additional day of options and a great lunch rec. Young we had for 4 days and we really liked her. She was a bit soft spoken /quiet but very nice and knowledgeable and we found if we asked lots of questions we got lots of history and current info about not only the places she took us but also modern Japan life. Really enhanced our trip to learn about the history, shrines and temples. Getting around by train /bus was great for us and she had to work harder than if we had driver to navigate public transport for sure. Hotels were all nice. It was great. The only note is to warn guides we will want lots of restaurant recs (as where we’ll be is not always areas they’ve eaten. We had good luck using tablelog and AI ) and the food at the Hakone onsen was not very good. But we went out for great meals nearby.

Our Japan tour had something for everyone. We especially enjoyed the smaller places- Hakone, Koyasan and Nara. Food was excellent, kids stayed interested and we decided before we had even left that we will need to go back!

Hotel Reviews

Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku

Tokyo

Great location and big breakfast buffet.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right near station , shrine and restaurants in Asakusa

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

MIMARU Osaka Shinsaibashi West

Good for families, otherwise quite basic

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mimaru Kyoto Station

Kyoto

Close to Kyoto station. Fairly basic.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Not near many sights, but close to station.

Staff

Lo

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mt. Koya temple stay

Koyasan

Authentic Japanese temple stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the center of town

Staff

Friendly and explained everything well

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Gracery Shinjuku

Tokyo

Gritty neighborhood, only dirty place we encountered in Japan. Inside the rooms were quite small, even by Japan standards. Didn’t find the novelty of the Godzilla to outweigh the vibe of the neighborhood that was not at all family friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Good if you want that specific scene, but not our vibe.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tokyo Discovery: From Traditional Landmarks to Akihabara’s Anime Haven

Tokyo

Samurai and Ninja Museum with Experience

Kyoto

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

Excellent way to enjoy kimonos and participate in a tea ceremony

Quality of Experience

Full Day Osaka Discovery with Cup Noodles Museum

Osaka

The Cup Noodles museum was fun, but we didn’t need a guide here and she didn’t even help us by translating despite participating in the activity herself. She was hard to hear and kids thought she was mean

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Osaka-Nara Day Trip

Osaka

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was excellent and gave us some personalized tips.

Transport

A Hands-on Cooking Experience: Nigiri Sushi and More

Tokyo

A bit long for our group- more geared toward adults

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Asakusa Sumo Club: Sumo Show Admission with Chankonabe in Tokyo

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The prospect of planning a trip to Japan with my two young kids was so overwhelming that we turned to KimKim for help and I’m very glad we did. They had a basic outline for a family trip to Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto that we were able to tweak to suit our preferences. There was a great mix of fun for the kids (Disney, Universal) and sightseeing for the adults (Meiji Shrine, Mt. Fuji, etc.) for the adults. All of the transportation was booked beforehand and seamless. Eleanor (our local specialist) always answered my questions quickly and she checked in throughout our trip to make sure everything was going well. A special thanks to our tour guides Machiko, Nick, and Sunny who were so knowledgeable and patient.

Winnie was very professional and responsive at all times. There is a time difference of 7 hours between us and it never felt like it.

We had a lot of issues with rescheduling and postponing the trip due the war in Iran.

We finally decided to take the trip and therefore the team of Odynovo and Winnie only had a week to plan our trip (since it was initially postponed).

They delivered a great full private tour that respected our requests and real time modifications.

All the guides and drivers were very responsive, kind and respectful.

I would highly recommend working with Odynovo Tours and specifically Winnie.