Kimkim Trip Reviews for Japan

What a wonderful experience in Japan. Thank you, Kimkim for making all the arrangements and being there so quickly to respond when we had a question. We visited Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyoto, and Tokyo. All of our guides were very informative, and helpful with all the transportation. I absolutely love the culture in Japan. I do recommend visiting there. I love how respectful, clean, and spiritual the Japanese are. Thank you for a wonderful vacation!😎🥰😊

Activity Reviews

Day Trip to Miyajima Island: Floating Torii Gate & Kayaking &Hiking

Hiroshima

Osaka Exploration: Castle, Cuisine, and Sky-high Views (full day tour by public transport)

Osaka

Yummy

Guided tour with public transfer from Osaka: World Heritage Himeji Castle Visiting & Kobe Beef Sampling

Osaka

Beautiful

Hozugawa River Boat Ride and Arashiyama Exploration and Japanese tea ceremony (Private Guide &Public Transportation)

Kyoto

Loved this

Mt. Fuji Scenic Tour with Whisky Tasting by private transfer

Tokyo

Breathtaking 😍

Guided Tokyo City Highlights & Transfer to Disney Area (Private Guide & Private Vehicle)

Tokyo

Wow!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tokyo Highlights: Imperial Palace, Tsukiji & Trendy Neighborhoods（Private Guide & Public Transportation）

Tokyo

Day tour by public transport in Kyoto: Fushimi Inari Shrine, Nikishi Market , Samurai and Ninja Museum and Traditional Art Performance

Kyoto

Enjoy walking around the local market

Hiroshima's Legacy: Peace Memorial & Okonomiyaki（public transport）

Hiroshima

Definitely educational and surreal

We had the best trip with KimKim to Japan! I loved working with Eleanor, she communicated quickly and throughout the entire process of planning, updating things along the way that we asked for, as well as updated us throughout the trip! Having the help planning and scheduling our Japan trip was so nice and easy! And it was easy to tailor the trip to what we wanted to do etc. I highly recommend this company and Eleanor! Thank you so much! Worth every penny!

Activity Reviews

Enjoy a Guided Tour of Tokyo with teamLab Planets

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Miyajima Half-day Trip Historical Walking Tour

Japan

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kyoto Historical Highlights Bike Tour with UNESCO Zen Temples

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Onsen, Ryokan, and Mt. Fuji Experience in Hakone

Hakone

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cannon and our drivers did an amazing job helping us navigate through Japan! We couldn't have done it with without them! It put us at ease knowing we had accommodations, transportation and itinerary planned out.

Hotel Reviews

the b asakusa

Tokyo

Clean, comfy, great location and good breakfast!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Next to subway stations and tourists attractions

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Park Hotel Kyoto

Kyoto

Clean, comfy, safe and great location!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Near train station!

Staff

Kind, friendly and accommodating!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fresh bedding and towels daily

Activity Review

Osaka & Nara Day Trip with Osaka Castle and Minoh Park

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A huge thank you to Shona for keeping up with the last minute changes and odd requests. Our last day of travel wasn't clear and a bit confusing, which almost made us miss our train. Thankfully, I Googled how to get to our final destination and saw that we had to travel to a different train station with barely enough time to get on the Shinkansen.

I think we had the best guides ever! Moto, Yasuko, and Fuji. We had so much packed in on the first day, Moto didn't miss a beat and we were able to do everything on our list and then some. We were especially thankful to Fuji for allowing extra time wherever there was water to allow my son to hang out with the fish for a bit.

All-in-all, it was a great trip and so much less stressful than if I had tried to plan it myself. We had no issues, great communication with everyone, fantastic hotels, lovely breakfasts, and a trip we will never forget.

Hotel Reviews

KOKO HOTEL Tsukiji Ginza

Tokyo

We were so busy that we didn't have time to use the amenities that the hotel offers except breakfast and the laundry. The breakfast wasn't as luxurious as some of our other hotels we stayed at, but again, this hotel isn't as big and for the size, the breakfast was perfect. There was enough "western" type foods that we could eat and the Japanese type foods were really good. The laundry was cheap and unlike bigger hotels, not as crowded, so we had no issues using 1 of the 2 machines. I would definitely stay here again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

A quick walk to the subway and the river.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Vischio Kyoto by GRANVIA

Kyoto

This was a great place to stay. The rooms were modern and nice. The breakfast was amazing. So many yummy options. They get extra points for having massage chairs (paid) especially after a long day of walking around. Located so close to the train station, you don't have to go far to find anything you need.

Authenticity & Character

I thought this hotel was extremely modern and besides the toilet, you wouldn't know you were in Japan. I didn't have any issues with that though because it was extremely comfortable and nice, which is what you want on a long trip.

Location

Right across from the train station!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Monterey Le Frere Osaka

Osaka

I enjoyed the location of this hotel. It is a bit of a walk to the train station, but if you get on the street side, you can look over the city a bit which was a lot of fun for us. It was a tad loud when sirens or loud cars went down the road, but honestly, I thought that was all part of the experience. Ear plugs helped too. The breakfast buffet was absolutely amazing. We weren't here long enough to use any of the amenities, but what we did use, we enjoyed.

Authenticity & Character

It was your typical modern hotel. I didn't have any issues with it because it was comfortable.

Location

A bit of a walk from the train station and noisy, depending on what side you're on.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Nara City Tour: Nara Park, Todai-Ji Temple and More

Kyoto

Feeding the deer is one thing, but just being able to be next to them and pet them like it's no big deal is another. Such an amazing experience to get so close to those magical creatures.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yasuko knew exactly what to do when we get to Nara to make sure our experience was a good one.

Transport

Japan has their public transportation figured out!

Half Day Bamboo Grove and Monkey Park Tour

Kyoto

The bamboo is gorgeous, the hike up the mountain was pretty, and the monkeys were amazing. Getting to feed the younger monkeys was my favorite.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fuji was great!

Transport

Public transportation for the win!

Full Day Tokyo City Tour with Akihabara district 1.

Tokyo

This was a looong day. We basically had to speed walk everywhere to fit everything in. I would recommend if this is on your itinerary, to do it the first day you are there because you won't have the steam to this much stuff later on in your trip. We even had our guide take us on a side quest to the Shibuya Scramble Crossing, which he graciously did.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Moto was fantastic!

Transport

Public transportation for the win!

Samurai and Ninja Museum with Experience

Kyoto

I like this museum because it was just enough. I didn't realize we got a tour guide once we were in there, so that was a bonus.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide in the museum was funny and spoke decent English.

Transport

We walked there, which was such a great walk. We found some great stuff on the way that we would've missed had we drove.

Half day: Gion Kagai Art Museum and Nijo Castle

Japan

The only reason I'm not giving this 5 stars is because I think the Art Museum wasn't all that great. The museum itself is really small, but being able to see the geiko perform was worth going! What an amazing experience. Nijo Castle was really cool. Some stuff on TV was shot there, so it was neat to see it in person, but also, just being in there thinking how they used to live and operate, was cool.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fuji was amazing!

Transport

Public transportation for the win!

An adventure to remember with memories, people and activity. Ben and KIMKIM went beyond with solutions that will always be cherished. In our original discussion with Ben we asked for our adventure of Japan to be our adventure of Japan 2026. He made that come to be and even more.
The route from Osaka to Hiroshima to Miyajima Island to Kyoto to Nara to Toyko and full immersion with Toyko Disneyland and Disney Sea made our excursion exciting, historical and exhausting. It all came together with planning and coordination with Ben and his beautiful excursions added into the itenerary. I cannot fail to mention, the local guides at each major stop:
Eiicgu Shirakawa aka 'Mr. H'; Hideo Uematsu and Ryuji Kanie where fantastic with local color, culture and great coaching keeping our journey on schedule. Everyone at KimKim was extremely helpful in making any adjustments to the travel on the spot. The travel associates where ready to make adaptations and Ben was there to check on us every day with additional choices when necessary.
Our adventure had many highlights to name a few. World Heritage Himeji Castle, Kobe feast, Peace Memorial, Okonomiyaki, Kayaking under the Floating Torii Gate, Samurai and Ninga Museum, Todaiji Temple, Mount Fuji and the Panoramic Ropeway, Japanese Tea Ceremony, Harajuku, Shinjuku, Shibuya crossing and sky, Akihabara, Senso-ji and Disney Sea and Disneyland. All of the above, with local train, bus, ferry Shinkansin (bullet train) and private vehicles. We all had perhaps favorites but how can you immerse in many more areas and come out totally fulfilled.
We challenge our fellow tour groups to match this event. Please do not forget Japenese yen, Suica card, Pasamo and great hiking footwear along with your appetite!!
Thanks from the bottom of our hearts to KimKim and our favorite Ben Tanaka.
Theo, Kyle, Linda and Natalie

Winnie listened to us and helped build a very special itinerary.

H or Eiichi. Was a welcome site after our battle to get to Japan due to our plane break down. Each took us to our first castle boy would thrill and climb after several days in Osaka we went to Hiroshima and H even came with us. How nice that made it even better. H made sure we knew how to find the Shinkansen the day.
Hidio now join us what I’m gonna call my favorite city you so easy to get around and find food shop. I loved it and if it wasn’t for Heidi, we would not have had the spectacular Buddhist temple at Nora due to some rain that day we had to change things up and he was very happy to help us out thanks Hideo for all you did

Now it’s time for the big city Tokyo here we were joined by Ryuggi he took us to this cute little town where we were able to see Mount Fuji and all its glory. He also showed us all the big tourist areas in Tokyo even the ones that you maybe don’t want to go into which I appreciate it since I was aware of them.

And finally, we ended our trip at Disneyland. I loved it the rides the people the merchandise it was fantastic thanks Ben for all you did to make this an unforgettable trip.
Oh, I almost forgot Ben. Thank you so much for that video. That was very cool. You’re the best.

It’s been a great experience booking our trip through KimKim.
The guides were exceptional, fun and made our travel an amazing experience.
Rob did a fabulous job putting our trip together.
He checked in with us on a daily bases, gave us a heads up with what was happening on a daily bases. He made sure we got everything we need.
The drivers did a great job getting us where we needed to be.
The transportation from the airport to the hotel was flawless.
This was our first time in Japan. What a great country.
We highly recommend KimKim.
It’s worth spending the money.

Hotel Reviews

Imperial Hotel

Tokyo

This hotel is located in a wonderful spot next to little local alleys and restaurants. Old world and modern, right next to Ginza. The service is amazing, the staff is super friendly. This hotel is very luxurious with art deco design. We loved the breakfast in the 17th floor with amazing views. Best breakfast buffet we have ever seen. Again the service is amazing! It has several different restaurants. The champagne bar is fabulous.

Authenticity & Character

Art Decco design - Frank Loyd Right

Location

In the heart of everything Old world with little alleys and restaurants. Located right next to Ginza - short walk

Staff

Best service ever

Cleanliness & Comfort

Couldn’t be better

Hakone Hotel Kajikaso

Hakone

If you are looking for authentic Japanese charm this is the hotel for you! What an amazing experience. We had our own hot spring in our room. The breakfast was authentic Japanese. Located in the heart of Hakone. Very charming little town. We had Mountain View’s with a large window. Waking up in the morning having tea and a great view of the mountains.

Authenticity & Character

Old charm Japanese

Location

Authentic Japanese experience

Staff

Great service very friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Yes

The Thousand Kyoto

Kyoto

This hotel is very modern. Great service! It’s located right next to the train station. We loved the hotel caffe/ bar. Breakfast was good. There are so many restaurant located around this hotel that made it very convenient. This hotel is hosting a lot of travel groups mainly from the US. We loved our room very modern Japanese style. It’s in the heart of everything either walking distance or just a few train stops away.

Authenticity & Character

Very modern Japanese

Location

Very convenient location

Staff

Super friendly service

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very minimalistic Japanese design

Activity Reviews

Guided Tokyo City Highlights, Imperial Palace, Sushi Making & TeamLab Planets（Guided Tour；Public Transport）

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Food

Everything

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great overall Tokyo experience

Transport

Our guide

Tokyo’s Historic Temple and Glittering Skyline Moments（Guided Tour；Public Transportation）

Tokyo

Amazing experience Our tour guide Roy was amazing

Quality of Experience

Our tour guide

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Super friendly and knowledgeable

Transport

On time and great drivers

Private transfer from Tokyo to Hakone via Mt. Fuji

Japan

Great experience! Guide and driver

Quality of Experience

Driver and guide - Views - Hotel

Food

Everything

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very knowledgeable

Transport

On time very efficient

Guided tour to Nara by private transfer: Temples, Shrines, and Tame Deer Adventure; Return to Kyoto

Kyoto

This was an amazing experience - One the it’s kind

Quality of Experience

Best guide - with local experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide shared local favorites that I didn’t want to miss - we had the best sushi lunch as well as home made mochis - vintage finds at local places

Transport

Great driver

Day tour by public transport in Kyoto: Fushimi Inari Shrine, Nishiki Market , Samurai and Ninja Museum; Authentic Tea Ceremony（Guided Tour；Public Transportation）

Kyoto

Great experience - our guide Yvonne was amazing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yvonne customized our experience by adding personal favorites

Transport

Our guide

Hozugawa River Boat Ride and Arashiyama Exploration. (Private Guide &Public Transportation)

Kyoto

Great place! Go early Very crowded place

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our guide

We (2 couples) began planning our Japan adventure about 10 months before travel began. There is so much information on the internet about cities to visit, hotels to stay in and sites to see that it can become overwhelming. Ben answered my many, many questions in a timely and concise manner. He helped us to choose which places to see and which might not be our priority. Once we arrived in Japan Ben remained in contact with us, offering help when we needed it and flexibility when we wanted to make some changes to our well planned itinerary. Ben worked with local agents when we had to replace a guide and to make tweaks when the weather did not cooperate for a tower visit.
We spent 15 days in Japan, travelled by trains, tramways, cars and buses to 5+ cities and had the most amazing experience. We would highly recommend Ben and KimKim when booking a trip to Japan!

Activity Reviews

Tokyo's Culinary Heritage: Tsukiji Market, Aritsugu Knives & Sushi Making (by Public Transportation)

Tokyo

Be prepared for a street food market like you’ve never seen before. The knife store is one of the oldest in Japan and is still used by chefs to make their knives. This is not a tourist attraction like some other knife shops.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ryuji is an amazing guide.

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

Hiroshima

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Site seeing boat there. Fast boat back

Tokyo Highlights: teamLab Planets & Ginza Shopping (by Public Transportation)

Tokyo

Team Lab Planets is such an amazing experience. It can’t really be categorized as a museum but it has interactive museum like qualities.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ryuji is incredible at getting you through and around all of Tokyo on public transportation

Transport

What a memorable trip all around Japan! We honestly couldn’t have done it without Cannon. He went above and beyond from start to finish, helping us plan our trip, answering any questions we had while we were there, and making sure we had great recommendations for places to visit, eat, and explore.

Tokyo was an absolute highlight, especially getting to experience Akihabara and all the amazing things to see and do in Asakusa. Having Cannon’s guidance made the entire trip so much easier and allowed us to enjoy our time without worrying about all the little details.

We had an incredible experience exploring Japan and made memories we’ll never forget. We’re already talking about going back, and we would absolutely recommend Cannon to anyone planning a trip to Japan. His help and dedication truly made a difference in our experience!

Hotel Reviews

the b asakusa

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

So close to a train station and being a easy place to get into festivities

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Park Hotel Kyoto

Kyoto

Authenticity & Character

Location

A great little coffee shop beside it and also close to a train station

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Osaka & Nara Day Trip with Osaka Castle and Minoh Park

Japan

The highlight of this trip was definitely getting to check out Osaka Castle. You really need a full day to see everything there but it was still a great time. Nara was great too just have to be careful with the deer because they will check every pocket to see if you have snacks.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful trip to Japan and enjoyed all the hotels and restaurants that were selected by our kimkim travel agent, Ben. All the train arrangements, which were many, were seamless. Communication both during the planning process and during the trip was excellent. We felt well supported. We particularly enjoyed our guide in Kanazawa "Guchi". We originally planned for full day guides because we felt intimidated by the language barrier. In retrospect, we would go with a less arduous 1/2 day guides for a better and more relaxed pacing. The two places in Japan we enjoyed the most were off the beaten track of most Japan tours. Also, exploring "less" touristy areas is where the kimkim services are the most useful. We loved Kanazawa as a mellow and smaller introduction to Japan and we very much enjoyed Naoshima (stay at "the Lodge") and we managed very well without a guide. We were very happy that we decided to travel solo rather than going with a group and feel that kim kim generally, and Ben specifically, made this possible for us.

Hotel Reviews

Mitsui Garden Hotel Kanazawa

Kanazawa

The hotel is centrally located . You can walk from the train station and it is on a main street that has good bus service. The breakfast was five stars.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

You can't walk through the lobby without someone asking you if they can help!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Shiraume

If you are going to Kyoto, you must stay at this Ryokan located in a former Geisha house in the Gion district of Kyoto. The accomodations, meals, and level of service was like anything you would experience in a top tier hotel. The experience is unforgettable, worth the cost. and gives great insights into the Japanese culture. Okuda-san, proprietor and host, was very gracious and spoke excellent english. Oh, and there is a couples hot tub to die for.

Authenticity & Character

This is a great way to get introducted to why Japan is so special.

Location

Right in the Geisha district.

Staff

Everyone spoke excellent english, were very attentive, and were able to provide good context about the Japanese culture

Cleanliness & Comfort

Japan is super focused on cleanliness. You will not be disappointed with any place in Japan when it comes to cleanliness. Shiraume provided chairs etc so we didn't have to sit on the floor.

Dhawa Yura Kyoto

Kyoto

This hotel caters to western tastes. They were very accomodating but you are not getting the full Japanese experience. Very good location- right on the river and a five minute walk to Gion.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Onyado Nono Namba Natural Hot Spring

Osaka

Very traditional Japanese experience with a Japanese Onsen in an urban setting. For Osaka, this is a good pick as it right near the main shopping areas. If you are not familiar with the Japanese Onsen bath experience, this is a good place to be initiated. It will be worth it. The breakfast was 5 star.

Authenticity & Character

For a westerner, you first few moments might be a little shocking. Hang in there and enjoy the Japanese experience.

Location

Close to food markets and covered shopping promenade.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

MY LODGE Naoshima

This place is a gem. Get to breakfast and dinner plan because there are few easily accessible locations for dinner. Its a short walk to town but not ideal at night time. Super service, food and nice outdoor areas. Rooms are simple but most have if not all have a small seating area. Naoshima is a pretty island with great vistas. We saw the Benessee house, which is where most people like to stay, but we think this is a bette option.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mandarin Oriental

Tokyo

This is a five star bucket list hotel. You pay the prices but you get an astounding level of service in a hotel that caters to westerners. Tokyo is a big place but this hotel was well located for our purposes and near some main subway lines. Good wind down for us at the end of our trip to Japan.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Quiet neighborhood close to two Japanese department stores and a handful of neighborhood restaurants.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

One-Day Classic Tokyo Public Transport Itinerary: Sensoji · Kappabashi · Harajuku Meiji Shrine · Japanese Tasting Dinner

Tokyo

Dinner at Otari was a highlight of our trip.

Tokyo Culinary Journey with Private transportation– Sake Brewery Experience

Tokyo

The Sake tour was not in English and they discouraged translating by our guide. The tasting seemed brief and seemed like an after thought. The day did include a lunch at a Tofu focused Japanese restaurant which was one of the highlights of our trip and located on the side of a beautiful rural setting. Consider this if you can do it by public transportation.

Full Day Guided Kanazawa Cultural Tour by Public Transport – Gardens, Historic Districts & Local Market

Kanazawa

It is possible to see the major historical sites in Kanazawa in one long day. Our excellent guide, "Guchi" was well versed in in the history and culture of the area. In addition, she took us to some unique artisan shops. Definately ask for her.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had a excellent experience with KimKim and our local specialist Eleanor.
Eleanor listened carefully to our ideas and interests. She was also very considerate of our medical needs. Our local guides Yumi, Yasuko, Mayumi, and Natsu were all experts! They were extremely kind, knowledgeable, considerate and time sensitive. They expertly showed us the history and beauty of each location, and kept us on schedule without rushing us.
Eleanor provided excellent suggestions for activities and locations for us to visit on our days without guides
Our whole experience was seamless and well managed. Thank you!

Thank you Winnie for the organization of our nice tour of Seoul and Japan. We had a marvelous time especially that the weather was so perfect all through the trip. a special mention - the hotel in Kyoto- the Yugen Kyoto Shijo, beautiful. and the Hakone Gora Karaku, very special. Our guides were ok , some difficult to understand. worth mentioning a nice lady in Tokyo -Yoshi.
thank you again, Anat

Hotel Reviews

Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel, A Pan Pacific Partner Hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Aoyama Grand Hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hakone Gora KARAKU

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

yugen kyoto shijo

Kyoto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

have windows that open

Lotte Hotel Seoul

Seoul

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Activity Reviews

Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Nijo Castle, Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Fushimi Inari-Taisha

Kyoto

Full Day Nara Tour from Kyoto

Kyoto

Tokyo City Tour with Culture & Life

Tokyo

Feel the Charm of Old Town Tokyo: Nezu Shrine and Yanaka Disctrict Walking Tour

Tokyo

Explore the Old and New Capital with Insadong

Seoul

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

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

Traditional Afternoon Tea Ceremony

Kyoto

It was interesting and well done. Location was excellent but the space was impersonal.

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

Japan

Very enjoyable day. Could have spent way more time at Fushimi Inari-Taisha and way less at Kinkaku-ji which was impossibly crowded.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Leny did a great job helping us plan our trip to Japan. She was very helpful in answering our questions along the way and being available while we were in Japan as well. Thanks for a great trip!

There not enough words to convey the absolutely phenomenal job Leny and her team did for our first trip to Japan. From the hotels to the tours and tour guides Mitsu Kumiko, Rio Suzuki, Claire, and all the rest whom I wish i had written their names down as well were amazing, so friendly and knowledgeable. The level of care each tour guide gave was unmatched in any other tours I've taken in my travels. Our itinerary was seamless and Lenys team went above and beyond with little extras that were so appreciated! The ability to be able to contact a team if we were running late or if a situation arises made for such a secure feeling. The hotels picked were stellar. Simply put i will now need Leny and her team to assist with every future international trip I take in the future as well as a 2nd trip back to Japan.

Hotel Reviews

Kinnotake Tonosawa

Hakone

The location, food, room and amenities experienced were unmatched.

Authenticity & Character

The hotels attention to detail, the robes and slippers for comfortability

Location

Surrounded by nature yet accessibility to the village below was perfect

Staff

Our welcome to the hotel was incredible and assistance with our luggage to our next hotel

Cleanliness & Comfort

The robes and rooms made us never want to leave

Shiba Park Hotel

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

The library

Location

So central to so many great areas to visit in walking distance

Staff

All the staff was amazing

Cleanliness & Comfort

All the room amenities

Hotel Resol Kyoto Shijo Muromachi

kyoto

Loved the accesible washers

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza gochome

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

This was one of the most western style hotels we stated in but it still kept so much of what I love about japan hotels I stayed in. The public bath, the amazing staff

Location

So close to so many stores, restaurants

Staff

So helpful with our bags as we arrived well before check in and left after check out but we're able to enjoy our days knowing our bags were safe and waiting

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room and downstairs

SOKI KANAZAWA

Kanazawa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Literally right across from the market and so close to the

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

HOTEL AMANEK HidaTakayama

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Experience Old and Nostalgic Tokyo: Yanaka Walking Tour

Tokyo

Amazing attention to our interest in the route, knowledge of the subject matter

Quality of Experience

The level of attention to how we were and what we wanted to see

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was so kind and genuinely wanted to ensure we had a wonderful time

Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo forest & Garden Half-Day Walking Tour

Kyoto

This was a great tour we were able to see some of the area without crowds and those that were we were able to have the guide navigate us through quickly and efficiently

Quality of Experience

Wonderful locations to explore

Food

This was the only place we were taking to eat in the entirety of our 14 days that was not enjoyed. Unfortunately not as delicious as all the other places we ate

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was so sympathetic to the needs of the people on the tour

Vegetarian Best of Shibuya Food Tour

Tokyo

Absolutely phenomenal food, the tour guide was so great

Quality of Experience

So many great places to try all of the best foods

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Claire was amazing she had so many wonderful stories and was incredibly knowledgeable about the restaurants and the food

Matcha Kyoto Green Tea Tour – Daytime

Kyoto

The quality of the places we visited for this tour were amazing

Quality of Experience

Food

Honestly made me enjoy matcha when I never had before

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Takayama Full-Day Tour with English-Speaking Guide

Takayama

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mitsubishi Kumiko was honestly a shingles star among all the other equally wonderful guides we had, but her enthusiasm and lovely little touches such as a personalized little booklet with our pictures done was so outstanding!

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

Japan

A personal driver and luxury car, the amazingly lovely history of the village while being able to enjoy it with as little other people as we were there early was amazing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The driver was incredibly gracious

Transport

The driver and car were both just spectacular

Relaxing Evening: Private Onsen and Kaiseki Dinner

Hakone

The private onsen made me a new person, so relaxing. The food was delectable and divine out of this world

Quality of Experience

The bath surrounded by nature, the food - each course outdid itself

Oboro | Mindful Tea Ceremony in a 100-Year-Old Kyoto Teahouse

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

The solemnity and reverence that the tea master showed and explained was so spiritual

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The tea master made this experience so much more. You could feel the reverence in every movement

Judy and her team did an awesome job working with my sister and me. Kimkim took the budget and time schedule my sister and I had and was able to put together a memorable trip that took us from Tokyo to Hakone to Kyoto.

The tour guide who took us from Tokyo to Hakone was very knowledgeable in history and gave us a rundown of the history of Japan from the warring states period (and the moving of the capital from Kyoto to Tokyo) up to the end of the Meiji restoration. I enjoy learning about history; listening to his explanations was a fun way to fill the silence during our travel time between Tokyo and Hakone.

While our tour in Hakone was mainly riding vehicles (we took a car, a cable car, and later a boat), our trip in Kyoto was a lot more walking (especially uphill). Our tour guide in Kyoto I felt was very considerate on maintaining a pace that wasn't too strenuous with all the inclines. She would make sure to suggest a short break if anyone seemed winded, which I appreciated. The last place she took us to was the 1000 torii gate shrine, which we arrived around 4PM (I'll explain why I included this later). We all walked up probably about 20% up the mountain, past most of the notable gates and the shrine that sells charms/personal sized gates. By this point, the tour guide mentioned that the rest of the mountain is pretty much just more stairs and gates and not much more to see. She asked if we wanted to keep going or if we had seen enough and wanted to turn back around. My sister asked to go a little farther, and the tour guide took us another 5 minutes before my sister and I agreed that we were good with turning back and ending our tour. While we were walking back to the car, I asked our tour guide how long it takes to get to the top and if any groups ever ask her to go all the way to the top with them. She replied that it takes about 2 hours round trip and that earlier this year she had gone to the top with 2 separate groups. I honestly feel like if my sister and I wanted to climb all the way to the top, our guide would have accompanied us, which I appreciate because she never mentioned anything about the time and how it would be at least 6PM if we did the whole mountain. (Side note: the guide told us that the shrine doesn't have a closing time and my sister and I could come back later in the evening if we really wanted to get to the summit. We did.)

Overall, I really enjoyed our trip to Japan and would like to thank Judy and her team once again for the wonderful time they planned for me and my sister. Besides the wonderful guides I mentioned above, the logistics behind the trip were equally well thought out. The hotels they picked for us were fantastic and the transportation between each city were seamless.

Thank you again Kimkim for an awesome trip!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Keihan Tsukiji Ginza Grande

Tokyo

The hotel is very clean and provide complimentary toiletries at the front desk. The staff were very friendly. The breakfast (which I'm not sure if is normally included or was paid through our tour guide) was always well laid out with a good selection to choose from.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tokinoyu Setsugetsuka

Hakone-machi

The hotel is very clean and provide complimentary pajamas you can wear during your stay. They also give you the option to borrow yukatas (free of charge) if you want instead of using their pajamas. The staff were very friendly (although our server during dinner did seem very stressed). The highlight of this hotel/inn is that you can try out their onsen.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo

Kyoto

The hotel is very clean. The staff were very friendly. The breakfast (which I'm not sure if is normally included or was paid through our tour guide) was always well laid out with a good selection to choose from. The location of the hotel is very good. Once you leave the main entrance, if you go one way, you're a minute walk from the main street with lots of different stores/restaurants to choose from. (There's also a great currency exchange place at the corner of the street for foreigners.) If you go the other way, you're 5 minutes walk away from the metro station. There's also a river you can walk alongside, giving you an alternate path if you don't want to have to walk next to noisy streets.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half Day Bamboo Grove and Monkey Park Tour

Kyoto

The monkeys were very cute. I can tell the staff there really care about the wellbeing of the monkeys because they make sure to sell only 1 bag of snacks to feed the monkeys per group (to ensure no overfeeding).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi Tour

Hakone

My sister and I were very lucky to be able to see the top of Mt Fuji. Our tour guide said normally (unless you go during the winter) the mountain is often hidden behind clouds/fog. Going to the top of Mt. Hakone using the cable car and getting to see the Hakone shrine at the summit of the mountain was very cool. Although it wasn't as flashy as some other shrines we saw later in the trip, it was the most memorable shrine for me since it was the first one on our trip/my first Shinto shrine I've been to. The lake tour was nice, but without our tour guide pointing out the historical checkpoint between Kyoto/Tokyo and explaining the significance of it, I would have probably missed it. Did enjoy sailing past the floating torii gate and seeing the many couples trying to take a picture (apparently if you take a picture with your partner at that gate it will bring good luck to your relationship).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fushimi Inari Taisha and Kinkakuji Temple

Kyoto

Kinkakuji Temple is very pretty. Sad to hear that the original burned down due to arson. Fushimi Inari Taisha was good cardio.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport