Kimkim Trip Reviews for Japan

My son and I took a trip to Japan and planned it through kimkim. Our local agent Angel was amazing to work with and connected us with the best tour guides in Tokyo and Kyoto. She stayed in touch with us throughout the trip and made sure we had all the information we needed to travel efficiently. We could not have asked for a better experience. I definitely will use kimkim again when booking a custom luxury vacation.

Hotel Review

Courtyard by Marriott Shin-Osaka Station

Osaka

Authenticity & Character

Could tell it was an American brand

Location

Near train station

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Drive to Hakone from Tokyo

Japan

This was one of my favorite days. Motoki was once again very accommodating and made sure we got to see everything we wanted. Our driver was also very accommodating and there to pick us up whenever we were ready to move on to the next stop.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vehicle was extremely comfortable

Tokyo Night Foodie Tour in Shinjuku

Tokyo

Minnie was a great guide and the food was incredible. Loved that it was a small group and we got to know our guide and the other couple in the tour.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tokyo Highlights Day Tour - East & West

Tokyo

Our tour guide Motoki was fantastic. He made sure that we got to see and do all that we wanted in addition to what was on our itinerary. He also shared stories of the Japanese culture that added to our experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Motoki was the BEST!

Transport

Angel did an awesome job curat the iternerary for us and suiting it to our interests. All of the guides and activities were excellent. The accomodations were also great. We had a perfect mix of planned experiences and free-time. Angel also did a really good job with the pacing of our trip between cities. Will probably use kimkim again!:)

Hotel Reviews

Mercure Tokyo Haneda Airport

Tokyo

Nice place to stay for our final night in Japan.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Candeo Hotels Osaka The Tower

Osaka

Fancy hotel; enjoyed our stay here.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Vischio Kyoto by GRANVIA

Kyoto

Overall nice place to stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy to get to town from here.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hakone Hotel Kajikaso

Hakone

This hotel was such a memorable experience -- it is in a beautiful area and there is so much to do in the hotel. They also give you yukatas to wear and free tea / juice. One of our favorite things was around 9PM we were exploring the hotel and there was a small spa area where we were able to just walk up and schedule a massage before sleep. Loved that we did not need a reservation or anything and that it was open at night-- super cool! The hotel also had a game room and kareoke room and late-night ramen bar. One thing is that the dinner was very traditional, so that part would not suit everybody's taste; during the dinner there were Geisha performances which was cool. Also, there was a cute store in the hotel with a lot of Hakone-specific items; I took back several different things as souvenirs.

Authenticity & Character

Very traditional.

Location

Pretty in a mountain area.

Staff

Kind and accomodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfortable and clean.

Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku

Tokyo

Amazing location; great hreakfast; clean and spacious room. Loved this for our Tokyo time!

Authenticity & Character

Location is perfect.

Location

Asakusa is a really fun part of Tokyo with a lot of cool shops and restaurants and history -- glad we stayed here and got to see a lot of it.

Staff

Attentive; kind.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was clean and neat.

Activity Reviews

Full Day City Tour with Osaka Castle

Japan

So happy to have Hiro again for this tour -- getting the same tour guide for Kyoto and Osaka was really cool and added to our experience because it was like we were traveling with a friend!:) He also gifted us polaroids of the day as a parting gift -- so nice and I am keeping them forever!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Again, Hiro is awesome.

Transport

Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Japan

Loved trying the different foods Osaka is known for; would do again!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kyoto Cooking Class

Japan

So much fun and turned out delicious!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Japan

Super fun day; we learned and saw a lot! Also loved our guide Hiro -- he was so nice and funny and knowledgable and REALLY good at taking photos. It was like we had a perfect two in one guide and photographer.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi with Oishi Park

Japan

So beautiful and such a fun day! We enjoyed the boat ride, and we really loved the gardens in giew of Mt. Fuji. Our driver was very nice.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Authentic Sumo Experience in Tokyo : Enter the Sanctuary ( join in, small group )

Tokyo

Super fun; the sumo wrestlers had really great / funny personalities.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Tokyo City Tour with Shinjuku Gyoen (cherry blossom)

Tokyo

Our tour guide was so nice and knowledgable! Loved her! Got to see a lot of different places in Tokyo and she took us adjusted the trip to suit what we wanted like if we saw something along the way that was not scheduled she let us check it out and get pictures. She gave us cute paper cranes as a goodbye gift.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Loved Ikuko!!

Transport

Planning: Sharon was great. As we were planning, she was very patient with us as we made modifications to our plans and wishes. She also helped us navigate a couple changes that were required during the trip and made sure we were always aware of what we needed to do.

Tokyo: Blair was an incredible guide. We loved getting a feel for the city and Blair helped us find a couple smaller eateries in addition to doing everything "touristy" we had planned. She also gave us a really good feel for modern Japanese and Tokyo culture.

Kyoto: We enjoyed visiting the temples and appreciated Ellie's knowledge as she showed us around. She helped us understand the differences between cultures in Tokyo and Kyoto and helped us find a couple items outside of our planned tour (a restaurant and a limited-time exhibition) that we enjoyed.

Shona was truly the most incredible travel agent. From the planning, booking and trip, everything was perfect. During the almost year leading up to the trip she was so attentive and knowledgeable with any questions I had. Going to a new country where your language is not their main language can be very nerve racking but Shona made the entire process so easy. I had messed up our flight days coming into Japan and before I knew it Shona had everything taken care of and fixed. She truly took care of everything. From drivers, hotels, train tickets. It was all so organized and well thought out. I can’t thank her enough for making my husband and I’s dream trip a fantastic reality!

Hotel Reviews

HOTEL THE LEBEN OSAKA

Osaka

A stunning hotel within walking distance of the Shinsaibashi shopping district!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rihga Gran Kyoto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Keihan Tsukiji Ginza Grande

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day City Tour with Osaka Castle

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Japan

Getting to try different foods was very cool but we only tried 3 foods in 3 hours. I was expecting a bit more. The tour guide was walking so fast that the group had a very hard time keeping up. We were a group of 3 couples and 1 older lady on her own. None of us were aware we were taking the metro so we didn’t come prepared with suica cards so getting through the station was a mess which caused a lot of frustration for us and the other people trying to get through the station. The food portion of the tour was finished but the guide was going to show us to the famous running man sign. This is where we lost a person of our group. She was an older lady who was there by herself. Again the guide was walking so fast and after about 5 minutes, we realized the older lady wasn’t with us. The guide tried to call the office she goes through because she did not have access to her phone number. The office ended up being closed. We never saw that lady again…

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kyoto Highlights: Kinkaku-ji Temple, Nijo Castle and Fushimi-Inari Taisha

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

This was genuinely such a cool experience! Getting to learn the history of a traditional Japanese tea ceremony while wearing kimonos was such a fun time. My husband and I are on the bigger side and they had plenty of kimono options for us to wear. We didn’t feel left out because of our size which we appreciated so much!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi with Oishi Park

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tokyo Discovery with Shibuya & Harajuku - West

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kumiko was so much fun! She was so knowledgeable about the areas we were in. She was always ready to take a great picture of us that we will cherish for a lifetime!

Transport

We just got back from our honeymoon trip to Japan, and Greg made the entire experience absolutely amazing. From the very beginning, he was incredibly responsive — anytime we had a question or needed help with something, he got back to us right away, which took a lot of the stress out of traveling.

The itinerary he put together was perfect for us. We had such a great time exploring Kyoto, Hakone, Osaka, Tokyo, and Nara. Every place we visited felt thoughtfully planned, and all the details were handled so smoothly that we were able to just relax and enjoy the trip.

We couldn’t have asked for a better first big adventure as a married couple. Thank you, Greg, for helping make our honeymoon so special!

Our trip to Japan was memorable and full of beauty. The itinerary gave us a wonderful mix of cultural, historical, and scenic experiences. Kamakura was by far my favorite stop - peaceful, rich in history, and beautifully guided by Kimura, who was phenomenal. He was kind, engaging, and incredibly knowledgeable. We learned so much and felt truly cared for.

Unfortunately, our experience in Nikko was disappointing. Our guide, Martin, seemed ill, which was especially concerning because my mother is immunocompromised. His clothes and glasses appeared dirty, and the tour itself felt unorganized. We learned very little about the sites, didn’t have time to browse the shops, and there was no break for lunch, which left everyone hungry by the end of the day.

We raised our concerns, and the kimkim team responded quickly by assigning Edward for our Mt. Fuji excursion. Edward was wonderful - professional, thoughtful, and attentive. Thanks to him, we finished our trip on a positive note.

Our travel specialist, Shona, was kind but missed the mark in a few areas. Our hotel was changed twice after payments had already been made, our Disney tickets were not secured early enough to make restaurant reservations, and I also noticed that our Disney tickets were purchased for the wrong day leading to a bed to change around our itinerary very close to our departure date. Shona also mixed up the time of our final call, which caused some confusion and didn’t allow for our entire group to be present. The travel documents we received also had small errors, such as listing the wrong months (March and April instead of October) and including information about an activity we weren’t doing. We asked for restaurant recommendations but received only a few food ideas shortly before departure, so we ended up doing that research ourselves. Finally, our Mario Kart tour was cancelled due to rain, so Shona was kind enough to refund us directly $112/pp for the tickets and driver fees. While in Japan, Shona was very responsive and made sure we were taken care of. I wish this was the sentiment before getting to Japan, too.

Despite these bumps, Japan itself was absolutely magical. Kamakura and Mt. Fuji were unforgettable, and Kimura and Edward were the true highlights of our journey. With a little more attention to detail in the planning and communication process, this trip could have been flawless.

Hotel Review

Sunshine City Prince Hotel Ikebukuro Tokyo

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi Tour with Whisky Tasting

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploring the Natural Wonders of Nikko

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tokyo-Kamakura-Tokyo

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Meiji Shrine,the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace Akihabara,and Harajuku Tour

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We have returned from a 21 day trip around Honshu, organized by the local specialist, Greg. Normally we plan our own adventures but were overwhelmed by the multitude of possibilities in Japan. Greg provided excellent planning to experience as much as possible, as efficiently as possible, within our time frame. Our trip included a few guided days as well as some local cultural experiences. We particularly enjoyed the kintsugi experience in Kyoto and loved visiting the tea farmer in Uji. For the other days, we had either specific recommendations (which sometimes included train tickets) as well as more loose recommendations for things to do at our leisure and on our own. The combination worked well! All the little details were covered, including a pocket wifi device which proved invaluable. Prior to the trip, Greg was alerted to the endurance/mobility limitations of one of our party and worked to create itineraries which would work with less demanding walking. Having someone in country familiar with the landscapes and distances was very helpful in our specific case. As the trip commenced, that limitation actually increased, but Greg was able to pivot to adapt to the changing needs, primarily consulting with guides to adjust the itineraries when it looked like we wouldn't be able to manage.

Hotel Reviews

The Prince Park Tower Tokyo

Tokyo

Located a short walk to the Tokyo Tower with views of the tower from the room. Breakfast was chaotic but offered views of Mt. Fuji on "lucky" days.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hilton Hiroshima

Hiroshima

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Thousand Kyoto

Kyoto

Beautiful hotel located adjacent to the Kyoto Central Station .. .in an ideal location for everything.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

IORI SHIROYAMA

Takayama

This villa is absolutely beautiful, with a sauna as well as indoor and outdoor baths. It is isolated with beautiful landscaping and outdoor spaces. The breakfast is delivered in the morning, but was a bit disappointing. I know Japan is a tea culture but there was no coffee (didn't know in advance to buy coffee for the machine). My only problem with it is that it is located way up a hill from the center of Takayama. It's a tough walk back up to the villa. We did take a taxi back to the villa and had to assist the driver to find the villa , even with his gps. Luckily I remembered some visual landmarks to get us to the space!

Authenticity & Character

Location

There is a shuttle to the villa at check in and check out - maybe shuttles at other times? It really is tough to get to on foot.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Hotel Sanraku Kanazawa

Kanazawa

Excellent location literally across from the fish market and close to bus transportation. Beautiful rooms with large baths.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Chisun Grand Nagano

Excellent location within a few minutes to the train station and center. Smaller rooms but clean and comfortable. We weren't prepared for the tatami mats at breakfast and the low chairs but the food was excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Blossom Hibiya

Minato

Excellent location with an excellent breakfast buffet including many Japanese items.

Authenticity & Character

A very western hotel - but very well maintained

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Nishiki Market Brunch Walking Food Tour

Kyoto

Nishiki Market as included as part of our explorations with a guide. The hype about Nishiki Market I widespread but it was honestly a bit disappointing. It is packed with tourists and barely any locals. The crowds make it tough to even get to some of the stalls. It feels like it was a "necessary" stop but it was so removed from the original market.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover the secret gems of Kanazawa - Private Walking Tour

Kanazawa

Great afternoon exploring the market, including many tastes of the local fish and specialties (gold leaf ice cream!) and then far beyond in the town.

Takayama Half-Day Private Tour with Expert Guide

Takayama

Excellent energetic knowledgable guide thrilled to share hie new hometown with us.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Kamikochi Tour

Nagano

Beautiful day exploring in the countryside with an excellent guide and driver

Full Day Tour to Kurobe Gorge and Unazuki Onsen

Japan

Kintsugi Experience at Shikata Urushi, A Centuries-Old Japanese-Urushi Shop in Kyoto

Kyoto

I knew about kintsugi prior to this experience but had no idea about the complexity involved. This was an excellent overview of not only the actual hands-on work but the background of the materials.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

e provided our own transport via taxi

Tea Plantation Tour and Organic Green Tea Tasting

Japan

We absolutely adored this exploration of the era plantation and tasting the green tea varieties.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Everything about my trip to Japan was exceptionally well-organized from start to finish. I loved every part of the experience, every site I visited and every city I explored, from Tokyo through Osaka and Kyoto to Kanazawa. It was a smooth, well balanced schedule with a lot of thought put into this itinerary. All the tour guides were friendly, professional, and always ready to help. In general, it was an unforgettable journey which exceeded all my expectations.

Hotel Reviews

Daiwa Roynet Hotel KANAZAWAEKI-NISHIGUCHI

Kanazawa

I'm giving this hotel a lower score only because it didn't quite live up to my personal expectations. I usually book boutique or upscale hotels for myself, so this was a little different for me. That said, the staff was super professional and friendly, which I greatly appreciated.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Candeo Hotels Osaka The Tower

Osaka

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Richmond Hotel premier KYOTO SHIJO

I'm giving this hotel a lower score only because it didn't quite live up to my personal expectations. I usually book boutique or upscale hotels for myself, so this was a little different for me. That said, the staff was super professional and friendly, which I greatly appreciated.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ryokan Aura Tachibana

Hakone

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mitsui Garden Hotel Jingugaien Tokyo Premier

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Gokayama and Shirakawago Tour from Kanazawa

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Osaka-Nara day trip with Osaka Castle

Osaka

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi & Oishi Park

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport






For our part, we realize that planning should have begun earlier — probably 6 months in advance, because certain tours, hotels, etc were already booked. Nevertheless, Judy was terrific and resourceful, getting back to us quickly despite the challenges of being in different time zones. Our goals (arts and hands-on) were different from those of a typical tourist; Judy was good at accommodating them. We could have used more advice about the differences in those programs, so we researched them on our own. That meant we had to request additional things and changes as we learned about them.

Also, we made a scheduling error, not realizing that the flight arrived the day after it began, so Judy had to adjust our bookings to accommodate this. We threw her an extra challenge by asking her to add a day-trip to Hamamatsu for a family visit. Also, a freak accident on the take-off of our flight to Tokyo caused us to be re-routed through Europe, hence losing another day. Altogether, this meant our proposed 14 day trip had to be jammed into a shorter number of days. Upon retrospect, even without these unexpected adjustments, we should have allowed ourselves three weeks to do everything we wanted to do and to give ourselves more time for exploring on our own. An open day in each city would have been preferable and made for a more relaxed trip.

Tour guides - Guides in Tokyo and Kanazawa were excellent and flexible. However, Michiko (Kyoto), though eager to please was less well-informed and had weaker English. She was too focused on Samurai/Shogun history and wanted to take too many photos of us. We were surprised that her tour involved walking and buses, which worked out fine, but we were surprised as we expected a driver in each location unless specified.

Workshops and presentations - Our first workshop (sushi making) was a disaster. We were told to get there on our own by local train, but had no previous instruction about how to navigate. When we arrived at the address we were given, there was no signage and no staff there to greet us, so we didn’t know if we were in the right place. After contacting Judy, we discovered that the company had made a scheduling error, which they corrected as quickly as possible. The workshop was ok in spite of the space with was filthy with cigarette butts and used cups on the table. Looking online afterwards, we saw that there were many other sushi workshops that might have been better choices.

The other workshops were all excellent: washi paper making, dyeing, the artisan visit (embroidery), and an unscheduled visit to a gold leaf workshop that our guide created since we had extra time.

Transportation - There was a lot of transportation that we had to navigate on our own. We found it quite challenging, especially at first. We would have benefited from more advance information about how to manage the different systems and locations (some with QR codes, some with one ticket, some with two tickets). Even after we requested more direction from Judy, we still found it difficult. Fortunately, we were assisted by train station personnel or sympathetic travelers or residents who saw us struggling and shepherded us to the right place.

Hotels - Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka were excellent; the hotel in Kanazawa was fair (amenities were better than we thought at first due to a communication problem). Still, the room was very small and one side of the bed was against the wall.

Due to the popularity of Naoshima, we were booked in Okayama, which required a ferry ride each way. There too one side of the bed was against the wall. Although it was advertised as a beachfront facility. In fact it was a block or two from the waterfront (not a beach) and overlooked a bicycle track. There was a night race one of the nights we were there, which was unique.

Judy was an excellent planner, responding cheerfully under a number of challenging circumstances. It would have been helpful to be advised about how realistic it was to see so much in a short time, especially given our age. Although we’re in good shape for our ages we are in our 80s. As mentioned above, we needed more assistance with independent train travel. It would also have been helpful to have advice about restaurants near our various hotels. We were told that the guides could help us, but they had no more knowledge than what they or we could find online.

Hotel Reviews

Miyako City Osaka Hommachi

Osaka

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

SETOUCHI KEIRIN HOTEL 10 by Onko Chishin

Tamano

Inconvenient. Only recommended for bike racing enthusiats, adjacent to bike racing track. Description says beachfont but it’s over a block away from the water - essentially a small marina for fishing boats. No beach. We were only there because we weren’t able to book a place to stay on Naoshima and it was a 5 minute taxi ride to the ferry to Naoshima.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cross Hotel Kyoto

Kyoto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Intergate Kanazawa

Kanazawa

Functional, nothing special. Small room with one side of the bed against the wall.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mitsui Garden Hotel Jingugaien Tokyo Premier

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

beautiful but far from anything other than an olympic stadium

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

We didn’t realize that we’d have to wear kimonos. Wouldn’t have chosen to but it ended up being fun.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Yuzen Dyeing Experience

Kyoto

Fabulous personal hands-on experience with a master artisan.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Exploration: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Kinkaku-ji Temple

Kyoto

Unless you’re really into the bamboo grove and this particular temple, time would be better spent looking at pictures, avoiding the crowds and doing something else.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gion Geisha Show and Walking Tour

Kyoto

We arrived too late for the walking tour but the Geisha show was fascinating.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We took a taxi on our own.

Half Day Artisan Tour in Kanazawa

Kanazawa

Wonderful embroidery folks. Unexpected. We wouldn’t have selected embroidery but it was terrific as was the guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kanazawa Highlights with Art: Gardens, Castles & National Crafts Museum

Kanazawa

Intead of having a guide and driver, we traveled by bus with guide. Her English wasn’t as good as other guides and she was focused primarily on Samurai/Shogun. Sweet lady, though.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Driver rather than buses.

Tokyo Sushi Making Experience & Japanese Cooking Class

Tokyo

Scheduled at the wrong time, difficult to find, no signage, dirty.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploring Futuristic Odaiba with Sumida River Cruise

Tokyo

Wonderful guide, flexible so we were able to make changes to personalize the day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The itinerary of the trip was unbelievable and Shona planned the trip of a lifetime…in the final analysis that is all that matters! We did have some minor challenges along the way which are worth mentioning to provide constructive feedback for next client. These include 1. Major issues w web site …after over a year of planning, the itinerary was dropped and had to be rebuilt. Our friends could not at first pay final payment because business office had no record of trip! We were never able to get two distinct trip plans….for example new plan did not reflect free meals at hotel in Hakone which was on earlier version ( although Shona eventually included). Minor issue but only 2 tee shirts provided at Christmas although 4 people traveling and paying money. Sometimes communication was challenging. Zoom calls did not work, for example. Shona worked really hard and generally available at all hours of day, leading us to worry that she might have needed more help from team. We learned the hard way that asking for extra steps, such as tickets to a tennis tournament, could be so challenging to not be worth the effort on the part of all. This I suspect is a function of the complex nature of Japan. The web site was confusing. Changes made in chat section not always accurately updated in trip plans, leading to some confusion, such as not knowing when rides to train would show up, location for foodie tour meet up spot was wrong, so spent an hour waiting in pouring rain to finally meet guide, etc. For the most part, these challenges were limited in number and guides, train tickets,etc. all worked like clockwork. Hotels were great, with exception of last night in Tokyo..room was so small it was hard for my husband and I to even move around free space. Your last night before a long journey home you really want to start w a good night’s sleep so that was disappointing. The hotels were in great locations and high quality, however, although the lake hotel in Nikko was far from town so long taxi rides for bike tour. In retrospect, we are still glad we stayed there as it was a very unique experience and the other choices would not have been as good. We had 4 guides that were over the top and made our experiences especially wonderful… we bonded so well with them that it was hard to say goodbye ( Tokyo, Kyoto, Nikko bike trip, and Nara transfer). All guides were good, but it was clear which ones were doing it to pick up extra money while in school, for example, versus having a true passion. We did not like the tours where you had to pay entrance fees yourself, such as with Kanazawa tours. For the most part, the itinerary did a great job ( with help of guides ) of avoiding crowds during high traffic season, which was greatly appreciated . The main exception was Tokyo sky tower on Sunday afternoon—- 2 hrs of lines and so crowded on top hard to take in view.

In summary, what I really liked about the trio was attention to making experiences unique, and not touristy, so we felt we really could experience the real Japan. The private guides did that, as well special events such as country bike trip in Nikko, monastery stay in Koyasan, geisha tea house ceremony, Nara deer interactions, visit to ancient home in third town on Shirakawago day trip, Kimono museum in Mt Fuji, etc. Please don’t take the comments above as taking away from the incredible service we got from Shona. This was not a cookie cutter trip to a very busy tourist site… it was well planned, unique, creative, flowed well and a great collaborative effort between ourselves and our guide!,

Hotel Reviews

Hakone Kowakien TEN-YU

Hakone

Dinners great

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

莲华定院 (Ren'gejo-in Temple (Pilgrim's Lodging))

Unique experience although hungry after meals!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Candeo Hotels Osaka The Tower

Osaka

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Hotel Sanraku Kanazawa

Kanazawa

View of electrical equipment on roof of building next door

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Chuzenji Kanaya Hotel

Big room beautiful location Rooms a bit dated but very charming . Far from town

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Daiwa Roynet Hotel Ginza PREMIER

Tokyo

Rooms too small. Breakfast good and location great

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room too small. View into office suite of building across way

Activity Reviews

Osaka Foodie Walking Tour at dark

Osaka

Guide good .. first restaurant just mediocre.. second good. Poring rain and we were told to meet at old meeting point ..had to walk in rain to catch up to guide

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transfer from Kyoto to Osaka via Nara

Japan

Highlight of trip was spending so much time w Hector… he even walked back to hotel check in w us to be sure no issues and kept sending useful advice after the long day w him ended. So much fun. Lived his knowledge, enthusiasm, sense of humor, shortcuts and tailored itinerary

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Garden Walking Tour (Join-in)

Kyoto

Just ok

Half Day Fushimi Inari Taisha to Tofuku-ji Temple Hiking Experience

Kyoto

Guide was nice but harder to communicate with

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Geisha (Maiko) Tea Ceremony & Show

Kyoto

Thought it would be touristy but it felt very authentic and we really loved the Q and A w geisha

Quality of Experience

Kanazawa Full Day Walking Tour

Kanazawa

Guide was nice but did not feel as if we learned as much . Did not like concept of paying for lunch for all.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Shirakawago Day Trip

Kanazawa

Loved all 3 towns,but the most authentic was the last one.. especially house visit.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Night Tour of Kanawaza With Dinner

Kanazawa

Guide was just Ok . Restaurant was great and unique

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nikko 33km Scenic Cycling + Farmhouse Lunch (Approx. 5 Hours)

Nikko

Our tour guide was so wonderful ! Loved the entire day . Bikes good. Well organized .

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Get a Taste of Nikko's Nature and Culture: Toshogu Shrine.

Nikko

KENTO was as good as it gets … so much fun and we will never forget our time with him.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi Tour with Whisky Tasting

Tokyo

Yumi was outstanding

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Tokyo City Tour

Tokyo

Yumi was as good as it gets .. we became best friends before the trio was over. She spent so much time ensuring everything went smoothly and had unique suggestiins to make Tokyo and mt Fuji flow smoothly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We (group of six) had a fabulous vacation! Some highlights for me were the sushi class at Akemis Kitchen, the Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya, our Kyoto city tour especially Nijo Castle and Fushimi Inari Shrine, and Miyajima Island. Having tickets pre-purchased for many of the sites helped us avoid long lines and time spent navigating to entrances- a real plus when trying to see as much as possible in a few weeks.

All three of our city guides (Jack, Sunny, Masako) were wonderful, taking time to answer our questions and very knowledgeable of the sites. The drivers were excellent as well- communicated promptly and clearly and used translation apps when language could have been an issue.

Our hotels were comfortable and well located. Rooms were small as was expected but very clean and well maintained. I enjoyed the breakfast buffets everywhere as well!

There were one or two things we felt could be improved. First, if the detailed itinerary had been provided a bit earlier, it would have allowed us more time to plan our independent activities. As first time visitors to Japan we were overwhelmed when attempting to slot in activities for our free time at the last moment. The other area of confusion involved the train travel. While we managed to find our way eventually by asking folks along the way and in the stations, a bit more detail about ticketing processes and how the tickets would be dispersed would have saved us some worry.

To sum up, I will have no hesitation in recommending Kimkim or booking another trip through the company.

Thanks for everything, Greg. We got to see so many spots and stops and there were lots of good recommendations and specific instructions along the way to make everything go smoothly. Pam, our guide in Kyoto, was particularly helpful.

Leny and her team put together a fantastic two-week trip, let alone the destination itself was terrific.
Tokyo-->Hakone-->Kyoto-->Osaka-->Hiroshima-->Tokyo.
She listened to our particular tastes and gave us a first draft itinerary that was almost perfect. As the trip neared, she was able to accommodate last minute requests and re-jig some of the activities.
In our case, there were Foodie Tours in every city, accompanied by some local morning tours of different neighborhoods, walking paths, and major attractions such as shrines, temples and bamboo forests. We had plenty of our own free time to go deep in neighborhoods and activities without the pace of a private guide.
The guides themselves were indeed great--they all spoke English well and were extremely polite and approachable.
All intra-Japan movement was either on private car, bullet train "Shinkansen", or the excellent metro system in Tokyo and Osaka.
Leny's team was with us 24/7 via a whatsapp group. We didn't really need any major correction during the trip, but they made sure that there was CONSTANT communication between them, our tour guides and drivers, and any were quick to ensure we had all vouchers and passes.
Highlights of the trip itself? Walking the neighborhoods of Tokyo--Shibuya is a must, Tsukiji Fish market for uber-fresh Sushi, Street aka Mario Karting in Akihabara, and Sumo exhibition. In Hakone, we spent a night in a quaint mountainside Honten, with our own private hot springs. Note that the food here is VERY local, so don't expect toast and eggs for breakfast. Kyoto is much more touristy, but also smaller and more intimate. A great walking city and of course the amazing Fushimi inari Taisha shrine is a must see.
In vibrant Osaka, another great food tour. It's also the jumping off point for a day-trip to Hiroshima.

Leny's team gave us GREAT hotels in each city, including a boutique hotel in Kyoto that used the be Nintendo's HQ--the Marufukuro.

With KimKim, everything is paid for in advance--all I needed was metro and spending money. And, of course, any meals not included.
Kudos Leny and KimKim. A great, in-depth experience in Japan where you will be captivated by the wonderful people, the collective culture, great food scene and rich history.

Hotel Reviews

InterContinental Osaka, an IHG Hotel

Osaka

This is also a five star hotel located in the city of Osaka. Right on the subway line, connected to lots of shopping and restaurants so you don't even need to go outside.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right next to shopping, the subway, restos.

Staff

They will even call and HOLD the elevator for you, with a polite "Arigato"!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds were very comfortable; the room was cleaned daily. Super luxe and well appointed.

The Okura Tokyo

Tokyo

This is a SIX star hotel, really. Located in the heart of Tokyo, across from the US Embassy. Walking distance to the Metro as well. It's uber luxe to the max.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to Metro

Staff

They greet you everywhere, super polite and accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

It's a luxury hotel--of course it will be clean and immaculate.

Matsuzakaya Honten

Kanagawa

Very authentic--you are asked to wear your Kimono everywhere, including meals in the dining room. We had a private hot spring right in our backyard off the room. Sleeping on a mattress on the floor, the wonderful smell of incense everywhere, and a private garden are all part of the experience. The food is genuine Japan, fixed menu (at least it was for us). So make sure you are good with that.

Authenticity & Character

Up a mountain, nature all around, quiet, hot springs right on site.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Marufukuro

Charming and original. A great boutique hotel located in a quiet neighborhood yet close to the riverbed and major restos and shopping. The staff is extremely friendly and attentive. Good, simple breakfast included, and very well appointed rooms. The Nintendo-history lounge is a must visit!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms, the beds, all the grounds.

Activity Reviews

Explore Hiroshima & Miyajima in a Day: Private Bullet Train Adventure from Osaka

Osaka

A smooth bullet train from Osaka gets you here, to witness the history of the A-bomb. It's a must see, if only to understand the scale and impact that this had. Our guide was knowledgeable, and spoke great English.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tokyo Tsukiji Fish Market Food Walking Tour

Tokyo

Authentic, and fresh! This market is so much fun...lots of people, animation, and food to try!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Japan

Great foodie tour, centralized in one main area so not a ton of walking if that is a concern. Our guide was terrific and knowledgeable. Great foods as well, especially okonomiyaki.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Relaxing Evening: Private Onsen and Kaiseki Dinner

Hakone

Very authentic mountainside hotel. Private garden, hotspring in our garden, sleeping on the floor and they give you a kimono to wear the entire time--even at dinner and breakfast!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exclusive Sumo Practice Tour: Unveil Japan’s National Sport

Tokyo

Great guide who kept us informed about the history of Sumo, as well as how the practice was evolving during the course of the morning. We got a great seat if you get there early.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great english, very nice and knowledgeable

Transport

Best Of Shibuya Food Private Tour - Evening

Tokyo

You'll be tasting best of Japan in off-the beat and path locales. Sushi is at a small place where you stand and the chef makes it right there for you. All the prices for food were included in our tour. Plus--you get a general tour of Shibuya as well. This is a MUST SEE neighborhood. The throngs of young people are amazing, and of course the famous scramble!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

On the whole this was a memorable trip but on this occasion although the logistics and planning of tours and day trips were taken care of, we felt it was a little too expensive, especially given other Kimkim trips which felt more value add. We ended up booking all our own accommodation and flights, so really we were just paying for the things to do in Japan, and it was an awful lot. We therefore expected a little bit more than what we got.

Kimkim arranged:
- A seamless day at Disney - great.
- A visit to Nara was fun, with a reasonable guide who showed some interest.
- A Mt Fuji day trip. Weather was foggy. Couldn't see anything. This happens and was a shame. But tour guide first of all didn't cancel knowing we'd see nothing (and had said as much) but then also didn't really know how to make the day enjoyable. He just took us from view point to view point in the fog. He didn't recommend anything else. Eventually I just cut the day short because we didn't the point of going to another tourist hot spot to look at nothing. Honestly this was a poor day as a private guide should have a plan B if there's bad weather and if you have a private car you should be able to get off the beaten track at points and pivot your day trip.
- Kyoto samurai experience (see below) and tea ceremony (great).
- Transport. All transport in Tokyo was great. Kyoto was average. Our first driver didn't speak English, didn't really know where we were going, dropped us off at the wrong place when we went for a samurai experience (which means we missed half the experience) and when he picked us up at 8pm made a nice gesture I guess, but had brought us all coffee. But it was 8pm and two of us were young children... It was a nice but strange thing to do.
- Our representative made good by providing transport to the train station the next day, but we did feel this transport should have been in place anyway.

We fully understand the bespoke nature of the service and have used and will use Kimkim again. But ultimately on this occasion as we'd ended up sorting most things ourselves, for the cost of the trip we probably would have expected better guides and better logistics in Kyoto. It was therefore a good trip but not a great one.

Our Kimkim representative was responsive and friendly.

Hotel Reviews

The Strings by InterContinental, Tokyo, an IHG Hotel

Tokyo

A very good business hotel, though the suite was rather tired and needs a serious upgrade. It's well located, food is nice and it's a good stop over when you have a business meeting or an early connection.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Ritz Carlton

Kyoto

Great hotel, very family friendly and exceptionally welcoming of children with activities for them from arrival onwards. Wonderful aesthetic that matches the vibe of a Kyoto, if a touch on the dark side at breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Tokyo EDITION, Toranomon

Tokyo

Great hotel. Amazing staff. We arrived at 8am and they even gave us a spare room for the kids to rest in until check in time. It's a superb hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kids Friendly Day Trip to Nara and Uji

Kyoto

Nice to see the deer but it does get crowded. It's not that picturesque and in fact nicer and more peaceful around the back.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Kyoto

Our driver meant we missed half the samurai experience, but from what we did do it was great. Super friendly teacher, great English and funny. Very kid friendly. Tremendous fun. Tea ceremony is a wonderful experience too. Concerns over appropriation, but actually you don't feel it, instead you enjoy and learn. It's a really nice thing to do for all the family or a couple or a sol traveller.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Mt.Fuji and Chureito Pagoda Tour From Tokyo

Tokyo

It was a foggy day. Couldn't see anything - happens, but tour guide didn't pivot or provide alternate experience, also didn't talk to us much. Every stop was very tourist heavy. It did not feel special, it felt like a waste of time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver fine, expected more from private guide.

Transport

Everything went off just as planned, and we were all pleased. Our guides were all great and went out of their way to see that we saw more, especially when they found out that we were not interested in the more highly crowded places. They patiently answered our questions and saw to our needs. Ben, our specialist, could not have been more attentive to our frequent questions and concerns. He was able to change events based on our interests even as the date of our departure approached. The only thing I would have changed is deleted some of the more crowd-impacted locales such as Nikko and put in more off the beaten path trips like our monastery stay in Minobu and the marvelous animated Festival Float museum in Takayama that our guide added in when he picked up on our interest. We learned and enjoyed much more in the less crowded venues, but this is Japan where it is truly hard to avoid the hoards of tourists. Overall, it was a wonderful trip. This is the second time Ben has helped us with a trip, and I will certainly turn to him again for any future trips.

Hotel Reviews

Takayama Ouan Hotel

The rooftop onsen was amazing. We so enjoyed looking out on the city at night. Breakfast offered some Western items that were much appreciated.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ryokan Yaeikan

Hakone

What a treat to have our own private onsen and dining area! This was a truly unique experience, and one we are so glad that we did. The food was interesting and diverse which made the menu printed in English very helpful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Temple Lodging Shukubo Kakurinbo

Everyone was attentive to our needs in this quiet and peaceful establishment. We very much enjoyed speaking with the son of the monk of this temple, meeting his girlfriend and his brother's family. The onsen was always free when we wanted it which was a delight. We optioned to take the guided tour which was very interesting. After a stay in busy, crowded Tokyo, 2 nights in this peaceful locale was just what we needed. Definitely, we felt the love and care that those who worked and lived here felt for this temple lodging.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Day Trip to Himeji Before Leaving : Exploring Japan’s First Famous Castle and Tranquil Gardens （By Private Transfer）

Japan

If I had known that the drive to Himeji from Osaka was 2 and more hours, I would have suggested an alternative. Over 4 hours of driving in a car just to see one site was not worth the time. We are glad, however, that we went by car and not by train. A visit to a block printing museum which had been offered as a special treat could not be done due to the traffic. Not realizing how the timing was going to play out, we spent way too much time at the castle and should have been hustled along which we would have readily done since that block printing museum was something we looked forward to seeing. The castle was definitely interesting, but not worth the time we spent there or the time it took to get there and back. We ended up beingdropped off at the airport much earlier than expected, but not having enough time to slip in the museum.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

More forethought into timing and distance to be traveled should have been considered.

Transport

Guided Day tour to a Tea Farm in Uji by public transport

Kyoto

Due to rain and cold, we did not go to the tea farm. However, our guide was very resourceful and took us to a tea museum which gave us all the information on tea growing and processing that we had hoped to get at the tea farm in a much more comfortable setting. The rain, which could have hampered us, did not, and we had a thoroughly enjoyable day both at the museum and strolling around Uji..

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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

Kyoto

The River Boat ride was much too long and not all that interesting, though the boat guides were animated and fun to watch. The bamboo forest surpassed our expectations, mainly because we road through it on rickshaws which allowed us to be on what felt like a private path away from the maddening crowds on the broader boulevard. It was quiet on that path allowing us to absorb the beauty of the forest. The tea ceremony was quite interesting with the kimono dress up. Unfortunately, none of the three of us could sit on the floor, and the young man doing the ceremony did not act pleased with us. It felt like we were reluctantly given small stools or chairs to use, but even these were extremely uncomfortable for our 77-yr old knees. Though we enjoyed watching the ceremony, it was a torture to sit through.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Day tour by public transport in Kyoto: Golden Pavilion，Fushimi Inari Shrine, Traditional Arts Performance, Pontocho Alley

Kyoto

Seeing photos of the Golden Pavilion is better than actually viewing it in real life, and it actually looks more impressive in photos than it does in person. Much too crowded, though seeing the large, golden Buddha was interesting. We felt the guides at the temple were a bit surly when one chastised one of us for putting her hand on a railing to balance herself when taking off her shoes. There were no places to sit or to balance offered. I guess with all the crowds, they have to be super vigilant. The Fushimi Inari Shrine was worth the visit even though very crowded, and one cannot help being impressed with the amount of love and devotion that went into the many torii placed there. We also enjoyed walking the grounds afterwards. The Art Performance was very well done, and our trip to Pontocho Alley proved to be our spot for two dinners while in Kyoto.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kanazawa Highlights Guided Tour by Public Transportation : Kenroku-en Garden and Samurai District in Public Transportation

Kanazawa

The Kenroku-en Garden was wonderful, and we enjoyed walking its many paths. Touring Kanazawa Castle was also very interesting. We were continually amazed at the amount of effort that has been put into restoring and maintaining so many of Japan's heritage sites. Learning more about the Samurai history was fun. Unfortunately, we did not get to visit the old Samurai house, for a lengthy wait for a bus to the site prevented us from getting there on time. Here a taxi would have been the way to go, for we soon discovered that splitting the taxi fare to most locations made in feasible economically and certainly saved a lot of time and inconvenience.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We missed visiting the Samurai house due to an overly long wait for a bus. Looking at the time, our guide should have opted for a taxi. We would have gladly paid rather than wait what seemed like 30 minutes for the bus.

Day trip : Takayama to Kanazawa with Unique Experiences

Japan

I am not sure that we needed to see both Gokayama and Shirakawago. The visit the day before to Hida Folk Village was a delight. It was so peaceful walking through the grounds and seeing the village as it had once been. Gokayama and Shirakawago were a bit of a disappointment, for the old buildings are mixed in with new and there was too much emphasis on attracting the tourist through the many shops which ruined the ambiance of the place. The two villages are so similar that visiting one is probably enough. We did thoroughly enjoy our visit to the 500-year old Iwase House, for this was unique and the couple that run it took their time talking to us and answering our questions. We loved the experience with the old instruments and the short performance of the old song they did for us.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

private car is the way to go

1-Day Guided Tour from Takayama Ouan Hotel: Kokubun-ji Temple, Hida Folk Village & Hida Great Limestone Cave

Takayama

All was very interesting, and our guide was wonderful. When he discovered how much we had enjoyed the Festival Museum in Takayama, he took us to another such museum in an old quarry in the hills above the Hida Folk Village. This museum offered animated action on the floats which were fascinating. Without him, we would not have found this place, for it does not readily show up on a Google search. The Limestone Cave was interesting and very well done, but if you have been to such caves, it was just like all the others.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private car is the way to go

Private transfer from Tokyo to Minobu enroute tour to Mt. Fuji

Japan

Perfect -- though not surprisingly, we did not see Mt. Fuji!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Have Fun in Nikko (Full day by private transfer)

Tokyo

Too many people and too much to see. It is all a jumble in our minds with nothing of the amazing temples and shrines standing out in our memory or photos. Fortunately, our guide knew a quiet spot for lunch which we greatly enjoyed. We are also so very glad we were in a private car for this trip which was much more comfortable and relaxed than the trains would have been. In retrospect, it might have been a better idea to spend a night or two here to allow one a more relaxed visit to the various spots so that they did not all run into each other seeing one on top of another.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tokyo Night Foodie Tour

Tokyo

Unfortunately, there are two columns outside the train station where we were to meet. Arriving by taxi and not by the train, we were dropped off at the wrong spot and did not realize that until past the meeting time. Thankfully, our Tokyo guide was able to sort everything out, though even after being dropped off near the restaurant we still had trouble locating the guide. It turned out that the food tour guide was waiting for us, but as she only held her sign at waist height, in the crowds, we totally missed her. Once we connected with the group, all was well. They allowed us time to catch up with the rest of the group, and we enjoyed a delightful evening.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tokyo Highlights: Market, Temple and Gardens

Tokyo

Walking through the gardens on our first day in Tokyo was the perfect choice for us, and we enjoyed have tea on the island in the Hamarikyu Gardens. Unfortunately, we could not do the river cruise as the high tides (due to full moon) prevented the boat from going under the bridges. Our guide knew a bit about the gardens which was appreciated by the two garden enthusiasts in our group. She also was very informative about the Shinto and Buddhist religions and how they interact with the Japanese. The market was every bit as crowded as we expected, but our guide knew a quiet place for us to stop and have lunch.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very attentive and eager to meet our expectations, though we struggled at times to understand what she was saying.

Transport

Transport was by local trains which often required a lot of walking and waiting. After we discovered that splitting the taxi fare 3 ways made traveling by taxi feasible and much easier than taking the trains, that is the way we traveled when on our own.

The itinerary had early mornings and it presented some challenges particularly on hotel-change days, you’re up early, you arrive at the next destination, and then end up losing a lot of time just waiting around. Check out time is typicallt 10:00am and check in time is 3:00pm. Hotels allow for early bag drop off which is great but you're dropping off your bags, lined up with everyone in the same area as those checking out. By then you’re usually tired from the travel itself and could really use a shower or short rest, but instead you’re stuck filling the day — until check-in time. The result is you start the evening already exhausted, with little energy left for anything social.
As an example, I arrived in Osaka at 10:30 am, couldn’t check in until 3:00 pm, walked around for hours, had lunch, and by the time I finally got into my room, my feet were sore, I was overheated, and just wanted to shower and rest. I unpacked, repacked for the next day, and ended up too tired to go out my last night — which became a theme of this trip. I definitely packed too much into each day and would recommend doing less each and extending your time in each city.
That pacing would give more time to actually enjoy each city rather than rushing through it. Frequent hotel changes really take a toll!

Even though I didn't travel during peak season, the crowds were intense. Kyoto was especially overwhelming — Kiyomizu-dera Temple were shoulder-to-shoulder, and after 4 hours I still hadn’t reached the actual temple. In the Gion district, the narrow alley ways were intensely crowded to the point of being frustrating. I eventually gave up and found a tiny English pub — something I could easily do back home :(

One last note — tattoos are still a challenge in Japan. I was stared at or ignored in several places, including restaurants and at both tattoo friendly sento and onsen, which left me feeling self-conscious - with that said there were more moments of feeling welcomed. I often ended up eating lunch and dinner from convenience stores — the food there was great, varied and affordable but I missed out on restaurant experiences. It might be worth mentioning to other solo female travellers with visible tattoos that they could face that kind of reaction, just so they’re prepared.

Eleanor my travel coordinator was exceptional and went WAY beyond my expectations in her attention to care and accommodation. Thank you again Eleanor for all the care and detail you put into planning this trip — you’ve been wonderful - before / during and after my Japan adventure

Hotel Review

Yuno Yado Shoei

My stay at Yuno Yado Shoei was an absolute highlight of my trip — a deeply traditional and genuinely restorative experience. From the moment I arrived, the hospitality was warm, attentive, and unhurried in that distinctly Japanese way that makes you feel truly welcomed The ryokan itself is elegant and peaceful, with every detail — from the tatami rooms to the onsen — designed for comfort and calm. The meals were beautifully presented and thoughtfully prepared, offering a real taste of regional Kyoto cuisine. I also appreciated how quiet and respectful the entire atmosphere was; it created a sense of stillness that’s rare to find while travelling If you’re looking for an authentic ryokan stay that honours tradition without feeling touristy, Yuno Yado Shoei is the perfect choice. I left feeling grounded, rested, and grateful for the experience 🖤

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Private Tokyo City Tour with Cemetery & Harajuku

Tokyo

Yumi was absolutely integral to my Tokyo experience. As a solo traveller, I couldn’t have asked for a better guide — warm, knowledgeable, funny, and genuinely charming. She instantly made me feel at ease and curated the tour perfectly to my interests, blending local history, hidden neighbourhood gems, and everyday cultural moments in a way that felt natural and immersive Her storytelling and humour brought Tokyo to life, and the day flowed effortlessly — never rushed, always intentional. We ended the tour sharing sake together, which was the perfect way to wrap up such a meaningful experience. It felt less like a guided tour and more like spending the day with a dear friend who loves her city and wants you to love it too Exploring Tokyo with Yumi was unforgettable — thoughtful, personal, and full of heart 🖤

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yumi!!!!

Transport

Transit in Tokyo is extremely organized and easy to navigate - even for English only speakers

Whenever I return to Japan, Sandy is the first person I will contact for planning support. Her kindness, meticulousness, and attentiveness have always stood out — especially during my solo travels as a woman.

Activity Review

Tokyo Private Driver One-Day Itinerary (updated-2)

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimkim made our trip to Hokkaido and Osaka so easy and enjoyable! We were able to customize the experience to what our interests were and our guide in Hokkaido, Jenny, absolutely was one of the best parts. Jenny was observant to our needs and informative about the local culture. Being a little detail-oriented, it gave me a little anxiety of 'letting go' from planning the whole trip however, Angel was extremely responsive and able to assist with any questions, whenever we needed help.

Hotel Reviews

Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Premier

Tokyo

The location is near the center of Ginza so lots of convenient shopping/dining.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Osaka Excel Hotel Tokyu

This hotel is convenient to the Hommachi train station and is centrally located for all of your Osaka activities. We had a Superior Double Room and the accommodations are cozy but comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms are a bit cozy and there's really no closet so you end up living out of your suitcase but they do an amazing job.

Noboribetsu Onsen Dai-ichi Takimotokan

I wish we could have stayed here longer. Our room was spectacular, with a private onsen on our balcony, overlooking Hell Valley and the beautiful color-changing foliage! The Premium Twin room was spacious, the amenities were first-class and the Kaiseki dinner and set breakfast were out of this world.

Authenticity & Character

You could wear your provided yukata to your meals.

Location

Our room, in the West Building, overlooked Hell Valley and beautiful fall foliage.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nozo Hotel

furano

We had a Deluxe King room which had a little sitting space. The team at this property was so welcoming and helpful. We took advantage of the in-room massages with Naomi and she did an outstanding job with relaxing us after a long day of sightseeing. Their Sugi Spa is beautifully designed. There is a dry sauna and a cold plunge, which was extra enjoyable to unwind with.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The staff at this hotel went out of their way to accommodate your needs. We had arrived by private car so did not have transportation to get around town. The front desk agent called us a cab to go to the cheese factory one afternoon and they had us call them to order a cab for the return ride. It was convenient and made it easy for us! They were also responsive to our requests for the in-room spa appointments. The restaurant staff was super enjoyable to converse with.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cross Hotel Sapporo

Sapporo

This property is centrally located with lots to do in the area and easy to get to the train station. Make sure to take time to enjoy the beautiful onsen! There's a nice quiet space next to the onsen that overlooks the city. The breakfast buffet was well done as well.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It was close to the train station.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Japan

We had a great time experiencing the local foods with Hide!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hide was genuine and a wonderful guide!

Transport

Full Day Noboribetsu Hell Valley and Date Jidaimura Tour

Noboribetsu

We went to see a couple of the shows at Date Jidaimura, the Samurai show along with a Geisha show. Both were interesting and the staff did a nice job. Jenny helped capture some nice photos of us and took us to the foot bath near Hell Valley.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Biei Discovery: Blue Pond and Shirahige Falls

Biei

We really enjoyed seeing the Pond and Falls. We happened to catch it on a good day when the sun was out but I understand that the color changes with the weather so you may want to be mindful of that.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Immerse in A Sea of Flowers: Farm Tomita Tour

Furano

Although the weather was a bit rainy and cold, it was still beautiful!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Leather goods experience in Otaru

Otaru

We had a personalized experience, making a key chain as well as a tray and the overall experience was fun and we came away with a couple of useful souvenirs. It would have been nice to know the relevance of the leather to Otaru.

Quality of Experience

Any information on what makes the leather so important to Otaru.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

More information

Sapporo City Discovery with Genghis Khan BBQ and Sapporo Beer Tasting

Sapporo

We loved learning more about Sapporo with Jenny! We were able to see many different sights and Jenny was helpful and made it a fun experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ilse set up a great itinerary for our Japan hiking and Kyoto trip. The hotels were a perfect fit for us and it was sooo easy to travel by train because she’d set up all the tickets. We always had the correct fare!
On our Nakasendo trail hike the directions with pictures of each turn and the GPS track made for a relaxed experience. Pre booked taxis were invaluable because it turned out some towns only had a few drivers to transport all the hikers!
Thank you for such a great service.

The service provided by Shona was above expectations. She responded immediately to all our questions and requests and kept in touch with us throughout our trip. Having train transportation arranged and ticketed in advance was very helpful. We particularly enjoyed the smaller towns/cities we visited, including Tsumago, Matsumoto, Kanazawa and Kurashiki.