Kimkim Trip Reviews for Japan

Our guide in Tokyo as well as our guide in Kyoto/Nara/Osaka were great. Both were very informative and did a great job. Our favorite thing was visiting Nara and seeing the deer and the big Buddha statue. But we really loved the whole trip. read more

Our guide in Tokyo as well as our guide in Kyoto/Nara/Osaka were great. Both were very informative and did a great job. Our favorite thing was visiting Nara and seeing the deer and the big Buddha statue. But we really loved the whole trip.

To Fei - and all who helped make this such an enjoyable trip with so many memories to keep. (Sorry if I am slow in sending in this review, and if there may be too much here to read.)

Day 1: This was a long day, taking the train early in the morning from Tokyo to Nagoya and then on to Nakatsugawa, followed by bus to Magome. But the walk from Magome to Tsumago was as marvelous as I had heard it would be. Shade on the trail was welcome, and part of the way through I met and joined up... read more

To Fei - and all who helped make this such an enjoyable trip with so many memories to keep. (Sorry if I am slow in sending in this review, and if there may be too much here to read.)

Day 1: This was a long day, taking the train early in the morning from Tokyo to Nagoya and then on to Nakatsugawa, followed by bus to Magome. But the walk from Magome to Tsumago was as marvelous as I had heard it would be. Shade on the trail was welcome, and part of the way through I met and joined up with a couple from Japan. I took a leisurely near four hours for the walk, the trail was very well marked, and I arrived at my destination in good time for dinner at 6:00pm. Dinner and the ryokan accommodation were excellent, as indeed they were at the end of each day’s hike. As a result of this exposure I gained a much better appreciation for Japanese cuisine, and how much variation it has - ‘very welcome indeed.

Day 2: The links to maps and timetables in Fei’s detailed itinerary were very good, and gave me the confidence I needed traveling on my own, but I had not been good at downloading them onto my phone in a format that I could use offline, which I anticipated needing when out of cell phone contact on the trail. So, I walked in to Tsumago and enjoyed looking around, then took a slow walk into Nagiso away from the roads along part of the Nakasendo way - I had cell phone contact to do this.
I had picked up a map at the tourist information office in Tsumago beforehand (“Let’s walk the south-Kiso road”) which had detailed maps of the trail sections from Magome to Tsumago and from Nagiso to Nojiri. I could have used this map, but a little tired from the first day and not sure that I could cover the distance to Nojiri in time, I spent a little longer in Nagiso then enjoyed the train ride into Kiso-Fukushima instead. I hope I might take the trail route to Nojiri another time. At Kiso-Fukushima I looked around, then visited the old Fukushima Nakasendo higway station and the Yamamura Daikan Yashiki Museum among other places
At the Kiso Mikawaya accommodation I really appreciated the onsen baths but, even better, I was lucky to have a room where I could hear the Kiso river as I went to sleep and woke up in the morning.

Day 3: I took the train early from Kiso-Fukushima to Yabuhara. At Kiso-Fukushima station I met two sisters, Janis and Joann, from Singapore, whom I had first met earlier while walking in Tsumago. Also at the station I met a couple, Kim and Wah Fong, from Australia who were originally from Singapore and who had stayed at the same ryokan in Tsumago. The sisters took the train on to Narai, and I joined the couple from Australia for the three of us to walk the trail from Yabuhara to Narai. This was probably the best hike of the trip - definitely one to remember, with many things to stop and see along the way. Kim had the trail directions on his phone, which was reassuring, but the trail was very well marked.
The accommodation at Narai was really quite up-market, and the evening’s dinner was perhaps the best of the trip, although that is a difficult choice to make because it was all so good.

Day 4: After looking at the train times, I decided to take the train from Narai through to Matsumato, instead of walking to Kiso-Hirasawa first. I met the two sisters again at Narai station and we travelled, found coffee in Matsumoto, and then went on a guided tour of Matsumoto Castle together. The castle and grounds are well worth the visit, especially with a guided tour which was provide free by the local tourist’s office. The sisters had to leave the castle early to get back to Tokyo for that evening, but I stayed there enjoying the gardens for a while before going back to Matsumoto station - where I happened to meet Kim and Wah Fong again. We caught the same train on to Karuizawa, before going our separate ways to our accommodation. I was looking forward to the next day’s hike, and was lucky to be at a ryokan for the night that was away from the town and close to the beginning of the path. For each night’s stay the hotel staff were outstanding, helpful and welcoming, but perhaps especially so here. The onsen baths and dinner rounded out another great day.

Day 5: I felt that the planned hike from Karuizawa to Yokokawa was on the long side for me to be certain of being back in Tokyo in time for the evening, where I had to cross the city to retrieve my carry-on luggage. Also, it was the first part of the hike, up to the Usui Pass and Kumano Kotai Jinja that looked the most interesting, and it was indeed beautiful. The trail was paved road all the way but was quiet and winded past waterfalls before giving way to magnificent views from the top of the pass. This choice also meant that I could leave both my small backpack and carryall at the ryokan, instead of taking them on the trail. I took the hike at a leisurely pace before returning to Karuizawa station to take the Shinkansen to Tokyo. I had not been in the Shibuya neighborhood before, and it was a very lively place to spend the night.

Day 6: After walking around Shibuya for a while and enjoying some air conditioning at Miyashita Park, I went to Haneda airport on the subway. Although there had been opportunities to see Mount Fuji earlier at times on the three week trip, it had eluded me each time, being obscured by clouds. However my wish to see it came true from the comfort of the window seat I had, just after the flight took off, with the top of Mount Fuji clearly visible some seventy miles away above the clouds as the sun was beginning to set.

Two things I would do differently on the trail next time around, that are definitely on me and not you. I would go in the spring or autumn, instead of August, when I knew the weather was likely to be hot and humid. But I did not have much choice in the timing because this was a side trip arranged around a trip to Japan for my job. Also, I would either take less with me on the trail or take a slightly larger backpack. I took the 10 liter backpack that I usually carry on trips, but I took more clothing than I needed, and that had to go in a separate carryall bag, which was about another 10 liters. If I had known or planned better, the 10 liter backpack would just about be big enough, although a 15 liter pack would be better. I had left my main carry-on bag in the Tsukiji district of Tokyo before going on the trail, and used the local luggage-forwarding services on the trail when I could, but it was not practicable to do this every day, especially on the first and last days of the trail.

Thank you, sincerely.

Angel worked with me to build out options for a trip itinerary and patiently helped me refine it. Many of her suggestions were great and things I would not have thought of, while also keeping us flexible to do what we wanted with much more autonomy than if we were part of a group tour. When we had to delay our arrival by a day because of weather, she helped us get a refund from the booked hotel for the first night.

Anna our guide in Tokyo and Hakone and Lily our guide in Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Hiroshima were truly fantastic. They were informative and made us feel as welcomed guests to their country every step of the way.

Food was amazing . The most memorable stay was at a traditional Ryokan in Yamonochaya Hakone. Very relaxing and a great escape.

We had a fabulous trip to Japan thanks to Sandy and the Kimkim team. Sandy helped us arrange a detailed to our interests vacation that was easy to follow and organized. She even gave us helpful instructions for transportation and sightseeing for our free days and checked in with us during a typhoon watch to make sure we were ok. When we had to make some last minute changes to our accommodations and train, Sandy was extremely helpful, attentive and timely. Our guides in Hiroshima and Tokyo,... read more

We had a fabulous trip to Japan thanks to Sandy and the Kimkim team. Sandy helped us arrange a detailed to our interests vacation that was easy to follow and organized. She even gave us helpful instructions for transportation and sightseeing for our free days and checked in with us during a typhoon watch to make sure we were ok. When we had to make some last minute changes to our accommodations and train, Sandy was extremely helpful, attentive and timely. Our guides in Hiroshima and Tokyo, Hiroko and Yukari, were both gracious, delightful and informative. They made our sightseeing days fun and educational, and I would highly recommend them both.
I would use Kim Kim again for my next Japan adventure, theirs is so much more we want to see!

Hotel Review

Mount View Hakone

Hakone

We loved our stay here. The accommodations, the wonderful traditional cuisine, and the friendly staff all made for an unforgettable experience. It was our favorite of all our accommodations.

Authenticity & Character

A traditional ryokan with a wonderful onsen.

Location

Easy access to public transportation.

Staff

All were friendly and extremely helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The entire accommodation was delightful and clean, the onsen especially wonderful.

Activity Reviews

Kyoto Cooking Class

Kyoto

We loved this class! Cooking and then eating delightful food that we hope to recreate at home.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Easy. We walked.

Full Day Itsukushima Shrine and Memorial Park Tour

Hiroshima

By far one of our favorite excursions. The history of Hiroshima and the beauty of Miyajima island and Itsukushima Shrine were both beautiful and emotional. And our guide Hiroko was delightful and attentive.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Easy ferry and public transportation.

Transport

A Fun-Filled Cooking Class in Tokyo - Wagyu Beef and More

Tokyo

We lived this class. The staff was great, the recipes easy to follow and delicious. Hopefully we can recreate them at home!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Tokyo City Tour with Senso-ji Temple

Tokyo

Despite the heat (August) this was a great day and our guide Yukori delightful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yukori as our guide!

Transport

Easy public transportation.

We could use Nancy's itinerary very effectively as she gave us several options for the day. The hotels she booked were very convenient to the rail stations which made navigating our outings very easy. All but one hotel was perfect, the one was just a bit older and the sleeping situation was a bit uncomfortable. Overall, the trip was great and we will work with KimKim for another destination.

The overall itinerary was great and we enjoyed most of the lodgings, etc, but one of the main reasons we booked was so we could get the local knowledge and instructions that we couldn't google and piece together ourselves. That part of it ended up being pretty unhelpful. E.g. On days when we were supposed to hike from town to town along a trail, we were given links to google maps that showed the shortest walking path between the two towns along a highway instead of directions to the trail and... read more

The overall itinerary was great and we enjoyed most of the lodgings, etc, but one of the main reasons we booked was so we could get the local knowledge and instructions that we couldn't google and piece together ourselves. That part of it ended up being pretty unhelpful. E.g. On days when we were supposed to hike from town to town along a trail, we were given links to google maps that showed the shortest walking path between the two towns along a highway instead of directions to the trail and information about how to navigate it. All this info was available locally.

(We also found the interface (that included an itinerary in one place, a separate pdf with instructions, plus a separate page for info that was conveyed via "conversation" quite cumbersome; there were plenty of errors along the way that caused us delay, from what was included in the trip to whose name each reservation was under).

Our specialist made efforts to address our concerns, which we appreciated.

Angel did a great job in helping to plan a 2-week itinerary for my mother and I to Japan. Extremely thorough in making sure every day's details were taken care of (transportation, meeting times, hotels), and very responsive to any change requests. The itinerary was tailored well to the interests we provided, and she took extra care to stay within our desired budget. I would highly recommend Angel to anyone looking to plan a trip to Japan! read more

Angel did a great job in helping to plan a 2-week itinerary for my mother and I to Japan. Extremely thorough in making sure every day's details were taken care of (transportation, meeting times, hotels), and very responsive to any change requests. The itinerary was tailored well to the interests we provided, and she took extra care to stay within our desired budget. I would highly recommend Angel to anyone looking to plan a trip to Japan!

The guide were very helpful, and also provided a lot of suggestions on our free time. Arranged to mail my extra luggage from my first hotel to the last hotel, that made my trip a lot of easier! read more

The guide were very helpful, and also provided a lot of suggestions on our free time. Arranged to mail my extra luggage from my first hotel to the last hotel, that made my trip a lot of easier!

The planning allowed us to see and interact with all the places and events we requested. The travel agents were able to accommodate our specific hotel requests. The guides throughout the trips were professional, knowledgeable, and able to react quickly to help us adjust to changes.

The planning was good overall but missed some critical local information like the availability days to attend an event and details of moving our luggage with us throughout the country. They would benefit from... read more

The planning allowed us to see and interact with all the places and events we requested. The travel agents were able to accommodate our specific hotel requests. The guides throughout the trips were professional, knowledgeable, and able to react quickly to help us adjust to changes.

The planning was good overall but missed some critical local information like the availability days to attend an event and details of moving our luggage with us throughout the country. They would benefit from input from a local travel agent more familiar with Japan. The agents were quick to help fix issues and maintained good contact with us throughout the trip.

Overall we loved the trip and will certainly consider using KimKim again.

Activity Reviews

Full Day Tour of Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Sagano Scenic Railway

Kyoto

The bamboo forest was awe-inspiring to walk through. The scenic railway ride was fun but I could have skipped it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Tokyo City Tour with Senso-ji Temple

Tokyo

Great experience but be prepared to walk a lot in Tokyo.

Full Day Ghibli Museum and Pokemon Center Tour

Tokyo

Fascinating walk through the vision of creative artists.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchiko Cruise and Arakurayama Sengen Park Tour

Tokyo

We started the day with a cloud bank covering the top half of the mountain. By the afternoon, the clouds had moved off, and the full majesty of Mt Fuji was revealed!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Kyoto

A fun way to learn about Japanese history.

Geisha Dinner Show

Kyoto

The Geisha was very knowledgeable of Japanese history and also America. She was a delight to interact with and highly entertaining. The multi-course meal was spectacular!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Half Day Katana Maker Experience in Kameoka

Kyoto

The boys loved this event! Talk about getting a hands-on experience with a uniquely Japanese cultural event.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Osaka City Tour

Osaka

I loved seeing the heritage of Osaka. Fascinating to learn more about the differences across Japanese cities. The ancient merchants of Osaka vs. the ancient samurai of Tokyo.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Kobe Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum and Himeji Castle Tour

Osaka

The sake history museums were fantastic. Well designed to help any audience grasp the work, tools, and techniques of sake brewing. The Himeji castle was the most amazing of them all! The volunteer guide was so knowledgeable he enhanced the experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Shikinaen Garden and Prefectural Museum Tour

Naha

The gardens of the ancient Ryukyu kings was magnificent. I am sure it must have had a powerful impact on their visitors. The cultural influences of many countries were impactful to the people of Okinawa. What a great learning experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our trip to Japan got postponed by three years due to COVID and Japan's borders being closed. Gibwa was flexible and amazing to work with throughout this waiting period! She took time to understand our needs and put together a fabulous itinerary. Her communication was always timely even while we were in Japan and contained the necessary details . This made it easy for us to explore on our own using the itinerary as a guide. My son and I had a trip of lifetime to Japan during the cherry blossom season, thanks to Gibwa.

I think we made the most of the 11 days we had in Japan. Instead of going to Shibuya, we went to the Skytree and instead of going to Nikko, we went to Koriyama to visit family. The subways and trains are very convenient and efficient, there was no need for us to get a taxi or ride service.
Without KimKim, we would not have gotten the guided tour of Nara and our guide Emi was amazing. In addition to her knowledge of Nare, we asked her a lot of questions about Japan in general.
We also... read more

I think we made the most of the 11 days we had in Japan. Instead of going to Shibuya, we went to the Skytree and instead of going to Nikko, we went to Koriyama to visit family. The subways and trains are very convenient and efficient, there was no need for us to get a taxi or ride service.
Without KimKim, we would not have gotten the guided tour of Nara and our guide Emi was amazing. In addition to her knowledge of Nare, we asked her a lot of questions about Japan in general.
We also would not have booked the traditional tea ceremony without KimKim and that was another great experience. The hosts were very informative and allowed us to stay a little longer to ask additional questions. The kimonos made for a very nice family photo.
The running routes suggested by Myaen were very useful although I did like the path going north along the Kamo river better than the path going south. We also visited the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium to swim per her guidance. I would warn people to bring a towel. The gyms that I go to in the states provide locker room towels but the Tokyo gym does not.
Myaen was frequently checking in with us to make sure we were getting along well and was quick to answer our questions.

This was our second time using kimkim travel (last year they organized our road trip to Ireland)... and thank you kimkim and Myaen - another "home run!" We just returned from a phenomenal 2-week self-guided trip to Japan, which included several days in Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Naoshima Island, and Hakone. Myaen was superb as our Japan specialist, helping us think thru what made sense for 2-weeks, as well as recommending the right neighborhoods and hotels to stay in. Our focus for this trip... read more

This was our second time using kimkim travel (last year they organized our road trip to Ireland)... and thank you kimkim and Myaen - another "home run!" We just returned from a phenomenal 2-week self-guided trip to Japan, which included several days in Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Naoshima Island, and Hakone. Myaen was superb as our Japan specialist, helping us think thru what made sense for 2-weeks, as well as recommending the right neighborhoods and hotels to stay in. Our focus for this trip was Japanese contemporary art, and we were not disappointed... so many wonderful museums, exhibits, and places to see. We were also delighted that our contact with our trip planner, Myaen, did not stop once the trip was planned and paid for. Myaen contacted us regularly before the trip, reminded us about appropriate local travel passes to purchase, how to use the visiting Japan website (which makes entry into Japan easier and faster), etc. And Myaen reached out almost daily to make sure the trip was going well, and that any questions we had were promptly answered. We plan on using kimkim again for our next adventure, and wholeheartedly recommend them to others. Kimkim listens, and helps you plan the trip you want - not the most expensive package they can sell. And if you are planning to visit Japan - ask for Myaen.

Activity Reviews

Explore Asakusa

Tokyo

We stayed in Ginza, and as we started our trip in Tokyo, we were pretty jet-lagged and tired - and came close to not leaving Ginza. Boy are we glad we decided to make the short subway trip to Asakusa. Ginza is beautiful and modern, and not far away in Asakusa, you can get a feel for old Tokyo. Temples, shrines, and real neighborhoods. We even had dinner Sunday night outdoors on a small street where we were the only tourists.

Quality of Experience

Traditional Kyoto

Kyoto

We loved being in Kyoto. Within a few blocks of our hotel were temples, shrines, as well as many restaurants and shops. And it was very easy to get to the Bamboo forest and the Fushimi Inari Shrine. We spent three nights in Kyoto and could easily have enjoyed several more.

Quality of Experience

The Hakone Open-Air Museum

Hakone

We had heard this was a great museum... it was fantastic. The setting and the sculptures together added to the experience - it really needs to be seen.

Quality of Experience

Transport

The trains and buses in Hakone (all free with the Hakone free-pass) made everything accessible / easy

Onsen, Ryokan, and Mt. Fuji Experience in Hakone

Hakone

We wanted a traditional onsen experience and we got one. Our hotel was very traditional, and had several beautiful communal baths right on the property... Our days typically started with using the baths before breakfast, and again after dinner. While it was unfortunately too cloudy to see Mt. Fuji, the Hakone area was beautiful and relaxing. A great 3-day end to our 2-week trip.

Quality of Experience

Tokyo Departure

Japan

We had a private car from Hakone to Haneda - very pleasant and stress-free way to end our trip. It was a snap to check-in and check our bags, and to get thru passport control.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We very much enjoyed our 2 week Japan vacation, thanks to the careful planning of Irish. Irish was a great problem solver when issues came up, she was a thoughtful communicator, responding quickly to questions and she was thorough and organized so everything was arranged on time and without issue.

Our guides were wonderful for the most part. We thought that Shu was exceptionally good in his knowledge, organization and consideration. Miyuki was also terrific, even though she pushed us to... read more

We very much enjoyed our 2 week Japan vacation, thanks to the careful planning of Irish. Irish was a great problem solver when issues came up, she was a thoughtful communicator, responding quickly to questions and she was thorough and organized so everything was arranged on time and without issue.

Our guides were wonderful for the most part. We thought that Shu was exceptionally good in his knowledge, organization and consideration. Miyuki was also terrific, even though she pushed us to our limits of walking. Mike helped us get part of way from Hakone to Naoshima and he was delightful and efficient. Stephanie showed us around Tokyo one morning on a fun and informative food tour which was a lot of fun.

Together, they made our trip smooth and easy!

Hotel Reviews

Hakone Airu

Hakone

Beautiful hotel! The photos don’t do it justice. The staff was exceptional. We worked definitely return.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Naoshima Ryokan ROKA

Naoshima

We loved this hotel. A peaceful refuge in a beauty setting. The service is excellent, as is the food. We would definitely return!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

THE KNOT HIROSHIMA

Hiroshima

Great hotel, comfortable rooms, excellent location. The hotel restaurant is excellent!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Zentis Osaka

Osaka

Beautiful hotel, comfortable rooms, excellent service.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Century Southern Tower

Tokyo

Average corporate hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

14-Day Ordinary JR Pass

Japan

We enjoyed having our JR pass. I wish that I would have ordered it myself online so that I could have made seating reservations online. That’s the only drawback.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arrive in Tokyo

Tokyo

Our greeter was very kind and helpful and helped us secure our JR pass and pocket Wi-Fi. Our driver was a little disappointing. We arrived in heavy rain due to the typhoon. He drove quite aggressively in the rain, and then dropped us in the pouring rain when we were not sure which was our AirBNB. Just put our luggage out on the street and drove off. It would have been really helpful if he could have helped us read the Japanese numbers and signage.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Edo-Tokyo Open Air Museum

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Yayoi Kusama Museum

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Akihabara- Tokyo's Electric town

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

TeamLab Planets Tokyo

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Red Tokyo Tower

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Buildings by the architect Shin Takamatsu

Tokyo

The visit to Shin Takamatsu's buildings was interesting and we enjoyed seeing his work.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mt. Fuji and Hakone Tour

Hakone

The Mt. Fuji and Hakone Tour was enjoyable, although we only saw the top of Mt. Fuji due to cloud cover.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Uji and Nara

Kyoto

We loved it but the 2.5 hour walk to Todai-Ji was too much, especially in the rain. Would have preferred a more direct route.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Exploring Arashiyama

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tokyo Departure

Japan

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nakameguro Food Tour

Tokyo

The food tour in Nakameguro was great. We enjoyed trying different types of food and our guide, Stephanie, was super helpful despite a minor miscommunication about timing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Morning Sumo Training Visit

Tokyo

The Sumo Training Visit was a unique experience and it was nice to learn about the culture.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chiku Chiku CAFE- A hedgehog home and cafe in Shibuya

Tokyo

The visit to Chiku Chiku Cafe was fun, but the hedgehogs could have been more alert.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Tea Ceremony

Kyoto

The Traditional Tea Ceremony was one of the highlights of the trip. We really enjoyed learning about the culture and the matcha was delicious.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a fantastic vacation! Our favorite activity was the Ramen Cooking Class in Kyoto. Thank you!

Our trip was fantastic! It was well organized and we were delighted by our experience. The guides were so nice and gave us a great experience. The private car drivers were great as well. Local train reservations were very well organized. This was one of the most relaxing trips we had. Thank you for all the local travel planning as well.

From our earliest interview with Kim Kim, we felt heard and were accommodated throughout. We always received prompt replies to all our questions from Christine over several months of planning and while in Japan. Our accommodations were convenient, comfortable and of high quality. Our booked activities were exceptional. Our guides were knowledgeable, prompt and flexible. We wholeheartedly recommend working with Kim Kim on your next adventure. read more

From our earliest interview with Kim Kim, we felt heard and were accommodated throughout. We always received prompt replies to all our questions from Christine over several months of planning and while in Japan. Our accommodations were convenient, comfortable and of high quality. Our booked activities were exceptional. Our guides were knowledgeable, prompt and flexible. We wholeheartedly recommend working with Kim Kim on your next adventure.

Activity Reviews

14-Day Ordinary JR Pass

Japan

This is a must for any foreign traveler. The mass transit system is pretty amazing and the JR pass provides easy access without having to figure out tickets and fares.

Quality of Experience

Sumo Tournament

Tokyo

A one in a lifetime experience! Just magnificent to attend the Grand Sumo Tournament thanks to Kim Kim.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Toyosu Fish/Tsukiji Market Food Tour

Tokyo

Great sites and food! A bustling indoor/outdoor market.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Arashiyama & Kyoto Landscape Views

Kyoto

We visited in the rain but it didn’t dampen our amazement of this beautiful park.

Quality of Experience

Irish planned a wonderful family trip to Japan! She covered every detail needed, from our airport transfers, JR pass, and info needed for Universal Studios as well as the Shimanami Kaido, to selecting very conveniently located hotels which made moving from place to place very easy and comfortable. She encompassed all the experiences we were seeking - the excitement of Tokyo and Osaka to the very different experience of a peaceful mountain onsen in Hakone to the very sad yet well done peace... read more

Irish planned a wonderful family trip to Japan! She covered every detail needed, from our airport transfers, JR pass, and info needed for Universal Studios as well as the Shimanami Kaido, to selecting very conveniently located hotels which made moving from place to place very easy and comfortable. She encompassed all the experiences we were seeking - the excitement of Tokyo and Osaka to the very different experience of a peaceful mountain onsen in Hakone to the very sad yet well done peace memorial of Hiroshima.

Hotel Reviews

The Tokyo Station Hotel

Tokyo

Lovely upscale hotel with excellent service and conveniently located in Tokyo station. Every attention to detail is met.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hakone Kowakien hotel

Hakone

Beautiful onsen in an amazing and peaceful mountain location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nohga Hotel Kiyomizu Kyoto

Kyoto

Stylish and chic hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Beacon Onomichi

Onomichi

Modern hotel conveniently located directly in the onomichi train station. I would book their loft rooms as the other rooms are a bit smallish, but very comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Granvia Hiroshima

Nice hotel with a grand lobby conveniently located adjacent to the Hiroshima train station.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Zentis Osaka

Osaka

Stylish and chic hotel in a great location, 5 minute walk from the main train station.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

NOHGA HOTEL UENO TOKYO

Tokyo

Stylish and chic hotel, located very close to the ueno train station.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Traditional Tea Ceremony

Kyoto

The tea ceremony was a lovely experience in a nice old Japanese neighborhood. We got to make and taste matcha tea, and my son even bought some matcha powder to take home. The ceremony was very enjoyable and I would highly recommend it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

14-Day Ordinary JR Pass

Japan

The 14-Day JR Pass was very fast and efficient. Though it took me a while to get the hang of using the NaviTime app, which was crucial for navigating the trains and subway system. My kids and husband loved the bullet train experience, but it wasn't my favorite due to the high speed and being on rails. It’s an excellent and efficient way to travel. But I think it is important to note that they do travel at a very high rate of speed - 200+ miles/hour. I got used to it. The JR Pass did not cover all trains, so it's important to be aware of which trains are allowed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Both our local guides were excellent. They were knowledgeable and assisted us with transportation issues. The local tour company did not communicate clearly to them or myself about a driver from Tokyo hotel to the airport. I’m not sure where the break down in communication was. Our local guide Yumi, went beyond what I expected by giving us details about train and bus transportation to the airport in Tokyo. She even noted that a driver was not included on her itinerary. read more

Both our local guides were excellent. They were knowledgeable and assisted us with transportation issues. The local tour company did not communicate clearly to them or myself about a driver from Tokyo hotel to the airport. I’m not sure where the break down in communication was. Our local guide Yumi, went beyond what I expected by giving us details about train and bus transportation to the airport in Tokyo. She even noted that a driver was not included on her itinerary.

Hotel Reviews

Kyoto Tokyu Hotel

kyoto

Within walking distance to restaurants and shops

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Courtyard by Marriott Shin-Osaka Station

Osaka

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Osaka Discovery For Families

Osaka

So much walking, we were too tired to eat out. Called room service.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Less walking in subways

Tsukiji Market & Sushi-Making Workshop tour

Tokyo

The experience was fun and educational but the raw fish did not agree with my western stomach

Quality of Experience

Food

Vegetarian option

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was excellent

Transport

Full Day Tour with Tea Ceremony

Kyoto

The tea ceremony was great. Way too much walking

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide,Sonny was excellent

Transport

Half Day Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Tenryuji Tour (Private Guide+Public Transport)

Kyoto

Too much walking, a break to rest would have been nice

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sonny was very knowledgeable

Transport

Too much walking

Full Day Tokyo city tour

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yumi was excellent

Transport

One of our dream destinations to visit was Japan, and the whole experience booking with kimkim was great! From the planning phase, Christine was able to grasp our needs quickly and was able to make all the adjustments we were looking for our 16 day long trip. The activities booked (shout out to the Osaka food tour and the Kyoto tea ceremony) were very memorable and the accomodations (shout out the the Ryokans on the Nakasendo trail) were also great! During the trip, Christine was also... read more

One of our dream destinations to visit was Japan, and the whole experience booking with kimkim was great! From the planning phase, Christine was able to grasp our needs quickly and was able to make all the adjustments we were looking for our 16 day long trip. The activities booked (shout out to the Osaka food tour and the Kyoto tea ceremony) were very memorable and the accomodations (shout out the the Ryokans on the Nakasendo trail) were also great! During the trip, Christine was also available to answer our questions and get us a functioning pocket wifi devices quickly after we received a faulty one upon our arrival. All in all, our trip was simply amazing.

Hotel Reviews

Sotetsu Fresa Inn Daimon

Tokyo

Good breakfast and helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Relatively basic hotel, but the japanese breakfast buffet was delicious !

Location

Even if Minato City is not as vibrant is Shibuya or Shinjuku, it's close to transportation (and Tokyo Tower as well).

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Super clean, rooms a little small for western standards, but totally ok for Japan.

Wayfarer Hotel Kyoto Shijo

Kyoto

Nice little hotel, the tatami room was nice and comfy for 4 people.

Authenticity & Character

Tatami room was pretty nice ! Bathroom a little small for 4 people.

Location

Close to the subway stations and buses

Staff

Very friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

The futons were very comfortable!

Kinosaki Yamamotoya

Awesome Ryokan with a lot of character and good japanese breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Alot of 60-70s vibes with old-school japanese charm.

Location

Great location in Kinosaki, close to everything.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean, but futons were not the most comfortable.

Ibis budget Osaka Umeda

Osaka

Authenticity & Character

Typical hotel, not much character.

Location

Super close to the subway, well located in Umeda.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfy beds!

Sanco Inn Nagoya Shinkansenguchi

Nagoya

Nothing fancy, but clean and well located.

Authenticity & Character

Nothing remarkable

Location

Directly in front of Nagoya station

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Windows were facing another building, so no natural light in the room. Besides that the room was comfortable.

Daikichi Minshuku

Nagano

Awesome Ryokan, staff super friendly and one of the best meals of our whole trip.

Authenticity & Character

Very authentic and amazing food.

Location

Very cute location in Tsumago

Staff

Super friendly and welcoming

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kaidou Roman Onyado Tsutaya

Kiso

Authenticity & Character

A little more "hotel" vibes, but still very nice.

Location

A little far by foot from the station, but still well located.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very nice outdoor Onsen bath.

Ryokan Echigoya

We had the Ryokan to ourselves, it had a ton of Edo japense charm. Our host was amazing, the food was delicious, the room was comfy and beautiful and the overall experience was exactly what we were looking for in a Ryokan.

Authenticity & Character

Old building with a ton of character and authenticity

Location

Directly in the middle of Narai's main street.

Staff

Yutaka-san was an amazing host.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Arrive in Tokyo - Train to Tokyo Station

Tokyo

It was nice to have a greeter help us buy our IC cards and bring us to the train, but she seemed in a rush and we were expecting to have our wifi devices atthe airport, which would have helped us find our hotel faster.

Quality of Experience

We were expecting pocket wifi and passes upon arrival, which weew at the hotel. Thus, getting the hotel was not the easiest

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our greeter was nice but a little in a rush.

Transport

We made it, but instructions could have been a little more detailed.

Tea ceremony and see shrine, temples

Kyoto

This review will only be regarding the Tea ceremony in Kyoto (Maikoya). It was really fun, relaxing and authentic!

Quality of Experience

We got to wear kinomo/yukata, the tea was good, awesome experience!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The staff was very insightful and nice !

Day trip to Nara and Uji

Kyoto

We didn't have a chance to stop in Uji, but even though it eas raining, we had a great time in Nara!

Quality of Experience

Visit Kinosaki Onsen

Kyoto

It was very nice being able to visit and use mutiple onsens.

Quality of Experience

The onsens were so nice and relaxing!

Welcome to Osaka

Osaka

One of the best nights of our trips, we ate and drank to our hearts content! We hung out with some locals, tasted delicious food and even went down a slide !

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Big shout out to Levy!

Magome to Tsumago

Japan

The hike was great, going through small towns and the country side! We saw watermills, water falls and awesome forest and mountain landscapes. The tea house on the way was really cool and the trail was well indicated.

Quality of Experience

Yabuhara to Narai Hike

Japan

Awesome little hike, nice fews atop the moutain in Yabuhara and very nice forest landscapes. Narai is probably the nicest post town we visited!

Quality of Experience

Exploring the Facades of Tokyo

Tokyo

Tokyo Departure

Japan

Not an actual activity, but we were very sad having to leaving Japan :( But we left with a ton of awesome memories!