Kimkim Trip Reviews for Japan

Our trip to Japan was fantastic. Shona did a wonderful job catering to our requests for a balance of historical places and modern experiences. We especially liked Nijo Castle and Shinjuku.

Our individual guides, Miwa Aoki and Katsumi Ishikawa, were amazing. I would highly recommend both for Tokyo and Kyoto, respectively.

Looking back on our recent trip to Japan, one of the things we’re most grateful for is having Ben help us plan it. He took the time to understand what we wanted from the trip, and from the start, we felt like we were in very good hands.

Ben was incredibly responsive throughout the planning process and paid attention to all the little details that made such a difference. Our itinerary gave us a great balance of memorable experiences and time to explore on our own. During our trip, Ben checked in every day to see how we were doing and provide assistance as needed

One of our favorite memories was the Yamazaki Distillery tour. It was such a unique experience and a real highlight of the trip, exactly the kind of personal touch that made our time in Japan so memorable.

The guides Ben arranged were another highlight. They were knowledgeable, personable, and added so much to our experience at each destination.

We came home with so many wonderful memories and truly appreciate all the care Ben put into making our Japan trip so special. We would absolutely recommend him to anyone planning a trip to Japan.

I worked directly with Rob as the travel advisor coordinating this Japan honeymoon, and he was wonderful to partner with throughout the planning process. The itinerary went through several revisions as we worked to get the pacing, hotels, transportation and experiences right, and Rob was consistently responsive, flexible and helpful. I especially appreciated being able to rely on his local expertise and relationships with in-country partners when questions or logistical details came up. As the trip approached, he was excellent about providing updated driver information, reservation confirmations, transportation guidance and day-of details so I could make sure the travelers had everything they needed. He also responded quickly whenever I needed clarification or wanted to double-check something. From the advisor side, I felt well supported throughout the process and appreciated having a knowledgeable local partner I could rely on.

My trip was amazing! I was fully taken care of through out the whole process and stay thanks to Soleil & kimkim! Would definitely recommend to anyone considering traveling to Japan!

The service was great to have guides set up and things to suggest on the days we didn't have anything planned or places to be. We really enjoyed the local guides as they were all very knowledgeable on the areas we were wandering around. Would highly recommend using the Kim Kim service as they have local knowledge and can build an itinerary to what you like to do and see. Look forward to using Kim Kim in the future as it takes a lot of guess work out of what to do and where to stay as there are so many options of where to stay and they helped out making it spots that were easily walkable, nice hotels, and quiet. But they can help build a trip depending on your budget and what you would like to get up to while traveling.

Hotel Review

Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the Shinjuku station, but far enough away it is quiet.

Staff

Staff were willing to help with any requests or questions from check in to luggage transfer

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tea ceremony (Group - Flower Tea House) [45 min]

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ramen Cooking Class Experience

Kyoto

Shu is the best

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Airport assistant premium Tokyo HND [8:00 - 20:00]

Tokyo

This was a life saver, as if you are coming from a city with no transport, getting on the train system in Japan may seem over whelming, but having a guide help you get the basics and rhythm of how it works is worth it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Local Private Guide Full Day Kyoto (8 Hours)

Kyoto

Terry our guide was so good. The full day spent venturing went by so fast. We learned so much about Kyoto.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful experience planning our recent trip to Japan with Adeline through kimkim. From the very beginning, she was incredibly responsive, helpful, and easy to work with, which made the entire planning process feel much less overwhelming.

We especially appreciated how transparent Adeline was with her guidance and recommendations. She took the time to understand what we were looking for and was always clear about our options. Whenever we had questions or wanted to make changes, she responded quickly and thoughtfully, and we always felt like she had our best interests in mind.

There are so many details involved in planning a trip to Japan — transportation, hotels, activities, and navigating between different cities — but Adeline put everything together in a way that was organized and easy to follow. Once we arrived, everything went seamlessly. All of the arrangements were taken care of as planned, and we could simply enjoy the trip without having to worry about the logistics.

Having Adeline's support gave us a lot of peace of mind, both before and during the trip. She was knowledgeable, organized, responsive, and genuinely helpful throughout the entire process.

Overall, we had a fantastic experience with kimkim and would definitely recommend Adeline to anyone planning a trip to Japan. She made the whole experience easy and stress-free, and we are very grateful for all of her help!

Hotel Reviews

Yamanochaya Hakone

Hakone

We really wanted to love our stay at Yamanochaya, especially because of its beautiful location and the wonderful onsen experience. Unfortunately, the property didn’t quite live up to our expectations. The property itself felt quite dated, and we noticed some areas in the common spaces where the decor and furnishings were visibly worn or broken. Our room also had a small area of mold on the floor, apparently from a leaking AC unit. While it wasn’t a major part of the room, it was disappointing to see and something that should be addressed. The biggest disappointment for us was the kaiseki meal. We consider ourselves very open to trying different foods and have traveled extensively, so we were looking forward to experiencing a traditional Japanese meal. Unfortunately, the meal left quite a bit to be desired. Some of the dishes didn’t seem particularly well prepared, and the steak was quite tough. Overall, we found the meal difficult to get through and it wasn’t the dining experience we had hoped for. That said, there were definitely some positives. The staff were extremely friendly, warm, and accommodating, and they did their best to make us feel welcome throughout our stay. The onsens were also a highlight and provided a wonderful opportunity to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of Hakone. Overall, Yamanochaya has a lot going for it, particularly its location, onsens, and genuinely kind staff. With some investment in updating the property, maintaining the common areas, addressing issues such as the mold, and improving the dining experience, I think it could be a much more memorable stay.

Authenticity & Character

Needs to be updated and repairs done on visible items.

Location

Set back from the town so it's more relaxing.

Staff

Our room attendant was amazing. She was so kind and attentive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

We had small area of mold on the floor as the AC unit in the room was leaking. Mold just doesnt appear after a day so this is an issue they have ignored.

Genji Kyoto, a Member of Design Hotels

Staying at the Genji Kyoto Machiya Townhouse Annex was one of the most unique and memorable parts of our time in Kyoto. It gave us the opportunity to experience a classic Kyoto neighborhood and get a real sense of what it might be like to live in one of the city’s traditional machiya homes. The townhouse was beautifully decorated and thoughtfully styled, striking a wonderful balance between traditional Japanese character and modern comfort. The design, materials, and details really captured the spirit of old Kyoto without feeling dated. There was something very special about coming back each day to such a beautiful and peaceful space. The townhouse was also very comfortable for the three of us and gave us plenty of room to relax during our four-day stay. It felt much more personal and intimate than a typical hotel experience and really added to the feeling that we were experiencing Kyoto rather than simply visiting it. The breakfast each morning was delicious and was such a wonderful way to start the day. And the rooftop cocktails were absolutely divine! Enjoying a drink from the rooftop while taking in the surroundings was one of those experiences that made our stay feel truly special. Overall, the Genji Kyoto Machiya Townhouse Annex offered a wonderful combination of authentic Kyoto atmosphere, beautiful traditional design, comfort, and memorable hospitality. If you’re looking for something different from a conventional hotel and want to experience a more traditional side of Kyoto, this is a very special place to stay.

Authenticity & Character

The townhouse was beautifully decorated and thoughtfully styled, striking a wonderful balance between traditional Japanese character and modern comfort.

Location

Was set in a traditional old style neighborhood yet getting to the subway was an easy walk.

Staff

The staff was so pleasant and welcomed us warmly each time. They handled requests promptly and with a smile.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds and futon were very comfortable. Townhouse was clean and well maintained throughout the stay.

BELLUSTAR TOKYO, A Pan Pacific Hotel

Tokyo

We had a wonderful stay at the Bellustar Tokyo Pan Pacific. The hotel is modern, beautifully designed, and has a very thoughtful feel throughout. Our room was extremely comfortable, and the views of Tokyo were absolutely amazing — especially at night. The location was also a big plus. Having easy access to several different subway lines made it very convenient to get around Tokyo and explore different parts of the city. It was a great home base for our stay. What really stood out, though, was the service. The staff were exceptionally warm, welcoming, and attentive without ever feeling overbearing. Any requests we had were handled quickly and efficiently, and we always felt well taken care of. Overall, the Bellustar Tokyo Pan Pacific was a fantastic choice for our stay. Between the beautiful modern design, comfortable rooms, incredible views, convenient location, and genuinely excellent service, it made our time in Tokyo even more enjoyable. We would definitely stay here again.

Authenticity & Character

Well thought out and quality accents.

Location

Very close to restaurants, shopping and most importantly subway system.

Staff

The staff was so pleasant and handled issues/requests immediately.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bed was super comfortable.

Activity Review

Small Group Food Tour in Local Neighborhood

Tokyo

Our small group tour in Tokyo with Mami was one of the highlights of our trip! Mami was absolutely amazing — warm, personable, knowledgeable, and so much fun to spend time with. She took us to three completely different venues, and each one offered something unique. The food at every stop was wonderfully prepared, and it was such a great way to experience different flavors and sides of Tokyo that we probably wouldn’t have discovered on our own. What really made the experience special, though, was Mami herself. She made us feel comfortable right away and had such a genuine, engaging personality. She shared her knowledge of the food and the local area while making the tour feel more like we were spending an evening with a friend than being on a formal tour. By the end of the evening, we honestly did not want to leave her! It was such a fun and memorable experience, and Mami made it even better. We would highly recommend this tour, especially if you have the opportunity to have Mami as your guide!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Judy did an outstanding job arranging my trip. I emailed him the specifics of what I wanted to do in Japan, and he arranged everything for a flawless trip. I was able to summit Mt. Fuji, ride the Shinkansen and attend a formal tea ceremony. They cover all the small details that I wouldn't have thought of, such as sitting you on the side of the Shinkansen where you can observe Mt. Fuji.
This trip was a dream come true for me. I will definitely use KimKim again for my future adventures. Just outstanding service all around!

Hotel Reviews

Cross Hotel Kyoto

Kyoto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to shopping

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mt. Fuji Mountain hut

For what it is, it's great

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Groove Shinjuku

Tokyo

Great staff and beautiful hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

9h nine hours Hamamatsucho sleep lab

Great capsule hotel. I don't think I would stay in one again. Great experience but I prefer regular hotels.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy to walk to anywhere

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

2-Day Hiking the Mt. Fuji Subashiri Trail (Sep.~Oct.) - Day 1

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

2-Day Hiking the Mt. Fuji Subashiri Trail (Sep.~Oct.) - Day 2

Fujikawaguchiko

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Japan

Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Tea Ceremony

Kyoto

Working with Ben was easy. He is very knowledgeable and professional. I appreciated his advice and expertise so much. We communicated well during the planning stages and crafted an unforgettable trip to Japan.

We had the most amazing time in Japan! Every single one of our guides and drivers were excellent. We felt safe, informed, and most of all cared for during this whole trip. If we come back to Japan we will for sure be booking through this company again. Thank you to everyone who made our trip worth while.

Wonderful guides!!!

Angel did an excellent job to tailor the trip to our requirements. She adapted the planning based on our continous feedback and once we were on the trip she kept in touch to ensure we had the logistical details for the next day activities (if any). We did some on the go changes due to the weather and also based on things we saw while in the trip that we wanted to explore and had not originally planned
Overall we had a fantastic holiday thanks to her!

Hotel Review

Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu

Hakone

Excellent hotel and facilities. Only negative point is they are not flexible with check-in/out which considering the category I would have expected them to be more accepting. FYI the public onsen on site does not allow people with tattoos (which is the case in other places too) and the private onsen though nice feel more like a bathtub than anythign else.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sushi & Home Cooking Class from Market to Table near Asakusa

Tokyo

Really nice experience in a small group. Ai and Alice were fantastic not only in teachign us some basic japanese recipes but also about the tranditions and histroy behind it. Our food was simple but very good and tasty. The size of the group was good (7 in total)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This actually is N/A as we simply had to meet at adeisgnated point

Tokyo One-Day Tour: Ueno Park, Meiji Shrine, Akihabara, and Skytree

Tokyo

Very nice tour, though the heavy rain altered the plans significantly and the Skytree visit was a bust as there was close to 0 visibility and no refund possible as per policy. Ueno park and Akihabara were very nice, while the Meiji Shrine we had to vist on our own the following day but is clearly one of the highlights of the city. I was surprised we were not taken to Sensi-jo temple which is another increible site to visit (we went on our own late that day). Our guide, Toru, was very good though the rain did mess up his plans. He took us to have an incredible sukiyaki lunch which was one of the best experience of our trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Toru should have been a bit more adapatbale to the weather

Transport

Tokyo plublic transportation is excellent

From initial planning and considering different options, through to the support we had before, during and after the trip, the service has been absolutely amazing. Our guide/trip concierge, Soleil, was wonderful - very patient with our changing plans, made suggestions based on our interests that we would never have thought of, and which were bang on the mark, communicated regularly on the app, by a messaging app, and video chat, and we were lucky enough to meet in person, when she was lovely and helpful. We could not have hoped for better and felt very well supported and looked after throughout. Fully recommend this service to anyone considering booking a trip abroad.

Activity Reviews

Absolute Osaka Food Tour

Osaka

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kimono wearing and Tea ceremony (Sado) in Kyoto (Private)

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Welcome to Osaka

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome (Yokoso) to Tokyo!

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We both really enjoyed our trip to Japan. It was a long time dream trip that finally happened.
KimKim was introduced to us by a mutual friend who had benefited from your services before on a trip to Japan. We decided to contact you and are very glad we did.
Judy was very helpful, patient, accommodating and understanding as our primary liaison/contact with KimKim. She responded quickly when we had questions and showed flexibility when we suggested changes to the itinerary. In short, she was wonderful to deal with and we would not hesitate to work with her again.
All of our guides were superb!
Yuki, Hiroshi, Mayumi, and Moto were informative, friendly and courteous. We liked them all!

Thank you again for an amazing experience!

Working with KimKim and our agent Olivia was a fantastic experience. Being in the USA, we were very far from and unfamiliar with Japan. Having local experts plan our trip made all the difference. We were able to provide some highlights that we wanted, including a game at the Tokyo Dome, and Olivia made it all happen. The hotels (B Asakusa in Tokyo and Vischio Kyoto by Granvia in Kyoto) were perfect. The included breakfasts made it even better, and laundry on site was extremely helpful for our week and a half trip.
Drivers and ground transportation were arranged by Olivia and we had fantastic tour guides, Moto in Tokyo and Taku in Kyoto who shared so much knowledge with us. Ten out of ten all the way! Thank you team KimKim!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Vischio Kyoto by GRANVIA

Kyoto

Great, clean hotel. Located across the street from the train station. Don't get it confused with the other Granvia. We walked to the wrong hotel to start. Laundry on site and amazing breakfast to start your day! Be careful of the robot that wanders the lobby.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

the b asakusa

Tokyo

Great, clean hotel. Easy access to Asakusa area which has tons to do. Right next to subways. Laundry on site and good breakfast to start your day!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Daikoku Car Meet & JDM Culture Experience

Tokyo

This was wild. We didn't really know what to expect, but my son is at the age where he is really into cars, so we had to try it. Our guide Mike was great and is really knows a lot about cars! He first took us to a mega auto store where many people meet up and then head out to other locations for the night. Fair warning, there is a lot of driving around! From Tokyo we went to Yokohama which is about 40minutes away. We stayed at the meetup for about an hour and then went to another location, back towards Tokyo. Don't expect to get in early once you set out on this adventure! A must for any car enthusiast. You never know what vehicles you might see!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Samurai Sword Experience in Kyoto (Family & Kid Friendly)

Kyoto

The museum was fun, but the sword experience was unreal. We got hands on katana training from a real samurai instructor, Yama. He was fantastic and made sure we got the most out of our brief experience. It was an event to remember.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Tour to Hiei Mountain & Lake Biwa

Kyoto

The shrine is out of the way, up in the mountains. It's really cool to do things that most tourists don't get to. It was very peaceful and the views were great. The highlight of the day was Lake Biwa. The paddle board trip was excellent, the guides were so nice, and a swim in the lake at the end just made for the perfect day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Asakusa Sumo Club: Sumo Show Admission with Chankonabe in Tokyo

Tokyo

Loved it, absolutely a must do if you are in Japan. I believe it is a chain, we saw the show in Tokyo but also saw a club when we were in Kyoto. So fit it in whenever or wherever your travel plans allow. Not only was everyone friendly and awesome, they also let you try and wrestle the professionals at the end of the match. Highly recommend!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Judy was a perfect support provider during all the trip phases, from planning with suggestions till supporting during day by day trip (reminding all the steps for coming day).

He replied to any question before and during the trip with professionalism and competency.

Hotel Reviews

Candeo Hotels Osaka Shinsaibashi

Osaka

We stayed only 2 night in this hotel during our trip. Very nice position close to main street and Dotonbory area. Service provided was good, any particular claim to share.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cross Hotel Kyoto

Kyoto

we liked the position close to the downtown area of Kyoto and to the Geisha's area. Very easy to move to any touristic places in Kyoto using Metro, busses and JR Trains. Laundry service was perfect. The hotel is an eco-sustainability very careful to any consume of plastic, etc.

Authenticity & Character

Location

close to downtown area

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

GINZA HOTEL by GRANBELL

we stayed in this hotel for 2 + 1 days during the trip. The first 2 days we had a comfortable room. For last night we had a good room but not same level of the first one. At the end, we were satisfied by the comodations provided.

Authenticity & Character

Location

the position close to local restaurant and metro stops.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

We appreciated the organization, the preparatory ceremony that put us in the right mood, and the selection of the kimono and accessories. The ceremony provided the historical and cultural background needed to fully experience the event.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

1-Day Mt. Fuji & Hakone Tour [Return by Shinkansen] With Lunch (From Shinjuku)

Tokyo

The full esperience was really nice but unfortunately due to the wheather conditions, we were not able to see the top of Fuji all day. However we spent a very good day across Fuji and Hakone mountains.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

One Day Miyajima Island and Hiroshima Tour

Japan

We arrived to Hiroshima station from Osaka and our Guide (Masako) was waiting for us to the track. Then we moved to Miyajima Island for a wonderful experience. With the knowledge of Masako, we were able to reach all main points like planned avoiding big affluence of tourists.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer from Kyoto to Osaka via Nara

Japan

Driver picked up us in the hotel in Kyoto. Then we moved to Nara to vistit shine and temple area like scheduled. We spent a nice day in Nara visiting this amazing area and meeting the famous Nara's deers too. Driver suggested us what visit, provided us main historical and cultural information but then we were able to visit the areas alone with our timing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Japan

Amazing trip around the Kyoto city main monument to visit. We spent a fantastic day with our lovely guide TAKU, very competent and friendly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Taku has been a fantastic guide. He drived us to many interesting places explaining the Japanese History too to allow use to better understand what we were visiting. Fluent English speaker, we suggest to spend a day with him.

Transport

easy to take ad fast to move from different places.

My best friend and I planned a 'boys trip' to Japan with our teenage sons to celebrate both of our 50th birthdays. We have traveled together in the past are accustomed to 'do it yourself' itineraries, however we understood that planning a successful Japan adventure would require professional expertise along with a substantial measure of self-guided research.

We reached out to KimKim and began working with Olivia approximately nine months prior to our travel date, which was needed as we continuously revised and refined the itinerary to ensure that scheduled activities and excursions would not conflict with our own self-guided and planned events. The KimKim text-chat portal was an ideal asynchronous platform for us to communicate as it allowed us to do our research in order to provide Olivia with helpful responses to her questions and recommendations. The messaging system delivers by both text message-notification and email so we never missed Olivia's updates.

Olivia understood our requirement to pack an aggressive itinerary into a relatively short timeline and the results were flawless, and to say we made the most special of lifelong memories would be a gross understatement. One of many highlights of our trip was the excursion to Mt Hiei and Lake Biwa; for which we were surprised when our guide Taku told us that for his many years as a guide he had only done that tour three times in the past. The tour required of participants to capable and enthusiastic of a moderately-exerting day and I think Olivia understood that it was a good fit for our adventure-hungry group. Thank you to Taku for guiding us on that memorable day, and to Moto for memorable and educational days touring the Senso-Ji temple, the Imperial Gardens, Mt Fuji, and the Fujiyoshida Sengen Shrine. Also to all our drivers who were exemplary in their communications; special mention to Mi who took us out from Kyoto to Awaji Island for a self-guided day at the Godzilla museum and Yumebutai gardens and green house - note that the trip to Yumebutai was an add-on by Olivia to ensure that we made the most out of our day since it was a long drive to Awaji Island.

Every single day of our trip was packed with singular highlights and we have Olivia to thank for putting it all together. We relied on her expertise and we were well rewarded for that trust. There was not one communication or logistical issue and Olivia was messaging us daily on our trip with relevant scheduling notes and updates. We can't thank nor recommend her enough to others, and hope to work with her again in the future.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Vischio Kyoto by GRANVIA

Kyoto

Great centralized location next to Kyoto station. Amazing highly recommended breakfast buffet.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Central Kyoto next to Kyoto station

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Highly recommended breakfast buffet.

the b asakusa

Tokyo

Great location with access to mass transportation and two 7-11s across the street. A Don Quixote is less than a five minute walk away. Nice to start the day in more quiet area of Tokyo. Rooms were small (as expected) but completely functional. Highly recommended hotel breakfast before starting the day.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Access to two 7-11s, a Don Quixote and mass transit. Lots of great nearby dining options.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Samurai Sword Experience in Kyoto (Family & Kid Friendly)

Kyoto

We got sword training from a 5th generation Samurai. I don't think you can do better than that with anything.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Daikoku Car Meet & JDM Culture Experience

Tokyo

A fun and unique glimpse into car culture in Japan, however we thought the experience would be actually riding in "Fast and the Furious" type cars, but instead we were in a van visiting multiple car meet-up sites -- which actually was still very fun and interesting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Tour to Hiei Mountain & Lake Biwa

Kyoto

A great day visiting a UNESCO World Heritage site followed up by paddle boarding in magical Lake Biwa. The only day we didn't arrive home at the hotel not covered and exhausted by sweat from touring all day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Thank you Taku for an incredible day!

Transport

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi with Oishi Park

Japan

A full picturesque view of Mt Fuji is only available consistent during winter months. For most of the rest of the year views of the mountain and peak are obscured by cloud cover. We were extremely lucky to see the peak for only a few moments during a brief clearing - and this wasn't even on the 20 minute boat-cruise part of the day. Our guide Moto saved the day with a tour of the spectacular Fujiyoshida Sengen Shrine

Quality of Experience

It's a lot of travel from Tokyo for a 20 minute boat ride on a lake to not see Mt Fuji

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Asakusa Sumo Club: Sumo Show Admission with Chankonabe in Tokyo

Tokyo

Fantastic show. We learned as much as we laughed.

Quality of Experience

Transport

A very short walk from our hotel.

Half Day Imperial Palace East Gardens and Senso-ji Tour

Tokyo

A great introduction to Shintoism and Buddhism in Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Thank you to Moto for an educational experience.

Transport

Bella created a wonderful travel itinerary for us for our August 2026 visit to Tokyo and Kyoto. Before the trip, we provided a list to Bella of our interests and she designed a perfect agenda for us.
Also, the two tour guides Mr. Ryuji Kanie (Toyko) and Mr. Hiroshi Hanada (Kyoto) were terrific guides and made our trip run smoothly for us.
Additionally, the drivers who picked us up at various times at the airport, hotel, and train stations were always on time and very polite.
Overall, Bella and her team made this trip to Japan one full of wonderful memories.
Lastly, Bella created a video for us using photos that our guides took. Almost made me cry seeing the wonderful adventures that we had.
John & Laura Killmer

Hotel Reviews

Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Shijo

Decor of lobby was very colorful and felt like an art gallery. Room was very clean and comfortable. Breakfast buffet was fabulous.

Authenticity & Character

Decor of hotel was very colorful and felt like an Asian art gallery. Hotel also had a public bath that we hadn't experienced before and added to charm of the hotel.

Location

Close to train station and restaurants.

Staff

Staff was very friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Breakfast buffet in the morning was layed out very well and started the day on a good note.

Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu

Tokyo

Modern hotel located in the heart of Tokyo. Great location, nice room and good breakfast buffet.

Authenticity & Character

Clientele was a mixture of various nationalities which made the stay very interesting.

Location

Close to train station and restaurants

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel and restaurant were very clean.

Activity Reviews

Welcome to Kyoto!

Kyoto

We loved the city of Kyoto.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver was waiting for us at appointed time and transported us comfortably.

Transport

Arashiyama Hidden Paths & Tea Traditions Experience (Private Guide & Public Transportation)

Kyoto

The Arashiyama Hidden Paths and Tea Experiences also exceeded our expectations. In addition, we toured the private gardens of one of Japan's famous silent film era actor. Walk through the gardens was a special treat.

Quality of Experience

Walk through the silent film star gardens was an unexpected treat. Also, tea ceremony was an enjoyable experience.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Mr. Hiroshi Hanada made everything run smoothly.

Transport

Kyoto Culinary & Cultural Discovery: Fushimi Inari Walk, Sake Tasting, Nishiki Market & Ramen Making

Kyoto

We found Kyoto to be a city that exceeded our expectations. The activities that we had for this day made for a delightful day in Kyoto.

Quality of Experience

The variety of experiences highlighted the beauty and diversity of Kyoto,

Food

We really enjoyed our hands on Ramen Making Experience and our dinner afterwards.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Mr. Hiroshi Hanada did a terrific job of leading us to all of our activities.

Transport

Guided Scenic Journey from Tokyo to Mt. Fuji & Lake Yamanaka Cycling Experience, Ending at Mishima Station

Japan

Lake Yamanaka cycling experience was one of our favorite activities., It was so much fun bike riding around Lake Yamanaka and seeing Mt.Fuji.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide, Mr. Ryuji Kanie did a great job of leading us on the bike ride. Additionally, our guide found a small family owned restaurant where we had lunch. We were able to meet the owners and enjoyed an authenic Japanese meal.

Transport

Driver did an outstanding job of transporting us to our various designations.

Tokyo Flavors & Traditions: Sushi Crafting, Old Tokyo & Culinary Treasures（Private Guide & Public Transportation）

Tokyo

Sushi making experience was a highlight.We also enjoyed touring the Asakusa District, particularly entering through the vibrant Kaminarimon Gate.

Quality of Experience

Food

We really enjoyed eated the sushi that we prepared during our sushi making class. Great instructors.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our tour guide Mr. Ryuji Kanie did an excellent job of describing the sights and allowed us to enjoy the attractions at our pace.

Transport

All points of transporation were on time.

All of our transportation, travel and bookings went well. If anything, we could have done more on a day than what was planned or coordinated to make some trips more efficient.

Activity Reviews

A Hands-on Cooking Experience: Nigiri Sushi and More

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Authentic Sumo Experience in Tokyo: Enter the Sanctuary

Tokyo

10/10, would recommend to everyone!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Soleil was awesome.
So responsive and amazing

When my friends and I started planning the trip to Japan, it wasn´t clear exactly where to begin. Fortunately for us, we discovered Kimkim, and shortly after completing the preferences survey, Shona got back to us with an itinerary proposal in no time. Since then, she has remained actively engaged with us through the rest of the planning, the trip, and up to the end.

In the planning phase, Kimkim´s itinerary chat allowed everyone on both sides of the chat to make and take into consideration others´ suggestions and recommendations. Shona let us know the requirements, addressed our concerns, and kept us up to date on bookings and reservations at every step, and we worked together to plan the best trip based on our budget. Thanks to this coordination, the itinerary was complete a long time before the trip. This breathing room ahead of the trip allowed for last-minute adjustments, which Shona actively managed for us.

During the trip, Shona and her team at Odynovo did not waver. From the moment we left for our trip up to when we returned, her team of coordinators, guides, and drivers was in constant communication with us. They made sure everything went smoothly, checking in to make sure we were where we planned to be and when we planned to be there; despite the language barrier.

The trip flowed seamlessly, a testament to their thoughtful planning. It was evenly paced, neither rushed nor laggy, considering the many activities we did and places we got to visit in a few days. The order of activities was well put together too. In every new place we visited, the guided days came first, followed by the self-guided days. Our tour guides were engaging and enthusiastic, intuitively showing us around, thereby boosting our morale to manoeuvre on our own and explore freely.

Leading up to the end of the trip, we only wished we had planned for more time. Shona and her team set a benchmark, a high bar, to which all trips to come, to Japan and other places around the world, will be compared. Japan is an interesting place, with a lot to offer in many aspects, and this trip, great as it was, was only an introduction, a momentous one. We look forward to returning sometime in the future, and we hope it will be just as amazing, if not more.

So, if you´re planning to visit Japan, and Shona is your agent, you´re in good hands. Actively participate in planning, remain engaged, and keep an open mind. Thanks, Kimkim, Odynovo, and thank you, Shona!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Monterey Le Frere Osaka

Osaka

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great views from the higher floors.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Gracery Kyoto Sanjo

Kyoto

Authenticity & Character

Location

You can walk around the local area and discover a lot with little effort.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Asakusa Tobu Hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

It´s close to great local places to explore for a tourist.

Staff

Welcoming and friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Overall, well-maintained.

Activity Reviews

Half Day Sagano Bamboo Grove and Tenryuji Temple Tour

Kyoto

Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kyoto Authentic Sake Tour in Fushimi: Sake Tastings & Explore Historic Breweries

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Samurai Sword Experience for Adults in Kyoto

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Fushimi Inari Taisha and Kinkakuji Temple

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Tokyo City Tour

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport