Kimkim Trip Reviews for Japan

We have used Kim Kim several times for trips in various parts of the world. Never ever have we had such a terrible experience as we did with the Travel Agent in Japan. As a family, we look forward to our annual vacation and at every turn the Travel Agent and her choices made things harder for us. Not only did she not give us good advice But she was culturally insensitive to our religious dietary needs and other areas.

Because of this experience, I don’t know if I would use this agency again. It was that bad and it ended up costing us more money to make changes due to the inefficiency and incompetence of the agent. I never write bad reviews, but I do want to protect other people who might book

My husband and I traveled from the US to Japan over the course of ten days in December 2024. We are fairly well traveled but felt like navigating Japan on our own was over our heads. There were no fully guided tours for the dates we were traveling and we'd heard about Kimkim and decided to give it a try. We are SO glad we did!

Leny was very responsive the entire planning process but even more so when we go to Japan. When we landed we were greeted by our private driver -just as Leny had arranged! This was so comforting as we were jet-lagged, unsure of cultural customs and hoping that all would go smoothly once arriving in Japan.

Without question, having Leny and the Kimkim team readily available for us made our amazing trip even more enjoyable. Leny took the time to really learn what we wanted from our trip-both in terms of sights and financially. The hotels were what we were expecting if not nicer and it was fantastic not having to worry about payments/reservations/check-outs as kimkim had taken care of it.

Activities were also well suited to our interests, although we may have chosen to go at a slower pace, we did feel like we got good value for the money we spent. Probably the most valuable for us was support navigating the bullet train and mass transit across the country and especaially the subway system within Tokyo. The support Leny gave us with transporation was worth it!

Looking online at the hotels, activities and transportation, we would have paid less coordinating the trip on our own. The additional amount spent to have kimkim work out the itinerary -which seemed to be an additional 20% - was well worth it in our minds.

We LOVED Japan and can't wait to go back again. Had we not had the support of Leny and the Kimkim team we surely would have found the trip less enjoyable and much more anxiety filled. Thank you!!

Hotel Reviews

the b ginza

the b ginza was a nice hotel for our last night in Japan as the subway option to get to Haneda Airport the next day was very straight-forward. We appreciated the location, the quietness and the welcome beverage upon check in. The shower in the room was amazing and we were able to figure out all the shower instructions quickly. Beds were comfortable and pillows were soft and so comfortable. The layout of the room meant that one person did not have acess to a bedside table and we were surprised that there was no phone to call reception in the room. We did not have breakfast as we don't love pancakes which seemed to be the only complimentary breakfast item. Overall, location is nice, but we may choose to stay somewhere else if we return to Ginza, Tokyo again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Subway station was very close

Staff

staff seemed a little overwhelmed and weren't quick to greet us when we came to the desk

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great shower and beds

Vessel Inn Shinsaibashi

If you like to be in the middle of the action, this is an excellent hotel for you! We were happy with the location, but it was a bit noisy and smaller than many small rooms we stayed at in Japan. We had a corner room which seemed larger than other rooms, but the bed by the window was cool and drafty in the winter and the curtain blew on you when sleeping. The bathroom and amenities were very nice. No breakfast was included which was okay, but would have been nice. Location was very good for us as there were a ton of dining and shopping options nearby, as well as a quick walk to Namba station (which also has fantastic shopping) - including Don Quijote, but otherwise we might plan to stay somewhere else next time we are in Osaka.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Namba station, Don Quijote

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

drafty near the window

Koyasan Syukubo Ekoin

Wakayama-ken

This hotel was nice, but not ideal for us. It was the most expensive of our trip and although it was quite large, all the modern amenities and lack of clear information on how to use them was dissappointing. The private bath looked so lovely in the pictures, but was too difficult and frustrating to use in real life. We also did not realize we could have eaten breakfast and dinner in our room- whcih did have a lovely table and full dining area. So instead we ate in the main lodge - May not have been a problem in summer or spring, but in December it was quite cold in the lodge and uncomfortalble. Finally, the room has in floor heating as well as furnace heating. It was around 28 Celsius in our room all night as we could not find clear instructions to cool down the room. This is likely one of the nicer accomodations in Koyasan, but we would not choose to go back as the price was quite high and we were not able to use the ammenities offered as instructions in English wer unavaible or were unclear.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room amenities need clearer instructions in English. Thermostat very difficult to use.

Hotel Resol Trinity Kyoto

Kyoto

This is such a classy hotel! The restaurant and breakfast were outstanding! Could not have had a nicer spot to dine nor better food for breakfast. Very well done! The room clean, the beds very comfortable and the shower hot and easy to use. Loved the windows in the room. Gave light without compromising privacy. The front desk folks were exceptional, including the woman who helped forward our bags on to Osaka and the young gentleman who suggested Yonefuku for dinner the night of Dec 21, 24, when we were very tired and very hungry (and the restaurant was hosting a performer). THANK YOU! Excellent staff, comfort and good location. We would stay again!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Referral to Yonefuku on 12/21/24, help with shipping luggage to Osaka

Cleanliness & Comfort

beds were very comfortable, heating was accurate, shower was nice

THE KANZASHI TOKYO ASAKUSA

We loved this hotel. The room was small as we expected, but well appointed and everything we needed was in the room, including a hair dryer :) The bathroom was spotless and the shower was wonderful. We also felt the location was great for first time sight seeing and ideal for the first few nights in Tokyo as it was not noisy or overly crowded in the surrounding areas. Breakfast was also very good. We would stay here agian.

Authenticity & Character

Location

So close to Senso-ji temple and shrine and good food!

Staff

checkin, check out and breakfast were all fast and efficient. Staff were friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

cleanliness was fantastic. The only complaint was that the pillows were quite hard.

Activity Reviews

Sayonara Japan!

Japan

We loved being back in Tokyo and Ginza was a nice last stop, although we liked other areas of Tokyo better - including Asakusa, Shibuya, Rippongi. Being fairly independent travelers, we liked not having something specific planned for us and were happy to walk to a well reputed sushi restaurant for our last night in Tokyo. Our favorite spots were Asakusa, Cappiness Cafe in Tokyo, All things Kyoto including Hotel Resol Trinity, Arashiyama and the amazing sushi lunch we had there. Highlights for us were the lovely Japaneese people and culture of walking, cleanliness, efficiency, quiet, and a sense of gratitude and respect for others. THIS is what makes us want to return, not to mention the food! Amazing quality and diversity of food was so fun for us!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Koyasan!

Koyasan

Sadly, this was our least favorite activity. We wish we would have had more time in Tokyo, Kyoto or Osaka instaed of the journey to and from Koyasan. We also felt that the trip between kyoto and koyosan back to osaka was a lot and made the time at Koyasan feel rushed. The staff and amenities at Syukubo Ekoin were okay, but we felt staff were a little young and unclear about where different activities were located, how dinner and breakfast were typically done and how to use amenites. Overall, we felt that the length of the journey to and from Koyosan wasn't worth what we missed in other parts of Japan that we liked better. We recognize that we had asked for a temple stay and probably should have done more research before committing to this particular activity/trip. We appreciated seeing traditional buddhist practices, but would have skipped it knowing how much of the trip it would use up.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Staff at Temple seemed unorganized. There was no specific person to ask so we interrupted the office staff often to get infomation

Transport

Interesting to take the Furnicular to Koyasan and all mass transport staff were helpful. Overall, too much travel for this activity

Full Day Kyoto and Nara Tour with English-Speaking Guide

Japan

Mana was a lovely guide for our full day tour. Knowing that we were quick walkers and liked to see as much as we could, she paced the day very well for us. We feel like we got to see a lot this day! We also appreciated Mana's help navigating the travel to and from Nara as well as the other sights in Kyoto. The temples and shrines we saw that day were incredible. We particularly apprecitated Nara, not only because of the cute deer, but the temple and the HUGE buddha and gate were stunning. One of the things we most appreciated was Mana teaching us basic phrases and numbers in Japaneese. We used these things a ton on our trip and her presentation of them was fantastic. You can tell she's been a teacher before and we learned so much from her! Finally, we apprectiated Mana walking us back to our hotel.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Taxiing help us see the most. The train ride was nice

Sushi making class in Tsukiji fish market with Pro sushi chef

Tokyo

Fuka Fuji was fantastic and her English and understanding of both Japaneese and USA culture was so helpful. We really enjoyed going grocery shopping with her and learning how to get the best items for our meal. The meal was also excellent and LOTS of food. Sake tasting was fun, but wasn't necessary for this class. We very much enjoyed our time with Fuka- We do think the class could be done in three hours. Four was maybe too long for what we did, but we were lucky that it was just the three of us

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We walked which we like, so no tranport needed

Hidden Gem Food & Whiskey Night Tour near Roppongi

Tokyo

This tour was fun and Ellen was a great tour guide, but it was a little long for us- especially on the first day of our tour after another 4 hour guided tour. We apprecitated trying Wagyu beef (and did not need to eat it again as it was not our favorite). We loved talking to the chef and appreciated Ellen's interpreting for us. The whiskey spot was super fun and nice to try the japaneese whisky. The most fun was meeting Ellen's older lady restaurant owner and watching her cook for us and explain how she makes her food.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We like to walk, but may have been okay to use taxi for some of the walking after a long day of tours.

Half Day Tokyo Tour with a Multilingual Guide by Public Transportation (Private)

Tokyo

Shino greeted us promptly in the morning and was very kind and friendly. We appreciated her welcome gift the night before as well. This tour was our first of the trip and her English skills were put to the test with our many questions about culture, education, politics and religion. We so appreciated her helping us navigae the subway system and showing us the highlights of Tokyo. A four hour guided tour was plenty for our first day in Tokyo and gave us the confidence to try to navigate on our own a little more. Thank you, Shino for your patience, knowledge and guidance AND for the great pictures you took! The one thing we may suggest is adding a small stop for a snack or drink as we were famished by the time the tour was done at 1300.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

So helpful to use the subway with someone on the first day of our trip

The pre-planning of the trip and the tours that were set up were all excellent. Our guide in Tokyo and to Mt. Fuji - Allen - was wonderful. The only complaint I have is that our hotel check-ins took more than half and hour each time because the names for who would be occupying the rooms were completely screwed up. This caused quite a bit of confusion at check in. Kim Kim had all of our families names and knew who should be sharing rooms but somehow the room assignments were somewhat random.

This was a trip of a lifetime, allowing us to see the most we could in the time we had. Angel did a great job of getting everything in that we wanted to see and setting up the travel between all of the locations. Yumi was a great guide in Tokyo and adjusted our itinerary on the fly to make sure we saw all of the relevant attractions. Chizuko (Chi) was great for the 3 days we spent with her. She was very informative and had specific things she showed us as we went along. All of the hotels where excellent, and Angel piked well for us. We had an issue with a missed train connection, due to a blockage on the track, and Ms. Heidi was quick to help and even offered to pay the difference if we got charged for a change to the next train, which we did not. This is the 3rd time we have used KimKim and will absolutely use them again!

Activity Reviews

Half Day Fushimi Inari Taisha and Kinkakuji Temple

Kyoto

This was quit the experience, and would strongly recommend this and getting to see the culture aspects of Kyoto.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tokyo Highlights Day Tour - East & West

Tokyo

Our guide did a great job of showing us all of the important things to see in Tokyo. Yumi was quick to adjust our itinerary to ensure we saw some of the historical aspects of Tokyo, which where close to our hotel.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Kyoto

The Samurai Museum will seem very touristy, BUT we found ourselves referencing the information we learned the rest of the trip. You really do learn about the Samurai and the history of them in Japan. The Tea Ceremony really got you the experience of seeing it in person and the opportunity to dress for it. Strongly suggest this tour, if this is your first trip to Japan.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Katana Sword Making in Kyoto

Kyoto

You get to learn about the history of swords as well as how they made. You end up with your own take home knife, that you helped craft, which really brings this home.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We thoroughly enjoyed the trip to Japan and would recommend it to everyone. Some of the timing could have been changed: for instance we spent a night in Sapporo that would have been better spent in Niseko. I think Alissa would benefit from taking a trip to Hokkaido herself.
Allan Tan, our guide in Tokyo was the highlight of our trip. He was not only very knowledgeable and helpful, but incredibly charming and enthusiastic.
Slash, our guide in Osaka and Kyoto, was also very knowledgeable and helpful. He helped us find and reserve some excellent restaurants.
The transportation everywhere was excellent. All our drivers were prompt and efficient.
We thought Kim-Kim did a fine job with reservations and we felt we got our money’s worth. Great trip.

My wife Liz and I just returned from 18 fantastic days in Japan. We couldn’t be happier with our experience. We visited Tokyo, Hikone, Takayama, Shirakawa-go, Kanazawa and Kyoto. Every city had its own character, charm, and allure. We saw the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, but also the hidden gems like the Lion Cafe, and the wonderful TeamLab Borderless exhibit. We had Onsen in Hikone and stayed in a traditional inn with glorious traditional meals. In Takayama and Kanazawa we experienced the old historic districts with wooden buildings, quaint Restuarant’s and lots of charm. Shurakawa-go was a treat with the old thatched room houses, snow on the ground and views of the Japan Alps. Kyoto was a cultural treat— we enjoyed the tea ceremony, the Maiko performance, and of course the sake tour and tasting. Overall we had a trip to remember and we couldn’t be happier. This review only hints at the great sights and experiences we had but we are overjoyed with the trip.
In planning our trip we got so much assistance and advice from Kimkim and especially our specialist Sandy. We would not have had anywhere near the experience we did without the wonderful Sandy,. We went through several versions of itineraries and sights-to-see with Sandy. She listened to what we wanted and made all the arrangements. We enjoy a mix of days with guides and days on our own to explore. Sandy made this happen and the guides she arranged were all lovely people, so full of energy and charm, and completely aware of all the history and the lesser known places to see. Sandy made train arrangements and car transportation set up when we needed it. The car transfer from Tokyo to Hakone was great because we stopped by the lake near Mt Fuji and took the boat across the lake for wonderful Fuji views,
Overall it’s five star review for Kimkim and Sandy. (I’d give more stars if I could). Liz and I had a super trip and couldn’t be happier. Happy travels to all who read this review. Best regards from Art in USA.

Hotel Review

Hakone Hotel Kajikaso

Hakone

The Hakone Hotel Kajikaso was wonderful. It is a traditional Japanese inn and a modern hotel combined, The onsen baths were wonderful and the traditional meals were so fun and delicious. The room was a futon bed experience and the beds were very comfortable. The town is love,y and the whole experience was quite memorable.

Authenticity & Character

Don’t miss the Mont Blanc dessert shop

Location

Near the old section of town, lots to see and good shopping

Staff

So friend,y and supportive

Cleanliness & Comfort

The onsen baths were extremely clean and enjoyable

Activity Review

Hakone exploration : Mishima Skywalk , The shores of Lake Ashi and Onshi-Hakone Park

Hakone

Loved the views and close feel to the natural landscape. The pirate ship ferry boat tour on the lake was amazing!

Quality of Experience

Beautiful natural surroundings

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mr Tony was super, lovely personality.

Transport

Nice vehicle, vert comfortable

I went into kimkim and my local specialist Shona blind. I researched the site, hedged my bets, and took a plunge I'm forever grateful for. Shona helped me customize my trip to meet my interests and fit my travel style (experienced solo traveller, massive nerd). She answered all my questions and was wonderful to work with. The guides I met throughout my trip were really special people: Yumi, Takehiko, Tomoko, thank you so much! I loved getting to see Japan as a guest with locals giving me invaluable insight. I am so honored to have had this experience, and the next time I venture across the Pacific, I will absolutely use kimkim and Shona again.

Hotel Review

Shiba Park Hotel

Tokyo

Very cool book-loving boutique hotel in a quiet neighborhood that's still in easy walking distance of convenience stores and public transportation. Great breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Their theme is books: every floor features mini libraries and guests are encouraged to peruse all the different selections to find something to take back to their room.

Location

Minato, Tokyo

Staff

Very polite and helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

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

Kyoto

It's obviously a thing for tourists, but at no point did I feel like I was infringing on Japanese cultural practices. Rather I felt welcomed to share, learn, and participate in a respectful environment. Also, wearing a kimono is just cool.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Excellent! We shopped around for our recent vacation to Japan and got multiple quotes from various companies. They weren’t the cheapest or the most expensive and I was actually a bit reluctant since the price was very reasonable. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the service and the accommodations they selected as well as the excursions selected. Angel was excellent, she listened and expertly tailored our trip to our needs. Her knowledge gave us ample time to transfer to our next destination and with very little effort. She was reasonably available when needed or had any questions. There was also an emergency contact to the company is anything should come up. We are definitely using them again for our next vacation. Kim Kim made our vacation amazing and stressless, as a vacation should be. Thank you KimKim and Angel for a wonderful trip.

The only cons are that the prices are not transparent nor is a breakdown given. The price was very reasonable so it didn’t matter so much. At times if you have an urgent question it may take a while to get back. They got back to us on every occasion though and answered any question we had. As first time travelers to Japan we were a bit confused with the surroundings but with a little time and effort we were able to figure it out on our own so most of the questions were just panic being in a foreign environment.

It was truly the trip of a lifetime! Our guide in Tokyo, Alan, was spectacular—knowledgeable and engaging, making every moment unforgettable. Simon, our trip planner, was amazing, maintaining excellent communication throughout the entire experience. The hotels, activities, and recommendations were outstanding, enhancing our adventure. I highly recommend this travel service for anyone looking to explore Japan in a unique and memorable way

We overall had a great 10 day trip in Japan. The locations and experiences were exactly what we were looking for, you can't go wrong with all the wonderful things to see in the country. We did have issues with our particular tour specialist. We felt that she provided a 'copy and paste' itinerary from other trip plans and was not individualized based on our questions and feedback. While planning other Kimkim trips, it was more of a back and forth looking for feedback, but any questions or comments we had would automatically result in a new trip plan - there wasn't the specialized communication that I had experienced with other trip guides. I was particularly disappointed with the restaurant reservations. I asked 6 weeks in advance of our trip for recommendations and help making reservations and our guide said she would get back to us and never did. Only after prompting, she provided a list of top 10 restaurants in Tokyo - something we easily could have found ourselves. Given how packed Japan is and personal food sensitivities, finding restaurants for dinner was very frustrating and a problem that could have been avoided. I do love Kimkim and have recommended them many times, but I do say it is dependent on the knowledge and the willingness to help by your assigned guide.

Activity Reviews

Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi Tour

Hakone

Sam was a great guide - I wish we could have started our trip with him in Tokyo. He was super informative about history, religion, and customary practices at temples. We learned so much from him at the very end of our trip that we wish we had known from the start. I do think a guide isn't really necessary for what we did on this particular day, we only really needed a driver but we were happy to spend the day with Leon nonetheless.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Nara City Tour, Overnight in Osaka

Kyoto

Leon was an incredible driver and guide. We were expecting him to just drive us around, but he walked around with us providing information and taking pictures for us. When it started to rain, he volunteered to run back to the car and come pick us up so we didn't get wet. He even brought us to an additional park that wasn't on the itinerary - he was great!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Fushimi Inari-Taisha

Kyoto

Zumi is a fabulous tour guide and super responsive to whatever we were interested in or any particular requests we had. We loved everything we saw this day and Zumi went out of his way to provide us an excellent experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tokyo City Tour with Tokyo Tower

Tokyo

Our guide, Keiko, had difficulties navigating the subway - she got confused multiple times resulting in delays. She was very personable and friendly, but we didn't feel that she knew the city too well other than the major tourist areas we were visiting.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide didn't seem to know how to navigate Tokyo subways well. She was informative when we asked questions, but we were expecting for her to provide more information on overall history and culture of Tokyo/Japan.

We were very impressed with the professionalism and enthusiasm displayed by all members of the KimKim team. The trip was truly an amazing experience from our first contact with Kate through Mr. Jeon’s drop off at the Seoul airport. I will not hesitate to recommend KimKim, and we will not hesitate to use your services in the future ( no need to send weekly emails). Sorry to be a broad brush stroke but everybody was good, proactive, attentive, polite, and would be rated highly. The hotels were all above average - the Mercure in Takayama was our favorite - the Excel in Shibuya probably our least favorite but still very acceptable. The itineraries which Kate developed were wonderfully executed by the team members. I have one suggestion - we had a driver in Takayama - probably not necessary / we took buses in Kyoto, which was interesting , but very time consuming. A driver in Kyoto may have been a better use of resources. Thanks for asking for my feedback. Keep up the good work!!!!!! Best regards, Adrian

My husband and I used Kimkim for the first time to help us plan a trip to Japan. Eleanor was responsive to all our requests and communications during the planning phases of our trip. Her thoroughness and attention to details made us feel Kimkim would be able to help us if problems arose. The locations of hotels she recommended were ideal in accessing the public transportation and sites we wanted to visit. The logistics of transporting us from airports and train stations to hotels were excellent. The drivers made contact with us the day before, sent photos of the cars and license plates and were always waiting for us when we arrived. We had arranged several private guides in Kyoto and Tokyo. The guides also texted us the day before our tour and confirmed details. The guides and drivers collaborated smoothly and allowed us to be flexible if we wanted to modify our tour. In Tokyo, For the 'night life' tour in Tokyo, our guide Ryoji maneuvered us through crowds and narrow alleys to experience up close the vitality of the entertainment district. We had requested a special tour of Ginza district architecture and during the planning stage, the agency contacted us directly to learn more about what we were interested in. We were delighted by Haruka's tour - it was exactly what we had hoped for. She brought illustrations of earthquake-resilience construction that enhanced our understanding of what we were seeing. In Kyoto, it was awkward because the guide had been told our tour would last all day, but we had clarified that we did not want a tour longer than 3 -4 hours. We learned that it was best to sit down together before starting a tour and talk about what was planned, then explain to the guide what our preferences were and our target time to end.

Cory was absolutely wonderful throughout our trip. It's such a blessing to have someone local guiding you, as they truly understand the little nuances that first-time visitors might miss. Cory's advice to grab a bento box from a specific spot to which side on the train to sit on to see Mt. Fuji, and suggestions for great lunch spots made our experience even more special.

From the beautiful kimono tea ceremony to shopping in Ginza and exploring the breathtaking shrines, we loved every moment. Cory’s attention to detail and thoughtful recommendations helped us fully embrace the culture and kindness of the people. We are incredibly grateful for Cory’s assistance from start to finish, making this trip unforgettable.

Thank you, Cory, for going above and beyond!

Hotel Reviews

remm plus Ginza

The Remm Plus Hotel was an ideal choice for our trip. The location couldn’t have been better—right in the heart of the shopping district! The rooms were cozy, spotlessly clean, and ready for us upon arrival, which made for such a smooth check-in experience. The breakfast was great, with plenty of options to choose from. We also loved how easy it was to step outside the hotel and find delicious food nearby. The automatic check-in process was modern and convenient, and the staff was absolutely amazing. When we needed extra assistance, they were quick to accommodate us with such kindness and professionalism. We would definitely stay here again and highly recommend it to anyone visiting the area!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Kawaramachi Jokyoji

Kyoto

A Tranquil and peaceful experience that we loved! Our stay at the Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Kawaramachi Jokyoji was amazing! The calm and serene atmosphere inside the hotel was incredible, and the traditional Japanese-style bathhouse was such a unique and fantastic experience. When we were tired from a long day of fun, we would go there. The rooms were spotless and perfectly prepared for us, making our stay comfortable and relaxing. The location was ideal—just a short walk to great food and shopping. One of the highlights was stepping outside to find a charming local business with a Kyoto coffee truck run by the sweetest guy serving absolutely delicious coffee. We absolutely loved our stay and can’t wait to return!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mitsui Garden Hotel Otemachi / Tokyo

Tokyo

Our stay at the Mitsui Garden Hotel Otemachi was absolutely delightful. The staff were so kind and welcoming, and the rooms were spotless and comfortable. The breakfast was a highlight for us—my husband is still raving about the egg sandwich, calling it the best he’s ever had in his life (and he’s not easy to impress, lol!). The location was perfect; we could easily walk to different areas, grab snacks, and explore the city. When we visit Tokyo again, we’ll definitely stay here and recommend this hotel to all our friends. Thank you for making our trip so memorable!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Mount Fuji Trip with English Speaking Guide

Tokyo

Here’s a polished version of your review for the Mount Fuji Trip with an English-speaking guide: Although I wasn’t able to attend the Mount Fuji trip, the others in our group had a fantastic time. While they were a bit bummed that it was too overcast to see Mount Fuji itself, they thoroughly enjoyed exploring the surrounding areas. The guide was excellent—knowledgeable, engaging, and helpful throughout the trip. They made sure the group had a great experience, providing interesting insights and ensuring everyone felt comfortable. The other locations visited were beautiful and offered a wonderful glimpse into the region's culture and scenery. Overall, it was a memorable trip that everyone appreciated, even with the cloudy weather. I’d definitely recommend this tour for anyone visiting the area—it’s worth it for the experience, the guide, and the chance to explore beyond just the iconic mountain.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony with Kimono Wearing (Higashiyama)

Kyoto

A beautiful cultural experience for everyone. The Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony with Kimono Wearing was an unforgettable experience. My family joined me, and although the boys participated to indulge me, they ended up learning so much about the art of tea making, the culture, and, of course, the beauty of wearing kimonos. Personally, I enjoyed this—it made me wish I had someone to style my hair and dress me every day! The atmosphere was serene, and the attention to detail was impressive. We arrived a little early and had time to visit a nearby coffee shop, which turned out to be amazing—such a charming area with a great vibe. This experience was a wonderful opportunity to learn, connect, and grow together. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to explore and appreciate Japanese culture in an authentic and meaningful way.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Shibuya Bar Hopping Night Tour in Tokyo

Tokyo

We had an incredible time on the Shibuya Bar Hopping Night Tour, and our tour guide, Masa, made the experience truly exceptional. He ensured that everyone in the group felt included, engaged, and comfortable throughout the evening. Our 22-year-old son and his friends especially loved the tour, but we also found it to be a fantastic experience. Masa’s deep knowledge of the area and his insights about Tokyo’s nightlife were invaluable. This tour is perfect for your first or second night in the city because it helps you get a feel for the local spots and plan where you might want to visit again later. The places we visited were unique and authentically local, which was exactly what we were hoping for. While there were plenty of fried food options available—which many people would enjoy—we personally would have preferred a bit more variety. That said, it didn’t take away from how much we loved the experience overall. If you’re looking for a night of great drinks, fun exploration, and learning about Tokyo’s vibrant nightlife, this is an absolute must-do. We’d gladly do it again!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Too many iterations that required repeated checking and input on my part. Most private guides did not speak English well enough, the only one that was fluent as well as knowledgeable was Hector (our guide in Kyoto). Several mid day train’s bookings needed to be changed to earlier in the day, as the original timing didn’t make sense. While planning was less than perfect, Sandy’s execution and daily follow up was excellent.

Activity Review

Mt. Koya and Temple Stay Experience

Mount Koya

Amazing visit to the open cemetery and shrine; very enjoyable (including meals) and educational experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a fantastic time in Japan and owe it all to Shona and the KimKim team. KimKim found the perfect balance for us. The hotels, guides, transportation, and sights were exactly what we wanted. We didn't have a good idea of how to tackle this ourselves since it was our first trip to Japan, and Shona guided us through the options of sights and activities, hotel service levels, guides and time on our own, and everything else. We were able to select options and hotels based on our budget, and the choices she helped us make turned out to be exactly what we were looking for. Everything ran perfectly, and we felt completely covered in every respect. We literally would not change a thing about the trip, and came away loving Japan.

Hotel Reviews

Shiba Park Hotel

Tokyo

great location, very attractive hotel, great service, great all around.

Authenticity & Character

Cool vibe, modern amenities, great mix of design and comfort.

Location

convenient, close to temples and activity, but super quiet on a side street.

Staff

unbelievably kind and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

the rooms are smaller, but are very comfortable and well appointed. very clean and cool feel to it.

THE SCREEN - Boutique & Luxury Design Collection -

Kyoto

Super cool designer hotel.

Authenticity & Character

unique designs, large rooms, well appointed.

Location

across from the castle, but off the busy street so it is quiet.

Staff

very friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

very clean and comfortable, though seating in the room was very close to the floor, so not great for older people.

Mikasa Ryokan

nara

Great hotel if you want the true Ryokan experience with public bath, futon sleeping and full Japanese meals.

Authenticity & Character

totally authentic in every way.

Location

easy access from Nara city

Staff

very friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

very clean. you have to be ready to sleep on futons

Hotel New Otani Osaka

Osaka

Beautiful larger hotel. Very convenient for the Osaka Castle, and easy access for the city.

Authenticity & Character

nice and well appointed. Room got hot at night though.

Location

very close to the castle

Staff

very friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

UNO HOTEL

Okayama, Tamano

Great alternative for those unable to stay on Naoshima island. Excellent facilities, and across the street from the ferry. Wonderful, friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character

It is a great modern hotel, with all the amenities.

Location

across the street from the ferry

Staff

super helpful and friendly. Everyone spoke English

Cleanliness & Comfort

great modern rooms, super clean and well equipped.

Activity Reviews

Full Day City Tour with Osaka Castle

Japan

Wonderful last day in Japan. The Castle is a fascinating history lesson and magnificent to see. The Peace memorial is moving and interesting. Walking the streets and shops was wonderful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full day Tokyo city tour with Rikugien Garden

Tokyo

Our itinerary of the Rikugien Garden, the Ginza district and the sky tower was perfect. Great launch into the Tokyo experience and fascinating to see.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Osaka

You have to do this if you are in the Osaka area. It is an amazing experience of sights, sounds, people and food.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ika was a fantastic guide.

Transport

Enjoy a Full Day Tour in Nara

Nara

Nara is an exceptionally unique place. The Buddhist temple is enormous and amazing, and the Shinto shrine is incredibly beautiful. All the while you are sharing the space with deer who roam about town.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Miyama Village Tour From Kyoto

Japan

Very interesting area to visit, but not worth the driving time unless you have time to spare. Just not enough to it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Gion District and Nishiki Market

Japan

this was our favorite day in Japan. The Market is awesome to experience, and the Gion district has the most authentic Japanese feel of anywhere we went.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We chose to use KimKim for our second time since we had an an amazing ttrip with KimKim in Italy last year, May 2023. All of our expectations were met and we thought we would have the same experience this year with our trip to Japan. Unfortunately, this was not the case. From the moment, we arrived in Tokyo, there were problems. They were as follows:

1. The room in our Tokyo hotel was small and totally outdated for a 4 star hotel. The bed was small and up against the wall which only allowed us to enter the bed from one side. Needless to say, this was a major inconvenience as we had to climb over each other to get into bed. We contacted Asia Highlights and they rectified the situation the next day by moving us to another room which was bigger and more modern. This was the type of room we were expecting from day one. We spent 5 nights in this hotel.
2. Our guide for Tokyo was extremely poor. He was supposed to contact us the night before
to make arrangements about when and where to meet the next day. We did not hear from him until we decided to contact him. Not a great first impression. Once we met him, Carter, we realized there was going to be a language barrier. His English was poor and his understanding of English was just as poor, making communication a challenge. He was very inexperienced an did not know the logistics of being a good guide. He lacked the knowledge and expertise of a guide and really did not not make our visit to Tokyo enjoyable. We kept giving him the benefit of the doubt, but his performance was sub par.
3. When we arrived in Hiroshima, we met our driver at the train station who would take us to our hotel. Unfortunately, the 10 minute drive to the hotel took 1 hour because the driver did not know where he was going. Again, a real lack of communication.
4. Finally, at our hotel in Osaka, we came across the same problem with our room as we did in Tokyo. The room was again small, bed to one side and the room was very dated. This time, we could not change rooms because all of the rooms were booked. Not pleasant. We are seasoned travelers and these accommodations were unacceptable.

On a positive note, we were extremely pleased with our guide, Ho. (Kyoto to Osaka) He was a true professional and paid strict attention to detail. He made the rest our trip very enjoyable. He made changes to the itinerary as he saw fit and always took our needs into consideration when planning the days ahead. Asia Highlights also tried to make accommodations and were responsive to our many messages back and forth but it really did not make up for the poor execution of this trip. We booked this Trip last December and this should have given them ample time to provide us with the best experience possible. As the company that represents them, a better vetting process should be in place. In conclusion, this trip was highly disappointing.

It was a very well planned trip. Sandy and her team were always available to assist us during the trip. The only thing we will possibly do different will be to not carry all our luggage to Mount Koya or Koyasan.

Great trip, but our trip coordinator was slow to respond more than once.

Unfortunately, we had a flight delay on the way over, which resulted in us arriving a day late. We were charged for the first night in the hotel. Kim Kim said they would refund half of the hotel price.

Shinkansen tickets (Tokyo to Kyoto) were supposed to be at 1100. We planned a tour in Kyoto based on that time. Unfortunately, we received a message from Shona the day before with tickets that were at 1200.

The evening before the transfer to Kyoto, we tried to change the ticket ourselves (at the station) to 1100, but this was not possible because Kim Kim did not provide the original email that issued the tickets (Kim Kim only provided the attachments). So we messaged our coordinator, Shona. She answered that she would follow up before 10 AM the next day (the day of the tickets). Next day…No answer at 10. Shona responded at 1010 that she would confirm it for us right away. Nothing back until 1040, asking if we were at the station…(we had been there since 9:30) .

At 9:55 we got a message from the emergency coordinator, Heidi, asking (again) if we were at the station. By then, it was too late to have the tickets changed to 10:00. Heidi provided a transfer for us to the our planned tour directly from the station in Kyoto. Overall, a last minute save, but this whole thing was really annoying. For whatever reason, Shona was unable to respond quickly on what should have been a fairly easy change, with plenty of lead time to fix.

Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed the trip. Our tour guides Ayumi (Tokyo), Seiya Maegawa (Kyoto), and Luna (Osaka) were AMAZING.

We would certainly go to Japan again, to see more of the country, but I would be hesitant to use KimKim again due to the coordination issues we experienced.

Hotel Review

Hotel Vischio Kyoto by GRANVIA

Kyoto

AMAZING BREAKFAST!! Great location, right next to the Kyoto station.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right next to the Kyoto station

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Japan

Great food and a wonderful tour guide! The only thing I’d change… We ended up missing out on Soba at the end because the other members of the group had eaten too much at the first two restaurants. We would have liked to have tried it (we still had room), but the tour ended.

Quality of Experience

TASTY FOOD!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Luna did a wonderful job.

Transport

The meeting point is in a very loud location (at the entrance to a train station). We had a hard time hearing our guide until we were away from under the train tracks.

Tokyo Highlights Day Tour with Tsukiji Outer Fish Market

Tokyo

Ayumi did a wonderful job ! She asked us about our preferences before we left on the tour, and did a great job sharing Tokyo with us!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ayumi is a WONDERFUL tour guide. She speaks English very well, and was very personable.

Transport

Ayumi came prepared with a day pass for the trains for each of us. She did a wonderful job teaching us how to navigate the public transportation system in Tokyo.

Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Fushimi Inari-Taisha

Kyoto

Our guide, Seiya Maegawa, was FANTASTIC. He shared so much detail about each place we visited. Very personable, and just did a wonderful job bringing each place to life that we visited.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Leny did an amazing job setting up our trip and our trip schedule. She was attentive throughout the trip and easy to communicate with throughout the trip. Leny added Google maps for us to assist us getting around. Leny also saw that it was my wife’s Birthday during the trip and arranged for some memorable surprises for her. We would highly recommend using Leny to plan a trip for a trip to Japan.

Hotel Review

Hakone Kowakien TEN-YU

Hakone

This hotel stay was one of the highlights of our stay in Japan. I would very highly recommend a stay here along with their Kaiseki dinner.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Quiet hotel surrounded by natural beauty.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sayonara Japan!

Kansai International Airport (KIX)

The driver was on time and got us to the airport in plenty of time for our departure.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full day Osaka Food & Culture Tour with Government Licensed Guide (Private)

Osaka

This tour was good but there actually was no food provided on this tour. That is the reason for 3 stars. It was history and culture tour only. The food portion was taking a 10 minute walk through Kuromon market.

Kyoto : Experience Tea Ceremony with a Maiko (Geisha) in a Premium course

Kyoto

Maiko was good but I would not recommend this venue or experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nishiki Market Delights: A Brunch Foodie Adventure

Kyoto

Semi was an amazing guide who wanted us to sample all of the delights of Nishiki market followed by a nice lunch.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Kyoto and Nara Tour with English-Speaking Guide

Japan

Good trip

Tokyo to Hakone Private Transfer: Mt. Fuji and Hakone Full-Day Tour with English-Speaking Driver

Japan

Harry was fantastic

Half-Day Tokyo Tour with English-Speaking Guide

Tokyo

Excellent day spent with Ritzuko. Very efficient

Full Day Nikko Tour from Tokyo with English Speaking Guide (Private)

Japan

Very long day trip to Nikko. We went to a waterfall that was fogged in. Walked around town to a okay lake. The highlight was to the Nikko Toshogu Shrine.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Best Of Shibuya Food Private Tour - Evening

Tokyo

Clara, our tour guide was amazing taking us around Shibuya to off the beaten path places to sample food.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Authentic Sumo Experience in Tokyo with Chanko-nabe Lunch

Tokyo

Our local guide was really good - kept us organized, helped with restaurant planning, and good overview of places, e.g. shrines and traditional places.