Kimkim Trip Reviews for Japan

I had no interest in being herded around on a group tour on and off buses and being told where and when to eat and shop yet needed guidance as this trip would have taken hundreds of hours to plan properly. Kim Kim was the perfect compromise. The trip was customized for us after an initial conversation and then a two hour zoom with Leny. We had 5 private guides in different areas each one better than the next. We were reminded each day of our next day’s plans with specific instructions if we wanted to take the train. For full day tours the guides picked us up at our hotel. The cooking class with Bob in Takayama was so great and authentic, as was the tea ceremony and the dinner with Maiko who is like a Geisha in training. We also got amazing deals on vintage designer bags in the Namba area of Okasa which is like a combination of Times Square and the San Genaro feast on steroids. We ran the gamut with a visit to Mt Koya to be in touch with our spiritual side. This was a trip of a lifetime and we could have never done it without Leny and her team who were on call and immediately responsive throughout the entire trip when we had questions or needed clarity. Absolute kudos to them. I cannot recommend them highly enough.

I created a specialized itinerary and Kim Kim agent Angel was able to coordinate beautifully. Japan is a lovely country with so many great sites not to be missed. We hit the highlights of Tokyo, Hakone, Mt. Fuji, Kyoto and Osaka. What I like most was working in partnership with KimKim to have the type of experience we wanted: a little hustle, a little laid back, key historical sites without being overwhelmed with too much, and lots of fun activities.
Pros:
1. Angel is an absolute gem to work with. She was responsive to my needs, listened carefully, alway with kindness, humor and professionalism.
2. The itinerary was affordable, considering we did not want to be on a tour bus with 20 others each day, allowing us independence while able to join in group activities on some days.
3. Each day, Angel would check in with the daily itin and schedule, including all tickets, maps, timing. Loved that.
Cons:
1. With the exception of Tokyo and Hakone, the hotels in Kyoto and Osaka were located far away from anything...more like office park areas, not walkable to anything. As this was my first time to Japan, hotel locations are essential to enjoyment, and this was dissapointing.
2. Due to those 2 hotel locations, we had to use uber or public transport to get anywhere, costing a lot of money and time that I didn't expect. I would suggest KimKim to review hotel locations that are tourist friendly and walkable to restaurants, stores, etc.
3. I was quoted a price for my initial itinerary, complete with hotels. Two weeks before departure, I was reviewing the itin and realized I needed more transportation built in, like train to hotel transfers, pick up/drop off from tours. I requested this and was quoted a huge amount, which was then negotiated down as we discussed the actuality. However, in the last quote, included was the price for my first hotel stay of 3 nights. This was odd and unexpected, I thought this was included in the initial quote, which it appeared to be. Confusing and not good.
Overall experience:
Loved this trip and Angel was a delight to work with.

Our family vacation to Japan was amazing! Our excellent advisor Shona designed a great itinerary and made sure all of our needs were met. When hiccups occurred, she was quick to figure out a solution and went out of her way to make sure we were satisfied every step of the way. We highly recommend Kimkim, and especially Shona to make your next vacation one to remember.

Activity Reviews

Full Day City Tour with Osaka Castle

Japan

We had a great time with our guide Yuki. He was very friendly and organized and was flexible with us when we wanted to change things during the day. We loved seeing the traditional areas of Kyoto, as opposed to the modern feel of the city centers of Kyoto and Tokyo.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Nara City Tour, Overnight in Osaka

Japan

We had fun seeing the deer, but be ready to be swarmed by aggressive deer who want crackers, and will definitely let you know if you’re taking too long handling them over by nipping your arms and legs. I’d recommend just watching those less informed feeding them. The area is very nice, but the museum is terrific! Definitely make it a point to spend some time seeing the many artifacts/national treasures inside.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Tour of Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Sagano Scenic Railway

Kyoto

The walk through the bamboo forest was nice, but very crowded. We absolutely loved the grounds surrounding the bamboo forest, as they were very tranquil, and just beautiful with the cherry blossoms in full bloom.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

Our family of four, with two sons on their twenties, really enjoyed the tea ceremony. It was fun to dress in traditional clothes and learn about the history and traditions behind it. It’s fun for all ages.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Tokyo

Our family enjoyed visiting the Meiji shrine, a peaceful oasis in a busy city. The grounds were very pretty and our guide Kaiko was terrific! We loved learning about the history of the shrine from our guide and from visiting the museum.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had such a memorable time in Japan. Ben really understood what my family's interests were and chose fantastic locations and experiences for a first trip to Japan. Our guid in Tokyo, Yoko was very knowledgeable and efficient at zigzagging us all over the city.
In Kyoto, Ursula was amazing and was able to sneak in a few extra stops to maximize the sakuras at their peak. She was also helpful in giving us some tips on where to go in Osaka.

Judy from Kim Kim was very helpful and listened to what we wanted as a family. Judy paired us with a private tour guide called JJ from Nara to Oaska, JJ was a great guide and well informed, she even it took one for the team when the deer's were chasing us food.
Thank you, highly recommend Judy from the Kimkim Tour group.

Hotel Reviews

The Bridge Hotel Shinsaibashi

Osaka

Hotel was in a perfect location to food and transport & night life. Rooms were smallish especially when sharing but all in all it was clean and had great amenities. Breakfast was included and enough variety available.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kyoto U-BELL Hotel

Hotel was in a good location to food and transport. Rooms were reasonable with queen bed especially when sharing but all in all it was clean and had great amenities. Breakfast was included and enough variety available.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great location to transport & food

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tokyo Bay Ariake Washington Hotel

Hotel was in a good location to food and transport. Rooms were small especially when sharing but all in all it was clean and had great amenities. Breakfast was included and enough variety available.

Authenticity & Character

Clean and good amenities

Location

Near train stations restaurants

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Japan

Hide our foodie tour guide is a legend, he was funny, easy going and pleasant to share meals with. He was a great guide and answered questions not related to food as well.

Full Day Nara City Tour, Overnight in Osaka

Japan

Our guide JJ from Nara to Oska was informative and very pleasant to deal with, she was always helpful in answering our questions.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

We got to experience wearing a Kimono, the staff were very helpful and informative when dressing you. Our host teaching us the traditions of why they have a tea ceremony was very informative and pleasant.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

In January 2026 we traveled to Japan- three areas including Tokyo, Kyoto and last, Niseco for skiing! This was our 3rd trip working with kimkim and similar to past vacation explorations, it was a wonderful experience all around! Sandy was our local contact in Japan and she worked enthusiastically and diligently to tailor our trip to our specific needs, also nudging us kindly to consider things we wouldn't normally have chosen like "Sumo Experience" in Tokyo - which we truly enjoyed! Charlie was our Japanese American guide (friendly, knowledgeable and fun!) for the Sumo tour and we fully learned much from him and the kindly retired but still practicing Sumo wrestlers living at the Sumo Stable. Even had a taste of sparing for fun! Sandy connected us with our Tokyo tour guide Ayumi (friendly, knowledgable, gracefully passionate about her country) who proved to give us an outstanding tour of Tokyo sights (like Tokyo skyscrapers, rare fog free view of Mt Fuji from Tokyo, Imperial Palace Gardens and beautiful history lesson about Japan and the Imperial family, natural and tranquil Shinto shrines and introduced us to the most delicious, bountiful and steaming hot Ramen on one of our chilly days. We traveled on a high speed train from Tokyo to Kyoto that was so swift yet very quiet. In Kyoto, the cultural capital, our tour guide was Taku and he really gave us a thorough and enjoyable tour. It was very clear he had great passion and humble pride about his country. We really enjoyed our time learning from and exploring with him! Taku brought us to our traditional Ryokan accommodation with Onsen/hot spring baths. The proprietors could not have been more welcoming and accommodating. Had a second enjoyable day with Taku where we ventured through a Bamboo forest, snow monkey park, Nijo Castle, food market, learned about the beautiful and refined Geisha and more junior Meiko traditional Japanese entertainers who attend training in the Gion district of Kyoto. Headed north by plane to Niseko ski country and spent several days skiing the remarkably light and fluffy snow. Our kimkim designed Japan experience was THE BEST!!

Angel was the most amazing organizer; informed, personable and fun to work with. We were 4 women who enjoy adventure and talking to local people. We each have done a fair amount of traveling on our own and arranging our own trips with family and friends but this time relied on KimKim to make our arrangements.

Their local day trip guides were extremely knowledgable, thoughtful, kind and with a sense of humor. We appreciated times when the various local guides adjusted the schedule or site given to avoid the crowds. Sometimes we explored new places and had to adjust the schedule given unknown circumstances. The experiences felt unique while at the same time we were visiting major sites. So many places we went were so special. We made a number of requests in the beginning and made a few major adjustments just before embarking. When we had an unexpected emergency she responded immediately --anticipating the next steps with calm.

I wish Angel could arrange all my trips.

Our Japan trip was truly memorable! It was my daughter's first international trip and she did so well. Eleanor has planned it in a way where my daughter can keep up and not get overwhelmed and still check off all the places and experiences we wanted to have. Our local guides and drivers were also superb. Shoutout to Yuka, our guide in Shirakawa. She was a lovely person and my daughter played with her a lot. Overall, the beauty of the places we've seen, the culture, the hospitality made it magical and enchanting for us. It reset our minds and spirit. I can actually say my soul was deeply moved. We were absolutely captivated by Japan!

We recently returned from a truly wonderful tour of Japan. Eleanor at KimKim was the primary reason it felt so effortless. From the very beginning, she was incredibly thorough, managing every small detail and keeping us perfectly posted with updates and reminders exactly when we needed them. She managed to hit that elusive sweet spot between guided and self-guided time, selecting fantastic guides while still leaving us enough room to breathe and explore on our own. Eleanor was easy to work with and made changes when we thought of them.

One of the best decisions we made was following her advice to spend three days staying on Miyajima instead of staying over on the Hiroshima side. It was a highlight of the trip, though we do have one funny "pro-tip" for anyone else heading there: once the day-tourists catch the ferry back, almost every restaurant on the island shuts down by 6:00 PM. It left only a few spots open outside of the hotels, which we turned into a bit of an adventure, though others might find it a bit of a shock if they aren't prepared!

If we were to tweak anything in the itinerary, there were really only two minor exceptions in Kyoto—the boat ride and the tourist train. Only one person in our group enjoyed them. But in the grand scheme of such a well-planned trip, those were very small notes. Eleanor’s planning was top-tier, and while KimKim provided a great backend for the whole process, it was her personal touch that made the experience what it was. We would highly recommend her to anyone planning to travel to Japan.

The highlight of the trip was the 1,000 photos I captured along the way. I resonate with the Japanese style and their conscious use of space, line, and form in almost everything they create.
The gardens were especially relevant to me. Each one had a similarity but also its own unique elements, which made looking through my lens truly exciting. In fact, they have inspired me to revisit my own gardens, not trying to mimic a Japanese garden, but to take the time to think about, look a little longer and deeper, and try to incorporate these elements into mine.
My favorite was Miyajima - I loved the Island, the cable cars, and the Tori Bridge. It is a beautiful island. I especially love the Miyajima Hotel Villa. They had free snacks (and ice cream!) and the room was very comfortable with a lovely water view. The deer roam freely and are so friendly to the tourists.
I will contact Eleanor when we decide to return to Japan. I will use KimKim to plan travel to other countries.

Shona was excellent and always there ! Most of the guides were great -Toya, Hal meho, Mai were also very good but Akira in Osaka was terrible-very little information , little English and poor planning -we had to wait to enter the hemeji palace and then were rushed at the end . I would say overall that the focus could have been more varied -we saw lots of temples and shrines . The bike ride was great and the food tour excellent -udo was our guide and he was the best on the tour. Toya helped us when we realized we had left our passports in Tokyo and arranged to have them delivered to Hakone and that went well -the private bath there was also excellent.Hal helped us retrieve a bag we left in Kyoto as well . Of course the language barrier took a while to adjust to . We had no museums which would have been nice -overall I would say very good tour . Thank you

Our guides were mostly good with the exception of one young man in Osaka and Kobe whose English was horrible and he seemed generally disinterested in his job.

Activity Review

Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Japan

If you are prone to independent travel, but reluctant to be entirely on your own because of the language barrier and lack of familiarity with Japan's transportation, KimKim is the way to go. Shona did an amazing job communicating with us over 6 months prior to ask about our travel dates and style, where we wanted to go, what we wanted to see and experience. She created a trip that enabled us to be on our own and have guides and transport when we needed them.

Our guides were so helpful in explaining what we were seeing, the history, and were responsive to where we wanted to focus our attention. We visited Tokyo, Hakone area, Kyoto and Kanazawa. Each day we had a guide at least part of the day to get us to and explain various sites. In every area we visited spectacular temples, shrines, and gardens full of blossoms, ponds, bridges. The designs of these parks and gardens are what makes Japan so remarkable and memorial. Some of the other highlights included Tea Ceremony in Tokyo. Being dressed in Kimonos was not to be forgotten, and learning about true Matcha tea and mochi was enlightening.
Traveling by car to the Hakone area was an opportunity for country scenery and living. We had perfect weather to see Mt Fuji and experience our first soft ice cream. In Kyoto we made ramen at a ramen Factory, from the pasta to the chicken and broth. We had a blast. The day trip to Nara with our guide Orura Mei was unforgettable. The Todai-ji Temple and park are not to be missed, and our guide was not only helpful and knowledgeable but responsive to our needs for breaks, water, bathroom, hunger . We had Okonomiyaki (Japanese cabbage pancakes) which are our new favorite, and we walked through the older part of town through shops and residential areas away from the crowds.
In Kanazawa we had a private prepared traditional Japanese dinner and night tour with a fantastic guide whose name we forgot to write down. She went into depth about the differences between shrines and temples, and the history of geisha districts which we walked through. The dinner was superb. We also took a day trip to Shirakawago in private car. The drive through the mountains gave us another perspective of Japanese scenery and living. We walked through the town of thatched roof houses and learned the history and why it's now a UNESCO Heritage site.

All the hotels Shona booked were clean, comfortable and had easy access to transportation, sites, restaurants. Staff always tried to be helpful and were polite and professional and there was usually someone who spoke some English!

Hotel Reviews

SOKI KANAZAWA

Kanazawa

This was our favorite in terms of atmosphere and authenticity. An authentic Ryokan with futons on floor, onset on site, traditional Japanese breakfast. Breakfasts and beds on floor isn't for everyone but we appreciated the authenticity, the heavenly smells of the place, the traditional dress of staff, the fresh cherry branch decorations

Authenticity & Character

smaller hotel, bit of a walk to train station

Location

further from station but right across from huge fish market

Staff

helpful but not mush English

Cleanliness & Comfort

beds on floor a challenge for octogenarians

Mitsui garden Hotel Kyoto Station

Kyoyo

Nice breakfast choices

Authenticity & Character

Location

close to station, restaurants,.

Staff

friendly and helpful. More that spoke some English

Cleanliness & Comfort

lovely and a bit more spacious room for easier suitcase access

Tenseien Odawara Station Annex

Hakone

We thought the hotel would be in Hakone so were disappointed it was right at the train station. That said, we had access to bus to Hakone and the hotel was comfortable, clean and had a public bath.

Authenticity & Character

public bath was a plus. We had our first bath experience there with clear, writteninstructions in ENGLISH

Location

Not in Hakone but good access to transportation

Staff

friendly and try to be helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

window, comfortable bed, clean

Asakusa View Hotel

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

larger more modern hotel

Location

Great view of shrine and Skytree. Convenient to train station and access to sites

Staff

confusion at check in but friendly and apologetic. Not much English

Cleanliness & Comfort

clean and comfortable bed. Small room. Hard to find space for two suitcases

Okura Act City Hotel Hamamatsu

Largest hotel in Hamamatsu. Very fancy for us. We were on 44th floor. Good location and near our grandson who we were visiting there. Good breakfast selections

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kanazawa Half-Day Tour

Kanazawa

We went back to some of the sites we were impressed with and wanted to go, like the geisha districts and the Kenrokuen Garden. Was able to tour inside a geisha house. Our guide also took us to the Samari district that we wanted to explore, as well as several arts and craft shops in the area. We were able to go inside replicas of a samurai and a geisha house.

Quality of Experience

The gardens are the finest we saw on the whole trip and we could have spent hours there! Very interesting to go inside some of the buildings.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kiya (I think spelled right) was totally responsive to what we wanted to do and navigated seamlessly many bus rides and walking to get us places.

Transport

buses and walking

Shirakawago Day Trip

Kanazawa

Drive from Kanazawa with alpine scenery, high snow capped mountains, tunnels, thatched roof houses

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

good driver in comfortable car but not very communicative. He was responsive to our questions and requests (for water, coffee, etc)

Transport

beautiful drive

Night Tour of Kanawaza With Dinner

Kanazawa

Walk through two geisha districts and along the river, culminating in a delicious multi course private meal with our wonderful guide whose name we neglected to write down.

Quality of Experience

Food

superb

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

walking

Kyoto: Ramen Cooking Class at the Ramen Factory & Souvenirs

Kyoto

This was so much fun though we barely made it there because of confusing directions. The woman leading the small class of 3 couples was an excellent teacher with patience, clarity and good English.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

staff at the factory were great. This experience was self guided - no guide or driver

Transport

Took taxi on our own but the address provided was wrong and we got quite lost trying to find the location.

Nara Day Tour from Kyoto

Kyoto

The temple itself, great guide, Japanese cabbage pancakes

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Sagano Bamboo Grove and Tenryuji Temple Tour

Kyoto

Beauty and long walks with wonderful guide

Quality of Experience

Such beautiful gardens with fruit tree blossoms

Guides, Drivers and Staff

so happy to be with Tomoko all day

Transport

Fushimi Inari Taisha and Kinkakuji Temple

Kyoto

The shrine and temple was lovely, our first ones with a guide, so learned a lot about traditions of each, the different aspects of shrines and temples. we especially liked the temple in the forest. The day included several modes of transportation and lots of walking which we could not have navigated on our own. Our guide, Tomoko was knowledgeable, responsive to our questions and needs. We had a lovely lunch with her.

Quality of Experience

Beautiful and great guide

Guides, Drivers and Staff

thoughtful, responsive, knowledgeable guide

Transport

She navigated it all with ease

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

We loved it but barely made it because scheduled to close to our arrival in Kyoto. Had to take a taxi in traffic. Once there the experience was a lot of fun, from them taking us to men's and women's dressing area where they did us up in full garb, then to the ceremony itself where we learned about the ancient tradition and drank true ground matcha tea and fresh made mochi. Many opportunities for pictures.

Quality of Experience

It was all lots of fun. Self guided though, no guide or driver

Guides, Drivers and Staff

staff at the location were wonderful and fun

Transport

we got our own taxi and barely got there in time.

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi & Oishi Park

Japan

Amazing because we were SO lucky with the weather! The mountain was in all its splendor. The boat ride was very short and crowded but gave other perspectives of the mountain.

Quality of Experience

The mountain itself in good weather. Scenic drive once out of Tokyo. Soft ice cream for the first time!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very polite and considerate of our needs but not very informative

Transport

immaculate car and excellent driving, particularly in heavy traffic coming out of Tokyo.

Master Tokyo's Must-Sees: 5-hour Tsukiji, Akihabara & Asakusa Highlights Tour

Tokyo

Our plane was a day late so missed this. Fortunately our grandson met us in Tokyo and was able to show us the major sites we missed

Cannon was wonderful to work with. He answered all of my questions both before and during the trip, and helped me customize my trip so we hit all the spots that were important to us and he researched heavily to make sure we stayed in our budget range. He made everything easy and gave me updates every day on what I needed to know for the next day while we were there. He even managed to set up an amazing private tour of all the One-Piece statues in Kumamoto with an incredible English-speaking and kind tour guide! All of our accommodations were great and even the Airbnb we ended up with in Tokyo turned out to be the best option for my family of 4 based on availability, location, and budget, even though it was tiny and we were a bit crowded. I was so grateful that Cannon helped me understand that.

I loved the street food in Osaka, the traditional tea ceremony in Kyoto (so fun to wear a kimono!), the funny bowing deer in Nara, the spectacular Mt. Fuji in Hakone, and the beautiful cherry blossoms in Tokyo (even though it was pretty early in the season). My boys loved Akihabra and the Ghibli Museum! One of my sons even got a tattoo in Shinjuku. Food is so cheap in Japan and everywhere is so clean and safe. We had an amazing time!

Activity Reviews

Chase Cherry Blossom in Tokyo

Tokyo

We weren't able to go chasing the cherry blossoms all over Tokyo, but we did see some in Sumida Park. It was very early in the season (around March 22nd) , so we only saw a handful, but they were very lovely.

Quality of Experience

Kyoto’s Cultural Treasures: Fushimi Inari-Taisha, Kiyomizu-dera & Gion District

Japan

We only went to see Fushimi Inari-Taisha due to time constraints. We climbed all the way to the top -- quite an achievement! There are about 6000 - 7000 steps to get to the top. The woods surrounding the shrine all the way up were very pretty.

Quality of Experience

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Full Day Nara Experience From Osaka (Overnight in Kyoto)

Japan

Quality of Experience

Kumamoto One Piece Statue Tour

Kumamoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Every hotel and event that was booked was abosultely amazing and a great experience, however sometimes communication through KimKim wasn't the best. Our updated itinerary wasnt available to view until the day before we left and where to pick up tickets wasnt always clear.

Our trip to Japan was truly a 5-star experience from beginning to end. We traveled as three generations — my mother (70), my daughter (13), and me (43) — and the pace of the itinerary was absolutely perfect for all of us. Every accommodation reflected what we had shared as priorities, including thoughtful locations, wonderful amenities, and memorable meals. We especially appreciated the ryokans and the opportunity to experience onsen culture in such an authentic and comfortable way.

One of the most meaningful highlights of our trip was the private cooking experience in Takayama with Toma, Hisa, and Bob. Being welcomed into their home was incredibly special. They created such a warm and comfortable environment and even invited us to dine in their formal dining room. Their home is a cultural treasure, having been the birthplace of more than 6,000 babies over generations, as their family served as obstetricians for the community for decades. Sharing food, stories, and history in such a personal setting created memories we will cherish forever.

Our journey from Takayama to Kanazawa with Ku included a stop in Shirakawa-go to see the UNESCO village. Ku was an excellent driver and guide, sharing insider knowledge about the best times to visit each house and helping us avoid crowds. Her kindness and professionalism made the day feel relaxed and seamless. In Kanazawa, Megu introduced us to the local food scene, taking us to places we never would have discovered on our own and helping us navigate ordering and regional specialties. It was an incredible culinary experience and truly one of the highlights of our trip. The following morning, Megu guided us through the samurai district, beautiful gardens, and geisha district, sharing thoughtful context that made each stop feel meaningful and engaging.

Throughout the entire experience, Leny and her team were incredibly attentive and supportive. They kept us informed about where we needed to be, were always available to answer questions, and even helped recover my daughter’s retainer after it was accidentally left behind at a hotel. Their attention to detail and genuine care allowed us to fully relax and enjoy every moment.

Overall, this was an exceptional trip filled with unforgettable experiences, cultural connection, and thoughtful planning. We are deeply grateful for the care and expertise that went into creating such a special journey for our family. Highly recommend.

Hotel Reviews

HOTEL AO KANAZAWA

Kanazawa

Very friendly staff, clean rooms, lovely bathrooms, comfy beds. Great food, loved the breakfast!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ryokan Hidatei Hanaougi

Takayama

Amazing experience, wonderful service, beautiful rooms and truly immersive experience. Private onsen was beautiful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kanazawa Half Day Tour with an English-Speaking Guide by Public Transportation (Private)

Kanazawa

Our time with Megu in Kanazawa was truly exceptional and a highlight of our trip. We had the pleasure of experiencing both a food tour and a half-day cultural tour with her, and both were outstanding. Megu has an incredible depth of knowledge and a warm, engaging way of sharing it that made each experience feel personal and memorable. During the food tour, Megu introduced us to local spots we never would have discovered on our own. She helped us understand regional specialties and guided us through how to order, making the experience approachable and enjoyable for our three-generation group. It was such a fun and delicious way to connect with the culture through food. The following day, Megu guided us through Kanazawa’s samurai district, beautiful gardens, and geisha district. Her storytelling brought each location to life, providing context that deepened our appreciation for the history and traditions of the area. The pacing was perfect, allowing time to explore, ask questions, and truly take in each setting. Megu is thoughtful, knowledgeable, and passionate about sharing her culture. We left with a much richer understanding of Kanazawa and memories our family will cherish. We highly recommend touring with Megu — it was truly a 5-star experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kanazawa Food Tour: Private & Personalized with a Local Guide

Kanazawa

Our time with Megu in Kanazawa was truly exceptional and a highlight of our trip. We had the pleasure of experiencing both a food tour and a half-day cultural tour with her, and both were outstanding. Megu has an incredible depth of knowledge and a warm, engaging way of sharing it that made each experience feel personal and memorable. During the food tour, Megu introduced us to local spots we never would have discovered on our own. She helped us understand regional specialties and guided us through how to order, making the experience approachable and enjoyable for our three-generation group. It was such a fun and delicious way to connect with the culture through food. The following day, Megu guided us through Kanazawa’s samurai district, beautiful gardens, and geisha district. Her storytelling brought each location to life, providing context that deepened our appreciation for the history and traditions of the area. The pacing was perfect, allowing time to explore, ask questions, and truly take in each setting. Megu is thoughtful, knowledgeable, and passionate about sharing her culture. We left with a much richer understanding of Kanazawa and memories our family will cherish. We highly recommend touring with Megu — it was truly a 5-star experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Japan

Our private transfer from Takayama to Kanazawa with Ku, including a stop in Shirakawa-go, was outstanding and far exceeded our expectations. Ku was an excellent driver — professional, safe, and incredibly kind — making the journey feel comfortable and relaxed for our three-generation group. The visit to Shirakawa-go, the UNESCO-listed historic village, was a highlight of the day. Ku shared thoughtful insights and insider knowledge, guiding us on the best timing to visit each house and helping us avoid the busiest crowds so we could fully enjoy the beauty and history of the village. Her familiarity with the area allowed us to experience the destination in a much more meaningful way than we could have on our own. Throughout the day, Ku was attentive, flexible, and genuinely invested in making sure we had a wonderful experience. The transfer was seamless, enjoyable, and stress-free, allowing us to focus on taking in the scenery and making special memories together. We highly recommend Ku for anyone traveling between Takayama and Kanazawa, especially if visiting Shirakawa-go along the way. Truly a 5-star experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Great driving! Very safe.

Japanese Cooking Class with Local Family in Takayama Old Town

Takayama

Our private cooking class in Takayama with Toma, Hisa, and Bob was one of the most memorable experiences of our entire trip to Japan. From the moment we arrived, they welcomed us into their home with incredible warmth and hospitality, immediately making our multi-generational family feel comfortable and at ease. The experience went far beyond a typical cooking class — it was a meaningful cultural exchange. We prepared traditional dishes together while learning about local ingredients, customs, and daily life in Takayama. Toma, Hisa, and Bob were patient, engaging, and generous in sharing their knowledge, making the experience enjoyable for all three generations traveling with us. What made the experience especially unique was the setting itself. Their home is a cultural landmark, having been the birthplace of more than 6,000 babies over many generations, as their family served as obstetricians for the community for decades. Sitting together in their beautiful formal dining room to enjoy the meal we prepared felt incredibly special and personal. This experience created memories our family will treasure forever. If you are looking for an authentic, welcoming, and truly meaningful cultural experience in Japan, we highly recommend this cooking class. It was truly 5 stars.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Easy to walk there!

Olivia did a great job helping us plan and with daily reminders.

Our guides Taka, Meiji “May”, and Yuki were all amazing, knowledgeable, and friendly. Will recommend to everyone.

My son and I had an incredible experience in Japan, enjoying a wonderful mix of history, culture and food! From start to finish, the service from Ben was excellent -- well planned, clear, insightful responsive. We stayed in great places and were at ease as we traveled to four cities in seven days, never once concerned about our safety or our next step. Our local guides, Peter and Ursula were delightful. Their English was great, and we really enjoyed all of time with them. For a first time visit to Japan, I really can't imagine a better way to see and enjoy Japan. Well done!

We had a wonderful time in Japan! We planned a 10 day trip that included time in Tokyo, skiing in Niseko, Snow Monkeys in Nagano and more skiing in Hakuba Our guides were very knowledgeable, extremely helpful and very personable. Our accommodations were very nice. Our drivers were punctual, and the cars were spotless. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate. Twice during our stay snow delayed flights forcing us to improvise. Our travel specialist Olivia was extremely helpful as we searched for alternative flights and hotels. She worked tirelessly to try to keep our trip on track. We never felt alone knowing that Olivia would be there to help.
We'd definitely use KimKim again!

We’re not typically “tour bus” travelers, so we wanted the freedom to explore on our own while still having the support and security of a tour company—and this trip delivered exactly that.
Angel, our contact at Kimkim, arranged everything seamlessly, including hotels, transportation, and local guides in each town we visited. Throughout the journey, Angel stayed in touch, which gave us great peace of mind.
In Tokyo, our guide Koiku was excellent. Not only did they show us many key attractions, but they also taught us how to navigate the subway and train systems, giving us the confidence to explore independently.
The hotels along the way were consistently clean, comfortable, and very welcoming. Traveling by train between destinations was smooth and easy to manage.
In Takayama, our guide Ikue introduced us to off-the-beaten-path spots we never would have discovered on our own. Masa, our driver and guide through the mountains to Kanazawa, was both informative and entertaining, and made the journey truly special by taking us to some lesser-known locations.
In Kanazawa, our guide Ai went above and beyond. She not only provided an excellent tour, but also took us to her favorite restaurant and even helped us make arrangements for an event the following day—on her day off. Truly exceptional service.
Overall, the trip was incredibly well organized and made for a comfortable, stress-free experience. A big thank you to Angel and the Kimkim team—I would absolutely travel with them again on a future adventure.

Outstanding job by Greg in planning our 3 week trip to Japan! He developed a well thought out itinerary, arranged travel within Japan seamlessly, and was extremely responsive throughout both the planning and during the trip. Recommend most highly.

Activity Reviews

Imperial Palace East Garden and Heritage of Edo Castle Tour

Tokyo

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very knowledgeable and good English

Izakaya food tour in Shinjuku (14 small tastings)

Tokyo

Outstanding - the guide (Hawaii Joe) knew his stuff and was entertaining

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff