Kimkim Trip Reviews for Japan

Great Adventure To Japan - My husband and I just got back from a 11 day trip to Japan with Kim Kim as our travel agents. The experience was a very memorable one. Right from the start Sandy our very attentive, knowledgeable and courteous agent made our itinerary and provided many great options. The local guides Aki and Yukomi were very accommodating and knowledgeable. Kim Kim is thorough in their planning. If something is not right they go out of their way to fix the issue. All the hotels were top notch and within distance of tourist destinations. We toured Tokyo’s, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Osaka. The Tea ceremony with Kimono experience was by far the best experience of all my travels world wide. Thank you Kim Kim for an amazing trip!

Hotel Review

Miyako City Osaka Hommachi

Osaka

The last hotel in Osaka was our favorite because it was bigger and comfortable, but it was a bit far from our destinations. It would have been nice if it were closer to the train station so we ended up taking a cab a few times due to the distance. The food was great though!

Activity Reviews

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

The Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya exceeded our expectations and was our favorite part of the trip. It was really enjoyable and efficiently organized. Everything worked smoothly, and it felt like a well-oiled machine that allowed us to enjoy the experience fully. We loved it!

Learn the Secrets Behind Ramen in a Cooking Class

Osaka

The Ramen cooking class was a delightful experience once we found the location. It was in a residential area, which was unexpected, and we got a bit lost. Clearer directions would have been helpful, but thankfully, customer support was responsive and helped us. Once we were there, the class was great, and we enjoyed meeting fellow tourists.

We loved our trip to Japan and felt like we got to see the highlights without having an itinerary that was overly rushed or packed. It was an excellent trip!

We had an amazing family trip. We were very happy with Ben in helping us plan and make decisions for our family. We also appreciated the accommodations that he provided when things went differently (unexpectedly) than originally planned. We are thankful for the small gifts and showing of gratitude that he provided during our trip as well (an extra private transport, engraving for our souvenir chopsticks). We also thought our guide Yoko was wonderful and we felt that we were in very good hands with her. We appreciated her flexibility to change/adjust plans when needed for our family, and trusted her advice along the way. We believe she had our best interests in mind.

While our experience was very positive, we do have feedback on some areas of improvement. I think better details regarding the schedule/timing of the day would have been helpful BEFORE the trip. The itinerary for some days was overly ambitious and we had to adjust (cut back) based on dwindling energy levels of everyone. We could have used better judgment/advice regarding that in advance, and built in some down time for everyone to just relax and enjoy the moment.

Another note -- I traveled with other family members who also used KimKim, and they had a very questionable (arguably negative) experience with KimKim. The travel agent Olivia was not responsive, provided inaccurate or incomplete information, and not particularly apologetic or accommodating for major mistakes/errors in the trip. Even though that was not my personal experience, I witnessed it firsthand with my other family members, and as a result, I do have concerns about KimKim and wonder if the service is inconsistent across travel agents. That is something I think about.

kimkim took care of us from (before) the beginning until (after) the end. Angel was very responsive to our requests and knowledgeable about almost every facet of our itinerary. She provided regular updates during the planning stage and then made sure we were ready to travel. Once we were in Japan, everyone we interacted with (private guides, group activities, drivers, etc) was timely, polite, and exceedingly patient as we asked questions, made adjustments, and explored. In particular, we made multiple adjustments to our itinerary while in Japan and Angel was available to help us make sure everything went smoothly. It was my birthday and kimkim even treated me and my son with some surprises!

Hotel Review

Ryokan Aura Tachibana

Hakone

My favorite accommodation of the trip was definitely the Ryokan Aura Tachibana in Hakone. The experience and the vibe of staying there were just wonderful. It was traditional yet had enough modern amenities to keep our stay comfortable, especially for my child. There wasn't any friction, and the authenticity made our stay feel special without compromising on comfort.

Activity Reviews

Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Japan

Friendly and knowledgeable guide. Found out we had dietary restrictions after booking and made sure that these (incredibly tasty) local spots could accommodate in some way.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fushimi Inari Taisha and Kinkakuji Temple

Kyoto

Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and absolutely delightful. She knew the exact right balance of sight seeing/historical insights and keeping it interesting for my 10 year old son. We were able to nimbly manage some very crowded spots.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Family Fun Time in Tokyo: TeamLab Planets and Miraikan Museum

Tokyo

TeamLab Planets in Tokyo was one of the highlights of our trip. It was an activity I specifically requested to be added to our itinerary, and I'm so glad we did it. The immersive art experience was not only fascinating but also incredibly engaging for my child. We truly enjoyed the visit, and it stood out among the many activities we did in Tokyo.

Akieee in Hiroshima gave us an incredible tour of Hiroshima and Miyajima island!
We also loved our Kimono tea ceremony in Kyoto and our guide Taka Sakai !
And our experience in Kanazawa had so much lovely history, a beautiful place Hiroko was so knowledgeable!
And Nara outside of Osaka had amazing views and out kids loved interacting with the deer there! We couldn’t have done it without Taka Sakai!
Thank you to angel at KimKim for organizing a trip of a lifetime

Thank you,

Taka Sakai ‎

Activity Reviews

Kanazawa Full Day Walking Tour

Kanazawa

So much to learn, amazing place, less tourists than some of the other bigger cities! Worth the visit!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Kyoto

Such a unique experience! Even our 10 year old boys enjoyed dressing up for this experience!

Quality of Experience

Our tea ceremony instructor!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

One Day Miyajima Island and Hiroshima Tour

Japan

Miyajima island is a can’t miss beautiful place!

Quality of Experience

Transport

We loved taking the ferry over!

Osaka-Nara Day Trip

Osaka

We had an amazing guide, beautiful temple and shrines! And so many deer! A great unique experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi with Oishi Park

Tokyo

Mount Fujibis a must see!

Quality of Experience

Lo

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

All good but it was difficult and time consuming communicating with Shona.

Hotel Review

Hakuba Tokyu Hotel

A little lodge like but the rooms are spacious and clean Very Reasonable priced Staff a little neurotic Restaurant only open for breakfast and Not dinner No bar and Wasn't disclosed to us

Authenticity & Character

Location

See above

Staff

See above

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Full Day Sake Tasting & Snow Monkey Park Tour (Join-in)

Nagano

Kerin and Sean were amazing! Loved everything about the tour

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sandy was an outstanding specialist. We iteratively developed a perfect 3 week trip to Japan. She well assessed our interests and experience and sculpted a trip that we thoroughly enjoyed. Throughout the trip she would send details of the upcoming days' logistics and would check in with us regarding how things were going. Also, in response to feedback along the way Sandy suggested additional things of interest. One in particular was a spectacularly insightful suggestion. (She knew I liked the author Haruki Murakami and after hearing that we'd enjoyed seeing buildings designed by architect Kengo Kuma, she pointed out that the Murakami Library at Waseda University was designed by Kuma.. that settled our decision to visit and it was awesome!). Our guides selected by Sandy were terrific. In particular, we spent three days with Yuki Yamazaki and feel like she is now one of our new best friends! All of our guides (Yumi, Jun, Yuki and Naoko) exhibited tremendous knowledge and competence in their respective geographies. It was an incredible trip and will be treasured by us forever.

Hotel Reviews

Centara Grand Hotel Osaka

Osaka

The Centara Grand Hotel Osaka was a revelation. I had never heard of this Thailand-based hotel group, but the hotel was stunning, especially the club floor where we stayed. The room was impeccable, and the club floor amenities were top-notch. It was a delightful experience overall.

Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu

Hakone

Staying at Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu was a highlight of our trip. The hot springs resort was fabulous. It wasn't what I expected from a typical hotel; it was more of a resort hotel popular with Japanese tourists. Both my wife and I wished we had an extra full day and night there to soak in the experience. It was a refreshing change from the usual business hotels.

Activity Reviews

Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi Tour with Hakone Tozan Railway

Japan

The Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi Tour with Hakone Tozan Railway was spectacular. Our guide, Naoko, was excellent, and the Open-Air Museum unexpectedly delighted us. Though initially on our list as a 'if you have time' option, it became a highlight. I even bought a book about the museum afterwards—just fascinating!

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Monkey Park Tour

Kyoto

The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Monkey Park Tour was a standout experience. Our guide, Kaori, shared deeply personal family stories about her mother's experiences during World War II, enhancing our understanding immensely. Her ability to weave history with the surroundings was incredibly impactful, making the tour unforgettable.

We had a great time and did not need to worry about nearly anything. Almost every detail was well thought out, and Sandy had good ideas for activity replacements if we did not want to do something that was initially suggested. Travel was smooth and communication was great

Kimkim is a WinWin
Out arranged drivers and guides all showed up and did good jobs. May took us to Mt. Fuji; we had a lovely time with him. Aki took us to Mehajima Island and was great. Kimmie took us around Kyoto for a very fun day. Shonna contacted us daily to remind us who our guides/drivers would be for the next day. That was an asset. Also, KimKim provided us detailed instructions of how to get to places we were going on our own.

Hotel Review

THE KNOT HIROSHIMA

Hiroshima

The location was perfect. It had the best breakfasts.

Authenticity & Character

It was boutique-ish

Location

It is walkable to the Peace Memorial Park.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tokyo: Sumo Show Experience with Chicken Hot Pot and a Photo

Tokyo

It was a fun show with audience participation.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Miyajima Island Tour

Hiroshima

Kimkim should know that this tour needs more than 1/2 day. OR we should have started the day much earlier. We had to practically run to get back to the ferry and we are not runners. But your guide couldn’t have been more knowledgeable or sweeter.

While planning our trip, Katsu was wonderful. Very thorough and responsive. It seemed a bit expensive but with all his planning and ideas, we assumed it was going to be well worth it.
The ryokan he arranged for us in Hakone was run down but in a great location. He said it was one of he best in the all of Japan. Not true! Katsu did not tell us we would not have a private shower. The food at the ryokan was almost inedible. Katsu had said that he arranged for the hotel manager to take very good care of us. The man he named we never met.
The most disappointing part of the trip, however, was the private guided tour in Hiroshima. While Sanae was kind, she was also quite shy, had limited English and unfortunately, not very effective in her role. On the way to the garden, she did not explain anything about what we were seeing from the cab window. Once we arrived at the garden, she had no clear plan and simply followed us without being able to answer our questions. This could have been due to a language barrier, but it raises the question of why we were assigned a guide who wasn't fluent in English.
Our experience was similar on the bus ride to the museum. She remained silent and again did not know the answers to questions we asked as to what we were seeing from the window. When we arrived, she told us that talking was not allowed inside the museum, so she would wait for us at the exit. This left us wondering why she was with us in the first place if she wasn't able to guide us.
Afterward, we decided to continue exploring the park on our own and let her go home. We didn’t need her to accompany us further. She was supposed to accompany us to Miyajima the next day which we paid handsomely for but after the frustrating experience in Hiroshima we chose to do this on our own. We knew she would be unprepared for each site, nor be able to provide explanations. Our other guides we personally hired in Japan, didn’t just cover what we were seeing—they also connected it to Japanese culture, enriching our experience along the way. This is what we had come to expect and assumed, from what Katsu had said, would continue in Hiroshima.
Upon our return to the states, we explained all of this to Katsu and asked for a refund of the private tour of Hiroshima. His solution was to offer us another private tour when we return to Japan. It is very unlikely that I will return to Japan and if I did I would never use his services. Additionally, I will not recommend him or his company Next Japan Travel.

March 2025: Just returned from a 8 night trip to Japan with my husband and 20 year old son. It was FABULOUSly well planned by Leny! Her recommendations were spot on with our pre-trip discussions and expectations. Our hotels in Tokyo, Hakone & Kyoto were lovely, in great locations and included a fantastic breakfast. Our private guides all spoke great English and were a delight to spend a few hours each day exploring local sights. Our transfers and daily reminders were flawless.

Trip Highlights:
Tokyo Tsukiji and Asakusa with Michiko
Tokyo Food Tour with Clara
Hakone Tour with Masa
Kyoto Arashiyama with Hiro
Koyto Dinner with a Maiko in Gion district with Josh
Kyoto Kiyomizu Temple, Fushimi Shrine & Nishiki Market with Hiro
Nara with Yasuhisa

Plum blossoms were in bloom and beautiful :)

I highly recommend booking with kimkim!

Hotel Reviews

HOTEL GROOVE SHINJUKU, A PARKROYAL Hotel

Tokyo

Great location!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Matsuzakaya Honten

Kanagawa

Destination experience of it's own!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Blossom Kyoto

Kyoto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mitsui Garden Hotel Roppongi Tokyo Premier

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Sushi Making Experience: Craft Authentic Sushi

Kyoto

Unique experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Best Of Shibuya Food Private Tour - Evening

Tokyo

Clara is a great guide!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner with Maiko in a Traditional Kyoto Style Restaurant Tour (Small Group)

Kyoto

Josh was great! The dinner with Maiko was an amazing, unique experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Half-Day Tokyo Tour with English-Speaking Guide

Tokyo

Michiko was a great local guide and knows how to get around the city with ease.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Japan

Masa is a great driver and guide!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tea Ceremony in Kyoto (Private)

Kyoto

Unique experience!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Relaxing Evening: Private Onsen and Kaiseki Dinner

Hakone

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Nara Tour From Kyoto with English Speaking Guide (Private)

Japan

Yasu was an expert local guide and a pleasure to spend the day with!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hidden charms of Arashiyama

Kyoto

Hiro was great!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Kyoto Tour with English-Speaking Guide (Private)

Kyoto

Hiro was fantastic!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Leny was a fantastic guide and immensely helpful in planning our trip to Japan. I was very overwhelmed going into the planning process, and Leny took the time to work with me and understand my needs to craft the perfect itinerary. She totally understood our requests and went above and beyond to make logistics as smooth and easy as possible. When we arrived in Japan we felt 0 stress, and all the activities planned were incredible- local, authentic, and just so much fun. Thanks to Leny and the KimKim team for a seamless and amazing trip!

We were only in Japan for 7 days, but managed to see four cities in that time-Kyoto, Tokyo, Osaka, and Izu. We saw many incredible attractions with the expertise of KimKim. We particularly enjoyed experiencing traditional Japanese accommodation and cuisine. Eleanor, our planner, was professional, responsive to our questions, and very polite. We never worried while we were travelling and were able to discover beautiful Japan! Thank you KimKim and Eleanor for an amazing experience. We would highly recommend their services to anyone planning for a stress free trip!

I can’t say enough about the amazing trip my husband and I had hiking the Kumano Kodo trail. Ilse was absolutely wonderful in setting up our hike and worked with us patiently as our plans needed to be modified because I was running the Tokyo Marathon the weekend before. Our meals and hosts each night were perfect. My husband and I were not only celebrating my marathon but our 25th wedding anniversary. Ilse made it special from start to finish.

Hotel Reviews

Minpaku Akatsuki (5-minute drive from Takahara) 民泊あかつき

The accommodation at Minpaku Akatsuki was a wonderful start to our trip. The host was incredibly welcoming, and staying there felt like being in her own home. The meals were fantastic and the sleeping quarters were comfortable. Breakfast was also wonderful, offering us everything we needed to start the day on a high note. The personal touch made it an unforgettable experience.

Minshuku Chikatsuyu

Tanabe

Our stay at Minshuku Chikatsuyu was a lovely experience with a great family-style dining atmosphere. While it was larger than our first accommodation, it still felt intimate, with beautiful views from the dining hall. The meals were delicious, although the lunch provided was just a small sandwich, which fell short of expectations.

Yunominesou

Yunomine Onsen

Yunominesou offered a more traditional Japanese experience and we shared it with many other hikers. The hot spring on the property was genuine and soothing, although the meals were a bit too exotic for our taste, especially the dishes that needed preparation at the table. However, they did make efforts to label the items in English, which helped. We were a bit let down by the breakfast and lunch that were packed for us, which lacked variety and freshness.

Activity Review

Hike the Kumano Kodo from Chikatsuyu to Hongu

Chikatsuyu

Hiking the Kumano Kodo from Chikatsuyu to Hongu was a remarkable experience. The trail offered a wonderful landscape, and the camaraderie with fellow hikers was heartwarming. Meeting the same hikers across different points during our journey added a unique touch to the overall experience.

Our family of 4 had a wonderful first trip to Japan with Shona's planning and guidance. We didn't have a lot of notice on the trip, but she was still able to put together a really nice itinerary. We had great communication with our drivers, who were all on time and sent photos to explain how to find them when getting off the rails and at the airport.
We had very good experiences with all three of our tour guides, but Zumi in Kyoto went above and beyond to teach about the area and connect with our family. I highly recommend using Shona and the KimKim platform to plan your trip to Japan.

Travel for 5 people to Tokyo and Kyoto. We love both places!

Best parts of the trip were:
Hotel Accommodations & Car Service: Excellent!
- Blossom Hibaya in Tokyo
- Hotel Higashiyama in Kyoto
- Car Service from and to airport, and to Disney: excellent drivers. On time and friendly.

Best Venues: Would recommend!
- TeamLab Borderless n Tokyo
- Tokyo Disney
- Nintendo Museum in Kyoto

Self guided tours of Temples - would have been better with knowledgable tour guide to help educate & appreciate it.
Self guided tour of Kyoto Shrine: 3 mile walk was too long. Tori gates are beautiful. . Guide would be helpful.

Guided food tours: Interesting. Knowledgable tour guides. Probably only needed to do one.

Travel supplies:
-Bullet train tickets and directions - well done
-Tokyo metro tickets and directions - missing one ticket for 5th person. Directions were helpful.
-eSims not used. Not needed. Returned in envelopes provided. Mailed from hotel on last day.

Restaurant suggestions: very helpful
Shopping information: very helpful

Venues that needed additional info or cautions:
- Kyoto Tour Guide Max was wonderful! Highly recommend him.
-Travel to/around Bamboo forest - slippery, uneven rock steps. Caution for older or disabled travelers
-Bamboo forest itself was beautiful!
- Iwatayama Monkey Park - steep, uneven, slippery climb up a mountain. Caution elderly or disabled travelers.

Art museums; Multiple museums. In Tokyo and Kyoto. Variable size, content and interest.

General issues:
- Payment for 5th person at Blossom Hibaya in March missed. Direct payment made to hotel. Reimbursement coming.
- Nintendo Museum ticket errors (wrong name listed). Delay at gate as name had to be changed to match ID.
- Thank you for Shellfish Allergy info translated into Japanese for restaurants.

I had an incredible trip to Japan. Stefaan was very responsive to me as we were organizing the trip and helped witha ll of my questions. Hiking the Kumano Kodo was an awesome experience in and of itself, but it was enhanced by the hotels and ryokan along the way that offered incredible food and hot spring baths to relax in after a hard day of walking. I particularly enjoyed the Keyaki Guest House and the lovely family that ran it.

We had a wonderful trip to Japan thanks in large part to the help of KimKim Travel specialist Shona Zhang. We traveled from Sapporo in the Northern Island of Hokkaido to the Southern Island of Kyushu.
The guide in Sapporo was Yuko Sayu who did a great job explaining history, culture and any questions we had. Her communication skills we very good and her knowledge of Sapporo and of the Snow Festival. Se were able to see things we would have never experienced on our own. Yuko is a lifelong resident of the Hokkaido and gave us great insight into the lives and culture of the people there. The Hotel that KimKim Travel had arranged for us was comfortable and the the location was perfect as we were walking distance to the ice and snow sculptures as well as a myriad of eating options and shopping. Yuko recommended some excellent places and things to eat locally as well as things that were unique to Hokkaido…”Genghis Khan” bbq pork, local crab and sushi, Sapporo style ramen, as well as the Sapporo Brewery museum and the world renowned Nikka Yoichu Distillery in neighboring Otaru city. The night ice sculptures and lights along the Otaru canal were beautiful. The transportation was well planned out, on time and very accommodating.
We next flew to Fukuoka in Kyushu where we met up with our guide Asako Iwai who was born and raised in Kyushu. We were able to take a van from the airport on an excursion to Nagasaki where we visited the
Atom Bomb Memorial and Museum. That was a moving experience and more so because Asako knew so much about that history and the thoughts of the local Japanese. We spent 2 nights in a very nice Hotel convenient to the train station and close to places where the local people ate and shopped. There were many pleasant surprises in Fukuoka including old castle grounds, beautiful gardens at Ohori Park, Fukuoka tower, all with a rich history that Asako explained to us. We sampled local cuisine, including the local sake and pastries. We then rode the bullet train from Fukuoka to Kagoshima…a real treat to see the efficiency and speed of that rail system.
In Kagoshima we met our guide Mikiko Horikiri. She guided us on a ferry to Sakurajima Island where we were able to enjoy a free foot bath in the warm volcanic heated water, and visit an observation point to get a clear view of the Sakurajima active volcano. So much of area’s culture is based around the Volcano and the effects it has on the local people and the enviroment. Miki gave us a great overview of life there. She pointed out numerous places to shop and eat and had great recommendations of what to try…Kurobuta (black Pork) tonkatsu, Unagi, and a special Chicken dish served at the Senganen Garden. One highlight was the Shimadzu Satsuma Kiriko Crystal Glassworks where we viewed craftsmen blowing the glass and artisans etching the intricate designs into the glasses. We even got to try our hand at etching our own glass shochu cups to bring home as keepsakes.

We had very good accommodations and transportation while in Japan and all three of our tour guides were top notch! We especially appreciated Shona at KimKim Travel who took a personal interest in us and make sure all our questions and needs were addressed in a timely manner.

Thank you so much!
Reid Saito

Hotel Reviews

Ibis Styles Sapporo

The Ibis Styles was perfect for out stay. We were able to room 3 in one room which was significant savings. The Japanese breakfast showcased authentic Japanese cuisine with many choices. The western style breakfast was also available. The service and Front Desk were very helpful although they did not always speak English but with the cell phone translators we were able to get by fine. The location was great with walking distance to the Ice Scuptures and Snow Sculptures during the Sapporo Yuki Matsuri (Snow Festival). There are many eating places, pubs, and shopping malls within a few blocks making this hotel a great place to stay during the busy ski and festival winter season.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right on the Susukino Street which is a great nightlife and eatery scene.

Staff

They Were help full and responsive to our needs and questions.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and quiet, the cleaning staff was very efficient through in their cleaning.

Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel Fukuoka

Fukuoka

Nice hotel with a very good location in Fukuoka. The combination in Japanese and western style breakfast buffet was excellent and provided us with a chance to eat without leaving the hotel in the morning. The staff was very helpful and accommodating when we shipped our luggage to the next hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The hotel was very close to shopping and great restaurants.

Staff

The staff was very helpful and made an effort to communicate in English using translators and maps.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kagoshima Tenmonkan PREMIER

Our room was very good size and was able to accommodate three adult adults. The Breakfast buffet was both Japanese and western food and was all very good. The hotel location was central to downtown Kagoshima and had easy access to restaurants and stores.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu

Tokyo

This hotel had a great location in the Shibuya District of Tokyo. It provided easy access to shopping and restaurants and was located very close to Shibuya train station. They provided both Japanese and western style breakfast buffet every morning.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

2025 Sapporo Snow Festival

Sapporo

A fantastic display of snow and Ice Sculptures taking months to make every year. The scale, diversity and number of sculptures is truly amazing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yuko was an excellent guide with so much local knowledge getting us place and coordination with the drivers.

Transport

Comfortable vehicles and prompt service.

Full day to Kagoshima with Sakurajima

Kagoshima

Our Guide Mikiko, born and raised in Kagoshima took us on tour of the city and of Sakurajima Volcano. It is truly an amazing sight to see so many living in the shadow of an actively erupting volcano.

Shonna put together a great short itinerary for Japan. We got a taste of that lovely country! While it was a little bit hectic, we made the most of the short time we were there with her help.

Leny at KimKim planned a wonderful trip to Japan for my son and me. There was a great balance of free time verses scheduled tours, and all of our local guides were terrific. We learned so much about the country, its history, its customs and its people, which is my primary goal for traveling. Leny was always very responsive, day and night, whenever we needed help with something, whether it was an issue trying to navigate public transportation or trying to figure out when/whether a particular venue was open. She was also immediately prepared for suggestions of places to go and see, as well as specific restaurants. It was a fabulous trip and I would definitely travel with KimKim again!

Hotel Reviews

Gora Kansuiro

Hakone

This is a fascinating cultural experience! It is a traditional Japanese guest house in every sense (except that there is heat, electricity and plumbing -- although placed so as not to interfere with the authenticity of the property) and is a step back in time. The beds were set out while we were having dinner and were surprisingly comfortable. The traditional dinner we were served was unforgetable!

Authenticity & Character

I felt like I had gone back in time 200 years.

Location

It was located less that a 5 minute walk from the train station, although its positioning was such that we could neither see of hear any trains.

Staff

We had the most wonder server for dinner -- she explained what each dish was (there were at least 20 different things) as well as how to eat each one.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Niwa

Tokyo

Hotel Niwa in Tokyo was in a fantastic location, very convenient for accessing public transportation, which made getting around the city a breeze. All the accommodations were great, but this one particularly stood out for its placement!

Activity Reviews

Half-Day Tokyo Tour with English-Speaking Guide

Tokyo

This half day tour gave us a great overview of the city and of things to experience in Tokyo.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our guide gave us a great introduction of how to use the public transportation system. You can load a Suica card on your smartphone and add money to it in seconds. All forms of public transportation accept it and it required only a touch of your phone to pay. No figuring out how to pay for tickets and which ticket to buy! You pay only for the distance you travel. It is the best public transportation system I've ever seen.

Best of Shibuya Food Tour

Tokyo

Among the thousands of restaurants in Tokyo, our local guide took us to 5 "hidden gems." These are places no tourist would ever find, although they were right in the heart of Shibuya. We were the only tourists in each, although each was full of local patrons. Our guide was able to explain the local qualities of the food, how to eat it and what to look for. This was a terrific cultural experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Exclusive Sumo Practice Tour: Unveil Japan’s National Sport

Tokyo

This tour provided an amazing view of a sport little understood by Americans. Our guide was obviously a fan herself and was able to give us a wealth of information about the sport, how contests work and how men train for it. It was also a fascinating look at the life of sumo wrestlers because it is much more that a sport -- it is an entire way of life.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Street Kart Tokyo Bay (2 Hour-Course)

Tokyo

This was a blast! It is a good distance from the center of the city, but well worth the trip. You actually get a see a lot of Tokyo because you literally drive your go-kart around the city streets, at all times following the guide. I was never afraid of traffic because our guide was fabulous.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Terrific -- even though the Japanese drive on the left and we were in Tokyo city traffic, it was never scary.

Authentic Kyoto Tea Ceremony: Camellia Flower Teahouse

Kyoto

This was a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn about a ceremony I had heard of, but really knew nothing about. The person performing the ceremony described how it worked, her training necessary to perform it and its purpose. It was a wonderful lesson in enjoying simplicity and hospitality. As a bonus, the traditional kimonos we wore were a great experience! My favorite souvenir from the trip is a set that enables me to make matcha at home in the traditional way.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Don't underestimate the training that goes in to being able to perform this ceremony!

Full Day Kyoto and Nara Tour with English-Speaking Guide

Japan

Kyoto is such a wonderfully historic and beautiful city, full of treasures. I loved this tour because I learned so much about history and customs that I would never have learned had I visited these sites on my own. In fact, I don't know that I would have gone to Nara on my own, simply because I didn't know anything about it. However, it was once the capital of Japan and there was much to see and learn there. Our guide also took us to a small restaurant for udon which we would have never found on our own and it was fabulous!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Osaka Local Foodie Walking Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Japan

Osaka is the food capital of Japan for good reason. As a tourist, I always try to find places where the local people eat to get the best and most authentic food. It is not always easy, especially when there are language barriers (both spoken and written). Our guide took us to fabulous places where there were only local people, and I definitely tried foods that I would have not thought to try. All were delicious!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo forest & Garden Half-Day Walking Tour

Kyoto

Although our Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo forest & Garden Half-Day Walking Tour got canceled because of snow, my son and I decided to go on our own. It's amusing because living in a snowy region ourselves, what was a considerable amount of snow for the locals felt like just a dusting to us. It ended up being a beautiful experience, giving us unique views of the forest with snow-covered bamboo, which you might not often see.