Kimkim Trip Reviews for Japan

We enjoyed a spectacular visit to Japan which we could not have had without Eleanor at kimkim. Thank you doesn't begin to express our deep gratitude for how well she orchestrated our experience. From arranging hotel reservations, private guides and drivers, and answering my countless questions about various details, all was handled with grace, patience, humor and skill. Our time in Japan went very smoothly and when we requested a change Eleanor seamlessly made adjustments to suit our needs. We felt very well cared for. We couldn't have asked for a more competent agent and advisor. Eleanor was a pleasure to work with and helped our Japan travel dream come true.

Mina and her team were incredible throughout the year-long planning until we were safely home from our trip! We were so happy with the entire experience! We already want to plan our next trip. Special thanks to Iris and Carinta for their help too! We felt supported wherever we went with the emergency line - such a great feature! Thank you again! Can’t wait to work with KimKim on our next adventure!

This was my first time using KimKim and first trip to Japan.

Shona is truly amazing! I’m truly grateful for all her help! She was very thoughtful in everything she arranged. She helped ensure I got to do everything I wanted to, in the multiple cities I visited, while staying within budget. The activities, tours and guides were fantastic!

Shona was always there during my trip as well, to ensure an authentic and memorable experience! I met so many great people, made so many memories, and took so many great photos.

Thank you, again!

Both guides we had were excellent: Mr. Peter and Ms. Young. Very energetic and knowledgeable. We did pretty much everything a tourist would want to do, seeing Mt Fuji was probably the coolest experience.

Family trip to Japan was planned through Kimkim was generally positive. There was a lot of back and forth finalizing the trip, all done online so there was some awkwardness with communication and getting all our questions answered efficiently.

The week in Tokyo was great, part self guided and private tours. The Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi & Oishi Park tour was a bit of a disappointment because it was overcast and we did not see Mt. Fuji at all but our guide Yang was lovely and humoured us by letting us stop to eat Hoto noodles, shop at the fruit stand and skipped part of the tour due to the fact there was no view that day. The tour company Magical Trip was very good, with friendly local tour guides that really gave a personalized experience. The sumo experience was so fun and our tour guide Shiina Saito was amazing. All the private transfers were great, the drivers contacted us in advance via WhatsApp and were easy to keep in communication. We took the suggested self-guided tours as a rough guide and pretty much did our own exploration of the city. We booked our own ticket to a Giant's baseball game as it was easier to do so.

The week in Okinawa was also great but in retrospect would have preferred more self guided with a rental car as the bus trip to North Okinawa sightseeing tour & Churaumi Aquarium was a disappointment. Most of the time was spend in crowded bus stopping at places that did not interest us and we did not have much time at the aquarium which was what we wanted to experience. We left the tour at the second to last stop as our hotel was a 20 min walk away and the end of the tour would've taken us an hour away by car from our hotel, saving us 100 min sitting in a vehicle. The surfing and snorkeling trips were enjoyable. The Shuri castle tour was with Magical Trip, our private guide Maria was fantastic.

I have used Kimkim before for a Greece trip and our agent kept in contact via WhatsApp and was available immediately for questions and concerns. Our Japan tour guide Shona was very helpful but all our communication was through Kimkim messaging and there was always a delay because of this. There was no real emergency but there was one time in Tokyo we did not have access to our TeamLab tickets till last minute and a time in Okinawa where our private transfer driver was late and we had to improvise and take a taxi get reimbursed later. It all worked out but I imagine not all travelers could've rolled with the punches as we can speak some Japanese to communicate our problems.

Hotel Reviews

ANA InterContinental Manza Beach Resort

Okinawa

Great view and access to pool and beach. Nice little fitness centre. PST Pizza and buffet breakfast was great. Hotel was a little remote, far from other sights but there was a shuttle to the gate that saved from walking to local restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Looked like a cruise ship

Location

Great view and access to beach/pool

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tosei Hotel Cocone Tsukiji Ginza Premier

Tokyo

Clean and convenient hotel. Great location, great service and buffet breakfast was very good.

Authenticity & Character

There was a public bath and small gym. Buffet breakfast was good.

Location

Staff

Staff was very friendly and helpful. They were able to keep our luggage for a week while we went to Okinawa for a week.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Okinawa Surfing Experience

Okinawa

Very small group activity which allowed it to be quite personalized. Guides were great.

Quality of Experience

Very small group and personalized.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Naha, Okinawa: Keramas Island Snorkeling Day Trip with Lunch

Okinawa

Keramas Island was beautiful. It was a bit of a large group tour but we got to see a lot of great marine life. Felt a little like cattle and did not have very much freedom during this activity but they seemed very concerned about safety which is I suppose is good.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Naha City

Okinawa

This was a big bus tour that was mostly stops for shopping. The stop at Churaumi Aquarium was too short to fully enjoy it. Spent a lot of time driving. The tour guide was stressed and mostly busy herding people. Our hotel was close the the second to last stop so we left to walk 20 min to our hotel otherwise we would have spent another 2 hours driving.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Authentic Sumo Experience in Tokyo: Enter the Sanctuary

Tokyo

This tour was very fun. Our guide Shiina Saito was lovely. The sumo wrestlers were funny and entertaining.

Quality of Experience

Food

Chanko nabe was tasty.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi & Oishi Park

Japan

Our guide was very lovely but without a view of Mt. Fuji this all day tour is pretty disappointing.

Quality of Experience

If weather is not optimal make changes to itinerary?

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very friendly and accommodating guide.

Transport

Clean and comfortable van.

Our family had a dream trip expertly curated by Cannon from kimkim. It was my first time using this service and it delighted and exceeded expectations at every turn. Going to Japan for the first time seemed intimidating to plan and Cannon was with us every step of the way making sure we were prepared and enjoying every minute. Our guides and activities were all fantastic. Jason was particularly wonderful. He was knowledgeable, fun and easy to spend an action packed day with and attentive to our pace and preferences. Each driver and guide made contact the evening before and was right where they said they'd be each excursion. The app was easy to use and having it and Cannon in our "pocket" was a great comfort as we navigated each new place. We had an incredible time exploring a wonderful country and created memories we will treasure always. The experiences hit all the right notes and left us excited to plan our next trip! Thank you KimKim for making travel adventures so easy, accessible and absolutely enjoyable!

Hotel Reviews

Shinagawa Prince Hotel

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kyoto Umekoji Kadensho - Private Bath Facility

Authenticity & Character

Location

Proximity to train

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tokyo Dome Hotel

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hakone Yumoto Fujiya Hotel

Hakone

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full-Day Hakone Adventure: Mt. Fuji Views & Lake Ashi Cruise

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Nara: Temples, Deer, and Historic Streets

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver was the best! So sweet and friendly.

Transport

Our driver!

Nishiki Market Brunch Walking Food Tour

Japan

Great guides! Josh was so fun and knowledgeable and made sure we tried lots of new things at the market and walked away with new knowledge and full stomachs.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Japan

Jason was very knowledgeable and was very attentive to our preferences and pace. It was a lot to see in a day but it was so much fun!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ninja Experience in Kyoto (Family & Kid Friendly)

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tokyo: Sumo Show Experience with Drinks and Photo

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sushi & Home Cooking Class from Market to Table near Asakusa

Tokyo

Super fun and our teacher was wonderful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chase Cherry Blossom with Tsukiji Outer Market in Tokyo

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great guide

Transport

From Hakone to Kyoto

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amazing Japan trip with three couples (good friends) traveling together. We covered a wide range of different activities, and got a comprehensive feel for different parts of Japan, with many unique experiences.

Overall, the trip went as planned, though did require some upfront micro-management to get the itinerary in sync and consistent. The Kim Kim platform was effective, intuitive and easy to navigate by all users. Sandy Ren, and the Odynovo team (local Japan agent) were responsive and available, both before and during our trip.

All our hotels and ryokans were great - we really enjoyed the boutique hotel approach vs. relying on name brand chains.

Gora Kansuiro (our ryokan in Hakone) was an authentic traditional Japan inn experience, with low tables & chairs on our tatami mats in room, which were made into futons for sleeping, en-suite private hot spring bath, plus open-air communal hot spring bath where we relaxed gazing out at the quiet forest, and delicious spread of Japanese dishes for breakfast and dinner.

Ryokan Asunaro (in Takayama) was most comfortable, with larger rooms, chairs and futons in-room, communal hot bath, choice of western or Japanese breakfast, and comfortable chairs to relax in the lobby.

Activity highlights included Tokyo Sumo wrestling, early morning Toyosu Tuna auction, cherry blossoms in Tokyo, Mt Fuji backdrop on Lake Kawaguchi in Hakone and Takayama, Kirin whiskey tasting near Mt Fuji, sake tasting in Takayama, Hakone Open Air contemporary art museum, Sushi making at Nakata Cooking School in Kanazawa, Snow Monkey Park in Kyoto, Kobe botanic & herb gardens, Himeji and Osaka castles, and Hiroshima dome and memorial.

Some of the activities could have been improved by going at night with less crowds (such as Bamboo Grove and Fushimi Inari-Taisha (Torii gates) in Kyoto).

Our private guides were knowledgeable and helpful - highlights were Kei, our guide in Tokyo and Hakone, and our Takayama-Kanazawa driver (who was like a guide), who were engaging, funny and especially helpful.

We also had a good balance of self-guided days, in which we explored (mainly by walking, but also taxi & subway) historic Tokyo, the backstreets of Takayama & Kanazawa, and additional activities such as the Maiko (geisha) dance & tea discussion and a contemporary art museum in Kyoto, incredible Kobe steak lunch (in Kobe), and two different jazz Kissaten bars in Tokyo and Kanazawa.

Transfers and train tickets were seamless and all on time as planned. Strongly suggest you forward luggage from one hotel to next when taking trains as a group.

Overall, an incredible Japan trip packing six stops into 18 days (Tokyo, Hakone, Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto & Osaka) with nice balance of large metros with small towns.

Hotel Reviews

Mitsui Garden Hotel Osaka Premier

Osaka

Great view over the river, centrally located in downtown Osaka, included executive lounge

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Small Boutique Hotel Villa Sanjo Muromachi

Kyoto

Great breakfast and comfortable rooms

Authenticity & Character

Location

Ok

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Kanazawa Zoushi

Kanazawa

One of the nice options was evening Ramen at a common table included

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ryokan Asunaro

Takayama

A an excellent blend as traditional and western Vs. Japanese, onsen bath option, nice lobby to sit and relax, large rooms with futons and sitting area, central location

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gora Kansuiro

Hakone

An authentic ryokan experience with Private Hot Spring baths and communal hot spring baths, tatami mats and low tables and chairs in rooms with authentic Japanese dinner and breakfast, we are in kimonos and sandals

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Shiba Park Hotel

Tokyo

We love the library lounge area of the lobby to sit and relax

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

One Day Miyajima Island and Hiroshima Tour

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full day tour to Kobe and Himeji Castle

Osaka

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Osaka Castle and Umeda Sky Building

Osaka

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I

Half Day Bamboo Grove and Monkey Park Tour With a Boat Ride

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Osaka Expo approved Sushi & Japanese Cooking Class

Kanazawa

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi Tour with Whisky Tasting

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tokyo Sumo Morning Practice in Ryogoku + Photo Shoot w/ Wrestlers

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overall, our trip experience was very well organized and executed. We felt that we got a good exposure to Japanese culture as a whole with our brief visit. Lenny was very responsive and helpful, especially when we were in-country. We appreciated her responsiveness and advice regarding my soy sauce allergy, understanding that it was a hard subject to address.

Activity Reviews

Greater Sendai Friendship Force – Cultural Exchange and Journey

Sendai

Our cultural exchange was very successful and enjoyable. It was the perfect follow-up to our overall cultural introduction tour to Kyoto, Tokayama, Kanazawa and Tokyo.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

It was wonderful to be hosted by local Friendship Force club members.

Best Of Shibuya Food Private Tour - Evening

Tokyo

We really enjoyed our food tour in Shibuya and learning about the food culture of Tokyo.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our Shibuya Food Tour guide was very good and thorough.

Half-Day Eastern Tokyo Tour with English-Speaking Guide and Private Vehicle

Tokyo

We had limited time to tour Tokyo and our guide did the best he could. His English skill was limited, however, and we wished we had been warned not to eat very much for lunch in preparation our Shibuya Food Tour that evening.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had a hard time understanding our guide’s English.

Kanazawa Full Day Tour with English Speaking Guide (Private)

Kanazawa

Our American guide was very thorough and helpful for giving us a good experience in Kanazawa.

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

Japan

Shirakawa was a wonderful place and our driver/guide did a great job.

Takayama Full-Day Tour with English-Speaking Guide

Takayama

We enjoyed our day tour and lunch suggestion. It was very informative.

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

Kyoto

We enjoyed our interaction with geiko as well as the dinner.

Tea Ceremony in Kyoto (Private)

Japan

Very well done and thorough.

Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo forest & Garden Half-Day Walking Tour

Kyoto

Bullet train from Shinagawa to Kyoto

Japan

Exceptional guides, especially Kyoto.
Drivers were fine but limited English so not much conversation there.

Hotel Reviews

Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kyoto ekimae PREMIER

Kyoto

Great location with direct access to shops, restaurants and subway

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hakone Hotel Kajikaso

Hakone

Very different experience with foot bath, dinner and breakfast in the room and sleeping on floor mats

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

the b asakusa

Tokyo

Great location and ample breakfast variety

Authenticity & Character

Location

So close to walk to subways, restaurants and temple

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

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

Japan

Excellent and knowledgeable guide. Interesting history

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Explanations from the guide

Transport

Guide met us at our hotel..very convenient, then walked

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

Kyoto

Felt rushed through the museum

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Museum guide a bit hard to understand

Transport

Clean vehicle and enjoyable ride

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi with Oishi Park

Japan

Wonderful boat cruise and views of Mt Fuji

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Little English but very accomodating

Drive to Hakone with Mt. Fuji Tour

Japan

Driver was good..little English but we managed

Quality of Experience

Driver was open to time we requested or needed at each location

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Tokyo

Very good tour, knowledgeable guide and good pace.

Quality of Experience

Food

Waygu beef was excellint; sushi not so much ...

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Found our way to meeting point

Tokyo Night Foodie Tour in Shinjuku

Tokyo

Guide was great but the food not so much for me!

Quality of Experience

Food

I'm sure it was very good...if you liked sushi 🍣!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We walked to location

Authentic Sumo Experience in Tokyo: Enter the Sanctuary

Tokyo

Very nice experience at a Sumo Stable! Wrestlers were engaging, entertaining and funny!

Quality of Experience

Authentic wrestlers who were very sharing of their life

Food

Eat like a Sumo! Delicious soup!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I worked with Ben for a number of months to personalize a very special trip to Japan. He could not have been more accommodating, and he answered every question in a timely manner. He made wonderful suggestions, and we weren’t disappointed anywhere along the line.

We had three different guides, Ursula, Sorata, and Pitt - each lovely and knowledgeable. We enjoyed spending our days with them very much.

Everything promised was delivered, and even more. Ben even arranged for a birthday cake for me - a delightful surprise.

Our time in Japan was filled with wonderful memories, beautiful experiences, and gracious interactions. We can’t wait to come back!

Hotel Reviews

PROSTYLE Ryokan Yokohama Bashamichi

Yokohama

Good location, nice room. Easy access to subway, restaurants and shopping.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

THE KNOT HIROSHIMA

Hiroshima

Love this hotel! Great location next to the Peace Park. Easy access to shopping and food. Overall, a nice hipster boutique hotel, if that’s where you’re looking for. Nice high floor bar.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Onyado Nono Namba Natural Hot Spring

Osaka

Our only disappointment on the trip. This hotel, although in a great location and clean, is not the most comfortable. Tiny room. We could barely put our clothes or suitcases anywhere. It feels more like a family budget hotel, and we were paying luxury prices.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gion Elite Terrace

Great location! Clean and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Guided Kamakura Ancient Capital Tour: Great Buddha & Zen Temples (Public Transport)

Japan

I had visited, Kamakura before, but my husband had not. I wanted him to see the Buddha and bamboo forest and it could not have been a more perfect day, weatherwise. We thoroughly enjoyed it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Miyajima’s World Heritage & Serene Temples: Guided Full-Day Tour with Public Transfer & Ferry

Hiroshima

This was always on my bucket list, and it did not disappoint. Beautiful setting, nice day overall.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Osaka's Dual Charms Guided Tour: Tsutenkaku, Namba Yasaka Shrine & Kuromon Market with Public Transportation

Osaka

The tower, — it’s a bit touristy. If you like going up the Eiffel Tower, or to the Statue of Liberty, or to the top of the Empire State building, then this is that type of experience. But we enjoyed walking in the nearby neighborhood and stopping by Four for a night local lunch. We also had a nice walk through a beautiful park. Be careful at Kuromon market if you order Uni. They hide the prices a bit, and there might be a little sticker shock at the end.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Himeji: Exploring Japan’s First Famous Castle and Tranquil Gardens （by public transport）

Osaka

Fascinating castle with an interesting history. The gardens nearby were beautiful. Be prepared for a lot of steps.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hidden Paths of Arashiyama:Tea Ceremony ,Moss Temples and Kaiseki Dinner with Maiko Performance（Private Guide, Public Transportation）

Kyoto

Arashimaya was fabulous! Highly recommend going there - just glorious in spring. The tea ceremony and Maiko experience felt a bit touristy, but if you want to be dressed in a kimono for tea, then this might be for you. But our guide Ursula was wonderful!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our Spring Japan trip was organized by Sandy, and it was amazing! I've always heard that Japan is a country worth visiting and it's true! What a place :) Sandy answered many questions from our group before we traveled and during our visit. Our guides made sure that our excursions ran smoothly. Yuki went above and beyond in explaining history and special features of the sites we visited. His love for Japan made our trip very enjoyable. The trip exceeded expectations.

Hotel Reviews

The Royal Park Canvas Osaka Kitahama

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kyoto Tokyu Hotel

Kyoto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Miyama Village Tour From Kyoto

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

Everyone worked hard to see that we enjoyed the tea ceremony.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Had trouble finding the location. The Staff at the location was Amazing.

Transport

Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi Tour with Onsen experience

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Asakusa Sumo Club: Sumo Show Admission with Chankonabe in Tokyo

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chase Cherry Blossom with Meiji Jingu in Tokyo

Tokyo

Beautiful Gardens!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Learn the Secrets Behind Sushi in a Cooking Class

Osaka

The teaching chefs were incredible.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful 14 day trip to Japan organized by Eleanor. It was our first trip to Japan, and we saw and did everything we wanted to and more. We have never used a service or tour group for our travels before this trip.

The itinerary created by Eleanor was completely manageable and ran smoothly- no problems at all. It was mostly self guided (our choice) but with selected guided sections that were very enjoyable and worthwhile. She kept in touch periodically along the way just to make sure things were going as planned.

There were many cities and adventures we wouldn’t have chosen without Eleanor’s recommendations (such as 2 short day hikes along the Nakasendo Trail and Kiso valley, tea ceremony in Kyoto, onsens and sentos at all hotels). The guides and drivers recommended by Eleanor were all excellent. Japan was absolutely memorable and fantastic on all levels. We look forward to going back. I highly recommend Eleanor and kimkim if you are planning a trip to Japan.

We had a great time with a quick one-week stopover in Japan. Really enjoyed Kyoto gardens and temple/shrines. Picture and weather perfect day in Hakone - doing the loop - with the iconic snow-capped Fuji. Toyko is much to big for just 2 days - but loved the Palace Garden and the Asakusa area was buzzing.

Hotel Reviews

Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku

Tokyo

Very modern city hotel. Very clean quite and comfortable. Helpful staff. Breakfast buffet at their main building was excellent.

Authenticity & Character

It's a very modern hotel - clean, quiet and comfortable.

Location

Fun to be right in the Asakusa area and easy access to subway

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tokinoyu Setsugetsuka

Hakone-machi

Clearly a good resort experience with baths and very close proximity to the transit needed to make the loop

Authenticity & Character

If you like to dress up - they provide all the robes and such. Very nice hot baths and spacious rooms. However zero flexibility with set menu and over the food is average taste

Location

2 minute walk from train station / cable car

Staff

Had issues communicating and had issues with seating on reserved 2nd day dinner. We were first in lline for our shift and they sat us (initially in a dark corner table with no view of anything- while the many garden view tables were all open and available. After a few challenges trying to communicate our issue they finally re-sat us at a good view table. But it was not friendly and barely accommodating. No flexibility and as non Japanese speakers found communication bumpy.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Large clean room - plenty of towels and good garden view

Hotel Vischio Kyoto by GRANVIA

Kyoto

Nice quiet room. Really amazing breakfast buffet. Location next to train station made navigation and transfers really accesible

Authenticity & Character

Great shower - clean and comfortable - Japanese food available at breakfast buffet

Location

2 minute walk to train station

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean. Firm beds

Activity Review

Half Day Sagano Bamboo Grove & Arashiyama Walking Tour (Join-in)

Kyoto

Yuki our guide made this our top highlight of all our time spent in Kyoto. Especially enjoyed the pacing and allowing us some peaceful time to soak in the very private Zen garden. She also moved us thru the more busy tourist areas, finding great spots for pictures and explanations. Tofu lunch was amazing, best authentic food on our entire trip in a beautiful house (glad we ate there over the temple lunch which was not available that day). Plus she sent us over 50 photos she took of our day together. Yuki also was extra special post tour - riding the train with us to get us right to the market and taking extra time later to send suggestions for a shop in Toyko where we might find masks (we collect masks from our travels). Yuki made the whole day exceptional

Quality of Experience

Great locations, Guide and Learnings - highly recommend (especially for the less touristy stops)

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yuki is exceptional

Transport

it was a walking tour -

Thank you Ada, and all those involved in organizing an unforgettable cherry blossom trip to Japan.

Hotel Reviews

Richmond Hotel Premier Tokyo Schole

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Onyado Nono Matsumoto Natural Hot Spring

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Morino Hotel

Kiso

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Taoya Kisoji

Tsumago

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Umekoji

Kyoto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hiroshima Tokyu REI Hotel

Hiroshima

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Karuizawa Hotel Longing House

Karuizawa

This was our least favorite town we visited, and our least favorite hotel. It is far from the hiking trail and the activity in the city. It had the least authentic Japanese vibe of everywhere we visited. The huge old dirty teddy bears sitting out in the rain were not a welcome greeting. The outstanding customer service we received throughout Japan was lacking in this town and this hotel. The room was fine. The breakfast was good. I would not recommend visiting this town or this hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Throw away old disgusting giant teddy bears that contaminate both indoor and outdoor spaces.

Location

There could be a free shuttle from the train station.

Staff

No one at desk, have to ring a bell and wait.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Half-day Tokyo Highlights: Meiji Jingu & Senso-ji Temple

Tokyo

Naomi

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was a must going alone to Japan for the first time. Greg made everything super easy and even changed my trip when I had a major delay.

Our trip to Japan was a positively life altering experience and the team at kimkim really executed a beautiful itinerary and took care of all of the arrangements for us.
Our specialist Jessica was very responsive and was available to answer any questions or concerns. Her itinerary for us flowed and that was the overall feeling for our time in Japan.
Our guides Chinami ( Hakone) , Fumiko ( Tokyo), Yoko (Kyoto) and Takehiko ( Kobe) did an outstanding job explaining the highlights of our sightseeing and handling the transportation details in a timely and expert manner. They were warm and informative and we had a lot of fun learning about Japan from them.
The kimkim app was invaluable in keeping us on track and not overwhelmed as we covered a lot of places in 10 days. It was nice to have a record of everything we did on a daily basis because the app did all the work! In short we loved our experience with kimkim and would use them again to plan a memorable trip.

The trip was amazing and Cannon was very helpful with the planning and extremely responsive. He tailored the trip to our requirements and was available for any questions we had. Everything was planned perfectly and he followed up with us along the way to ensure that things were running smoothly. He even arranged to have a birthday cake delivered to our hotel! Would definitely go back to Japan and would definitely use Cannon and kimkim again!
Our tour guides were also excellent - Ken, Ayumi, Yuki, and Naoko.

The trip took us to good locations and we saw what we came to see. However, much of the best parts of the trip were without the guides provided. Only two guides out of the many we had were memorable. The others were so-so or poor. In some cases, proficiency with English was insufficient to have meaningful conversation. On the trips, the food was commonly not great. In some cases, no choice about the specific meal was provided. In other cases, the meals were up to us to find with no particular guidance. The foodie night in Osaka led us to mediocre quality street food. The plan had problems. The plan had us go to a restaurant in Kyoto that was closed on that day. The plan scheduled us to go to the same temple on both of the first two days. We asked for a change ahead of time but that change was not communicated to the guide before we got there (or at least, she was unaware of the change). In one case, the plan sent us to a destination that intended us to climb many stairs but no notice of that was communicated in the plan. Given our age, that was a potential problem. Fortunately, we were with one of the good guides who noticed this and was able to take us to an alternative destination. The hotels were largely fine, although the ryokan in Hakone felt more like a commercial hotel than an inn. There was no indication in the guide that the train trip from Osaka to Kanazawa started with a local train and then transferred to a bullet train. Given the expense, I would not use kim kim again, but would pick local guides via Get your guide or equivalent.

Our visit to Japan was amazing from beginning to end. Our guides Nao and Yuki were wonderful. Nao was so happy for us to view Mt. Fuji and the beautiful cherry trees which were in peak form that day. She was happy to bring us shopping for some specific things and picked a great lunch spot on our Mt. Fuji day.
Yuki was especially concerned with us understanding him and even brought visual aids with him. He was constantly concerned with our comfort and happiness. He made time for us to stop for ice cream and shopping, brought us to my favorite lunch spot with the conveyor belts delivering our food and was very patient with our group of 8 women. He was a great translator during our tie dye experience and seemed to really enjoy showing us around.
We loved the first and last hotels, as they were a bit smaller and gave more personal service. The Kyoto Tokyu Hotel was very nice but maybe a little big and touristy for my liking, although they had a lovely gift shop.
I enjoyed Tokyo and Osaka as cities and also the surrounding areas. In Kyoto, maybe because of where we stayed I did not get a good feel for the city itself. However, we loved the tea ceremony, day in Miyama and the Philosopher’s Path, which we did from Kyoto.
All of our activities were so well planned and we enjoyed them all. Thanks to Sandy for the arrangements and for including everything we asked for.
Japan was so clean and beautiful. The people we met were gentle and polite. The food was delicious. The public transportation was easy to navigate. The bullet train was clean and comfortable. We even got lucky with the weather. Our only rain was during a travel day and our day at Mt. Fuji was sunny and clear.
Thank you, Sandy, for putting together a trip that I will remember fondly forever.
I will go to Kim.Kim again when planning my next adventure.
Marianne O’Shaughnessy

Hotel Reviews

The Royal Park Canvas Osaka Kitahama

I loved the size and location of this hotel. It was next to the subway stop and a short walk to the river.

Authenticity & Character

Breakfast was beautiful and delicious.

Location

Loved jumping on the subway and walking along the river.

Staff

Very friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was clean but a bit cramped for two of us.

Kyoto Tokyu Hotel

Kyoto

This hotel was a bit big for my liking. Too many big tour busses, a line up for breakfast in the morning and locates on a busy street. However, it was clean and beautiful inside and the gift shop is lovely.

Authenticity & Character

A bit too big and commercial

Location

I would have like to be in a quieter area where I could stroll to shopping and food.

Staff

Staff was friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were a bit cramped for 2 people but very clean. I didn’t love the step up to the bathroom.

Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku

Tokyo

The Asakusa View Hotel Annex was wonderful. I think being in the Annex and not in the larger hotel across the street was good. I like the feel of a boutique hotel and I got it here. The food was good, the staff friendly and helpful and the rooms were roomy and made the most out of the space. 2 of us were very comfortable here.

Authenticity & Character

The breakfast included traditional Japanese foods and the geisha show in the evening was enjoyable.

Location

On a pedestrian mall and easy to walk and shop any time of day.

Staff

The staff was friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were spotless and they made the best use of space so 2 people were very comfortable.

Activity Reviews

Learn the Secrets Behind Sushi in a Cooking Class

Osaka

The ladies teaching us today were wonderful. We really got to experience the art of making sushi.

Quality of Experience

Teachers were great! The kitchen was clean and organized.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

They were great teachers, organized and patient.

Transport

We took taxis here today and did well.

Osaka-Nara day trip with Osaka Castle

Osaka

I loved visiting the Nara deer park, the temple with the large Buddha as well as Osaka castle. However, the museum at Osaka castle was a bit overwhelming and there wasn’t time to read all the information. I enjoyed our stop for Ramen for lunch and our stop later for ice cream and shopping. We stopped at an observation tower late in the day and I could have skipped that. I know Yuki was doing his best to show us everything.

Quality of Experience

Yuki was forever trying to make us happy

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yuki and Mr. Li were wonderful

Transport

Vehicle was comfortable and our driver great.

Full Day Miyama Village Tour From Kyoto

Japan

Our day began with a tie dying activity on our way into Mijama. It was fun learning about the indigo ink that is popular in the region. Then touring the village with the thatched roofs and visiting their small museums was very interesting.

Quality of Experience

Our tie dying activity!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yuki was fun and informative, as always.

Transport

Driver was always there when we needed him.

Fushimi Inari Taisha and Kinkakuji Temple

Kyoto

This temple area in the city was beautiful. Mao taught us how to purify ourselves to approach the temple and hue to bow in front of the temple. It was interesting learning about the religions of Japan.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Bamboo Grove and Monkey Park Tour

Kyoto

Loved our walk around the monkey park. It was beautiful and the monkeys were sweet. I enjoyed feeding them and seeing the babies.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was great and so was our driver. The staff at the park were all very friendly.

Transport

Our driver was always there when we needed him

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

Don’t miss this experience! It was so much fun picking out a kimono to wear and getting dressed up. The tea ceremony was wonderful, we learned a lot and had a great time.

Quality of Experience

The staff was great and the girl leading our ceremony was wonderful

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We were on our own today-took a taxi to the spot, had a little difficulty getting there. The staff at the tea ceremony was wonderful.

Transport

Had a hard time communicating with the taxi driver but it all worked out.

Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi Tour with Onsen experience

Tokyo

Knowing that Mt.Fuji isn’t always visible made our day so much more spectacular. We had a clear view of the mountain all day. To add to it, the cherry blossoms were at their best the day we visited. It was a magnificent day!

Quality of Experience

Our guide Nao did a great job. We made the decision not to climb higher on the path because it would be another 2 hours. I think it was a great decision as we had a wonderful view from where we were.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was wonderful today

Transport

Our driver was always there when we needed him.

Asakusa Sumo Club: Sumo Show Admission with Chankonabe in Tokyo

Tokyo

This was a fun activity. A great way to spend lunchtime. Probably the most touristy thing we did but I’m glad we included it.

Quality of Experience

The MC was knowledgeable and spoke both English and Japanese perfectly. The wrestlers were entertaining and fun to watch.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chase Cherry Blossom with Meiji Jingu in Tokyo

Tokyo

The wooded area we walked through was beautiful and I enjoyed the temple and museum.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Had the trip ended before the last few days our rating would be higher. While we learned early on in our travels that we were often overscheduled for our taste, we consign some of that fact to our inexperience as travelers on such a complicated and lengthy itinerary. But toward he end, scheduling of trains and advice about luggage that produced a very compressed day in beautiful Hakone, and that cut short our stay at a ryokan that kept us from fully enjoying what we'd paid handsomely for, really hurt our experience. That same scheduling issue rushed us to Tokyo so that we could sit around with nothing to do while we waited for our hotel room to become available. As noted, we're not experienced enough travelers to have picked up on these shortcomings before they happened but, to Cory's credit, in the times when we did request revisions to other trip plans she responded quickly and effectively.

I also give her credit for easing the concerns I felt about having received a diagnosis of gluten intolerance in the weeks before the trip began. Cory was very helpful in finding places that could accommodate my restrictions--something that isn't necessarily easy in Japan given the predominance in its cuisine of gluten-containing soy sauce.

All in, while we had a great time overall in lovely Japan we were disappointed by plans made toward the end of the trip that wasted our money and hurt our experience in what should have been a highlight of the experience.