Kimkim Trip Reviews for Japan

We had the unfortunate experience of having our tour canceled the day we were leaving for our trip. In the end, in "forced" us to discover on our own. We ended up loving our time in Yamaguchi (less touristy, less populated)

All train tickets were as promised.

We oved our hotel in Yamaguchi.

Mizuho, our guide in Kyoto and Osaka was fabulous. She was so caring, and a true ambassador for Japan.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Groove Shinjuku

Tokyo

Room a bit small but the location was perfect. Great view of the Scramble. The Breakfast Buffet was fabulous!

Authenticity & Character

professional staff

Location

views - walkablilty

Staff

very attentive at check in

Cleanliness & Comfort

room a little small.

Cross Hotel Kyoto

Kyoto

Great location

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rengejo-in

koya

A real treat

Authenticity & Character

a peak into a Budhist community

Location

loved the town

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was beautiful and serene

Osaka Excel Hotel Tokyu

Osaka

A very convenient location

Authenticity & Character

seems a bit old (I think we were in an older tower, multiple tower location was confusing.

Location

good for transportation

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

clean, but bed wasn't very comfortable, room quite small.

Hakone Ashinoko Hanaori

Hakone

Loved the personal hot bath.

Authenticity & Character

A true onsen.

Location

The view in the morning was breathtaking

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Experience the Sumo and Sushi-making Culture of Japan

Tokyo

Sumo demonstration was fun. Sumo wrestlers were great with the crowd. The sushi leaders were charming, but not sure I would recommend. l

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Tokyo City Tour

Tokyo

nice to have guide... we would have been lost otherwise.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

good and knowledgeable - kept us on track!

Transport

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

Tokyo

One of my favorite moments

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had to take a very crowded bus with a lot of baggage on the way down.

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya with Nishiki market

Kyoto

Well done, something I would never do at home. They were crowded.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The hostess of the tea was so charming.

Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Osaka

It was nice to go to areas that we would not have ventured on our own.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide - Duncan did a great job.

Full Day Kobe Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum and Himeji Castle Tour

Osaka

great guide

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

our guide lead us through very crowded subway rides. Added to our experience!

Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Fushimi Inari-Taisha

Kyoto

A lot of walking, but saw a lot!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

knowledgable

Our three weeks in Japan were fantastic. Our local guide Shona suggested locations and activities that we would have had difficulty finding on our own but that made the trip very memorable. The accommodations she found for us, particularly the Ryokan in Kawaji Onsen, were among the best hotels we have ever stayed at and were staffed by some of the nicest people we've ever met. We felt very pampered.
Shona was always available and prompt in responding to our inquiries and issues even with the substantial time difference between us. She would also send us our itinerary for the day on our trip itself which made things very easy.
The guides she booked for us were very friendly and shared a lot of interesting cultural knowledge about Japan with us. One of our drivers was kind enough to suggest alternative activities on a day when the weather was not cooperating with what was initially planned.
There were a couple of instances where we had a guide booked for us that felt somewhat unnecessary - like days where we went hiking and probably would have preferred to have just had a driver instead. This is also on us in that we could have communicated this preference to her a bit better.
On the whole, Shona was a great planner for our trip to Japan and we would recommend her and KimKim to other travelers in the future!

Planning a trip to a distant destination is never easy, but the experience and guidance we received for Japan was perfect. Our guides Johnny & Lia had great knowledge and showed their love for the visitor experience in their home country. Travel within Japan was expertly handled, hotels were perfect and sites visited gave us a glimpse into the culture of the country.

Both William and Jenny were helpful, punctual and enjoyable

Myaen and Irish were amazing tour specialists. Much of our communication was anticipated which made me feel like they understood what we were wanting in this trip to Japan. Although we had a few questions to email along the way, many of our questions were answered before we even asked which was nice.

Leny was excellent in all ways from planning our trip to Japan to communicating with us along the way, keeping us updated as to our schedule and tours. We had a stress free trip, all thanks to Leny. Everything went smoothly, all hotels were great, and all tours were terrific. We highly recommend KimKim and of course, Leny.

Hotel Reviews

Tsukino Yado Sara

Hakone

Rooms were nice with tub overlooking greenery. Food was a little disappointing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Royal Park Hotel Iconic Tokyo Shiodome

Tokyo

Royal Park Hotel was beautiful and in a good location

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

KAYA Kyoto Nijo Castle, BW Signature Collection by Best Western

Kyoto

Very nice hotel in great location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Vista Hiroshima

Nice hotel in good location

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Candeo Hotels Osaka Namba

Osaka

Nice hotel in excellent location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tokyo Asakusa Kimono & Tea Ceremony Experience

Tokyo

Nice experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Tokyo Tour with English Speaking Guide (Private)

Tokyo

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

Recommend this tour

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Nara Tour From Kyoto with English Speaking Guide with Vehicle

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kyoto Arashiyama Best Spots 4h Private Tour with Licensed Guide

Kyoto

Highly recommend

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Hiroshima & Miyajima with English Guide (Private)

Hiroshima

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Osaka Local Foodie Walking Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Japan

Peco our guide was great to be with. She shared some great food with us

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Osaka Tour with English-Speaking Guide and Public Transportation (Private)

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sayonara Japan!

Kansai International Airport (KIX)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Kawagoe Tour From Tokyo with Guide (Private)

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Kyoto Tour with English Speaking Guide and Public Transportation (Private)

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Hiroshima!

Hiroshima

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Angel was great!
She was very patient w/ us during phase, since we made multiple changes. During the trip she kept checking in and providing assistance + changes (as a result of weather).
This is our second trip w/ KimKim and we highly recommend the service.

Overall, the trip was fantastic. The itinerary worked verywell for us, and the guidance was almost always right on the mark. We had two small quibbles:
1. While the hotels were great, the location of the Kimpton Shinjuku in Tokyo was less than optimal from our perspective, primarily because it was not that close to a train/subway stop. And it was hard to figure out to walk to get to and from the hotel to the Shinjuku Station, which is one of those huge, sprawling stations with several different entrances and exits. The hotel also bungled our luggage transfer, although they were very apologetic about it and did refund the fee.
2. The guides we had, while very nice and very helpful, were not the greatest. Their English was limited, and they often tell us much that we couldn't have figured out for ourselves. We did want to single out one guide, Alex, who took us our food tour in Tokyo. He was exceptional in every way.

Hotel Reviews

The Tokyo Station Hotel

Tokyo

What a gem

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kimpton Shinjuku Tokyo, an IHG Hotel

The Kimpton Shinjuku Tokyo Hotel was nice in itself, but its location posed some challenges. It wasn't really close to any major attractions or convenient train stations. The hotel itself was great, just the location left something to be desired.

Activity Review

Private Evening Food Tour in Tokyo

Tokyo

The Private Evening Food Tour in Tokyo with Alex was fantastic. He was very conversational and took us to amazing places with great food that we wouldn't have found on our own. His guidance throughout the tour was top-notch, and he even helped us get a taxi at the end. The timing of the tour was perfect for visiting various spots easily. Overall, it was an excellent experience.

First the positives:
1. Guides: Friendly, punctual, accommodating.
2. Vehicles: Clean and very comfortable (except in Kanazawa which had cigarette smoke).
Most interesting places/activities:
1. Miho Museum
2. Hiroshima - tear-jerker.
3. Ina
4. Mt Fuji panoramic ropeway
5. Bullet train rides (made better by travelling in Green Car).
Room for improvement:
1. Guides: Often difficult to understand (except Wesley). This was a major issue.
2. Hotel Higashiyama in Kyoto: Very small, uncomfortable esp. since we stayed there for 5 nights, probably equivalent to a 2/3 star hotel in USA. Would definitely not recommend it.
3. Ina: would have liked to spend more time there by getting there early. Advise visitors to carry own food and drinks as the few eating places there close early.
4. Explore purchasing tickets for cable car, Skytree, etc in advance, if possible, as it will save a lot of time.
5. Itinerary:
a. Share the final itinerary with ALL changes a few days before the tourist's departure.
b. Include addresses of hotels, train stations, etc in JAPANESE so that we can show these to the taxi driver. We ended up at the wrong hotel in Kyoto because the 2 hotels had identical names.

We just returned from a wonderful trip to Japan. Our local specialist, Angel, was amazing. The tour guides and activities she selected were perfect. We were also very appreciative of Angel's communication, both before and during our trip. She was always available for our questions with a quick response. When we decided on short notice to modify one of our last nights, she quickly helped us arrange a new hotel and transportation. I would highly recommend!

Hotel Reviews

Shibuya Stream Excel Hotel Tokyu

Tokyo

Great breakfast. Staff was very friendly. Would definitely come here again!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cross Hotel Osaka

Osaka

Great breakfast. Staff was very friendly. Would definitely come here again!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Wood Takayama

Takayama

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cross Hotel Kyoto

Kyoto

Great breakfast. Staff was very friendly. Would definitely come here again!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

福智院（Koyasan Onsen Fukuchi-in）

Wakayama

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Kegon Falls & Lake Chuzenji Tour

Tokyo

We loved getting out of the City and into the mountains! Beautiful scenery.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day tour Shirakawa-go Village

Takayama

Samurai and Ninja Museum with Experience

Kyoto

Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Fushimi Inari-Taisha

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Tokyo City Tour

Tokyo

A Fun-Filled Cooking Class in Tokyo - Wagyu Beef and More

Tokyo

This was one of our favorite activities!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi with Oishi Park

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Rural Bike Tour

Takayama

Enjoyed seeing a town that was a little less touristy. Nice area for bike riding.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Tour of Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Sagano Scenic Railway

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tokyo Night Foodie Tour in Shinjuku

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Traditional Tea Ceremony KYOTO

Kyoto

Shona was exceptional in her communications and responsiveness to our feedback, when planning the trip. She provided great suggestions for activities and answered any questions I had, promptly and thoughtfully. Once travelling, Shona kept in close contact, checking in and advising us of activity details. She was always available with any questions we had and was very accommodating of some last minute changes we made. The trip components that she arranged were fantastic and the activities were always top-notch, fun and interesting. The drivers were great: great communication, reliable and very competent. The Private tour guides we had (Slash, Andy and Tan) all had different styles, which was fun, but they were all great. They were reliable, personable, knowledgable, great communicators and very flexible. They accommodated our interests really well. The small tour group guides, through Magical Trips (Max and, sorry, I did not get the name of the Sumo guide), were very good and those tours were really fun. We were so happy with the trip itinerary and everyone supporting the itinerary. Thank you!

Activity Reviews

Authentic Sumo Experience in Tokyo: Enter the Sanctuary

Tokyo

The Sumo experience in Tokyo was so much fun! The leader of the experience was really good, and I'm grateful that it was suggested as an activity. It was a unique and enjoyable part of the trip.

Tokyo Night Foodie Tour in Shinjuku

Tokyo

The Tokyo Night Foodie Tour in Shinjuku was fantastic! The tour guide was great, and it made experiencing Japanese cuisine memorable. I'm glad we did it, as it truly added to our enjoyment of the trip.

Feed Deer At Nara Park

Japan

Feeding the deer at Nara Park was really fun. The deer are much smaller compared to those in the US and are quite habituated to people. It was an amusing experience with these tiny, hungry creatures.

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi with Oishi Park

Tokyo

The Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi and Oishi Park was amazing. The guide and driver were both wonderful and the scenery was breathtaking.

Tokyo Highlights Day Tour - East & West

Tokyo

The Tokyo Highlights Day Tour - East & West was a flexible and enjoyable experience. Our guide was knowledgeable and accommodating, even suggesting alternative activities when we felt like changing our plans. It was a lovely way to explore Tokyo without feeling rushed.

I was planning our first trip to Japan and while researching I stumbled upon KimKim. What a fantastic find!!!! It is hard to find a travel agency with on location experience. KimKim has a terrific platform that helps to identify your needs and wants in a trip and then they connect you with a travel agent who is an expert in that location. We were connected with Leny in Tokyo. She was AMAZING!!! After filling out the questionnaire she came up with a couple of suggested itineraries. We then scheduled a phone call to discuss in further detail our thoughts about the itinerary. That really put my mind at ease, to talk to a real person and get instant feedback! We made modifications to make the trip exactly what we wanted. Leny was helpful every step of the way. She made a VERY detailed schedule for us. Organized wonderful tours and experiences. The hotels were terrific. Then she took customer service to the top level. When we were in Japan she was available for support throughout our trip! One time I could not find my train tickets and she mailed them again to me as I was at the station!!! Now that is support!! While being fairly well travelled, I was very nervous having never been to Asia. Leny put my mind to rest. She was absolutely incredible throughout this entire process. This was a very special trip to celebrate my birthday. It was a trip of a lifetime and I owe a huge part of that success to Leny at KimKim. THANK YOU LENY!!!

Hotel Reviews

The Thousand Kyoto

Kyoto

Absolutely beautiful hotel. Gorgeous rooms. Delicious breakfast. Great location!

Authenticity & Character

Elegant Japanese style.

Location

Right near the train station which is a plus in Kyoto.

Staff

Attentive. At the ready to help in any way they can.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everywhere was spotless. The room was absolutely beautiful. Loved the Pjs.

The Hotel Sanraku Kanazawa

Kanazawa

Beautiful hotel and lovely room! Great bath products.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Premier

Tokyo

The lobby is beautiful. The breakfast is very good. The room was very small.

Authenticity & Character

The lobby is beautiful but the room was very small. And the carpeting in the hallways needs to be replaced.

Location

Beautiful view from the lobby of the Tokyo Tower!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

VERY small room. Comfortable but small.

Gora Kadan

Hakone

Loved the Ryokan experience! Beautiful hotel. The onsen was amazing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Beautiful location!!! Near the outdoor museum which was fabulous!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything! The gorgeous room. The onsen. Massage chairs.

The Blossom Hibiya

Minato

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Choi, a front desk trainee, who helped us sort out our plane tickets home. She was a lifesaver!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hidden Gem Food Tour (adults only)

Tokyo

Great mix of restaurants to try. Learned lots of interesting facts about the Japanese culture. Ray was a good guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Half-Day Tokyo Tour with English-Speaking Guide

Tokyo

Good way to get a crash course in Japanese history and the Shinto and Buddhist religions. Very nice to have a guide show you around and take you from sight to sight.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Best of Tokyo's Shopping & Food: Japanese Cultural Experience

Tokyo

This was a wonderful tour. Chees (our guide) took us to a mix of food stops and shops. She explained the history and the culture. It was a great way to see traditional or old Tokyo. There is so much tied into the art of Japanese craft. We also got to appreciate the architecture of the area. It was really informative and interesting.

Quality of Experience

The mix of food, shopping , architecture and history

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was great!

The Old Quarter of Tokyo - Yanaka Walking Tour

Tokyo

This was a group tour and the group was a little too large. The guide Meyu was very good. Informative.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kanazawa Half Day Tour (Private)

Kanazawa

Really enjoyed walking around the Geisha and Samurai areas. The architecture was so beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was very nice but not very interesting.

Treasures of Kyoto: Geishas & Traditions Private Tour

Kyoto

Our guide really made the Geisha quarter come to life. So interesting!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

It was interesting to have a guide who was not Japanese, but had lived in Japan for over 25 years. Her English was excellent.

Full Day Kyoto Tour with English Speaking Guide and Public Transportation (Private)

Kyoto

Great way to see a lot of Kyoto's highlights.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kyoto Arashiyama Best Spots 4h Private Tour with Licensed Guide

Kyoto

BEAUTIFUL part of Kyoto! Enjoyed seeing the shrines and the nature of the area.

Quality of Experience

The variety of areas we were able to walk around.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was wonderful! His English was excellent since he had grown up in the US for 18 years.

Private tea ceremony 〜Feel Zen experience〜 (45min)

Kyoto

This was our least favorite experience. The "tea master" was very formal in her explanations. And it is not her fault, but we do not like the taste of Macha. This was a waste of our time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sharon was an excellent organizer of our trip and was very responsive to our interests and time frame. Jennifer was a wonderful companion and guide as we cycled around Lake Kawaguchiko and had Hoto noodles for lunch. We visited Kyoto and Nara with Kuro and learned a lot about the history of the temples and shrines, as well as the country overall. Or last stop was Hiroshima and Slash was a marvelous guide as we visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, the Hiroshima Castle and the island of Miyajima. We highly recommended Sharon and all of our guides!

Our foursome traveled to Tokyo, Hakone, Nikko, Kanazawa, Osaka and Hiroshima over 16 days. The travel arrangements were impeccable. We used private car, trains and buses. Our guides were great, each in their own way. We enjoyed Yoshi in Hakone. He made a special effort to show us Mt Fuji, despite the cloudy weather. Michiko and Chi were lovely people and a pleasure to be with. Hiro guided us in Kyoto. Yuki met us in Osaka. Yasu showed us Hiroshima. We were very pleased with all of them.
I loved our tea ceremony and took great pleasure in dressing in our kimonos. I, of course, loved all the shrines and the history behind them. The ryokan was amazing and the onsan very relaxing. We dressed in kimonos for dinner that night...very memorable. There were so many things we saw and experienced that it is difficult to think of them all.
Finally, I have to give the biggest shout out of the trip to Shona. She was like the invisible mother to us all, checking in every day and reminding us of times, places and people. She is the best tour coordinator I've ever worked with and she would be the reason I would plan another trip with KimKim.

If you are planning a trip to Japan, save yourself all the hassles and contact Shona. From first contact, planning, amendments to the itinerary, right until arrival back home, her communication, knowledge and insights is extremely valuable. Every detail of our almost 3 week trip executed perfectly!

Our two guides, Allen-Loon and Slash simply incredible!

Take a bow Shona, You are an exceptional lady, with immense knowledge, meticulous , and you ensured that we have made memories for life, and had the trip of our lives!

With heartfelt Thanks,

The Bekker’s
South Africa

The KimKim experience was overall excellent, particularly for a first-time traveler looking to hit the "must-see" events in a new country.

Shona and her team communicated clearly and fluidly each and every step of the way, including helping and adjusting schedules when I got in a (minor and self-inflicted) jam with train travel, facilitating when I wanted to change a few plans last minute, and staying in contact throughout the trip.

The tour guides appointed were lovely and thorough, and the hotels picked were top-notch, as were all travel accommodations within the country.

Generally an excellent experience, highly recommend, and being clear what it is you're looking to get out of the trip -- the more information you provide, the better they're able to tailor the experience.

KimKim did an amazing job arranging our trip to Japan. From train tickets to guides to someone meeting us at the airport with a friendly face, everything was great. We had a last minute change to make, and Angel was able to re-book our Shinkensen tickets and get them to us in a timely way. All around, an excellent service.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Intergate Hiroshima

Hiroshima

There was really nothing I liked about this hotel. The staff at the reception weren't welcoming at all, nor helpful during checkout. The room had a tiny window with shades drawn so you felt a little like being in a cell- very claustrophobic. We spent as little time as possible in the room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel

Tokyo

Hotel was very nice- nice sized rooms, great breakfast, great service. The rooftop bar is a must.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Helpful, friendly, enough english for us to get by with our limited Japanese

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Green Plaza Hakone

Hakone

We picked this hotel for the views- well, not their fault that it was overcast and we couldn't see anything. However, this place is dated and a little tacky. The store and cafe were never open. The place was overrun with children who screamed throughout dinner. The restuarant was lit up like hospital cafeteria, and while the food was ok, it was so noisy and bright that we couldn't wait to leave. I can imagine the onsen would be amazing if you could see Mt. Fuji. It's also not located near anything.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kyoto Tokyu Hotel

kyoto

Room was pretty spacious so that was nice. It's gotten some fancy updates but seems like it might have been a Courtyard by Mariott at some point and got a face lift. The staff were great especially the congierge who gave us great sushi restaurant tips and directions. It seemed to be geared towards large tour groups. The restuarants were always empty (Except at free breakfast), probably because they were very overpriced. It was a good location, fairly close to the train station.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Ritz-Carlton

Osaka

This place was beautiful and the staff was, without exception, outstanding. Would love to stay here again someday.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Tokyo City Tour

Tokyo

Yumi did a great job of putting together a tour catering to our preferences. We were a little jet lagged so probably didn't get all out of it that we could have. The fish market was super fun.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Tokyo

Yoshi was a great guide. We just didn't have great weather for viewing Fuji (never did see it). However, he did his best to keep us interested and entertained, including taking us to a flower garden that wasn't originally planned. The Whicky tour and tasting was really interesting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Fushimi Inari-Taisha

Kyoto

Yoshi was a great guide- turns out she spent a year not too far from where we live in Oregon. Totally not her issue, but the sites in Kyoto are just overrun with tourists, which I realize we are also, It was really hard to enjoy the temples, tori gates, Gion district becuse there are just too many people at the same spots.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Nara and Uji

Kyoto

We didn't do this trip

One Day Hiroshima and Miyajima Island Tour

Hiroshima

Yoko was an excellent guide. We went to Miyajima first, via ferry- it was lovely. Very limited crowds, although it was raining so that could be why. Had some yummy roasted oysters, some great little maple leaf cookies, and got some great views of the gate and temple. Then headed back and toured the Peace Memorial and the museum. Both were very moving and emotional. Highly recommend.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nishiki Market Food Experience

Kyoto

We did'nt do this tour

Our agents were amazing. Myaen who started our itinerary paid attention to detail, and responded very promptly every time we emailed or chatted. She was super helpful and informative and knew the ins and outs of the areas of Japan that we anted to visit as ell as all the experiences we had hoped to encounter. We especially enjoyed Eri, our guid to Mt Fuji. Very educated and knowledgeable on many facets of Japan, currently and historically. She helped purchase our future Shinkansen tickets to Kyoto at Tokyo Station before we embarked on to Mt Fuji. We had an amazing time. What was noted on the itinerary for the day as spot on and excellent.

Our curated day in Tokyo that I believe Irish put together, was chock full of places and things to see and do. It was a very comprehensive itinerary and one not for the weak of Herat directional fortitude or stamina. We visited four districts, navigated 8 or 9 metros, stayed out for 10 hours, and walked 9 miles. At our age, 62 ad 67 that was such an amazing day to have accomplished. The maps that were attached to the itinerary were very useful. I would suggest noting the time that the itinerary might take and distances that might be covered should one take in each spine, temple ad shopping experience.

And, 7-11 and Eki ben are our new best friends. When in doubt or in a pinch for time, or grabbing something on long Shinkansen rides, that’s the way to go.

Our Nakasendo trail adventure was just breath taking. Each trail presented a new challenge and a very nostalgic look into the past. The scenery and culture up close and personal was spectacular. Each post town was quaint and offered such fascinating personal introspect. The ryokan and meal accommodations was nothing short of historic, realistic, generous, home felt and inspiring. Each were different in their own way, but blended a personal and professional sense of accommodation.

For note, the original Nagiso to Magome route from the train station, via the road, as prescribed by the itinerary and included map, should be just an option. Although the Trail was nearby we did follow the road but it was getting sketchy and boring. We opted to had to the trail midway and landed in Tsumago, which would have been our day two hike toward. We spent time there and taped in the trail for the duration, to Magome. It drew late, very dark and thunderstormed on us. It took us almost five plus hours to complete from start to finish, not including our rest in Tsumago. And, because we hiked the route, we chose not to hike back to Tsumago the next day as the itinerary laid out. Instead we found another 3.5 mile hike near Magome, then caught the bus to Tsumago for our day and accommodations. We were told by many, that people take the bus to Magome and hike back toward Tsumago. An option that should be included in your itinerary going forward. The bus back to Tsumago defended on a very steep winding road. That would had been our route should we stayed on our trek from Nagiso. Again not for the traveler less experienced in hiking that distance or terrain.

The trail was charming and spectacular. We only saw people hiking from Magome to Tsumago. Heading in our opposite direction. The easier hike. Our time however in both post towns were magical. We watched a vendor make udon in the window and after our short hike in Magome, decided to have lunch there. It was a very connecting experience.

The other trails were great. Kiso Fukushima was surrounded by Nakasendo trail within the city limits, which we partook. After a little confusion in Yabuhara, we found out was the the Tori Pass hike. Simply breathtaking. Narai was spectacular and we so loved the five star accommodations at Byaku Narai. We were on cloud nine and it was a great reward to end our hikes. We foregone our last day hike from Narai and just caught the train to Matsumoto. The castle was awe inspiring. The hotel, though so centrally located was a bit cramped. Very awkward bathroom set up that was almost dangerous to navigate. Our other hotels, Karaska in Tokyo, Daiwa Roynetts in Kyoto and Tokyo, were perfect.

Our foodie izakaya experience in shinjuku was so much fun. We would not have ventured there without our guide, who was energetic, educated and animated. What a fun last night.

Thank you to all of you who made this trip so memorable. This was the way to go versus two weeks on a tour bus. We plan to return to Japan and will certainly use your service again. We are using kimkim to Australia and New Zealand this coming January.

Forgot to mention that the greeter and white glove driving service from and to the airport was superb and such a classy touch. We felt so special..

Mahalo again for your patience with us and making this journey an unforgettable one.

Susan and Charlie Kunz

Hotel Reviews

Karaksa Hotel Tokyo Station

Tokyo

Great location

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kyoto Terrace Hachijohigashiguchi

Kyoto

Great location. Amazing breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Magome Chaya

Super charming and authentic. We felt like family

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Jenn was so helpful and kind. She even recommended an additional hike for us to go on which was spectacular

Cleanliness & Comfort

Koshinzuka Minshuku

Nagano

The family was so genuine and allowed our traveling companions to stay at their hotel instead of a part rom us as they had a spare room open.

Authenticity & Character

Amazing history behind this ryokan. We loved it

Location

Staff

Super friendly and giving. They gave us omiyage

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kiso Mikawaya

Kiso-Fukushima

Authenticity & Character

Location

Little away from town but very nice

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

BYAKU Narai

Narai

Simply spectacular. Private garden furo on the outdoor deck. Amazing food. Very classy and 5 star

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Large suite and bathroom. We felt privileged

Dormy Inn Matsumoto

Matsumoto

Authenticity & Character

Location

J

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was very cramped and the bathroom was dangerous to navigate. The threshold and a high ledge and a step down to the main bedroom floor made it precarious

Daiwa Roynet Hotel Ginza PREMIER

Tokyo

Great location to metro and Ginza

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Get Close to Mount Fuji at Lake Kawaguchiko

Tokyo

Eri our guide always the most intricate piece to this tour

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tea ceremony and see shrine, temples

Kyoto

It was a memorable experience. Very authentic and cultural. Kimonos were a nice touch

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bus and walking

Nakatsugawa to Magome Trail

Japan

Don’t recommend the Nagiso to Magome road route

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Magome to Tsumago

Japan

Saw the trail in reverse but that didn’t take away from the experience nor the scenery

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tsumago to Nojiri or Nagiso & Kiso Fukushima

Japan

Kiso Fukushima was so much fun. Shops, museums, trail, foot onsen, bar. Great food at our hotel too. Got to do our laundry too

Quality of Experience

J

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nara Day Tour from Kyoto

Japan

Once we figured out the transportation to and from, we had an amazing time. Everything was so awe inspiring and beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Narai to Kiso Hirasawa Trail & Matsumoto

Japan

We skipped the KisoHirasaw hike and stayed in town to shop. Matsumoto was fun and had spectacular affordable sukiyaki recommended by hotel staff.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Free Afternoon in Tokyo

Tokyo

Giza was so much fun and exciting. We stopped for five hours before settling in the lobby of our hotel awaiting our rife to the airport

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tokyo Night Food Tour

Tokyo

A must do for everyone. A spectacle to behold in Shinjuku, but the food and guide were just fabulous

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our family recently returned from an unforgettable trip to Japan. We were fortunate to have Angel, our host from Kim Kim, who was nothing short of exceptional. Her attention to detail, thoughtful planning, and excellent communication ensured that every part of our trip was seamless. Angels’ involvement played a huge role in making our family trip, a group of 10 people, very smooth.

Our local tour guides, Yumi and Hiroko, were friendly, knowledgeable, flexible and they cared about our experience. They were always ready to adjust the itinerary to suit our preferences, which made the experience even more enjoyable for everyone.

The sites we visited in Japan far exceeded our expectations. Mt Fuji, Tokyo at night, Shrines, Temples, traditional Kyoto and modern Osaka; each destination was a perfect blend of modern and traditional Japan.

Overall, we couldn’t recommend Kim Kim and our host Angel enough for anyone considering a trip to Japan. The combination of personalized service, insightful guides and expert planning made our family vacation a truly exceptional experience.