Sandy Ren

I had a really good time, and all of the guides I had were especially good.

I thought all our guides were good but Tomoe in Tokyo was the best. We also really liked our last day with Fuji in Kyoto.

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

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

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

Our Japan tour had something for everyone. We especially enjoyed the smaller places- Hakone, Koyasan and Nara. Food was excellent, kids stayed interested and we decided before we had even left that we will need to go back!

Hotel Reviews

Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku

Tokyo

Great location and big breakfast buffet.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right near station , shrine and restaurants in Asakusa

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

MIMARU Osaka Shinsaibashi West

Good for families, otherwise quite basic

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mimaru Kyoto Station

Kyoto

Close to Kyoto station. Fairly basic.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Not near many sights, but close to station.

Staff

Lo

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mt. Koya temple stay

Koyasan

Authentic Japanese temple stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to the center of town

Staff

Friendly and explained everything well

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Gracery Shinjuku

Tokyo

Gritty neighborhood, only dirty place we encountered in Japan. Inside the rooms were quite small, even by Japan standards. Didn’t find the novelty of the Godzilla to outweigh the vibe of the neighborhood that was not at all family friendly.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Good if you want that specific scene, but not our vibe.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tokyo Discovery: From Traditional Landmarks to Akihabara’s Anime Haven

Tokyo

Samurai and Ninja Museum with Experience

Kyoto

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

Excellent way to enjoy kimonos and participate in a tea ceremony

Quality of Experience

Full Day Osaka Discovery with Cup Noodles Museum

Osaka

The Cup Noodles museum was fun, but we didn’t need a guide here and she didn’t even help us by translating despite participating in the activity herself. She was hard to hear and kids thought she was mean

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Osaka-Nara Day Trip

Osaka

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was excellent and gave us some personalized tips.

Transport

A Hands-on Cooking Experience: Nigiri Sushi and More

Tokyo

A bit long for our group- more geared toward adults

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Asakusa Sumo Club: Sumo Show Admission with Chankonabe in Tokyo

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff