Sandy Ren

One visit to Japan was very wonderful. Kimkim the traveling agency was really helpful. Our tour guides were very friendly and helpful. My grandkids boys really enjoyed our visit to most of the places went. The shibuya sky and shibuya crossing in Tokyo the busys cross street in Tokyo it is a.lot of fun to see the volume of people crossing with their camera 📷 talking fotos. I was very worried about traveling to Japan because we were black but I had nothing to worry about, we felt very comfortable . I will encourage tourists to use kimkim for to all their destinations.

Hotel Reviews

the b asakusa

Tokyo

Amazing in the center of all the activities in Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

The staffs are very helpful

Staff

Very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

The hotel in very very clean

Hakone Hotel Kajikaso

Hakone

The fin part of this hotel is the Japanese style bed and the hot springs

Authenticity & Character

The Japanese style bed room make a lot of difference and a good experience

Location

It is in the center of the city so getting access to the train station 🚉 was easy

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The hotel in very clean

Park Hotel Kyoto

Kyoto

Hotel clean and in the center of the city

Authenticity & Character

The food is good the staffs are very friendly

Location

It is easy to get transport and in the center of the city

Staff

The staffs are very friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kimkim is a very reliable travel agency to work with

Hotel Forza Osaka Kitahama

Osaka

This hotel is in the center of the city and it is easy to connect to wherever u want to go

Authenticity & Character

Location

In the center of the city and easy to move around

Staff

Very friendly and easy to communicate with them in English

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel very very clean and delicious breakfast

Activity Reviews

Enjoy Temples & Bamboo Grove in Kyoto with Your Family

Kyoto

Going through the temple and the bamboo grove was a very interesting experience it was peaceful in the grove

From Hakone to Kyoto

Japan

Half Day Nara Park & Todai-Ji Temple

Japan

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

Kyoto

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

Tokyo

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

Japan

Although it was soo foggy 🌁 we were not abto see the mountain Fugi but it was wealth it the trip

Sandy put together an absolutely amazing first trip to Japan! Sandy really listened to what my husband and I were looking to do and see. Our tour guide Kyoko for Tokyo was also fantastic! The private tour guides in Tokyo and Kyoto were personable and knowledgeable for every site/temple/shrine we visited. They also explained Japanese customs so we didn't feel awkward. I have used KimKim a few times for overseas trips. The travel agent for Spain (first time using KimKim) and Sandy gave us the best itinerary. The hotel accommodations and locations (near train stations as requested) were perfect. I felt we experienced Japanese culture while still having some US amenities that made us feel comfortable. The onsen at the end of the trip was a perfect way to end our trip and absolutely felt immersed by then. Japanese onsen was incredible and very relaxing. The bathhouse was different than the "Japanese bathhouse" Ive experienced in the US and different from US hot spring resorts. My husband and I already want to plan another trip to Japan. Sandy will without a doubt be our official Japan travel agent. I live in Houston, TX and when they say Tokyo& Kyoto are hot and humid- they are not joking. The weather was very similar to Houston every day we were there in August. Houston just a lil more humid but no one is climbing Fushimi shrine in Houston. lol We spent 8-9 days (last day was mainly traveling from kyoto to narita airport 4hrs plus arriving 2.5hrs before flight). We split our time evenly in Tokyo and Kyoto. We had a day trip to DisneySea/Disney Tokyo and a day trip to Nara. Tokyo was like NYC for me. Everyone rushed but I did not have any negative experiences on the trains even when we were crammed like sardines. However my husband was with me. Very exciting city and loved the Nakano Broadway mall for anime which seemed to have more locals (and lower prices). We enjoyed Kyoto the most and want to go back to explore the city more along with stopping at some of the towns along the way.

Hotel Reviews

Marunouchi Hotel

Great local next to Tokyo station. The shower and bathtub combo is amazing and perfect at the end of long sight seeing days. The amenities (bath salts, moisture rescue facial cleanser along with fresh PJs) they supply every day was a luxury bonus.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Across the street from Tokyo station and can be accessed underground straight from hotel

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Thousand Kyoto

Kyoto

Love the iPad to control everything from lights, temperature and curtains along with room service, cleaning, extra amenities etc. Bathroom shower and tub combo separate from vanity and bidet is excellent. 4.75 stars because they did not give any amenities unless requested to be more environmentally friendly which they did explain on check in. We came from a hotel which stocked bath salts daily along with other luxury touches. The superior king room was large and the bed was the biggest my husband and I have ever slept in. We have a split california king at home. Daily fresh PJs was great touch. The hotel is beautiful and tranquil. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. Shower pressure was amazing and water temperature very hot which I love

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

daily amenities not included was only downside but very clean and comfortable otherwise.

Kadensho, Arashiyama Onsen, Kyoto - Kyoritsu Resort

Felt authentic and loved the individual bathhouses! Esp the outdoor ones. Very relaxing. The 30min limit per session was a downside but can always come back or use another one that wasn't in use. We loved that no shoes were allowed anywhere inside besides the reception desk to check in obviously. It set the pace and mood for relaxation. We loved the area of Kyoto it was in. We watched the sunset on the famous bridge and early mornings which was less than a 5min walk away. It only had a shower in the room but it was a bathhouse so not exactly necessary. The least room amenities for our trip but the atmosphere more than made up for it

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Dinner with a Geisha /Maiko Ozashiki Experience

Kyoto

This was hands down my favorite activity of our trip! We were fortunate enough have a geiko as our Geisha. Her dancing was beautiful to watch and loved that we were able to have conversations before and after her dancing. She loved having sake with us! The teahouse was super authentic and just loved loved loved the experience from start to finish. The meal was great and staff very attentive. The alcohol was included and as much as we wanted which in hindsight could have been our hint to offer sake to the Geisha and our interpreter. Our interpreter actually knew the Geisha since she first became a Maiko 6yrs prior and has seen her grow into a full fledge Geiko. Very special experience. Highly recommend

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Tokyo City Tour with Tsukiji Outer Fish Market

Tokyo

Kyoko was an excellent tour guide. She explained each temple and shrine thoroughly and loved the areas she took us. She was like an aunt to us by the end of the day. Best tour guide experience I have had.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had booked a 2 week trip to Jopan in June/July 2026. . We enjoyed the trips with the guides Ayumi San ( trip to Nikko ), Sunny San ( Kyoto ) , Yoshido San ( Nara and Osaka ) and Mayumi San ( Hiroshima) providing much needed background information on the place so we could get a broader perspective and have a richer experience.
A special thanks to Sandy who worked with us patiently, built and implemented an itinerary which worked for us. The accommodation, connectivity with trains and personal transports made the trip enjoyable so we could look forward to the places rather than logistics.

Outstanding experience and without doubt the best vacation we’ve ever had.
Sandy at KimKim provided an itenary for our trip to Japan that matched exactly with what we wanted to do and where we wanted to go. The cost of the trip was in line with our previously established budget. Hotels were superb and centrally located to what we wished to do. All arrangements with regards to hotels, excursions, transportation, etc were planned and confirmed and we had zero issues with any of these items.
Our guides for the tours were superb and went above and beyond. Yukio was fantastic showing us Osaka, Hiroshima, and Kyoto and made our whole experience visiting these places stress free and enjoyable. Yuna took us to the best places in Tokyo and navigated us superbly through the city.
Drivers for pick ups were always on time and very helpful.
This was our first experience using KimKim and visiting pacific Asia. We loved it and wished the vacation had never ended! Thank you!

Hotel Review

Cross Hotel Kyoto

Kyoto

Fantastic location in Kyoto. Very friendly and helpful staff and room was lovely. Breakfast buffet had everything and whole hotel very clean and had a great vibe about it.

Authenticity & Character

Very clean. Staff professional, helpful and friendly.

Location

Very central and close to all the shops, restaurants and train stations but also off the Main Street and very quiet.

Staff

They made every effort to make sure our stay was enjoyable and answered all our questions.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was spacious and clean. Whole hotel was clearly well maintained and cleaned.

Activity Reviews

Enjoy Temples & Bamboo Grove in Kyoto

Kyoto

This day took us to some of the main highlights in Kyoto and was superb. Our guide, Yukio, took care of us and we spent the right amount of time at each location and he explained all the attractions. Fantastic day!

Quality of Experience

Seeing so many of the main attractions in one day stress free

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide could not have been better

Transport

A combination of trains, cars, and buses very well planned

Tokyo Highlights: A Day of Tradional & Modern Culture with Local Life

Tokyo

A great blend of activities/sights that gave us a great overview of this wonderful city. From visiting fantastic food markets to majestic shrines and spacious parks this day tour was a perfect way to.enjoy Tokyo.

Quality of Experience

A huge city and the day was spent visiting a variety of locations stress free

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide, Yuna, took care of us superbly and spent the correct amount of time at each site explaining everything and answering all our questions.

Transport

Spending a day using the Tokyo metro was quite an experience but made stress free by our guide

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

Kyoto

Great combination of activities and my wife is still smiling from the experience of wearing a kimono!

Quality of Experience

Great combination of activities

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Staff at each location were very friendly and helpful

sandy from Kim Kim was terrific! Everything from start to finish was handled with care and great execution. I would use them again and would highly recommend. They were also flexible when we changed our plans on them and were very accommodating. Thank you!

Activity Review

Tokyo Night Foodie Tour in Shinjuku

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Personal handling was great

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very personable

Transport

We cannot recommend Sandy highly enough! She planned an absolutely extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime trip for our first visit to Japan.

From the very beginning, Sandy took the time to understand exactly what we were looking for. We told her we weren’t interested in sitting around—we wanted to experience as much of Japan as possible—and she delivered an incredible itinerary that was perfectly tailored to us. Every day was thoughtfully planned with the right balance of sights, hidden gems, cultural experiences, incredible food, and unique activities.

We traveled through Tokyo, Kanazawa, Osaka, Kyoto, and Hakone, and somehow managed to fit more into 13 days than we thought possible. In fact, several locals commented that they couldn’t believe how much we experienced in such a short amount of time! Despite the packed schedule, the trip never felt chaotic because every detail was so well organized.

What truly set Sandy apart was her knowledge, flexibility, and responsiveness. She patiently worked through countless revisions as we refined our plans, always offering thoughtful suggestions and creative ideas that made the itinerary even better. Throughout the planning process, she was incredibly easy to work with and consistently responded quickly to every question we had.

It’s clear that Sandy genuinely cares about creating unforgettable experiences for her clients. If you’re planning a trip to Japan, do yourself a favor and work with Sandy - you won’t regret it!