Shona Zhang

Overall, we had very nice trip to Japan although we had terrible start because of delayed arrival.

Let me summarize key points:
- Planning part was quick and effortless. It was good that we specified pretty clearly what we would like to see, so Shona was able to put together attractive plan in just few iterations. Shona was always promptly responding to our questions and suggestions in preparation phase, and she was also actively “taking care” of us during our trip in Japan.

- We were satisfied with our accommodations. It was quite smart that hotels in Kyoto and Osaka were just walking distance from railway stations; this proved convenient also when we were exploring towns on our own.

- All the commuting went smoothly. We were slightly worried about traveling with Shinkansen trains, but it was perfect.

- All our activities were executed professionally and correctly timewise. In general, we hoped that knowledge of English language would be even better, but we have been in Japan before and we know that this is a general problem. Let me repeat that all the guiding was done well, but as we are also not native English speakers, we sometimes had minor problems communicating.

At the end let me add one “friendly warning” to both Kimkim and Odynovo:
- Nowadays most of travelers know very well how to use ChatGPT, booking.com, Viator…, so it is a fair question what are the “added value reasons” for traveling with Kimkim/Odynovo. It is definitely not price or paying terms; in many cases free cancelation till last day is now part of standard conditions if you book directly. From our perspective main reasons are therefore security (to have somebody local to call in case of a need) and flexibility in case that you must or would like to change something.
o In our trip to Japan security part was perfect: Shona was always available and we had WhatApp numbers of all involved persons.
o Regarding flexibility it could be better: unfortunately, we had one serious problem at the beginning and one minor problem with cancelation of one activity. In both cases Shona was trying hard, but because even Odynovo is mostly just a “middleman”, the results were not optimal.
- I hope my friendly warning is clear: we (travellers) are more and more demanding, so you as organizers might need to be involved more than just as middlemans.

Best regards

Zvonko

It was great to work with Shona on planning this trip. I was really glad for her help as I didn't have the knowledge to put together this trip myself, since I was trying to get "off the beaten track" for my trip. Everything went very well on my trip and I had the peace of mind that everything was prepared for me.

Hotel Review

Kirishima Momijidani Seiryuso

I highly recommend this ryokan. First, the staff are exceptionally friendly and helpful! I can't say enough about how wonderful everyone was across the board. Second, I loved how remote feeling this location was. It was right outside of a small town, but the whole hotel is surrounded by forest making it feel like you are really out in nature. Third, I loved the variety of hot springs. There were two indoor options plus an outdoor onsen that was magical to visit at night. It sits right next to the rushing river. Guests can reserve time in both the private indoor and private outdoor onsen each day. Finally, the meals are exceptionally well prepared. I was especially appreciative of the chef's work to create unique meals for each of my dinners that suit me as a vegetarian.

Authenticity & Character

The private outdoor onsen next to a roaring river was an enjoyable way to relax and connect with nature.

Location

I love how the hotel feels isolated, away from everything.

Staff

All of the staff was incredibly friendly and helpful. Several of the staff speak English.

Cleanliness & Comfort

My room was very clean, comfortable, and spacious. I had a second floor room with a nice balcony looking out into the forest.

Activity Review

Day Trip Ebino Kogen Plateau & Kirishima Shrine

Kagoshima

Both Kirishima Shrine and Ebino Kogen Plateau were unique locations that I'd encourage anyone in the area to experience. Walking around the Shrine was peaceful and relaxing. Ebino Plateau was a great way to experience a different landscape and connect with the volcanic natural history of the region. I highly recommend visiting the Ebino Eco-Museum Center, especially after a hike as it is a nice way to relax and learn about the region.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We absolutely loved our trip to Japan! Shona helped us get the balance just right, between guided experiences and independent travel. Our guides were exceptional and allowed us to cater our days and gain much more than we could have on our own. The assistance in transportation with luggage was especially appreciated. Lastly, the app was easy to use and had everything we needed in one place.

We couldn't have been happier about our trip and will definitely use Kimkim again!

Activity Reviews

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

Kyoto

If we were to do it again, we'd do the Tea Ceremony and skip the Samurai Ninja Museum. Purely a matter of personal preference, but we loved the tea ceremony and didn't find the Samurai museum very engaging.

Full Day Tokyo City Tour

Tokyo

Moto was an exceptional tour guide. We inited him to visit us at home, because we sincerely enjoyed his company so much!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guides excellent, most hotels very lovely( would have liked less corporate more ryokan type stays ( I’m thinking about Kyoto and Osaka). Shona is a fantastic, prompt communicator.
We struggled with trains( tickets/QR codes, protocols) which caused unnecessary stress. Some of the activities were overly commercial and crowded but our guides generally were able to adapt and modify the outings.
If I were to plan another trip to Japan I’d spend less time in big cities and more in the countryside.

Hotel Reviews

Osaka Excel Hotel Tokyu

Osaka

The Osaka Excel Hotel Tokyu was clean and had great amenities, but it felt too corporate, making it feel like any other modern hotel you'd find in a city. It lacked the authentic Japanese experience I was hoping for. I would have preferred a hotel with more local charm and character rather than a generic business-like atmosphere.

The Blossom Kyoto

Kyoto

The Blossom Kyoto was very elegant, but it had a very corporate and sleek hotel feel which seemed out of place for an authentic Japanese experience. It felt like staying in a modern high-rise that could be in any major city, rather than a location-specific accommodation. I would have preferred a smaller, more intimate place with a genuine local feel.

Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu

Hakone

Beautiful setting and onsen. Great breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Quiet elegance

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Onyado Nono Asakusa Bettei

Tokyo

Beautiful, fun neighborhood, authentic Japanese environment -great breakfast and onsen

Authenticity & Character

Location

Tiny quiet street but close to all the action

Staff

Attentive staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Japan

The Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai was enjoyable with a delightful guide, but the food didn’t quite live up to our expectations as foodies. In our California understanding, a foodie tour entails gourmet experiences, but this was akin to indulging in fast food, with items that felt more like carnival fare. While the guide was great, we didn’t feel that the tour provided anything beyond what we could find on our own.

Naoshima Island: a World of Art - Day 2

Naoshima

The day trip to the Miho Museum was amazing. The architectural masterpiece by I. M. Pei, combined with the stunning natural surroundings in the mountains, made it a truly incredible experience. As avid museum-goers with a deep appreciation for the arts, we found this particular museum stand out during our trip. It was a beautiful and inspiring visit, although I wish we'd had more time to fully absorb it.

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

The Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya was interesting but felt very commercial and assembly-line like. It was cute and fun, with everyone dressing up in kimonos, but the experience felt contrived, like a huge factory of people just going through the motions. I would have preferred a more authentic, perhaps more intimate or private ceremony, possibly with a home visit. Overall, it wasn't something I would recommend to others.

My husband and I contacted Shona with only a 5 week lead time on an improptu trip to Japan to spend time with our daughters. Shona did an outstanding job of arranging transport and guides who were not only well educated in Japan's history, but were also fun to talk to and spend the day with. Our guides expertly shared their knowledge of cultural icons, food, and helped us navigate lunches at restaurants.
KimKim receives two thumbs up and five stars from me and my family!!!

Our first visit to Japan was absolutely incredible, and a huge part of that was thanks to Shona. She organized every detail of our trip so well, making the entire experience smooth, stress-free, and unforgettable. She was always easy to contact whenever we had questions, and her expertise and knowledge about Japan were clear from the very beginning.

Thanks to her thoughtful planning, we were able to truly enjoy and experience the beauty, culture, and energy of Japan without worrying about logistics.

Thank you, Shona, and the Kim Kim team, for helping create such an amazing trip and memories we’ll always cherish! We will definitely be using Kim Kim on our next adventure.

Hotel Reviews

Cross Hotel Kyoto

Kyoto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort By IHG

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu

Hakone

Authenticity & Character

Location

O

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mitsui Garden Hotel Roppongi Tokyo Premier

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very central. Near many restaurants and stores.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kabira Bay SUP/Canoe + Blue Cave Snorkeling

Ishigaki

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day City Tour with Osaka Castle

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Garden Walking Tour (Join-in)

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half day Bonsai and Garden tour in Kyoto

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

M

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kyoto City Tour with Nijo Castle and Fushimi-Inari Taisha

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From Hakone to Kyoto

Japan

Quality of Experience

M

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi Cruise Tour

Fujikawaguchiko

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tokyo City Tour with Tokyo Tower

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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!

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.