Shona Zhang

This 11-day trip to Japan (Tokyo, Hiroshima, Osaka, Kyoto) was an unbelievable once in a lifetime experience that my mom and I got to enjoy together all thanks to Shona… From the moment we connected Shona was INCREDIBLE!! Right from the planning and customization, to during our travels and right untill the very last moment when we departed Japan, she was always available and ready to assist.
We were able to experience many of the country's beautiful traditions, culture, food and people. Travelling in a small group of only two women, I was pleased with the accommodations selected by Shona. They were always clean, safe, and offered exactly what we needed in each city by being centrally located and well connected. Our activities were tailored to our requests and many of the associated individual guides were very welcoming. Big shout out to Mr Ken (Mt Fuji) and Rio (Miyajima) of Magic Tours who were very knowledgeable and kind and took special care of my mother when we navigated steep climbs etc. The others were also good, however Mr Ken and Rio really were great! The tea ceremony at Kyoto and Sumo show at Osaka were great selections by Shona. For those areas that were self-guided, Shona gave us the information and material we needed.
This is our second trip with KimKim and have been telling our friends about it. Thankyou Shona for your dedication to making our trip a special one.

Hotel Reviews

the b asakusa

Tokyo

Great location. Very close to the Metro station and the buzzing area of Asakusa.

Authenticity & Character

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Proximity to things

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Hotel Intergate Hiroshima

Very close to the tram station and the vibrant streets for food and shopping.

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The Royal Park Canvas Osaka Kitahama

Centrally located and well connected to 2 main train lines. There is tourist tax that has to be paid at the hotel.

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Kadensho, Arashiyama Onsen, Kyoto - Kyoritsu Resort

Very special hotel, really enjoyed the location and in house facilities. Very close to the train station. The restaurant has only a set menu for dinner and breakfast which are to be prebooked so plan meals accordingly. There is a tourist tax to be paid and in cash only. The public and private onsen are a must do when staying here.

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Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

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

Tokyo

This was a great way to walk and experience some of the highlights of Tokyo. The guide was friendly and shared insights about the areas, local food and activities.

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Food

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Miyajima Half-day Trip Historical Walking Tour

Hiroshima

This place was magical. A fair bit of walking with steps and steep incline. Rio was our guide and she was simply wonderful... very plesant, kind and knowledgeable. She adjusted the pace to suit my mothers walking abilities yet made sure we saw everything.

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Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi & Oishi Park

Japan

Very lovely experience. Mr Ken and the driver were great. Mr Ken took special care of my mother when walking the steep hill to the viewpoint and pagoda. There was an approximate 2.5 hours drive either way but our driver was very safe and the ride was comfortable.

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Hiroshima Bar Hopping Food Tour

Hiroshima

The guide took us to some very local stops and by the end of it we were really stuffed with some authentic and very delicious Japanese food.

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Osaka: Sumo Show Experience with Food Box

Osaka

This was an entertaining and fun way of getting to know and experience a bit about the Sumo culture. Very good set up and the bento meal was good. This is a must do in Osaka.

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Osaka-Nara-Uji day trip

Osaka

This was a magical location. A fair bit of walking over uneven terrain and some incline. The guide was very young and seemed a bit inexperienced however we appreciated her trying her best.

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World Heritage Himeji Castle & Kōko-en ,Kobe tour

Osaka

The location was incredible and well worth the visit. Involves walking and a steep step climb if you want to reach the very top. Yet a must do when based in Osaka. The guide was the same from the day before. It was encouraging to see that she had taken some of our suggestions and was much better prepared.

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Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

This is an activity you cannot miss. It was conducted seamlessly and was very enjoyable.

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Half Day Fushimi Inari Taisha to Tofuku-ji Temple Hiking Experience

Kyoto

This was a beautiful walk through a beautiful forested area finally reaching the magnificent Torii gates. There is a fair bit of walking on inclines and steps.

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The trip was everything and more than what we expected. The drivers, guides and management kept us informed the day in advance as to the upcoming pick up times and itinerary. The guides were extremely knowledgeable about the locations and history. The Sumo Experience in Tokyo is a must see, as well as, the Samurai Ninja museum in Kyoto.

Shona very helpful with setting up the itinerary and going through each day prior to departure. We will definitely use her services again. We appreciate all she did for us. Thank You for making the trip a wonderful experience!

Hotel Reviews

Asakusa Tobu Hotel

Tokyo

Very good hotel; cramped for 3 people but has space under the bed for suitcases.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to subway stops

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sotetsu Fresa Inn Kyoto-Shijokarasuma

Kyoto

Great breakfast buffet; not as clean as it could have been; cramped for 3 people

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to subway

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

stains on the floor; if adding a 3rd bed furniture could have been rearranged to make it easier to get around the room.

Hotel Keihan Yodoyabashi

great breakfast buffet; cramped for 3 people in a room but were able to adjust furniture to make it easier to get around in.

Location

close to subway

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

cramped for 3 people but very clean

Activity Reviews

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

Kyoto

Samurai Ninja Museum is awesome and interactive. The Kimono tea ceremony was fun and you get to wear a kimono.

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Authentic Sumo Experience in Tokyo: Enter the Sanctuary

Tokyo

This was an awesome and fun experience. Great information and fun!!!

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

Tokyo

Even if you are not a whisky drinker the experience is a fun one.

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Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Fushimi Inari-Taisha

Kyoto

The guide has great information to share.

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Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Monkey Park Tour

Kyoto

The bamboo forest is a wonderful sight to see.

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One Day Miyajima Island and Hiroshima Tour

Japan

Great guide. Interesting and informative

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Shona planned an amazing trip for my family which included me, my husband and 2 daughters ages 12 and 16. It was the perfect blend of learning about Japanese culture and activities that my daughters would enjoy. We had several activities that we liked a lot. On our 1st day, we had Yuto as a guide for 2 different activities. We did a bike tour all around Osaka during the day and a food tour at night. He made sure we were safe and allowed us to take breaks when we needed to (it was extremely hot that day). In Kyoto, we loved the tea ceremony where we dressed in kimonos and learned about the traditions of hosting a tea service. We also had a wonderful guide named Yasuko who took us to a temple, a shrine, and a boat ride down the Hozugawa River. This was a highight of the trip. Yasuko was very knowledgable and she took great care of us (getting our tickets, guiding us with the public transportation) during these excursions. In Tokyo, we had a lovely time with our tour guide, Yumi, who ventured with us in the rain. She was very patient with us as my daughter who loves anime and Harajuku fashion wanted to shop along a busy area in Tokyo. Again, we had another tour guide who kept us safe while teaching us about Japanese history and culture. Lastly, to celebrate my husband's upcoming 50th birthday, Shona planned a beautiful fine-dining experience on a boat going around Tokyo Bay. The staff made the experience a memorable one!
In terms of accommodations, the hotels were very clean and comfortable. Check-in was easy. We liked that we were able to do some laundry at the hotel during our trip and breakfast was included everyday. The location of the hotels were convenient and close to different restaurants and shops. Lastly, riding the bullet train was a blast. Although going through the train station was hectic with people everywhere (luckily, my husband is knowledgeable with using public transportation in different countries), Shona planned 1st class accommodations along with room for our big luggage which was key when traveling.
Overall, this was a trip of a lifetime. Shona planned the perfect blend of fun stuff for my kids (Universal Studios, sumo wrestling, anime) and historic stuff for me and my husband. It was busy and we were tired, but it was worth it! The communication before and during our trip was great. Everyday, we would get a text with all the information we needed for the day (tickets, which public transportation to use, locations on Google maps). As someone who usually plans our family vacations, using KimKim and having Shona plan everything made me feel at ease with no stress. Thank you to Shona, tour guides, drivers, and KimKim staff who made this trip one of the best we have experienced as a family. We look forward to having another trip with KimKim in the near future!

Working with KimKim, and our local specialist, Shona, was simple and efficient.
Shona worked hard for us. She went above and beyond with helping us before and also during our trip.
We are very grateful for Shona's service, expertise, timeliness, and dedication to ensuring we had a great trip.
Shona had so many great ideas for our family to do each day in different areas around Japan.

All of our daily guides and drivers were also excellent, helpful, and patient. Our group was not always easy for them, but they did a wonderful job despite some challenges that occurred during our daily activities and tours.

A big thank you to everyone who helped make our trip a great success!

Hotel Reviews

Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku

Tokyo

The location was perfect! The staff was extremely kind and helpful. Everything was very clean. The breakfast buffet was amazing!

Authenticity & Character

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Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ryokan Aura Tachibana

Hakone

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cross Hotel Kyoto

Kyoto

This was probably my favorite hotel I've ever stayed at. The design and decor was phenomenal. Everything was very clean. The breakfast buffet was amazing! The location was perfect.

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Candeo Hotels Osaka Shinsaibashi

Osaka

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bathroom sink area was rather small it was very dimly lit.

Activity Reviews

Full Day Yokohama Tour with Cup Noodles Museum

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

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Full Day Osaka Castle and Shinsaibashi Tour

Osaka

We loved learning about the history of the Osaka castle.

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Full Day Meiji Shrine,the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace Akihabara,and Harajuku Tour

Tokyo

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Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi with Oishi Park

Tokyo

The boat ride to see mount Fuji was disappointing because the mountain was behind clouds. This is not the fault of our guide. We also got caught in a thunderstorm downpour that day, which added some spice to our day. We were not able to complete the full experience our guide had planned for us because of the rain.

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Half Day Sagano Bamboo Grove and Tenryuji Temple Tour

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

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Full Day Nara City Tour, Overnight in Osaka

Kyoto

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From Hakone to Kyoto

Japan

We had good experiences riding the bullet trains.

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

We loved learning about the traditional tea ceremony and dressing up in the traditional clothing and taking photos together.

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Fushimi Inari Taisha and Kinkakuji Temple

Kyoto

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One Day Miyajima Island and Hiroshima Tour

Japan

Miyajima island and the shrines on the water were so beautiful! Our guide had some extra challenges with our group that day, and she did an amazing job with dealing with the circumstances to ensure we could finish seeing all the things and the museum in Hiroshima.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Great planning and preparation by Shona. We did hit a snag, but kimkim jumped on it and resolved. I highly recommend using them over others. The trip cost was a fraction of what others charge after getting proposals from several others for same activities.

Hotel Reviews

Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza gochome

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

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Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Vischio Kyoto by GRANVIA

Kyoto

Authenticity & Character

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Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Candeo Hotels Osaka Shinsaibashi

Osaka

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The breakfast offered was awful compared to other hotels on our trip

Activity Reviews

Kyoto Night Foodie Tour

Kyoto

Food was awful! I cant believe I paid for a tour that involved food and it was awful in Japan. Only place we ate that was bad during 11 days.

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Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Tokyo: Sumo Show Experience with Chicken Hot Pot and a Photo

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Ho Pot was not good.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Ramen Cooking Class Experience

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

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Learn the Secrets Behind Sushi in a Cooking Class

Osaka

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Kyoto Historical Highlights Bike Tour with UNESCO Zen Temples

Kyoto

Great Guide.

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We had a wonderful 2 weeks in Japan. Shona was excellent! We could call her at any time and she was always very helpful. Local guides and drivers were all very helpful and considerate as well.

This experience was phenomenal! From the bus from the airport and back on the day of our departure. Yumi & Yoshiko were fantastic tour guides. All of our excursions provided us with amazing memories. Our two sons enjoying exploring Tokyo and Kyoto. My wife and I are already planning to return. Thank you (ありがとうございます) for this experience KimKim team.

Hotel Reviews

Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu

Tokyo

This hotel was perfectly located in Tokyo. Access to literally everything that you would want to experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The Shibuya Scramble was right outside the door. Exceptional location!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kyoto Tokyu Hotel

Kyoto

Great location! Very close to Amida-do temple. Not a far walk to shops.

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Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ryokan Aura Tachibana

Hakone

Authentic Japanese experience. My wife enjoyed the onsen.

Authenticity & Character

Very authentic. The food was very traditional. No ramen, etc dishes so make your konbini run while you’re there if the food isn’t to your liking.

Location

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Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Samurai Sword Experience for Families

Kyoto

Our guide Yoshiko was great! Very helpful. We enjoyed the tour.

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

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From Hakone to Kyoto

Japan

The Shinkansen was awesome! Tried bento for the first time and enjoyed a self-heating one.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The arrival and departure time was precise! Very impressive.

Full Day Tour of Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Sagano Scenic Railway

Kyoto

The bamboo forest was a bit crowded., but Yoshiko helped us take good pictures. She also provided good background history of the areas we visited.

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Tokyo Highlights Day Tour - East & West

Tokyo

Our tour Yumi made this excursion amazing! Our whole family enjoyed this experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yumi and our driver were great. The driver came out of the vehicle to greet us as we approached the vehicle after every stop.

Transport

Very timely!

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi with Oishi Park

Tokyo

Even though the weather was cloudy, we were able to see Mt. Fuji peeking through the clouds. Great fun on this day! We were actually sad to leave Yumi.

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