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Odynovo Tours Co., Ltd

We are a tour operator with a dedicated team of local specialists in Japan, South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, and China who are enthusiastic about delivering exceptional service. Using our solid local connections and extensive knowledge of the destinations, we will help you create your dream vacation. Every year, thousands of discerning travelers work with us to customize their trips. Over 90% of them rate their experience as excellent. It's easy to see why: they get the experience created based on their interests and needs, travel without hassle as every detail is well taken care of, and return with memories that will last for a lifetime.

Odynovo Tours Co., Ltd is part of the following groups: Japan Travel Agents, Cambodia Travel Agents, China Travel Agents

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Recent Trip Reviews for Odynovo Tours Co., Ltd

First trip to Japan
Japan | Nov 17 - Nov 27, 2023

M
Mahendri R.
Honolulu, HI | Reviewed on Nov 29, 2023
Planning and booking our trip was really easy with Fei, who was very efficient and quickly responsive. We visited Tokyo, Hakone, and Kyoto, and some of their respective surrounding areas.
Our local guides and our private transportation were excellent. We especially enjoyed Ryoji in Tokyo and Yoshiko in Kyoto. It’s hard to pick favorite sights but the magnificent Fujisan must be mentioned as we had a clear sky when we visited and she was visible in all her glory.
The shrines and palaces...
Read more

Planning and booking our trip was really easy with Fei, who was very efficient and quickly responsive. We visited Tokyo, Hakone, and Kyoto, and some of their respective surrounding areas.
Our local guides and our private transportation were excellent. We especially enjoyed Ryoji in Tokyo and Yoshiko in Kyoto. It’s hard to pick favorite sights but the magnificent Fujisan must be mentioned as we had a clear sky when we visited and she was visible in all her glory.
The shrines and palaces looked spectacular against the Fall foliage.. We were fortunate to have great weather.
Hotels were great, especially Shibuya Excel which was in an awesome location for Tokyo exploration.
Of course nothing can be perfect, but when hitches or problems came up in our itinerary, Fei and her team quickly worked with us to try and make the trip as smooth as possible.
We loved the food, people, and traditions. A lovely first trip to Japan and hope to go again some time.

Local specialist: Fei He
Fei
Fei He
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Nov 29, 2023

Hi Mahendri,

Hope you a fantastic day.

Thank you for sharing your amazing experience in Japan with us. We had a wonderful time working and planning with you. We really appreciate your patience and understanding throughout the trip.
We are so delightful to know that you have got the most glorious view for Mt. Fuji. It becomes more colorful during October and November in Japan. It’s one of the best time to travel to Japan. Good luck!

Hope you will come back to Japan soon.

warmest regards,
Fei

wonderful service from Angel at KimKim
Japan | Nov 6 - Nov 20, 2023

R
Robin h.
Bozeman, MT | Reviewed on Nov 27, 2023
We were a party of 4 and had KimKim (Angel was the person helping us) arrange for a trip that included visits to Kanazawa, Osaka, Kyoto, with most of our visit walking the Kumado Kodo for 6 days. Angel was wonderful in providing a wonderful assortment of places to stay during our walk, with detailed instructions for the various busses and trains that we took during our visit. She also checked in each day, and was very responsive to various questions as they emerged--which not only helped... Read more

We were a party of 4 and had KimKim (Angel was the person helping us) arrange for a trip that included visits to Kanazawa, Osaka, Kyoto, with most of our visit walking the Kumado Kodo for 6 days. Angel was wonderful in providing a wonderful assortment of places to stay during our walk, with detailed instructions for the various busses and trains that we took during our visit. She also checked in each day, and was very responsive to various questions as they emerged--which not only helped with logistics, but greatly reduced our concerns. In preparation, we were able to look at various options, and thus make the trip better suited to our interests. As our first trip to Japan, we didn't know what to expect, and were really happy with the wide variety of places we stayed, and with the selective guide service (e.g. for a visit to Arashima bamboo garden). This trip was great at introducing us to ryokan, minshuku and onsen experiences, and we also stayed at more urban hotels and one totally wonderful boutique hotel in Kanazawa. We had great service and of course fantastic food throughout the trip, and really credit Angel for this as she worked with us and found overall such great places to visit and stay. We will definitely return to Japan, and look forward to working with Angel again to help with exploring new places.

Hotel Reviews
Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kyoto ekimae PREMIER
Kyoto

More a business hotel, which is understandable in Kyoto. Very nice staff, great buffet breakfast, good location next to train station. We walked to several of the main Kyoto attractions.

Authenticity & Character
Fine for a business hotel, though we usually prefer smaller more intimate hotels. This one was very convenient and clean and comfortable
Location
5 min. walk to Kyoto train station. Walked to major temples, Nichi market and Gion area. Great food in area (and in train station!)
Staff
Very helpful for logistics, directions etc.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean and comfortable, great breakfast buffet
Hotel Urashima
Katsuura

We didn't know what to expect of this resort hotel, and stayed 2 nights here after our Kumano Kodo walk. The cave onsens were truly wonderful, and when we used them, the were not crowded at all. You sit in delightful hot water overlooking the coast--and I even saw fish jumping amidst the surf. The buffet style dinner and breakfast was great, and the place has its own 'Lawsons' (convenience store) with wonderful snacks and lunch food. Our rooms were great with balconies overlooking the bay, and largish rooms that were great. We decided to stay at the hotel (after an early look at the tuna auction) and lounge around in our Japanese coats provided by the hotel. It was a perfect way to end our walk.

Authenticity & Character
We didn't fully understand this resort hotel, which wasn't that busy--though we might have been there off-season (November). We explored the upper hotel section, which had few people, but a lovely walk out along the peninsula with great views. On the lower level, one part of the the hotel appeared to be unused--perhaps slated for renovation. The cave onsens were delightful, and we visited them many times during our stay.
Location
Easy bus ride from the end of the Kumano Kodo trail, a delightful seaside town, and lovely hotel overlooking the town, on a peninsula.
Staff
A large hotel, but front desk staff very helpful and welcoming.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Our rooms were large, comfortable, clean, and a perfect way to relax after our walk.
Sansaro Cafe & Guesthouse
Koguchi

At Sansaro, we had limited interaction with our host, and sadly, the community onsen was closed for that day. We had walked a moderate day, but then rather than wait for a bus (few scheduled) we walked the additional 3 miles so arrived tired. The guest house has a nice central area and a series of small rooms which were small but comfortable. Dinner was modest, and we got very nice lunch bento boxes.

Authenticity & Character
It was nice to stay in this family home and get a feeling for rural life in Japan.
Location
If walking the Kumano Kodo trail, this place is away from the trail, so requires a bus to and from the trail. Since there are few buses, this is awkward. We opted to walk to get there. The bus back to the trail the next day was fine and right across from the hotel.
Staff
Our host was very busy so our interaction was limited, but we enjoyed our visit. She even passed along a beautiful Japanese 'coat' that a friend had given our host to pass along--a very nice gift.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Our room was quite small, and once the futon was down, there wasn't much room for luggage or even sitting. But, there was a common area to use and that was sufficient. The room was comfortable and quiet.
Ryokan Yunominesou 湯の峯荘
Yunomine Onsen

After a long walking day, we arrived for our first ryokan experience, and it was wonderful. The staff were so welcoming, the onsen lovely, and the dinner very special. We would have been delighted to stay longer at this ryokan.

Authenticity & Character
There are several onsens in this area, and this one was very nice with a lovely outside bath. The rooms were great (quite large, with a great balcony) and our dinner was amazing--many courses and directions for sequence for eating each course.
Location
On the trail, so an easy stay on the Kumano Kodo trail. We had a bus section the next day and the hotel took us a short distance so we would be assured a seat on the bus!
Staff
Very welcoming and helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean and comfortable
Hitotoki
Chikatsuyu

Hideo san and his wife were wonderful hosts, and the meal she prepared was unbelievable--complete with special saki and plum brandy! It was very special to get to know this family just a bit for our one night stay while walking the Kumono Kodo trail. Our hosts were so kind and gracious--we only wished our Japanese was better so we could have learned more about them. Hideo san does this as his 'hobby' (though he admits his wife shoulders much of the burden). We really enjoyed meeting the family and our stay. We were worried about our next day (a long one, where we needed to catch an early bus)--but we were treated to a delightful early breakfast, and a ride to the bus stop which made our day much easier. We are so grateful to Hideo san and his wife for their hospitality.

Authenticity & Character
It was really nice to stay with a family and get a feeling for Japanese life. Our hosts went way overboard with our dinner--one of our most amazing dinners in Japan.
Location
For walkers, the place is a bit off the trail, which is awkward as the next day is long, and really requires a bus ride to make it more reasonable--but the family helped by driving us to the bus stop so it all worked out well.
Staff
Hideo san was wonderful, and with our paltry Japanese we were able to chat about many things. Such a lovely visit.
Cleanliness & Comfort
We were a party of 4 and each had a room that was clean and comfy. We shared the bath with the family and were very comfortable for the visit.
GUEST HOUSE Kumano Yasai
Takahara

We had walked a long day to get here, and initially couldn't find it. A neighbor pointed the way, but still, there was no one there. The outside is unassuming, but...we slid open the door and the interior is absolutely beautiful. It has a large living/sleeping room with futons all ready; a smaller area for eating, a small kitchen and a lovely bath. Shino (who did all this lovely work) brought a delicious dinner, breakfast, and provided a bento box lunch for us for our trail walk the next day. We reconnected with her at her cafe after a few hours walk and had a great coffee. Her place was so welcoming it made you want to stay longer--and think carefully about how to incorporate her lovely design in one's own house!

Authenticity & Character
The building is (I believe) 140 years old, with a beautiful renovation preserving the original glass windows, and classic Japanese style house. We loved the character of the house, which was so comfortable and well crafted.
Location
Just off the Kumono Kodo trail, and took a few minutes to find. We didn't have the time (or energy) to explore the village, but Shino's place was quiet and delightful.
Staff
We hope Shino will come visit us in Montana! (We are worried she works too hard--given the fantastic food she prepared for us)
Cleanliness & Comfort
Such attention to detail, so comfortable--just a space to relax and enjoy. One of our favorite places.
Hotel Kanazawa Zoushi
Kanazawa

This was perhaps the best hotel we stayed in for a variety of reasons. First, it was lovely--beautiful woodwork, lovely rooms and a pleasant small hotel atmosphere. The staff were absolutely wonderful--and treated us like family. We could have stayed many more days and been delighted. We walked to the temple being renovated, and would have loved to have seen more of the old part of Kanazawa, but didn't have time. We had the hotel's udon noodles which were wonderful, as was the breakfast. It was easy to move about town from the hotel, and easy to get to from the amazing Kanazawa train station (we walked). We would highly recommend this hotel!

Authenticity & Character
One of the most beautiful small hotels I've seen with beautiful woodwork, and wonderful ambiance.
Location
Easy walk from the train station, which itself is amazing. We walked around town easily.
Staff
So helpful and welcoming, wonderful food, and even a small gift at the end of our 2 day stay--which we would have loved to be longer.
Cleanliness & Comfort
The rooms are immaculate and very comfortable and quiet. We loved the attention to detail.
Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu
Tokyo

The hotel was very good, with good food and very clean room. It is more like a business hotel, which is logical in Tokyo, and it was conveniently located. We enjoyed our stay.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Full Day Tour of Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Sagano Scenic Railway
Full Day Tour of Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Sagano Scenic Railway
Kyoto

We had walked the Kumano Kodo trail, so the forest wasn't spectacular--and fall colors were late. But we had a wonderful guide for this day and we learned alot about the place, but also about Japan and current life there.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide Yoshi was wonderful--felt like a friend immediately, and one you could ask any questions of--and we did. Our time with her was just delightful
Transport
Yoshi met us at the hotel, ushered us through the train station (with pre purchased cards) guided us around Arashima and the temple, and back to the hotel--all so easy and relaxing!
The Kurobe Gorge Railway
The Kurobe Gorge Railway
Toyama

Quite unique to ride this old railway. The gorge is very steep but wooded, so interesting. We walked a few miles up the trail at the end. Cold on the way down (November)

Quality of Experience
Everyone was so nice--
Guides, Drivers and Staff
We drove up from Kanazawa and our driver was quiet but very friendly and helpful.
Transport
Easy for us, on time, convenient
Local specialist: Angel Tang
Angel
Angel Tang
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Nov 29, 2023
Hi Robin, Hope you have a fantastic day. Thank you so much for your wonderful words and thoughtful feedback! Working with you to plan and organize your vacation was truly a pleasure. It's always rewarding to help create memorable experiences for travelers like yourself. Thank you for sharing colorful experience of your trip to us and I could feel you really enjoy your trip. We are so grateful to know this. Wishing you and your family many more incredible adventures ahead! Welcome back to... Read more

Hi Robin,

Hope you have a fantastic day.

Thank you so much for your wonderful words and thoughtful feedback! Working with you to plan and organize your vacation was truly a pleasure. It's always rewarding to help create memorable experiences for travelers like yourself. Thank you for sharing colorful experience of your trip to us and I could feel you really enjoy your trip. We are so grateful to know this.

Wishing you and your family many more incredible adventures ahead! Welcome back to Japan again and we look forward to the opportunity to assist you in the future.

Warmest regards,
Angel

Everything went so smoothly. We don’t speak...
South Korea | Nov 22 - Nov 24, 2023

N
Nicholas Y.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Nov 25, 2023
Everything went so smoothly. We don’t speak any Korean but all of the guides and drivers were so helpful and made our trip so easy and low stress. We had a wonderful time. Read more

Everything went so smoothly. We don’t speak any Korean but all of the guides and drivers were so helpful and made our trip so easy and low stress. We had a wonderful time.

Hotel Review
Grand Josun Hotel in Haewundae
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Full Day Bulguksa temple  and National Museum Tour
Full Day Bulguksa temple and National Museum Tour
Gyeongju

Our guides sang and James made all the difference. Great people overall and spent so much time making sure we were comfortable and having a good time.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Fantastic! Couldn’t ask them to do any better.
Transport
Very comfy new van.
Visit Haedong Yonggungsa and Haeundae Beach
Visit Haedong Yonggungsa and Haeundae Beach
Busan

Beautiful temple. Well worth the visit.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Sang and James were fantastic. Great tips so we didn’t have to wait too long for anything. Also picked us up and dropped us off at the most convenient locations for parking etc.
Transport
Half Day Gamcheon Village and Jagalchi Market
Half Day Gamcheon Village and Jagalchi Market
Busan
Quality of Experience
Fun time checking out this unique village.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Sang and James did a great job explaining everything to us about the history and how this place came about
Transport
Great van.
Local specialist: Jessica Wang
Jessica
Jessica Wang
Local specialist in South Korea | Replied on Nov 27, 2023

Hi Nicholas,

Hope you have a great day.

Thank you for sharing your amazing experience in South Korea with us. It brings us great joy to know that you enjoyed your time, especially delighted to hear that you have fantastic time with Sang and James. It’s our great honor to have played a part in making your vacation enjoyable.

Welcome you and your family back to South Korea again in the future.

All the best,
Jessica

My birthday trip to Japan!
Japan | Nov 6 - Nov 20, 2023

Terri
Terri W.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Nov 24, 2023
Angel did a fantastic job! Our trip had just the right amount of discovery on our own while having day to day details taken care of. We were able to successfully negotiate trains, buses, subways and even a ferry. We stayed at wonderful guest houses and onsens along the Kumano Kodo Trail. Our hosts were gracious and the food was terrific. The driver and guide were delightful and interesting people. Angel checked in with us daily which was nice to remind us of travel details for that day.... Read more

Angel did a fantastic job! Our trip had just the right amount of discovery on our own while having day to day details taken care of. We were able to successfully negotiate trains, buses, subways and even a ferry. We stayed at wonderful guest houses and onsens along the Kumano Kodo Trail. Our hosts were gracious and the food was terrific. The driver and guide were delightful and interesting people. Angel checked in with us daily which was nice to remind us of travel details for that day. I would definitely choose kimkim again for a self guided travel experience. And if anyone is considering Japan, I would highly recommend Angel.

Hotel Reviews
Ryokan Yunominesou 湯の峯荘
Yunomine Onsen

Really enjoyed this ryokan with it's outdoor baths and delicious food.

Authenticity & Character
classic tatami rooms
Location
Staff
Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu
Tokyo

I was worried the hotel was to big and impersonal but it turned out to be nicely located for Shibuya, catching trains and walking to the Palace. The views of Tokyo were also amazing.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Kanazawa Zoushi
Kanazawa

We loved this hotel!!! The staff were friendly and welcoming. The rooms were aesthetically beautiful. They had free drinks and made us udon noodles at night.

Authenticity & Character
Aesthetically beautiful
Location
Staff
very welcoming
Cleanliness & Comfort
Osaka Excel Hotel Tokyu
Osaka

We spent only one night. The staff seemed a little harried but was able to answer our questiosns.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
GUEST HOUSE Kumano Yasai
Takahara

What a find! Definitely worth the extra walk down from the trail to experience this delightful guesthouse.

Authenticity & Character
This is an 180 year old Japanese house that was redone beautifully in the inside with the original beams and glass. We had the whole place to ourselves
Location
Staff
Shino did the cooking for our dinner and breakfast. She runs a coffee shop and restaurant. Everything was delicious and the coffee was excellent.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hitotoki
Chikatsuyu

What makes this place exceptional is the two 75 year old hosts who coddled us with home cooking and amusing conversation.

Authenticity & Character
Typical Japanese home.
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
A little cramped with bathroom space but all doable
Sansaro Cafe & Guesthouse
Koguchi

We were grateful this guesthouse was available. However, the owner wasn't aware that the onsen wasn't open so had to clean her own bathroom before we could get showers.

Authenticity & Character
Location
We would have chosen a place closer to the trail but again we were grateful for someplace to stay.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Urashima
Katsuura

What a quirky resort. The absulte BEST onsen with the hot springs in caves overlooking the ocean. It was a great place to relax after five days of treking.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kyoto ekimae PREMIER
Kyoto

Small rooms. If I were staying longer in Kyoto I would have chosen another place. However very close to the train station.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
The Kurobe Gorge Railway
The Kurobe Gorge Railway
Toyama

Delightful trip. Lovely hike. Beautiful gorge.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our driver turned out to be a music conductor. We had lots to talk about.
Transport
Full Day Tour of Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Sagano Scenic Railway
Full Day Tour of Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Sagano Scenic Railway
Kyoto

Yoshi planned a beautiful day experiencing Arashiyama.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Yoshi was a great guide who answered all our questions the area and life as a Japanese woman.
Transport
Yoshi had everything planned so it all happened with little waiting.
Local specialist: Angel Tang
Angel
Angel Tang
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Nov 27, 2023
Hi Terri,
Hope you have a great day.
Thank you so much for sharing your enjoyable and memorable experience and thoughtful,detailed and overall feedback. We are so grateful for it, which will bring us to understand more about the travelers’ idea and impression on the culture and nature in Japan. You are so kind and considerate, I have learned a lot from you. Thank you for choosing our services, and we are grateful to have played a part in making your vacation enjoyable. It’s so delightful... Read more

Hi Terri,
Hope you have a great day.

Thank you so much for sharing your enjoyable and memorable experience and thoughtful,detailed and overall feedback. We are so grateful for it, which will bring us to understand more about the travelers’ idea and impression on the culture and nature in Japan.

You are so kind and considerate, I have learned a lot from you. Thank you for choosing our services, and we are grateful to have played a part in making your vacation enjoyable. It’s so delightful to know that you enjoyed the local guest house along the Kumano Kodo Trail even though some of them didn’t meet your expectation. The availability of the local lodging along the Kumano Kodo Trail is limited and thanks a lot for your understanding. There are multiple and colorful Asian culture and natural beauty in Japan. Welcome you and your family back again in the future.

Take care and keep traveling!

Wish you and your family happy life now and future.

Yours sincere,
Angel

First time booking via Kimkim... and we went to Thailand!
Thailand | Nov 4 - Nov 12, 2023

Z
Zaneb S.
West Sacramento, CA | Reviewed on Nov 18, 2023
Kelly was an amazing trip specialist, she was very easy to work with and easy to communicate with. She was patient with us and helped us choose the right itinerary for us prior to booking. Once we booked the trip, she even made sure that our accomodations, meal preferences and transportation were all set up. We did a 8 night stay in Thailand. We visited Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket. Once we were on the trip, she was easy to communicate with and she was flexible and helped change our... Read more

Kelly was an amazing trip specialist, she was very easy to work with and easy to communicate with. She was patient with us and helped us choose the right itinerary for us prior to booking. Once we booked the trip, she even made sure that our accomodations, meal preferences and transportation were all set up. We did a 8 night stay in Thailand. We visited Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket. Once we were on the trip, she was easy to communicate with and she was flexible and helped change our itinerary as needed. Our local guide in Bangkok was Amy. She was phenomenal. Amy is by far the best tour guide we have ever had. She was so friendly, knowledgeable and very flexible. We traveled with our two children. Amy was immensely considerate of our children and built the day around the kids schedules and made sure the kids were doing well while on the day tours. She was so kind that she even volunteered to come into our apartment and help put our daughter to sleep for a nap. Nanzy was our tour guide in Chiang Mai, she was also incredibly helpful and fun. She took us to all the right places in Chiang Mai and also found some amazingly tasty local eateries that she picked out just for us. Fai Fhai was our guide in Phuket. She was really helpful and punctual and she really helped us make sure we made it onto our flights back home. She stayed at the airport until we crossed through security and passport control to make sure everything was ok and that we would be boarding our flight back home just fine. Overall we were satisfied with KimKim and will definitely book our next international vacation through them.

Local specialist: Kelly Lu
Kelly
Kelly Lu
Local specialist in Bangkok | Replied on Nov 24, 2023

Hi Zaneb,
Thank you for the positive feedback! It brings us great joy to know that you enjoyed your time, and we are especially delighted to hear that the you and your family have enjoyable time with our guides. Thank you for choosing our services. We hope that your experience in Thailand has left you with wonderful memories to cherish. We would be more than happy to assist you with your travel plans again in the future. There is always more to explore and discover in this beautiful country.

Wishing you and your children many more incredible adventures ahead!

Yours sincere,
Kelly

McDonald Thailand Trip
Thailand | Nov 5 - Nov 11, 2023

V
Vincent M.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Nov 18, 2023
I worked with Kelly for about a month as we collaboratively designed our trip to Thailand. I found her very respectful, flexible, responsive, and helpful. Kelly was always happy to make changes as we honed our trip. She also caught a few oversights/mistakes in our planning. Prior to departure, I felt as though Kelly prepared us well for our trip. Once we started our trip all aspects were of high quality and very satisfactory. For example, all our hotel accommodations were up to... Read more

I worked with Kelly for about a month as we collaboratively designed our trip to Thailand. I found her very respectful, flexible, responsive, and helpful. Kelly was always happy to make changes as we honed our trip. She also caught a few oversights/mistakes in our planning. Prior to departure, I felt as though Kelly prepared us well for our trip.

Once we started our trip all aspects were of high quality and very satisfactory. For example, all our hotel accommodations were up to our standards, 4-star +. Each activity was run well. We especially liked all the private events that we planned. Every guide and event occurred as planned and on time -- so smooth, no real hiccups on a complex trip -- very impressive.

Tammy was the first guide we interacted with. She met us in Bangkok right on time and was a wealth of knowledge. She brought us all around Bangkok, viewing many palaces and temples. She also brought us around food tasting. Every step of the way she was extremely responsive and helpful. She helped us get to the airport and send us on our way to Kaoh Sok.

Once we landed in Surat Thani our next guide, Mr. Por was waiting for us. We boarded the van and headed to Kaoh Sok National Park. We boarded our private longtail with James at the helm. We all headed for hotel over the water. Por was a great guide for the 2 day one night trip on the lake. He was very motivated to help us have the best experience. In particular he worked hard to expose us to monkeys of the forest, a family of elephants along the lake's edge and numerous birds, spiders, lizards, etc. His enthusiasm was infectious. He and James were just so much appreciated.

We departed and headed to Phuket where we checked into our Sunwing Bangtao hotel which was stunning. Our excursions to Phi Phi for snorkeling was amazing. The 1/2 day at the elephant sanctuary was just so enjoyable and fun.

Then, sadly we were met at our hotel by ?Niki? and she ensured that we were all set to travel back to Bangkok.

I cannot say enough about how well this trip was run. All aspects were delivered at or above expectations. All drivers and guides showed up on time and were excellent.

I would not hesitate to go with KimKim again; knocked it out of the park!!!

Hotel Reviews
Maitria Hotel Sukhumvit 18
Bankok

Solid hotel for city. We didn't spend much time in Bangkok

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Panvaree Resort

Stunning place, you will not be disappointed -- just book this!!

Authenticity & Character
Location
nestled among cliffs with incredible views
Staff
Very sweet, helpful, etc.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Sunwing Bangtao Beach
Phuket

It is a "family hotel" and there is a slant towards young ones and teens, but that was not really a negative for us. Hotel rooms, very very nice. Location exceptional. Pools amazing. Breakfast was really great, but lunch and dinner, not that great.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The grounds were kept perfect
Activity Reviews
Private Night Food tour with TukTuk with car and guide pick-up at hotel
Private Night Food tour with TukTuk with car and guide pick-up at hotel
Bangkok

Lots of fun. Tammy provided lots of history. Toured palaces and temples. Great overall night.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
 Khao Sok Cheow Lan Lake tour (private-day1)
Khao Sok Cheow Lan Lake tour (private-day1)
Khao Sok

Mr. Por was an excellent guide. This place is stunning A must do if you are into nature and beauty.

Quality of Experience
Guide was good at getting us close to nature, i.e. elephants, several types of monkeys, birds, etc.
Food
Food was provided, no decisions. Plenty of food and nice variety.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Mr. Por was the best.
Transport
nice quality van. Good longtail
 Half day tour with Elephant Jungle Sanctuary(join-in)
Half day tour with Elephant Jungle Sanctuary(join-in)
Phuket

This was done so well and a blast. Definitely book this one!!!!

Quality of Experience
Nice program with meaningful activities
Guides, Drivers and Staff
genuine people
Transport
nice van and not too crowded.
 Tour in Khao Sok National Park(Day  2)
Tour in Khao Sok National Park(Day 2)
Khao Sok

Second day as good as the first.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Phi Phi Island & Khai Island by Speed Boat Tour(Join-in)
Full Day Phi Phi Island & Khai Island by Speed Boat Tour(Join-in)
Phuket

Had a great time, but just too crowded and chaotic.

Quality of Experience
less crowded in all respects
Food
buffet lunch was quite good
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Kwa was great.
Transport
boat over crowded
Local specialist: Kelly Lu
Kelly
Kelly Lu
Local specialist in Bangkok | Replied on Nov 24, 2023

Hi Vincent,
Thank you so much for sharing your memorable experience and thoughtful feedback. I am so glad to play a part in in making your Thailand vacation enjoyable. Tammy and Por love their job and are very happy to meet the travelers from different places and share the natural beauty and the local specialties with them. They are so delighted to know that you have enjoyable time with them.
Thailand is famous for the colorful local food, water activities and lovely animals. Hope you will come back to Thailand again soon.

My warmest regards and best wishes,
Kelly

Great trip planning and support
Japan | Oct 30 - Nov 11, 2023

A
Ajay M.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Nov 12, 2023
We are really pleased with our experience using Kim Kim for our trip to Japan. The service was quick and really helpful in making for a memorable trip.
Fei was prompt and professional, even helping us with further recommendations whilst we were out on the trip at short notice.
Would not hesitate to recommend the service to friends and family! And we would use again!
Read more

We are really pleased with our experience using Kim Kim for our trip to Japan. The service was quick and really helpful in making for a memorable trip.
Fei was prompt and professional, even helping us with further recommendations whilst we were out on the trip at short notice.
Would not hesitate to recommend the service to friends and family! And we would use again!

Hotel Reviews
THE KNOT TOKYO Shinjuku
Tokyo
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Sotetsu Fresa Inn Kyoto-Shijokarasuma
Kyoto
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hakone Miyanoshita Myojokan
Hakone
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Shin-Osaka Esaka Tokyu REI Hotel
Osaka
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Full Day Tokyo City Tour with Senso-ji Temple
Full Day Tokyo City Tour with Senso-ji Temple
Tokyo

Tour and guide, Yakuri were really excellent.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo forest & Garden Walk Tour( join in )
Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo forest & Garden Walk Tour( join in )
Kyoto
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Half day Osaka city tour
Half day Osaka city tour
Osaka
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day Samurai Ninja Museum and Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya
Half Day Samurai Ninja Museum and Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya
Kyoto
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Full Day Nara City Tour, Overnight in Osaka
Full Day Nara City Tour, Overnight in Osaka
Kyoto
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Half  Day My CUPNOODLES Factory
Half Day My CUPNOODLES Factory
Osaka
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Osaka Cooking Class
Osaka Cooking Class
Osaka
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Fei He
Fei
Fei He
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Nov 13, 2023

Hi Ajay,

Greetings from Fei.

Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback about your enjoyable experience in Japan. Thank you for choosing our services, and we are grateful to have played a part in making your vacation memorable. It is very attractive to travel to Japan because of its rich oriental culture and natural beauty. We would be more than happy to assist you with your travel plans once again.

Wish you and your family happy life all the time.

Warmest regards from Japan,
Fei

The guides were all excellent We have used k...
Japan | Oct 24 - Nov 7, 2023

Andrew
Andrew R.
Bozeman, MT | Reviewed on Nov 08, 2023
The guides were all excellent
We have used kim kim before and would in the future recommend to people who have wishes for a personal trip .
We booked a significant portion ourselves but had the recommendations and input from Angela our kim kim appointed guide.
When we did use the guides they were fantastic helping us navigate the complexity of a foreign culture and language with knowledge and great guidance.
Would recommend to travelers to Japan much online shopping for hotels, ...
Read more

The guides were all excellent
We have used kim kim before and would in the future recommend to people who have wishes for a personal trip .
We booked a significant portion ourselves but had the recommendations and input from Angela our kim kim appointed guide.
When we did use the guides they were fantastic helping us navigate the complexity of a foreign culture and language with knowledge and great guidance.
Would recommend to travelers to Japan much online shopping for hotels, reservations and definitely buying the JR pass. It’s even possible to do it all on your own but expect the challenges of navigating the Japanese language and culture. Google translate and maps are indispensable!

Local specialist: Angel Tang
Angel
Angel Tang
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Nov 13, 2023

Hi Andrew,
Hope you are doing fantastic.
Thank you very much for sharing your amazing experience in Japan with us. We are so delighted to know that you have enjoyable memory with our guides and are impressed with their knowledge and great guidance. You are so considerate and well-prepared.I had a wonderful time working and planning with you and learned a lot from you. We would be more than happy to assist you with your travel plans once again.

Welcome you and your family back to Japan again.

Best wishes,
Angel

Trip of a lifetime
Japan | Oct 3 - Oct 29, 2023

Faisal
Faisal B.
Syracuse, NY | Reviewed on Nov 06, 2023
Where to begin? Angel was fantastic. We worked together for two months planning the trip of a lifetime and succeeded. I am so grateful to Angel for her keen insights into things we can do, her responsiveness throughout the whole trip when we needed help figuring out changes in plans and just the overall confidence and calm we gained by having so much taken care of beforehand. We never had to worry about transportation. We initially weren’t going to do tours but I’m so glad that we decided... Read more

Where to begin? Angel was fantastic. We worked together for two months planning the trip of a lifetime and succeeded. I am so grateful to Angel for her keen insights into things we can do, her responsiveness throughout the whole trip when we needed help figuring out changes in plans and just the overall confidence and calm we gained by having so much taken care of beforehand. We never had to worry about transportation. We initially weren’t going to do tours but I’m so glad that we decided to take up the offer to sprinkle a few in throughout the trip; it was super informational and added a lot more context to our experiences. We will definitely be reaching out again for future trips. Thank you so much!

Hotel Review
莲华定院 (Ren'gejo-in Temple (Pilgrim's Lodging))
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Angel Tang
Angel
Angel Tang
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Nov 07, 2023

Hi Faisal,

Hope you are doing fantastic.

It’s my great honor and pleasure to Work with you to plan and organize your vacation to Japan. Thank you very much for your trust and positive feedback. You are so kind and I have learned a lot during the conversation with you.

Look forward to the opportunity to assist you again in the future.

Warmest regards,
Angel

12- day trip to Japan
Japan | Oct 22 - Nov 2, 2023

V
Vladimir B.
San Francisco, CA | Reviewed on Nov 04, 2023
Planning and Booking are ok. Our expectations and what we got are very close. After the trip we understood that something could be changed, but not much, that is very personal, hard to predict, especially for first-time visitors.
Communication with Sandy was excellent. The Tokyo guide - Yumi, and Kyoto guide - Noriko, are very knowledgeable and provided lots of detailed information. Additional thanks to Noriko for helping with booking tickets back to Tokyo.
The last trip to Kobe and Himeji...
Read more

Planning and Booking are ok. Our expectations and what we got are very close. After the trip we understood that something could be changed, but not much, that is very personal, hard to predict, especially for first-time visitors.
Communication with Sandy was excellent. The Tokyo guide - Yumi, and Kyoto guide - Noriko, are very knowledgeable and provided lots of detailed information. Additional thanks to Noriko for helping with booking tickets back to Tokyo.
The last trip to Kobe and Himeji left mixed fillings. The visit to the Sake musicum was interesting, and Kobe meat restaurant at lunch, reserved by Yasuko, was excellent. The afternoon trip to see White castle was difficult for us due to lots of steps climbing and 2 hours took to get back to Kyoto. Thanks for having a private van.

Hotel Reviews
Grand Nikko Tokyo Daiba
Minato-ku, Tokyo

Very good hotel, convenient located near train station.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hakone Sengokuhara Prince Hotel
Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa

The rooms are very small and have steps inside.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Too far from city center. Taxi doesn't want to service
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cross Japan Kyoto
Kyoto

Newly renovated hotel with excellent location in the hart of the city. 4 stars only due to size of the room.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Full Day Nara City Tour From Kyoto with Fushimi Inari Taisha
Full Day Nara City Tour From Kyoto with Fushimi Inari Taisha
Kyoto

Very unusual experience with the deers in the Nara park surrounding the shrine. We feed them from hands and they bow in response. The shrine is absolutely amazing, especially gates.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Tokyo city tour
Full Day Tokyo city tour
Tokyo

Very informative. Thanks to the guide for navigating via underground transportation

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Tokyo city tour (Asakusa )
Full Day Tokyo city tour (Asakusa )
Tokyo

Very good, amazing view from the radio tower.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Drive to Hakone  from Tokyo
Drive to Hakone from Tokyo
Japan

Must use the local bus due to lack of taxi service.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchiko Cruise and Arakurayama Sengen Park Tour
Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchiko Cruise and Arakurayama Sengen Park Tour
Tokyo

Very nice trip and boat tour with a view on mount Fuji. Excellent ride on cable way up to the hill to view mount Fuji again

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day Sagano Bamboo Grove & Arashiyama Tour
Half Day Sagano Bamboo Grove & Arashiyama Tour
Kyoto

Very nice temple surrounding by garden, pond and bamboo grove. Travel guide - Noriko is excellent. Lake water tour very nice with amazing views.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day Samurai Ninja Museum and Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya
Half Day Samurai Ninja Museum and Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya
Kyoto

Samurai fighting equipment in the museum is very old but in excellent condition. We got additional historical facts. The Kimono Tea ceremony was so unusual for us. Besides the tea itself, we learned Japanese tea tradition and etiquette.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Kobe Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum and Himeji Castle Tour
Full Day Kobe Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum and Himeji Castle Tour
Osaka

The Sake museum is very informative, but may be not for every one, we think, mostly for men. The Himeji Castle is gorgeous outside. For going inside we have to climb over very steep stairs. That wasn't easy for us. Since we spend too much time for travel, it wasn't enough time to see the beautiful garden next to castle.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Sandy Ren
Sandy
Sandy Ren
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Nov 06, 2023
Hi Vladimir, Greetings from Sandy. Thank a lot for your wonderful words and thoughtful feedback. It’s my great honor and pleasure to play a part in customizing your trip to Japan. There are many beautiful parks shrines, temples and castles in Japan. It’s worthy of visiting but there are many steps sometimes. Sorry for the inconvenience caused and thanks a lot for your understanding. We are so glad to know that you have very enjoyable and memorable experience with the deer feeding, the tea... Read more

Hi Vladimir,

Greetings from Sandy.

Thank a lot for your wonderful words and thoughtful feedback. It’s my great honor and pleasure to play a part in customizing your trip to Japan. There are many beautiful parks shrines, temples and castles in Japan. It’s worthy of visiting but there are many steps sometimes. Sorry for the inconvenience caused and thanks a lot for your understanding. We are so glad to know that you have very enjoyable and memorable experience with the deer feeding, the tea ceremony and so on. Yumi and Kyoto are so delighted to know what they have done could make your tour more unforgettable.

Thank you very much for your kindness with the detailed comments on the hotels in different places which will help us a lot for the future recommendation. We look forward to the opportunity to assist you again in the future.

Best regards,
Sandy

Amazing Experience
Japan | Oct 18 - Oct 29, 2023

M
Michele L.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Nov 01, 2023
Working with Sandy was amazing. She was attentive to all of the details and available throughout our time in Japan. She was incredibly diligent with her follow up. We wanted to experience a Katana making workshop and our top choice was booked. Sandy continued to follow up and there was a cancellation and she was able to get us in. We had a similar experience with a hotel we really wanted that was booked for the date we wanted. Mid trip Sandy was in touch to tell us the desired hotel had a... Read more

Working with Sandy was amazing. She was attentive to all of the details and available throughout our time in Japan. She was incredibly diligent with her follow up. We wanted to experience a Katana making workshop and our top choice was booked. Sandy continued to follow up and there was a cancellation and she was able to get us in. We had a similar experience with a hotel we really wanted that was booked for the date we wanted. Mid trip Sandy was in touch to tell us the desired hotel had a cancellation and we were able to book it.

There were certain days we only had a driver (no tour guide). The drivers were supposed to speak English but none of them really did. It was inconvenient but we managed with Google translate. Not sure if this was a KimKim issue and the transportation companies they use or finding English speaking drivers is just difficult in Japan. Our tour guides spoke English fairly well.

Hotel Reviews
莲华定院 (Ren'gejo-in Temple (Pilgrim's Lodging))

The experience was wonderful. Their English was good enough. However the Monk who led services was difficult to understand. The food was good considering it is vegan . The meal is the same for breakfast and dinner so bring snacks. Property was well kept and the rooms very nice. The one downside was due to the timing of the prayer services at this particular temple you could not book the cemetery tour which we were told was an excellent activity.

Authenticity & Character
Location
It is a little further away from center of town then some of the other temples however that said it was only a 5 minute walk further
Staff
English was better than most
Cleanliness & Comfort
very clean and nice rooms. we found the bedding to be very comfortable
The Gate Hotel Kyoto Takasegawa by Hulic
Kawaramachi-dori, Takoyakushi-ku, Kyoto-shi,

This is a 4 star hotel however it is very new and beautiful. Rooms large and well appointed. Breakfast was nice although the buffet was limited. Beautiful bar. Really well located

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Kinsuikan
Hiroshima

Loved this experience. This Ryokan, traditional Japanese style hotel was wonderful. It was really well located and the accommodations were very comfortable. Food was delicious although the menu was very similar for dinner and breakfast. There was a very clean Onsen. We had a view of the torii gate which was beautiful

Authenticity & Character
Location
could walk to anywhere
Staff
Very little english spoken
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hilton Hiroshima
Hiroshima
Authenticity & Character
Although there is a definite Japanese vibe it definitely comes through as an International hotel. This could be positive or negative depending on your needs
Location
easy to get around from this location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Full Day Tokyo City Tour with Senso-ji Temple
Full Day Tokyo City Tour with Senso-ji Temple
Tokyo

Tokyo is huge but Yumi our tour guide was amazing. We covered all the highlights

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Yumi was an amazing tour guide
Transport
Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi Tour with Whisky Tasting
Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi Tour with Whisky Tasting
Tokyo

Loved this day. We ate an authentic lunch at a local restaurant. Had great views of Mt Fuji. Enjoyed the Whiskey museum

Half Day TeamLab Planets and Miraikan Museum Tour
Half Day TeamLab Planets and Miraikan Museum Tour
Tokyo

Loved TeamLab Planets - definitely a must see. Miraikan Museum is well laid out but just not something that was of great interest to us

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our driver did not speak english and we had some difficulty with that
A Fun-Filled Cooking Class in Tokyo - Wagyu Beef and More
A Fun-Filled Cooking Class in Tokyo - Wagyu Beef and More
Tokyo

This was amazing and I highly recommend it

 Mt. Koya and Temple Stay Experience
Mt. Koya and Temple Stay Experience
Mount Koya

This was a great experience. Unfortunately we were delayed getting there due to our train running 2 hours late so we had very little time to explore

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our driver did not speak english as promised
Half Day Samurai Ninja Museum and Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya
Half Day Samurai Ninja Museum and Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya
Kyoto

Loved learning the history of the Samurais - it is a great museum The tea ceremony is a must as this is such a big tradition in Japan. We loved putting on a kimono and learning about the tea ceremony

Guides, Drivers and Staff
This driver's english was better than the others
Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Fushimi Inari-Taisha
Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Fushimi Inari-Taisha
Kyoto

There are a lot of shrines and Temples in Japan. Not sure we needed to see all 4 sights. Nishiki market was great and our guide picked a wonderful place for lunch,

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Tour guide, Keiko was great
Half Day Katana Maker Experience in Kameoka
Half Day Katana Maker Experience in Kameoka
Kyoto

This was one of our favorite activities. I highly recommend it

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Vehicle was not as clean and nice as expected and tour guide (who was a substitute, orginal tour guide was sick) did not have wonderful english
Half Day Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum and Kobe Harborland Tour
Half Day Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum and Kobe Harborland Tour
Kobe

The saki museum was a lot of fun and easy to experience. We did not really get a tour of Kobe Harborland - our tour guide knew nothing about it

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide this day was not great and had no knowledge of Kobe to share with us.
Transport
Vehicle not so great this day
A Sensational Gourmet Experience: Kobe Beef
A Sensational Gourmet Experience: Kobe Beef
Kobe

Excellent restaurant - Royal Mouriya.

Half  Day Miyajima Island  Tour
Half Day Miyajima Island Tour
Hiroshima

Our tour guide Masako was incredibly knowledgable about Miyajima. We learned so much

Transport
Train to ferry to hotel on Miyajima was seamless
Museum and site tours of Hiroshima
Museum and site tours of Hiroshima
Hiroshima

Yoko our tour guide was great. We really enjoyed her. Hiroshima is a must see. The museum tells the story so well. And dont miss the Japenese gardens we loved the experience

Local specialist: Sandy Ren
Sandy
Sandy Ren
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Nov 03, 2023
Dear Michele,
Greetings from Sandy.
Thank you so much for sharing your amazing experience in Japan with us. We had a wonderful time working and planning with you. You are so patient and understandable.
We are so grateful for your review , which will help us a lot to identify the aspects of the trip where we can improve our service to our travelers. Hope you will come back to Japan soon!
Thanks a lot for your detailed comments on the activities and the hotels which will help us to know ...
Read more

Dear Michele,
Greetings from Sandy.
Thank you so much for sharing your amazing experience in Japan with us. We had a wonderful time working and planning with you. You are so patient and understandable.
We are so grateful for your review , which will help us a lot to identify the aspects of the trip where we can improve our service to our travelers. Hope you will come back to Japan soon!
Thanks a lot for your detailed comments on the activities and the hotels which will help us to know more about them and do better recommendation according to the travelers ‘request.
I am so delightful to know that you have enjoyable time with our beautiful temple and parks. Kimono Tea Ceremony is a very good place to experience our local culture and there will be a lot of fun to take photos with the kimono.
You are so kind and helpful to communicate with the driver with Google translate. It is very difficult to find real English-speaking driver in Japan and usually their English level is very limited. Sorry for the inconvenience caused. I should pay more attention to this and remind you in advance. thanks a lot for your understanding.

My warmest regards and best wishes,
Sandy

After 3 other travel services turned down my ...
Japan | Oct 22 - Oct 29, 2023

B
Bradley A.
Beaver Dam, WI | Reviewed on Oct 30, 2023
After 3 other travel services turned down my request to arrange travel on the Kumano Koto trail in Japan --saying everything was full-- I tried KimKim. Fei, the specialist assigned to help us was kind, attentive, and thorough. When we ran in to a lodging glitch while on the trail, she responded very well. I would definitely recommend using Kim Kim. Read more

After 3 other travel services turned down my request to arrange travel on the Kumano Koto trail in Japan --saying everything was full-- I tried KimKim. Fei, the specialist assigned to help us was kind, attentive, and thorough. When we ran in to a lodging glitch while on the trail, she responded very well. I would definitely recommend using Kim Kim.

Hotel Review
Guesthouse SORA Chikatsuyu

Different experience here. We had a lodging next to the river, which was fairly quiet despite traffic on the other side. Fixing your own meal from food stocked in the refrigerator was fun, though we were tired at the end of the day. It is nicely located across from grocery store and bakery.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
No personal contact. All on-lne check-in
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Fei He
Fei
Fei He
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Nov 01, 2023
Hi Bradley, Greetings from Fei. Thanks a lot for sharing your amazing experience in Japan with us. It’s my great honor and pleasure playing a part in customizing your trip to Japan. The Kumano Koto trail is famous for the natural and remote beauty. The guest house in CHIKATSUYU is a nice lodging with good feedback from our previous travelers. It’s so delightful to know that you have enjoyed the peaceful environment there. Some lodging along the Kumano Koto trail don’t have face to face... Read more

Hi Bradley,

Greetings from Fei.

Thanks a lot for sharing your amazing experience in Japan with us. It’s my great honor and pleasure playing a part in customizing your trip to Japan. The Kumano Koto trail is famous for the natural and remote beauty. The guest house in CHIKATSUYU is a nice lodging with good feedback from our previous travelers. It’s so delightful to know that you have enjoyed the peaceful environment there. Some lodging along the Kumano Koto trail don’t have face to face service just like we have talked before. Thanks a lot for your understanding and patience.

Welcome back again.

Best wishes from Japan,
Fei

We highly recommend this travel agency and th...
Japan | Oct 14 - Oct 24, 2023

R
Rhonda M.
Makakilo City, HI | Reviewed on Oct 28, 2023
We highly recommend this travel agency and the team of professionals organized by Fei. Before leaving on our 11 day trip to Japan, Fei helped us develop an exciting itinerary for visits to Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. She arranged all our accomadations for the hotels, events, train schedules and drivers - this was very well done and made the trip even more enjoyable. Our 3 tour guides (Yukari, Seiya, and Sachicko) are fantastic! Very informative, personable and caring people. They were... Read more

We highly recommend this travel agency and the team of professionals organized by Fei.

Before leaving on our 11 day trip to Japan, Fei helped us develop an exciting itinerary for visits to Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. She arranged all our accomadations for the hotels, events, train schedules and drivers - this was very well done and made the trip even more enjoyable.

Our 3 tour guides (Yukari, Seiya, and Sachicko) are fantastic! Very informative, personable and caring people. They were flexible and had great restaurant recommendations - delicious local food! Our drivers have also been very good and helpful. Thank you all for a wonderful adventure!
10/10 Would Recommend!🌟

Local specialist: Fei He
Fei
Fei He
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Oct 30, 2023

Hi Rhonda,
Thanks a lot for your positive feedback! We are so pleased to know that you had a fantastic vacation in Japan, especially delighted to hear that you have wonderful time with our guides, like their recommendation for the local restaurants and enjoy our local food.
Thank you for choosing our services and it’s my great honor and pleasure to play a part in customizing your trip to Japan.
Wish you a happy life and welcome back to Japan again in the future.
Warmest regards,
Fei

All the guides I had in Japan were awesome. ...
Japan | Oct 14 - Oct 27, 2023

Robert
Robert A.
Bethesda, MD | Reviewed on Oct 28, 2023

All the guides I had in Japan were awesome. My favorite part of the tours we’re going to the shrines and temples. The nature adventures were awesome too.

Local specialist: Angel Tang
Angel
Angel Tang
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Oct 31, 2023

Hi Robert,
Greetings from Angel.Thanks a lot for your trust to choose kimkim to customize your trip to Japan.It's our great pleasure to do this.So happy to know you have wonderful experience with all your guides.There are various beautiful shrines and temples with local culture and welcome you back again in the near future.Meanwhile, thanks a lot for the photos you shared with me and you are so prepared and friendly.

Best wishes from Japan,
Angel

Beautifully Curated Trip
Japan | Oct 4 - Oct 18, 2023

Arundhati
Arundhati G.
India | Reviewed on Oct 25, 2023
It was a wonderful trip with a well thought out plan for each of the days. We especially liked the guided tours with Yasuko in Kyoto, Nara and Arashiyama, Masako in Hiroshima and Yoko in Takayama. WE loved each of the shrines, temples, natural wonders and gardens that we saw. We loved the food at every place. Except for Hiroshima where the room was really tiny and we had to upgrade on our own, all the other hotels and rooms were lovely. We especially liked the hotels with Onsen and the Gasso... Read more

It was a wonderful trip with a well thought out plan for each of the days. We especially liked the guided tours with Yasuko in Kyoto, Nara and Arashiyama, Masako in Hiroshima and Yoko in Takayama. WE loved each of the shrines, temples, natural wonders and gardens that we saw. We loved the food at every place. Except for Hiroshima where the room was really tiny and we had to upgrade on our own, all the other hotels and rooms were lovely. We especially liked the hotels with Onsen and the Gasso house and Ryokan stays which were traditional and unique. One advice is to include some learning and workshops in the trip. We asked for it and our guide helped us find a Japanese sweet making workshop which was so much fun! We really enjoyed ourselves. Thank you Kimkim for this beautiful trip.

Activity Reviews
Transfer from your hotel to the airport with a private vehicle
Tokyo
Half Day Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Tenryuji Tour (Private Guide+Public Transport)
Half Day Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Tenryuji Tour (Private Guide+Public Transport)
Kyoto

Excellent guide

Full Day Nara Kofuku-ji, Todai-ji and Isuien Garden Tour
Full Day Nara Kofuku-ji, Todai-ji and Isuien Garden Tour
Kyoto

Excellent guide

Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Kinkaku-ji Temple and Fushimi Inari Taisha (Join-in)
Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Kinkaku-ji Temple and Fushimi Inari Taisha (Join-in)
Kyoto

Th tour was excellent. The guide was knowledgable and shared a lot of information. Also guided us into every site herself.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
One Day Miyajima Island and Hiroshima Tour with an English-speaking guide and public transportation
One Day Miyajima Island and Hiroshima Tour with an English-speaking guide and public transportation
Hiroshima

Excellent guide.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full-day tour to Shirakawa-go with an English-speaking guide and public bus
Takayama

Here a new guide was given who took money from us for his lunch which was later returned when we told kimkim. He also took extra money for a shuttle up the hill which was also returned later. Not a good experience.

Full Day Takayama City Tour
Full Day Takayama City Tour
Takayama
Transfer to Mt. Fuji and overnight in Hakone
Tokyo

Wonderful driver and guide. Brilliant weather.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Tea Ceremony, Senso-ji, Tsukiji Outer Market and Tokyo Tower Tour (Join-in)
Full Day Tea Ceremony, Senso-ji, Tsukiji Outer Market and Tokyo Tower Tour (Join-in)
Tokyo

The tea ceremony was excellent but the guide for the whole trip was not engaging and did not give us much information about the places we saw.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
engaging more information
Transport
Transfer from the airport to your hotel with a private vehicle
Tokyo

Driver was very late.

Local specialist: John Hu

2 weeks in beautiful South Korea
South Korea | Oct 10 - Oct 17, 2023

J
Jody C.
San Diego, CA | Reviewed on Oct 24, 2023
Thank you Jessica. We appreciate your patience and hard work in working with us over many months to plan our family trip to South Korea. You never waivered through our many requests and changes as our plans changed. Thank you Sang, you were an excellent guide for our family trip. We felt very safe in your care and appreciated you sharing your knowledge of each of the areas we visited. Read more

Thank you Jessica. We appreciate your patience and hard work in working with us over many months to plan our family trip to South Korea. You never waivered through our many requests and changes as our plans changed.

Thank you Sang, you were an excellent guide for our family trip. We felt very safe in your care and appreciated you sharing your knowledge of each of the areas we visited.

Hotel Reviews
Sotetsu Hotels The Splaisir Seoul Myeongdong
Seoul
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Laundry room big plus!
Lotte Resort Sokcho
Sokcho
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Surprised to find that 2 people had to sleep in mats on the floor.
Ramada Hotel & Suites Gangwon Pyeongchang
Pyeongchang
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Crown Harbor Hotel
Busan
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Lotte City Hotel Jeju
Jeju
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Half Day Exploring Sokcho Beach and Jungang Market
Half Day Exploring Sokcho Beach and Jungang Market
Sokcho

For our family we would have skipped the market and spent more time at the beach.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day Daegwallyeong Samyang Ranch Tour
Half Day Daegwallyeong Samyang Ranch Tour
Pyeongchang
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day Busan City Tour with Haedong Yonggungsa Temple
Busan
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day Gamcheon Village, BIFF Square and Jagalchi Market
Half Day Gamcheon Village, BIFF Square and Jagalchi Market
Busan
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Jessica Wang
Jessica
Jessica Wang
Local specialist in South Korea | Replied on Oct 26, 2023

Hi Jody,

Greetings from Jessica.

Thank you so much for your wonderful words and thoughtful feedback regarding Kimkim and your trip to South Korea! Working with you to plan and organize your vacation was truly a pleasure. We are grateful to have played a part in making your vacation enjoyable.Wishing you andyour family many more incredible experience ahead.

Best regards,
Jessica

KimKim Addressed a Series of Blunders and Poor Service
Japan | Oct 9 - Oct 14, 2023

Jonathan
Jonathan L.
Canada | Reviewed on Oct 17, 2023
Let's start with the good stuff. The accommodations arranged by KimKim for our five nights were traditional Ryokans with hot springs and were excellent quality with friendly staff, clean facilities and the usual tatami mats, sandals, low tables and great kaiseki meals. Unfortunately most of them were a considerable distance from the train stations in their communities necessitating expensive taxi fares to and from the accommodation. The two guides and the driver arranged by KimKim were... Read more

Let's start with the good stuff. The accommodations arranged by KimKim for our five nights were traditional Ryokans with hot springs and were excellent quality with friendly staff, clean facilities and the usual tatami mats, sandals, low tables and great kaiseki meals. Unfortunately most of them were a considerable distance from the train stations in their communities necessitating expensive taxi fares to and from the accommodation. The two guides and the driver arranged by KimKim were pleasant people with reasonable knowledge.

The reason for the poor rating is the quality and local knowledge of the travel specialist assigned to us. Some examples (besides the fact that she booked accommodation so far from the train station).
* The original range of cost we were given by the initial contact person was immediately exceeded at the top end of the range by her first estimate and we had to assert a more reasonable cost by insisting on three star accommodation.
* We made a specific request to stay in Narai and original trip plans included this but suddenly this was no longer included and we were told that accommodation was not available despite us making the request many months ahead.
* When we requested luggage transfer for the day we were hiking we were a) told it wasn't available, b) it was not included even though this was another item we had asked for early on. Eventually, and only after insisting, KimKim told us it could be obtained at our accommodation and they would reimburse the cost for us.
* When we arrived in Takayama from Kanazawa we discovered she had arranged for us to spend the entire day in the Gassho-syle villages (although it really only needed a half day) so we missed seeing the once-a-year spectacular, UNESCO-rated autumn festival in Takayama by less than hour.
* When we asked to receive all our itinerary, maps and tickets in hard copy ahead of time we were told that it might get lost so we should go to a convenience store and print it out ourselves with the help of our first guide. Again, only after we insisted did we get a hard copy but we did not receive it until after we had checked into our first hotel which meant that the information for that location was of no use as we had already consumed the time for visiting places in that city. Furthermore the map for our hiking was small, poor quality print so almost unreadable and, in any case, only in Japanese.
* For one portion of our itinerary it stated that we would go by train from one city to another after being with a driver and guide for most of the day. On this basis we purchased our 7-day JR Pass to coincide with this portion of our trip only to be told later that this was a mistake and that the driver and guide would be taking us to our final destination city.

These are some examples of the poor service, there were others. Unfortunately for KimKim we had a different travel service organizing a separate part of our month in Japan so we had a comparator organization to judge against. On every level KimKim came out looking inferior as well as being more expensive. I would not recommend them to other travellers.

ADDENDUM:
After providing this feedback we were impressed at how seriously KimKim took it and also how seriously they acted to address our concerns. Our dissatisfaction was significantly reduced by their response.

Local specialist: Fei He
Fei
Fei He
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Nov 10, 2023
Hi Jonathan, Greetings from Heidi. Thanks a lot again for your feedback and for addressing the unsatisfactory part of your trip, which brought to our high attention. After I discussed with Fei about the details of your tour arrangement, I have a better understanding about your feelings on your
tour in Japan arranged by us.
About the lodging.
I agree with you, considering your convenience, that staying at the lodging which is closer to the train stations would be a better choice for you...
Read more

Hi Jonathan,

Greetings from Heidi.

Thanks a lot again for your feedback and for addressing the unsatisfactory part of your trip, which brought to our high attention.

After I discussed with Fei about the details of your tour arrangement, I have a better understanding about your feelings on your
tour in Japan arranged by us.

About the lodging.
I agree with you, considering your convenience, that staying at the lodging which is closer to the train stations would be a better choice for you although the feedbacks from our previous travelers on the lodging arranged by Fei were positive. As for the lodging in Narai, my team and Fei have tried our best to book the lodging there for you as soon as we got your payment, but the hotels were fully booked at that time because it’s the high season in Kiso valley and Nakansendo trail. In this case, we decided to book the lodging for you in Kiso- Fukushima instead because it wouldn’t affect your day tour. But Fei didn’t inform you this adjustment in time as she should have. Sorry for this.

Regarding the other things you have pointed out, such as estimated price, The Takayama Festival, JR pass etc. Fei should have handled these better if she could be more careful and had paid more attention to your request. Although I found out, through my talk with Fei, that there were some personal reasons why she wasn’t as attentive to your tour arrangements as she is supposed to be, they can’t be the excuses of making such mistakes. Fei has realized her fault and I am sure she will definitely learn a lesson from your case.

Overall, Fei’s performance on your tour arrangement obviously didn’t match our principle of trying best to create satisfactory clients. On behalf of our team, I would like to sincerely apologize for the mistakes Fei made and would like to offer $800USD to make it up to you. Hope you would accept our sincerity.

One more time, I would like to thank you for travelling with us. We really appreciate your feedback which would surely help us to improve our service to a higher level. As the customer service manager, I will share your case with our other travel consultants so that they can all learn something and will be able to provide more detailed and professional services to the future travelers to Japan.

Wish you and your family a happy life now and forever.

Best wishes,
Heidi

Great service from Fei and the team, booked a...
Japan | Oct 8 - Oct 14, 2023

Pearlie
Pearlie K.
Singapore | Reviewed on Oct 15, 2023
Great service from Fei and the team, booked all the hotels and transfers that we needed in a custom arrangement, was seamless for us. Thanks Fei! Read more

Great service from Fei and the team, booked all the hotels and transfers that we needed in a custom arrangement, was seamless for us. Thanks Fei!

Hotel Review
BYAKU Narai
Narai

This has everything, the history, the comfort and the excellent service. This is what people come to Japan to experience.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Fei He
Fei
Fei He
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Oct 17, 2023

Hi Pearlie,
Hope you are doing fantastic day.
It’s our great honor and pleasure to customize and arrange your tour to Japan. Thanks a lot for your trust to choose Kimkim as your tour operating. I am so happy to know you have enjoyed the stay in BYAKU Narai with its history, the comfort and the excellent service. Japan is a variety country with rich culture and remote nature. Welcome you and your family back to Japan again.

Warmest regards,
Fei

Fei was very responsive in communication
Japan | Oct 1 - Oct 7, 2023

B
Beth B.
Japan | Reviewed on Oct 08, 2023
Fei was very responsive in communication and provided a great snap shot of the western side of Japan. Going to the Japanese Alps was a great experience! Many itineraries leave this area of the country out in favor of the top cities and I think you miss a lot if you don't go to these areas. We enjoyed our bike ride through the rural areas as well as seeing areas from the Samurai and Edo time.
During our travels Fei checked in to make sure we were doing ok and having a good time. Was nice...
Read more

Fei was very responsive in communication and provided a great snap shot of the western side of Japan. Going to the Japanese Alps was a great experience! Many itineraries leave this area of the country out in favor of the top cities and I think you miss a lot if you don't go to these areas. We enjoyed our bike ride through the rural areas as well as seeing areas from the Samurai and Edo time.
During our travels Fei checked in to make sure we were doing ok and having a good time. Was nice to know she was still available even after everything was booked.

Hotel Reviews
Kamikochi Lemeiesta Hotel
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
TOKYU STAY Hida-Takayama Musubi no Yu
Takayama
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hyatt House Kanazawa
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Half Day Cycling in Takayama
Half Day Cycling in Takayama
Takayama

We were actually in Hida, which is much smaller and different than Takayama. We got to see a more rural area that is not very touristy and it was a great peek into areas that still do rice and family vegetable farms. In addition we went to a beautiful shrine overlooking the farm land and the mountains in the distance.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Shirakawa-go Tour From Kanazawa to Takayama
Full Day Shirakawa-go Tour From Kanazawa to Takayama
Kanazawa

I am very glad we got to see the smaller village before going to the larger more touristy Shirakawa-go. The museum part of this village was really good. There was hardly anyone over on that side and it was much more interesting than the main village. Eating at the soba noodle cafe was also good.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Fei He
Fei
Fei He
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Oct 12, 2023

HI Beth,
Thank you very much for your wonderful comments and it’s my great pleasure and honor to customize your trip pan to Japan. I am so happy to know you have enjoyable experience in the western side of Japan, especially to the Japanese Alps.Japan is a wonderful place with cultural and natural beauty. Welcome back again in the future.

Best regards from Japan,
Fei

Our trip to Japan was fantastic
Japan | Sep 21 - Oct 5, 2023

Steven
Steven I.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Oct 07, 2023

Our trip to Japan was fantastic. Fei setup a wonderful trip and we went to a number of different locations which allowed us to take in various aspects of Japan. All of our guides were great, offering us insight to the history of their mystical country.

We had a couple of changes to our itinerary while on our trip and Fei was there to quickly handle them seamlessly. Thanks to Fei and wonderful guides we had a trip of a lifetime.

Local specialist: Fei He
Fei
Fei He
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Oct 12, 2023

Hi Steven,

Thank you very much for sharing your amazing experience in Japan with us. We had a wonderful time working and planning with you and we appreciate your patience and understanding throughout the trip. We are so happy that our guides provide you a mystical Japan.

Hope you will come back to Japan soon!

Yours sincere,
Fei