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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

Featured trips & expertise

Top itineraries and travel advice

Recent Trip Reviews for Odynovo Tours Co., Ltd

Japan 2025
Japan | Nov 4 - Nov 13, 2025

Jennifer
Jennifer G.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Nov 17, 2025
My son and I took a trip to Japan and planned it through kimkim. Our local agent Angel was amazing to work with and connected us with the best tour guides in Tokyo and Kyoto. She stayed in touch with us throughout the trip and made sure we had all the information we needed to travel efficiently. We could not have asked for a better experience. I definitely will use kimkim again when booking a custom luxury vacation. Read more

My son and I took a trip to Japan and planned it through kimkim. Our local agent Angel was amazing to work with and connected us with the best tour guides in Tokyo and Kyoto. She stayed in touch with us throughout the trip and made sure we had all the information we needed to travel efficiently. We could not have asked for a better experience. I definitely will use kimkim again when booking a custom luxury vacation.

Hotel Review
Courtyard by Marriott Shin-Osaka Station
Osaka
Authenticity & Character
Could tell it was an American brand
Location
Near train station
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Drive to Hakone  from Tokyo
Drive to Hakone from Tokyo
Japan

This was one of my favorite days. Motoki was once again very accommodating and made sure we got to see everything we wanted. Our driver was also very accommodating and there to pick us up whenever we were ready to move on to the next stop.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Vehicle was extremely comfortable
Tokyo Night Foodie Tour in Shinjuku
Tokyo Night Foodie Tour in Shinjuku
Tokyo

Minnie was a great guide and the food was incredible. Loved that it was a small group and we got to know our guide and the other couple in the tour.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Tokyo Highlights Day Tour - East & West
Tokyo Highlights Day Tour - East & West
Tokyo

Our tour guide Motoki was fantastic. He made sure that we got to see and do all that we wanted in addition to what was on our itinerary. He also shared stories of the Japanese culture that added to our experience.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Motoki was the BEST!
Transport
Local specialist: Angel Tang

Perfect Trip!:)
Japan | Apr 25 - May 10, 2025

M
Maddie C.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Nov 16, 2025
Angel did an awesome job curat the iternerary for us and suiting it to our interests. All of the guides and activities were excellent. The accomodations were also great. We had a perfect mix of planned experiences and free-time. Angel also did a really good job with the pacing of our trip between cities. Will probably use kimkim again!:) Read more

Angel did an awesome job curat the iternerary for us and suiting it to our interests. All of the guides and activities were excellent. The accomodations were also great. We had a perfect mix of planned experiences and free-time. Angel also did a really good job with the pacing of our trip between cities. Will probably use kimkim again!:)

Hotel Reviews
Mercure Tokyo Haneda Airport
Tokyo

Nice place to stay for our final night in Japan.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Candeo Hotels Osaka The Tower
Osaka

Fancy hotel; enjoyed our stay here.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Vischio Kyoto by GRANVIA
Kyoto

Overall nice place to stay.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Easy to get to town from here.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hakone Hotel Kajikaso
Hakone

This hotel was such a memorable experience -- it is in a beautiful area and there is so much to do in the hotel. They also give you yukatas to wear and free tea / juice. One of our favorite things was around 9PM we were exploring the hotel and there was a small spa area where we were able to just walk up and schedule a massage before sleep. Loved that we did not need a reservation or anything and that it was open at night-- super cool! The hotel also had a game room and kareoke room and late-night ramen bar. One thing is that the dinner was very traditional, so that part would not suit everybody's taste; during the dinner there were Geisha performances which was cool. Also, there was a cute store in the hotel with a lot of Hakone-specific items; I took back several different things as souvenirs.

Authenticity & Character
Very traditional.
Location
Pretty in a mountain area.
Staff
Kind and accomodating.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Comfortable and clean.
Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku
Tokyo

Amazing location; great hreakfast; clean and spacious room. Loved this for our Tokyo time!

Authenticity & Character
Location is perfect.
Location
Asakusa is a really fun part of Tokyo with a lot of cool shops and restaurants and history -- glad we stayed here and got to see a lot of it.
Staff
Attentive; kind.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Everything was clean and neat.
Activity Reviews
Full Day City Tour with  Osaka Castle
Full Day City Tour with Osaka Castle
Japan

So happy to have Hiro again for this tour -- getting the same tour guide for Kyoto and Osaka was really cool and added to our experience because it was like we were traveling with a friend!:) He also gifted us polaroids of the day as a parting gift -- so nice and I am keeping them forever!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Again, Hiro is awesome.
Transport
Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai
Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai
Japan

Loved trying the different foods Osaka is known for; would do again!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Kyoto Cooking Class
Kyoto Cooking Class
Japan

So much fun and turned out delicious!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Kyoto's Cultural Treasures: Fushimi Inari-Taisha, Nijo Castle and Kinkaku-ji
Kyoto's Cultural Treasures: Fushimi Inari-Taisha, Nijo Castle and Kinkaku-ji
Japan

Super fun day; we learned and saw a lot! Also loved our guide Hiro -- he was so nice and funny and knowledgable and REALLY good at taking photos. It was like we had a perfect two in one guide and photographer.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi with Oishi Park
Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi with Oishi Park
Japan

So beautiful and such a fun day! We enjoyed the boat ride, and we really loved the gardens in giew of Mt. Fuji. Our driver was very nice.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Authentic Sumo Experience in Tokyo : Enter the Sanctuary ( join in, small group )
Authentic Sumo Experience in Tokyo : Enter the Sanctuary ( join in, small group )
Tokyo

Super fun; the sumo wrestlers had really great / funny personalities.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Tokyo City Tour with  Shinjuku Gyoen (cherry blossom)
Full Day Tokyo City Tour with Shinjuku Gyoen (cherry blossom)
Tokyo

Our tour guide was so nice and knowledgable! Loved her! Got to see a lot of different places in Tokyo and she took us adjusted the trip to suit what we wanted like if we saw something along the way that was not scheduled she let us check it out and get pictures. She gave us cute paper cranes as a goodbye gift.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Loved Ikuko!!
Transport
Local specialist: Angel Tang

Christine (from Kimkim) was very responsive a...
South Korea | Nov 9 - Nov 15, 2025

T
Theodore L.
San Leandro, CA | Reviewed on Nov 16, 2025
Christine (from Kimkim) was very responsive and friendly, she had good suggestions for things for us to do. She didn’t always have the best attention to detail. It took several attempts to explain our situation, that we were combining a self paid trip with a hotel stay covers by the conference that invited me to Korea. After a couple of rounds she eventually got it right. She failed to consider that our arrival at the hotel was going to be before check in time and did not suggest... Read more

Christine (from Kimkim) was very responsive and friendly, she had good suggestions for things for us to do. She didn’t always have the best attention to detail. It took several attempts to explain our situation, that we were combining a self paid trip with a hotel stay covers by the conference that invited me to Korea. After a couple of rounds she eventually got it right.

She failed to consider that our arrival at the hotel was going to be before check in time and did not suggest alternatives such as the option of paying for an early check in. She offered us one option for hotel— the L7 in Myeongdong. It was a nice hotel, well run, clean, with an excellent breakfast. However, for people our age, staying in Myeongdong got tiresome after a couple of nights. It would have been helpful to have been warned about the noise and crowds and offered a possible alternative.

We were directed to excellent activities and connected with an outstanding guide, Christine Lee and her husband Young. Christine was knowledgeable, warm and friendly. We got an excellent picture of Korean history talking with her and she showed us around Nami island and the garden of morning calm as an expert. These two experiences were outstanding!

Hotel Review
L7 Myeongdong by LOTTE

It’s a well run hotel, very clean, and the breakfast is excellent. Myeongdong is a central location with easy access to subway, the byeongbokgung palace. Myeongdong is where one of the major night markets with street food is located. However, it is harder to find quieter restaurants or easy places to walk around without crowds.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Central and close to subway.
Staff
Staff were great in the restaurant. They were unsure how to handle our early arrival straight from the airport.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Spotless and great maid service daily.
Activity Review
Discover K-drama Locations in European Villages & Nami Island
Discover K-drama Locations in European Villages & Nami Island
Seoul

The best parts of this trip was the visit to Nami Island and the garden of morning calm. The Italian and French villages are a bit tired and run down. Christine Lee and Young did an amazing job showing us around and teaching us about the history and flora of the area.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Christine Liu

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience
China | Oct 16 - Nov 2, 2025

Pam
Pam A.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Nov 15, 2025
My husband and I recently had the incredible opportunity to visit China, and it truly exceeded all expectations. From ancient history to breathtaking natural landscapes, this trip had everything we could have hoped for and more. I want to thank Lisa for helping us put this amazing trip together through KimKim. She was so helpful and patient with us. Highlights of the Trip The Great Wall of China was nothing short of awe-inspiring. Walking along this historic wonder, we couldn’t help... Read more

My husband and I recently had the incredible opportunity to visit China, and it truly exceeded all expectations. From ancient history to breathtaking natural landscapes, this trip had everything we could have hoped for and more. I want to thank Lisa for helping us put this amazing trip together through KimKim. She was so helpful and patient with us.

Highlights of the Trip

The Great Wall of China was nothing short of awe-inspiring. Walking along this historic wonder, we couldn’t help but be amazed by its sheer scale and beauty. The panoramic views from the top were unforgettable, and standing on such an iconic piece of history was an emotional experience.

We visited Chengdu to see the adorable pandas—and they definitely lived up to the hype! Watching these playful creatures in their natural habitat was a highlight of the trip. The conservation efforts here are truly impressive, and it was a joy to witness their charm up close.

In Xi’an, we were fortunate enough to see the Terracotta Warriors, a monumental archaeological discovery. The sheer number of life-sized statues and the detail in each one was staggering. It’s amazing to think that this army was created over 2,000 years ago to protect China’s first emperor in the afterlife.

One of the most stunning natural attractions was Zhangjiajie National Forest Park—the inspiration for the floating mountains in the movie Avatar. The towering sandstone pillars surrounded by mist create an ethereal, almost otherworldly landscape. It’s a photographer’s dream and a must-see for nature lovers.

Finally, Guilin was a peaceful escape, with its surreal limestone karst mountains and tranquil Li River cruises. The views were unlike anything I’ve ever seen and felt like something out of a dream.

Cultural Immersion

One of the aspects of the trip that stood out was the incredible cultural immersion. We had numerous opportunities to experience China’s rich traditions and daily life. Whether it was a calligraphy lesson, a traditional tea ceremony, or learning about the history behind local markets, we were able to connect with the culture in meaningful ways.

The people of China were warm, welcoming, and eager to share their stories. Our guides were exceptional—they were incredibly knowledgeable, personable, and made sure we felt comfortable and engaged every step of the way. They took the time to answer all our questions and ensured we had a smooth and enjoyable experience.

We want to thank all our guides: Zhang Yaping (Amy - Beijing), Ma Jun (MJ - Xian), Xiao Tuanming (Nancy - Zhangjiajie), Lin Xue (April), Owen (Guilin) and Vivian (Shanghai). You were all wonderful to get to know and helped make the trip memorable.

Food: A Culinary Adventure

The food in China was another highlight of the trip. Every meal was a delightful adventure! We had the chance to try authentic dishes that we’d never seen in the U.S. The flavors were bold and varied, from the spicy Sichuan cuisine in Chengdu to the savory dumplings in Xi’an. I particularly loved the Peking duck in Beijing—crispy, tender, and simply delicious. The variety of textures and flavors in Chinese cuisine was incredible, and I came home with a newfound appreciation for their culinary traditions.

Overall Experience

All in all, this was a once-in-a-lifetime trip that I will never forget. The sights, the food, the culture, and the wonderful people I met along the way all made this an unforgettable adventure. The expert guides and well-curated itinerary ensured that we didn’t just see China—we truly experienced it.

If you’re considering a trip to China, I wholeheartedly recommend it. Kimkim can help you design the best trip. I can’t wait to return someday!

Activity Reviews
Explore Xi'an City: Ancient City Wall and Drum Tower
Explore Xi'an City: Ancient City Wall and Drum Tower
Xi'an
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Marvel at the Picturesque Landscape in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Marvel at the Picturesque Landscape in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Zhangjiajie
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Revel in the Splendor of Zhangjiajie - Grand Canyon and Tianmen Mountain
Revel in the Splendor of Zhangjiajie - Grand Canyon and Tianmen Mountain
Zhangjiajie
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Explore Chengdu: Pandas, Wuhou Shrine,Jinli with a Hot Pot Lunch
Explore Chengdu: Pandas, Wuhou Shrine,Jinli with a Hot Pot Lunch
Chengdu
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Discover the Beauty of Longji Terraced Fields and Learn to Make Bamboo Tube Rice
Discover the Beauty of Longji Terraced Fields and Learn to Make Bamboo Tube Rice
Guilin
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Explore the Scenic Countryside in Yangshuo by Cycling and Rafting
Explore the Scenic Countryside in Yangshuo by Cycling and Rafting
China

We didn't get to cycle but the rafting was very fun!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
 Marvel at China's Most Picturesque River - Li River
Marvel at China's Most Picturesque River - Li River
China
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cooking Class in Yangshuo
Cooking Class in Yangshuo
Yangshuo

This was extemely fun! Well worth it

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Highlights of Shanghai with Yu Garden and the Bund
Highlights of Shanghai with Yu Garden and the Bund
Shanghai
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Discover Xi'an: the Terracotta Army and Muslim Quarter
Discover Xi'an: the Terracotta Army and Muslim Quarter
Xi'an
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit a Local Family and Learn to Cook Homemade Dishes
Visit a Local Family and Learn to Cook Homemade Dishes
Xi'an

This was an enjoyable experience. The family opened their home and we had a lovely time.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Hiking along the Majestic Great Wall, Summer Palace
Hiking along the Majestic Great Wall, Summer Palace
Beijing

We had a great day to visit the wall.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Beijing – Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City,Temple of Heaven with Peking Duck Lunch
Beijing – Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City,Temple of Heaven with Peking Duck Lunch
Beijing
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Lisa Sun

Shona is the besttttt!🩷
Japan | Nov 5 - Nov 14, 2025

Kyah
Kyah H.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Nov 15, 2025
Shona was truly the most incredible travel agent. From the planning, booking and trip, everything was perfect. During the almost year leading up to the trip she was so attentive and knowledgeable with any questions I had. Going to a new country where your language is not their main language can be very nerve racking but Shona made the entire process so easy. I had messed up our flight days coming into Japan and before I knew it Shona had everything taken care of and fixed. She truly took care... Read more

Shona was truly the most incredible travel agent. From the planning, booking and trip, everything was perfect. During the almost year leading up to the trip she was so attentive and knowledgeable with any questions I had. Going to a new country where your language is not their main language can be very nerve racking but Shona made the entire process so easy. I had messed up our flight days coming into Japan and before I knew it Shona had everything taken care of and fixed. She truly took care of everything. From drivers, hotels, train tickets. It was all so organized and well thought out. I can’t thank her enough for making my husband and I’s dream trip a fantastic reality!

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Keihan Tsukiji Ginza Grande
Tokyo
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rihga Gran Kyoto
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
HOTEL THE LEBEN OSAKA
Osaka

A stunning hotel within walking distance of the Shinsaibashi shopping district!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Kyoto Highlights: Kinkaku-ji Temple, Nijo Castle and Fushimi-Inari Taisha
Kyoto Highlights: Kinkaku-ji Temple, Nijo Castle and Fushimi-Inari Taisha
Kyoto
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Tokyo Discovery with Shibuya & Harajuku - West
Tokyo Discovery with Shibuya & Harajuku - West
Tokyo
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Kumiko was so much fun! She was so knowledgeable about the areas we were in. She was always ready to take a great picture of us that we will cherish for a lifetime!
Transport
Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi with Oishi Park
Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi with Oishi Park
Japan
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
 Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya
Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya
Kyoto

This was genuinely such a cool experience! Getting to learn the history of a traditional Japanese tea ceremony while wearing kimonos was such a fun time. My husband and I are on the bigger side and they had plenty of kimono options for us to wear. We didn’t feel left out because of our size which we appreciated so much!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai
Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai
Japan

Getting to try different foods was very cool but we only tried 3 foods in 3 hours. I was expecting a bit more. The tour guide was walking so fast that the group had a very hard time keeping up. We were a group of 3 couples and 1 older lady on her own. None of us were aware we were taking the metro so we didn’t come prepared with suica cards so getting through the station was a mess which caused a lot of frustration for us and the other people trying to get through the station. The food portion of the tour was finished but the guide was going to show us to the famous running man sign. This is where we lost a person of our group. She was an older lady who was there by herself. Again the guide was walking so fast and after about 5 minutes, we realized the older lady wasn’t with us. The guide tried to call the office she goes through because she did not have access to her phone number. The office ended up being closed. We never saw that lady again…

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day City Tour with  Osaka Castle
Full Day City Tour with Osaka Castle
Japan
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Shona Zhang
Shona
Shona Zhang
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Nov 15, 2025

Dear Kyah,

Thank you so much for your kind words! 🌸 I’m thrilled to hear that I was able to make your dream trip to Japan smooth and memorable. It’s wonderful to know that her planning and support made everything easier and more enjoyable for you and your husband. It truly means a lot! 💛

Best,
Shona

Beautiful Memories in Japan – Kamakura and Mt. Fuji Were Standouts, But Some Coordination Issues
Japan | Oct 19 - Oct 28, 2025

Karena
Karena H.
Palmyra, VA | Reviewed on Nov 15, 2025
Our trip to Japan was memorable and full of beauty. The itinerary gave us a wonderful mix of cultural, historical, and scenic experiences. Kamakura was by far my favorite stop - peaceful, rich in history, and beautifully guided by Kimura, who was phenomenal. He was kind, engaging, and incredibly knowledgeable. We learned so much and felt truly cared for. Unfortunately, our experience in Nikko was disappointing. Our guide, Martin, seemed ill, which was especially concerning because my mother... Read more

Our trip to Japan was memorable and full of beauty. The itinerary gave us a wonderful mix of cultural, historical, and scenic experiences. Kamakura was by far my favorite stop - peaceful, rich in history, and beautifully guided by Kimura, who was phenomenal. He was kind, engaging, and incredibly knowledgeable. We learned so much and felt truly cared for.

Unfortunately, our experience in Nikko was disappointing. Our guide, Martin, seemed ill, which was especially concerning because my mother is immunocompromised. His clothes and glasses appeared dirty, and the tour itself felt unorganized. We learned very little about the sites, didn’t have time to browse the shops, and there was no break for lunch, which left everyone hungry by the end of the day.

We raised our concerns, and the kimkim team responded quickly by assigning Edward for our Mt. Fuji excursion. Edward was wonderful - professional, thoughtful, and attentive. Thanks to him, we finished our trip on a positive note.

Our travel specialist, Shona, was kind but missed the mark in a few areas. Our hotel was changed twice after payments had already been made, our Disney tickets were not secured early enough to make restaurant reservations, and I also noticed that our Disney tickets were purchased for the wrong day leading to a bed to change around our itinerary very close to our departure date. Shona also mixed up the time of our final call, which caused some confusion and didn’t allow for our entire group to be present. The travel documents we received also had small errors, such as listing the wrong months (March and April instead of October) and including information about an activity we weren’t doing. We asked for restaurant recommendations but received only a few food ideas shortly before departure, so we ended up doing that research ourselves. Finally, our Mario Kart tour was cancelled due to rain, so Shona was kind enough to refund us directly $112/pp for the tickets and driver fees. While in Japan, Shona was very responsive and made sure we were taken care of. I wish this was the sentiment before getting to Japan, too.

Despite these bumps, Japan itself was absolutely magical. Kamakura and Mt. Fuji were unforgettable, and Kimura and Edward were the true highlights of our journey. With a little more attention to detail in the planning and communication process, this trip could have been flawless.

Hotel Review
Sunshine City Prince Hotel Ikebukuro Tokyo
Tokyo
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi Tour with Whisky Tasting
Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi Tour with Whisky Tasting
Tokyo
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Exploring the Natural Wonders of Nikko
Exploring the Natural Wonders of Nikko
Japan
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Tokyo-Kamakura-Tokyo
Tokyo-Kamakura-Tokyo
Tokyo
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day  Meiji Shrine,the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace Akihabara,and Harajuku Tour
Full Day Meiji Shrine,the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace Akihabara,and Harajuku Tour
Tokyo
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Shona Zhang
Shona
Shona Zhang
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Nov 17, 2025
Hi Karena,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your detailed feedback. We are delighted to hear that your trip to Japan was memorable and that you enjoyed Kamakura and Mt. Fuji, with Kimura and Edward leaving such a positive impression. We will be sure to pass along your kind words to them.
We also sincerely appreciate your candid comments regarding the areas where your experience fell short. Please accept our apologies for the issues in Nikko, the challenges with Disney tickets,... Read more

Hi Karena,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your detailed feedback. We are delighted to hear that your trip to Japan was memorable and that you enjoyed Kamakura and Mt. Fuji, with Kimura and Edward leaving such a positive impression. We will be sure to pass along your kind words to them.

We also sincerely appreciate your candid comments regarding the areas where your experience fell short. Please accept our apologies for the issues in Nikko, the challenges with Disney tickets, hotel changes, and other planning details. Your feedback is invaluable, and we will review these points carefully to ensure a smoother experience for our future travelers.

We are grateful for your patience and understanding, and we are glad that, despite the bumps, you were able to enjoy the magic of Japan. Your insights will help us improve and refine our services so that future trips are seamless and enjoyable.

Thank you again for traveling with us, and we hope to have the opportunity to plan another exceptional journey for you in the future.
Best
Shona

Flawless Japan Adventure
Japan | Oct 20 - Nov 1, 2025

Abdul
Abdul A.
Kuwait | Reviewed on Nov 14, 2025
Everything about my trip to Japan was exceptionally well-organized from start to finish. I loved every part of the experience, every site I visited and every city I explored, from Tokyo through Osaka and Kyoto to Kanazawa. It was a smooth, well balanced schedule with a lot of thought put into this itinerary. All the tour guides were friendly, professional, and always ready to help. In general, it was an unforgettable journey which exceeded all my expectations. Read more

Everything about my trip to Japan was exceptionally well-organized from start to finish. I loved every part of the experience, every site I visited and every city I explored, from Tokyo through Osaka and Kyoto to Kanazawa. It was a smooth, well balanced schedule with a lot of thought put into this itinerary. All the tour guides were friendly, professional, and always ready to help. In general, it was an unforgettable journey which exceeded all my expectations.

Hotel Reviews
Mitsui Garden Hotel Jingugaien Tokyo Premier
Tokyo
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Richmond Hotel premier KYOTO SHIJO

I'm giving this hotel a lower score only because it didn't quite live up to my personal expectations. I usually book boutique or upscale hotels for myself, so this was a little different for me. That said, the staff was super professional and friendly, which I greatly appreciated.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Candeo Hotels Osaka The Tower
Osaka
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Daiwa Roynet Hotel KANAZAWAEKI-NISHIGUCHI
Kanazawa

I'm giving this hotel a lower score only because it didn't quite live up to my personal expectations. I usually book boutique or upscale hotels for myself, so this was a little different for me. That said, the staff was super professional and friendly, which I greatly appreciated.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Ryokan Aura Tachibana
Hakone
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Tokyo Day Tour with Tsukiji Outer Market & Senso-ji - East & Central
Tokyo Day Tour with Tsukiji Outer Market & Senso-ji - East & Central
Tokyo
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi & Oishi Park
Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi & Oishi Park
Japan
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
Transport
Full Day  Gokayama and Shirakawago  Tour from Kanazawa
Full Day Gokayama and Shirakawago Tour from Kanazawa
Japan
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Kyoto's Cultural Treasures: Fushimi Inari-Taisha, Nijo Castle and Kinkaku-ji
Kyoto's Cultural Treasures: Fushimi Inari-Taisha, Nijo Castle and Kinkaku-ji
Japan
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Osaka-Nara day trip with Osaka Castle
Osaka-Nara day trip with Osaka Castle
Osaka
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Hilda Yang

Japan Arts & Culture
Japan | Oct 22 - Nov 4, 2025

E
Evan S.
Nicetown-Tioga, PA | Reviewed on Nov 14, 2025


 For our part, we realize that planning should have begun earlier — probably 6 months in advance, because certain tours, hotels, etc were already booked. Nevertheless, Judy was terrific and resourceful, getting back to us quickly despite the challenges of being in different time zones. Our goals (arts and hands-on) were different from those of a typical tourist; Judy was good at accommodating them. We could have used more advice about the differences in those programs, so we... Read more






For our part, we realize that planning should have begun earlier — probably 6 months in advance, because certain tours, hotels, etc were already booked. Nevertheless, Judy was terrific and resourceful, getting back to us quickly despite the challenges of being in different time zones. Our goals (arts and hands-on) were different from those of a typical tourist; Judy was good at accommodating them. We could have used more advice about the differences in those programs, so we researched them on our own. That meant we had to request additional things and changes as we learned about them.

Also, we made a scheduling error, not realizing that the flight arrived the day after it began, so Judy had to adjust our bookings to accommodate this. We threw her an extra challenge by asking her to add a day-trip to Hamamatsu for a family visit. Also, a freak accident on the take-off of our flight to Tokyo caused us to be re-routed through Europe, hence losing another day. Altogether, this meant our proposed 14 day trip had to be jammed into a shorter number of days. Upon retrospect, even without these unexpected adjustments, we should have allowed ourselves three weeks to do everything we wanted to do and to give ourselves more time for exploring on our own. An open day in each city would have been preferable and made for a more relaxed trip.

Tour guides - Guides in Tokyo and Kanazawa were excellent and flexible. However, Michiko (Kyoto), though eager to please was less well-informed and had weaker English. She was too focused on Samurai/Shogun history and wanted to take too many photos of us. We were surprised that her tour involved walking and buses, which worked out fine, but we were surprised as we expected a driver in each location unless specified.

Workshops and presentations - Our first workshop (sushi making) was a disaster. We were told to get there on our own by local train, but had no previous instruction about how to navigate. When we arrived at the address we were given, there was no signage and no staff there to greet us, so we didn’t know if we were in the right place. After contacting Judy, we discovered that the company had made a scheduling error, which they corrected as quickly as possible. The workshop was ok in spite of the space with was filthy with cigarette butts and used cups on the table. Looking online afterwards, we saw that there were many other sushi workshops that might have been better choices.

The other workshops were all excellent: washi paper making, dyeing, the artisan visit (embroidery), and an unscheduled visit to a gold leaf workshop that our guide created since we had extra time.

Transportation - There was a lot of transportation that we had to navigate on our own. We found it quite challenging, especially at first. We would have benefited from more advance information about how to manage the different systems and locations (some with QR codes, some with one ticket, some with two tickets). Even after we requested more direction from Judy, we still found it difficult. Fortunately, we were assisted by train station personnel or sympathetic travelers or residents who saw us struggling and shepherded us to the right place.

Hotels - Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka were excellent; the hotel in Kanazawa was fair (amenities were better than we thought at first due to a communication problem). Still, the room was very small and one side of the bed was against the wall.

Due to the popularity of Naoshima, we were booked in Okayama, which required a ferry ride each way. There too one side of the bed was against the wall. Although it was advertised as a beachfront facility. In fact it was a block or two from the waterfront (not a beach) and overlooked a bicycle track. There was a night race one of the nights we were there, which was unique.

Judy was an excellent planner, responding cheerfully under a number of challenging circumstances. It would have been helpful to be advised about how realistic it was to see so much in a short time, especially given our age. Although we’re in good shape for our ages we are in our 80s. As mentioned above, we needed more assistance with independent train travel. It would also have been helpful to have advice about restaurants near our various hotels. We were told that the guides could help us, but they had no more knowledge than what they or we could find online.

Hotel Reviews
Miyako City Osaka Hommachi
Osaka
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
SETOUCHI KEIRIN HOTEL 10 by Onko Chishin
Tamano

Inconvenient. Only recommended for bike racing enthusiats, adjacent to bike racing track. Description says beachfont but it’s over a block away from the water - essentially a small marina for fishing boats. No beach. We were only there because we weren’t able to book a place to stay on Naoshima and it was a 5 minute taxi ride to the ferry to Naoshima.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cross Hotel Kyoto
Kyoto
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Intergate Kanazawa
Kanazawa

Functional, nothing special. Small room with one side of the bed against the wall.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Mitsui Garden Hotel Jingugaien Tokyo Premier
Tokyo
Authenticity & Character
Location
beautiful but far from anything other than an olympic stadium
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
 Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya
Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya
Kyoto

We didn’t realize that we’d have to wear kimonos. Wouldn’t have chosen to but it ended up being fun.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Traditional Yuzen Dyeing Experience
Traditional Yuzen Dyeing Experience
Kyoto

Fabulous personal hands-on experience with a master artisan.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full-Day Exploration: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Kinkaku-ji Temple
Full-Day Exploration: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Kinkaku-ji Temple
Kyoto

Unless you’re really into the bamboo grove and this particular temple, time would be better spent looking at pictures, avoiding the crowds and doing something else.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Gion Geisha Show and Walking Tour
Gion Geisha Show and Walking Tour
Kyoto

We arrived too late for the walking tour but the Geisha show was fascinating.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
We took a taxi on our own.
Half Day Artisan Tour in Kanazawa
Half Day Artisan Tour in Kanazawa
Kanazawa

Wonderful embroidery folks. Unexpected. We wouldn’t have selected embroidery but it was terrific as was the guide.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Kanazawa Highlights with Art: Gardens, Castles & National Crafts Museum
Kanazawa Highlights with Art: Gardens, Castles & National Crafts Museum
Kanazawa

Intead of having a guide and driver, we traveled by bus with guide. Her English wasn’t as good as other guides and she was focused primarily on Samurai/Shogun. Sweet lady, though.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Driver rather than buses.
Tokyo Sushi Making Experience & Japanese Cooking Class
Tokyo Sushi Making Experience & Japanese Cooking Class
Tokyo

Scheduled at the wrong time, difficult to find, no signage, dirty.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Exploring Futuristic Odaiba with Sumida River Cruise
Exploring Futuristic Odaiba with Sumida River Cruise
Tokyo

Wonderful guide, flexible so we were able to make changes to personalize the day.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Judy Zhang
Judy
Judy Zhang
Local specialist in Seoul and Japan | Replied on Nov 15, 2025
Hi Evan, Thank you so much for your thoughtful and detailed feedback! I truly appreciate your honesty and kind words — it really helps us improve and understand your experience. It was my pleasure to assist you, even with all the unexpected challenges along the way. Whenever you have a chance, I’d love for you to upload any travel photos you’d like to share. KimKim will also be sending you a commemorative photo book of your trip, so you’ll have a beautiful keepsake of all your... Read more

Hi Evan,

Thank you so much for your thoughtful and detailed feedback! I truly appreciate your honesty and kind words — it really helps us improve and understand your experience. It was my pleasure to assist you, even with all the unexpected challenges along the way.

Whenever you have a chance, I’d love for you to upload any travel photos you’d like to share. KimKim will also be sending you a commemorative photo book of your trip, so you’ll have a beautiful keepsake of all your memories.

Thank you again for trusting me with your Japan adventure — it was truly a joy to work with you and your family!

Warm regards,
Judy

The itinerary of the trip was unbelievable and a truly unique and memorable Japan experience.
Japan | Oct 16 - Nov 6, 2025

B
B G.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Nov 13, 2025
The itinerary of the trip was unbelievable and Shona planned the trip of a lifetime…in the final analysis that is all that matters! We did have some minor challenges along the way which are worth mentioning to provide constructive feedback for next client. These include 1. Major issues w web site …after over a year of planning, the itinerary was dropped and had to be rebuilt. Our friends could not at first pay final payment because business office had no record of trip! We were never able... Read more

The itinerary of the trip was unbelievable and Shona planned the trip of a lifetime…in the final analysis that is all that matters! We did have some minor challenges along the way which are worth mentioning to provide constructive feedback for next client. These include 1. Major issues w web site …after over a year of planning, the itinerary was dropped and had to be rebuilt. Our friends could not at first pay final payment because business office had no record of trip! We were never able to get two distinct trip plans….for example new plan did not reflect free meals at hotel in Hakone which was on earlier version ( although Shona eventually included). Minor issue but only 2 tee shirts provided at Christmas although 4 people traveling and paying money. Sometimes communication was challenging. Zoom calls did not work, for example. Shona worked really hard and generally available at all hours of day, leading us to worry that she might have needed more help from team. We learned the hard way that asking for extra steps, such as tickets to a tennis tournament, could be so challenging to not be worth the effort on the part of all. This I suspect is a function of the complex nature of Japan. The web site was confusing. Changes made in chat section not always accurately updated in trip plans, leading to some confusion, such as not knowing when rides to train would show up, location for foodie tour meet up spot was wrong, so spent an hour waiting in pouring rain to finally meet guide, etc. For the most part, these challenges were limited in number and guides, train tickets,etc. all worked like clockwork. Hotels were great, with exception of last night in Tokyo..room was so small it was hard for my husband and I to even move around free space. Your last night before a long journey home you really want to start w a good night’s sleep so that was disappointing. The hotels were in great locations and high quality, however, although the lake hotel in Nikko was far from town so long taxi rides for bike tour. In retrospect, we are still glad we stayed there as it was a very unique experience and the other choices would not have been as good. We had 4 guides that were over the top and made our experiences especially wonderful… we bonded so well with them that it was hard to say goodbye ( Tokyo, Kyoto, Nikko bike trip, and Nara transfer). All guides were good, but it was clear which ones were doing it to pick up extra money while in school, for example, versus having a true passion. We did not like the tours where you had to pay entrance fees yourself, such as with Kanazawa tours. For the most part, the itinerary did a great job ( with help of guides ) of avoiding crowds during high traffic season, which was greatly appreciated . The main exception was Tokyo sky tower on Sunday afternoon—- 2 hrs of lines and so crowded on top hard to take in view.

In summary, what I really liked about the trio was attention to making experiences unique, and not touristy, so we felt we really could experience the real Japan. The private guides did that, as well special events such as country bike trip in Nikko, monastery stay in Koyasan, geisha tea house ceremony, Nara deer interactions, visit to ancient home in third town on Shirakawago day trip, Kimono museum in Mt Fuji, etc. Please don’t take the comments above as taking away from the incredible service we got from Shona. This was not a cookie cutter trip to a very busy tourist site… it was well planned, unique, creative, flowed well and a great collaborative effort between ourselves and our guide!,

Hotel Reviews
Hakone Kowakien TEN-YU
Hakone

Dinners great

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
莲华定院 (Ren'gejo-in Temple (Pilgrim's Lodging))

Unique experience although hungry after meals!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Candeo Hotels Osaka The Tower
Osaka
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Hotel Sanraku Kanazawa
Kanazawa

View of electrical equipment on roof of building next door

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Chuzenji Kanaya Hotel

Big room beautiful location Rooms a bit dated but very charming . Far from town

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Daiwa Roynet Hotel Ginza PREMIER
Tokyo

Rooms too small. Breakfast good and location great

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Room too small. View into office suite of building across way
Activity Reviews
Osaka Foodie Walking Tour at dark
Osaka Foodie Walking Tour at dark
Osaka

Guide good .. first restaurant just mediocre.. second good. Poring rain and we were told to meet at old meeting point ..had to walk in rain to catch up to guide

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transfer from Kyoto to Osaka via Nara
Transfer from Kyoto to Osaka via Nara
Japan

Highlight of trip was spending so much time w Hector… he even walked back to hotel check in w us to be sure no issues and kept sending useful advice after the long day w him ended. So much fun. Lived his knowledge, enthusiasm, sense of humor, shortcuts and tailored itinerary

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Garden Walking Tour (Join-in)
Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Garden Walking Tour (Join-in)
Kyoto

Just ok

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

Guide was nice but harder to communicate with

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Geisha (Maiko) Tea Ceremony & Show
Geisha (Maiko) Tea Ceremony & Show
Kyoto

Thought it would be touristy but it felt very authentic and we really loved the Q and A w geisha

Quality of Experience
Kanazawa Full Day Walking Tour
Kanazawa Full Day Walking Tour
Kanazawa

Guide was nice but did not feel as if we learned as much . Did not like concept of paying for lunch for all.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Shirakawago Day Trip
Shirakawago Day Trip
Kanazawa

Loved all 3 towns,but the most authentic was the last one.. especially house visit.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Night Tour of Kanawaza With  Dinner
Night Tour of Kanawaza With Dinner
Kanazawa

Guide was just Ok . Restaurant was great and unique

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Nikko 33km Scenic Cycling + Farmhouse Lunch (Approx. 5 Hours)
Nikko 33km Scenic Cycling + Farmhouse Lunch (Approx. 5 Hours)
Nikko

Our tour guide was so wonderful ! Loved the entire day . Bikes good. Well organized .

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Get a Taste of Nikko's Nature and Culture: Toshogu Shrine.
Get a Taste of Nikko's Nature and Culture: Toshogu Shrine.
Nikko

KENTO was as good as it gets … so much fun and we will never forget our time with him.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi Tour with Whisky Tasting
Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi Tour with Whisky Tasting
Tokyo

Yumi was outstanding

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Tokyo City Tour
Full Day Tokyo City Tour
Tokyo

Yumi was as good as it gets .. we became best friends before the trio was over. She spent so much time ensuring everything went smoothly and had unique suggestiins to make Tokyo and mt Fuji flow smoothly.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Shona Zhang
Shona
Shona Zhang
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Nov 17, 2025
Hi B and Kevin ,
Thank you so much for sharing such thoughtful and detailed feedback. We are thrilled to hear that, despite a few challenges, your trip was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience and that Shona was able to create a unique and memorable journey for you. It’s wonderful to know that the private guides, special activities, and carefully planned itinerary helped you experience the real Japan.
We also sincerely appreciate your constructive comments about the website issues,... Read more

Hi B and Kevin ,
Thank you so much for sharing such thoughtful and detailed feedback. We are thrilled to hear that, despite a few challenges, your trip was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience and that Shona was able to create a unique and memorable journey for you. It’s wonderful to know that the private guides, special activities, and carefully planned itinerary helped you experience the real Japan.

We also sincerely appreciate your constructive comments about the website issues, communication challenges, hotel arrangements, and other minor bumps along the way. Your feedback is invaluable and will help us improve our processes and ensure future trips run even more smoothly.

It was a pleasure to help craft this journey with you, and we are grateful for your patience and collaboration. We hope to have the opportunity to plan another exceptional adventure for you in the future.
Best
Shona

Jessica created a wonderful tour for us in Ko...
South Korea | Oct 23 - Oct 29, 2025

Kathleen
Kathleen N.
Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Nov 11, 2025
Jessica created a wonderful tour for us in Korea. We were met at the airport and guided throughout our stay which made this so very easy and not the least bit stressful. This was our first time having a private tour and I highly recommend it. One guide we had, Michael was especially impressive. He took us to visit historical sights, villages and the must see street food markets in Seoul. Jessica arranged our transportation on the high speed train to Busan for a few nights and that was amazing... Read more

Jessica created a wonderful tour for us in Korea. We were met at the airport and guided throughout our stay which made this so very easy and not the least bit stressful. This was our first time having a private tour and I highly recommend it. One guide we had, Michael was especially impressive. He took us to visit historical sights, villages and the must see street food markets in Seoul. Jessica arranged our transportation on the high speed train to Busan for a few nights and that was amazing as well. I would not hesitate to use Kimkim travel in the future, they truly make touring a seamless experience, well worth the cost!

Hotel Review
Avani Central Busan
Busan

Central location with amazing views of both the city and the nearby ocean. Very well stocked and comfortable room with a helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Jessica Wang
Jessica
Jessica Wang
Local specialist in South Korea | Replied on Nov 12, 2025

Hi Kathleen!

Welcome back! Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback, and it truly made my day! I'm so happy to hear you had such a great time in Korea and that everything went smoothly.

It was such a joy helping plan your journey, and I’m so glad you enjoyed the experience from start to finish :)! I'll be sure to share your kind words with Michael; he'll be thrilled to hear them!!!

All the best🥰,
Jessica