Oshinobi Travel

Our trip to Japan was everything we hoped for and more, thanks to the incredible planning and support from Peter at KimKim and Emi at Oshinobi Travels. Every tour, every guide, and every experience felt thoughtfully curated and perfectly matched to what our family enjoys.

From the moment we arrived, each outing ran smoothly and gave us a deeper appreciation for Japan’s culture, history, and everyday life. Our guides were not only knowledgeable, but also warm, engaging, and genuinely excited to share their country with us. Whether we were exploring ancient temples/shrines, wandering through vibrant neighborhoods, or learning the stories behind iconic landmarks, each guide added personal touches that made the experience unforgettable.

We especially loved how every tour felt unique. Some days were filled with rich historical context and beautiful architecture; others were more relaxed and focused on food, local markets, or hidden gems we never would have found on our own. No matter the setting, our guides made the day feel special, and we walked away from each outing with new insights and wonderful memories. We had different guides at the different locations and activities but here is a list of all those wonderful guides that made us feel welcome and appreciated - Peco and Ryoma in Kyoto, Yuuki, Tadashi, Masa, Manabu and our shushi chef Nobu in Tokyo.

KimKim’s coordination was seamless from start to finish. The itinerary was full with lots of activities and walking, but communication was excellent, and every detail — transportation, timing, tickets, and transitions — was handled with care. It allowed us to simply enjoy Japan without stress or guesswork.

This was one of our favorite international trips, and KimKim played a huge role in making it so meaningful. We’re grateful for the expertise, kindness, and professionalism of everyone involved, and we wouldn’t hesitate to use KimKim again for future adventures.

Hotel Reviews

Cross Hotel Kyoto

Kyoto

This hotel is located near a lot of restaurants and shopping. It was a great location for us to do our day trips during our time in Kyoto. The beds were firm but comfortable. The room was nice and had everything that we needed during our stay. The breakfasts were very good. The concierge was very helpful for a couple of things that we needed during our stay. This is a more modern place to stay but we were right at home here.

Authenticity & Character

Modern/comtemporary design.

Location

Great location. Close to food and shopping. Requires a little walking or a taxi to get to the train station.

Staff

Concierge was very helpful. Staff at breakfast was always friendly.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable.

Hotel Groove Shinjuku

Tokyo

We loved this hotel. It was our favorite of the places we stayed in Japan because the room was the most comfortable and more spacious. The breakfast buffets were very good (they do get crowded) and just what we needed to start our day. Great views of the city from our room on the 23rd floor. Easy to walk to all types of food, shopping and gaming.

Authenticity & Character

Really loved the contemporary/modern design. Beds were very comfortable and the air conditioning works very well at this hotel.

Location

Very good location for food and shopping. A bit of a walk to get to the train station.

Staff

Everyone was friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The most comfortable location that we stayed in during our trip to Japan. Bed was amazing and the pillows were better than what we had at our other locations. More spacious than other places we stayed and it had a washer/dryer in the room!

Asakusa View Hotel

Tokyo

Beautiful hotel in a great location. It was very comfortable and they treated us very nicely upon arrival. The breakfast buffet was one of our favorites during our trip to Japan. I wish we had more time at this location but this was just a one night stay that allowed us to get settled before our transfer to Kyoto.

Authenticity & Character

When you check in, there is a beautiful garden and they serve you tea while you are checking in.

Location

It was convenient to a lot of restaurants and activites.

Staff

From picking up our bags and transferring them to our room to the warm check in experience, this was a great staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Super amazing rooms. Clean and comfortable. Couldn't ask for more.

Activity Reviews

*Private Sushi Cooking Class with a Master Sushi Chef

Tokyo

Our sushi‑making class with Nobu was a wonderful experience. He taught us about the different types of sushi and guided us step‑by‑step as we made several varieties ourselves. Nobu was funny, patient, and incredibly knowledgeable, and his expertise made the class both educational and fun. Best of all, we got to enjoy the delicious sushi we created. This was a highlight of our trip, and we highly recommend it.

Quality of Experience

Absolutely on of the highlights of our trip. Nobu was knowledgeable and funny.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nobu was great. His sense of humor along with his knowledge made this a highlight for us.

*Private Guided Tour in Tokyo: Highlights and Hidden Gems

Tokyo

Our guided tour of Tokyo with Masa was excellent. He asked what we were most interested in and tailored the day perfectly. After enjoying beautiful city views from a high‑rise observation deck, he took us shopping for Harry Potter, Pokémon, and Star Wars merchandise — a big hit for our family. We had a delicious lunch at a shopping center, where we enjoyed ramen and dumplings, and then spent the afternoon walking through the Emperor’s grounds, taking in the peaceful scenery and learning about the history of the area.

Quality of Experience

Great opportunity to see things that we would not have known about or visited.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Masa was wonderful. He did a great job of asking us what we wanted and adapted as the day went along.

*Private Izakaya bar hopping tour in Tokyo: Best of Local Bars & Bites

Tokyo

Our bar‑hopping evening in Tokyo with Tadashi was outstanding. He took us to three very different local restaurants, each with its own style and specialties. We started with incredible Wagyu beef and sake — both seared and served in a bowl of noodles — and Tadashi, being a sushi chef, explained every dish and drink in wonderful detail. The second stop focused on fresh seafood, sushi‑style, and the final restaurant featured Okinawan cuisine with delicious pork dishes. The beer at the last stop was pretty good, especially mixed with the fruit juices. We ended the night with Blue Seal sugar cane ice cream, which was absolutely heavenly. Tadashi was warm, knowledgeable, and made the entire experience fun and memorable. We highly recommend this tour.

Quality of Experience

Really enjoyed getting to sample 3 different types of Japanese food and the different beverages.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tadashi was great. Since he is a sushi chef as well, his expertise was appreciated and his ability to detail the food and beverages were phenomenal.

*Private guided Akihabara Anime and Games tour

Tokyo

Our Akihabara tour with Yuuki was fantastic. He took the time to learn what our son likes and brought us to shops that carried merchandise from his favorite games. He even helped our son track down a specific Pokémon card he wanted for his collection, which made the day extra special. Yuuki also took us through several arcades and played games with us, which made the experience fun and interactive. For lunch, he brought us to a revolving sushi restaurant that was a hit with all of us. Yuuki was friendly, knowledgeable, and made the entire tour feel personalized and enjoyable. We highly recommend this experience.

Quality of Experience

Yuuki tailored this to our son's gaming likes and helped him find Pokemon cards that he really wanted to add to his collection.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yuuki was fabulous. Great energy and he was great at connecting with our son.

*Private Guided Tour in Nara: Temples, Deer and Sacred Traditions

Japan

We had a fantastic day in Nara with Peco, even with the rain. She guided us through the beautiful temple grounds and gardens, and we loved getting to see — and feed — the famous Nara deer. Peco shared great stories and history throughout the day, making each stop feel meaningful. She took us to a cozy local restaurant for lunch, where we enjoyed delicious food, and later introduced us to a sake tasting that was a fun surprise. We ended the day riding the bullet train back, which was a great experience in itself. On the ride to Nara, we experienced the special train that was very comfortable and relaxing. Peco was warm, knowledgeable, and made the entire day enjoyable despite the weather. We highly recommend this tour.

Quality of Experience

Wonderful. We learned a lot and Peco was great at taking us to places that we could not have found on our own.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Peco was fabulous. We had her on two days and both days, she was incredible.

Transport

The first train to Nara was beautiful. The seats were comfortable and relaxing.

*Private Guided Samurai Ninja Museum

Kyoto

We had a great time visiting the Samurai Ninja Museum. This was a very informative experience. We were guided from the 3rd floor down to the 2nd floor to see different information on the history of the Samurai and Ninjas. We had the opportunity to participate in a ninja star throwing contest and get our photos taken as we dressed like a Samurai. Full tour that didn't take too long.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The young lady that was our guide was great. She gave us lots of information and we could understand her very well as she did the tour in English.

*Private Hiking tour around a Hidden Route of Fushimi Inari Taisha with a Local Lunch

Kyoto

Our hidden‑route hike at Fushimi Inari with Ryoma was outstanding. He guided us through a quiet bamboo forest used for harvesting, then led us up a much less crowded path to the mountaintop — steep steps, but beautiful and peaceful. Along the way, we even met a carpenter who helps maintain the shrines, which made the experience feel truly special. The carpenter even allowed us to try our hand at planing a board using a hand tool. At the summit, Ryoma helped us make an offering at the shrine, explaining each step clearly. After the hike, he took us to a family‑owned restaurant that’s been in business for over 116 years, where we enjoyed a traditional Japanese meal sitting on the floor. We ended the day with delicious matcha ice cream.

Quality of Experience

This was a great experience and we really enjoyed meeting the carpenter along the tour. He allowed us to try planing using his old fashioned method with hand tools. Great opportunity to see a craftsman at work.

Food

The restaurant was excellent. One of our favorite meals (soba noodles).

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ryoma was fantastic. He was patient with us as we struggled on some of the steep climbing portions and was very encouraging.

Transport

We walked for this tour. We did not have private transportation.

*Private Guided Tour in Arashiyama

Kyoto

Our private tour of Arashiyama with Peco was fantastic. She guided us on a beautiful hike up the mountain to see the monkeys, and the views over Kyoto were incredible. We visited several shrines along the way, each with its own story that Peco explained so well. One of our favorite moments was walking through the peaceful garden of a home once owned by a famous Japanese movie star — a spot we never would have found on our own. Peco was warm, knowledgeable, and made the entire experience feel effortless. We loved every part of this tour and highly recommend it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide, Peco was outstanding. She has great energy. She took time to get to know us and find out what we like so she could tailor the experience to us.

Transport

We had a private driver that took us to the monkey park. He was very good. From there, we took taxis to the gardens and then back to the hotel. The private drivers are wonderful and they have very nice vehicles. The taxi drivers are Ok but the vehicles are not nearly as nice as the private transportation.

This has to be one of the best organized trips I've ever been on. KimKim organized everything from beginning to the end and it was seamless! The itinerary matched exactly what I wanted within my budget and Ellen's suggestions for some other experiences were perfect! From letting us know the times and locations of where to meet our guides to the exact platform to be on for the trains, we never found ourselves lost, confused or stressed. The drivers picking us up were bilingual and very helpful and our guides were off the charts! Lily, Jun, Meri, Satoko and Kiko showed us so many wonderful places in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto and incorporated my desire to visit Ueno and Kappabashi (so I could get some Japanese Knives!) and to visit some smaller neighborhoods as well. We also asked for visits to the Inari gates and the bamboo forest but without the crowds and our guide came up with solutions. Overall our whole trip was 100% perfections and I have absolutely no complaints about anything. I plan on using KimKim again for future trips to other countries!

Activity Reviews

*Private Guided Tour in Kyoto: Heritage and Timeless Paths

Kyoto

Kyoto is beautiful and special in its own way. Staying at a Ryokan and having Kaiseki dinners were such a great experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

*Private Guided tour in Osaka: Castle, Street Eats and Local Energy

Osaka

Osaka is for food lovers and it did not disappoint! As well as the shrines, Tori gates and the Bamboo forest, all were beautiful!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

*Private Guided Tour in Tokyo: Highlights and Hidden Gems

Tokyo

I loved that we were able to also include exploring Ueno and Kappabashi as I requested. There’s sooo much to see in Tokyo but I love these two areas!

Quality of Experience

Small streets of great food and experiences!

Quality of Experience

Small streets of great food and experiences!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

My guide found my favorite gyoza restaurant from an old photo I had!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

My guide found my favorite gyoza restaurant from an old photo I had!

Transport

Clean, professional and bilingual drivers were extra special!

Transport

Clean, professional and bilingual drivers were extra special!

We used kimkim to book our honeymoon. We cannot recommend it enough.

It was an incredible trip and everyone made sure to make us feel so special! We went to Tokyo, Atami, Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka, and Nagano — and honestly it exceeded every expectation we had. From setting up accommodation, travel and guides, it was worth every penny! The communication was smooth through the planning process. The platform on Kimkim made it super easy to connect.

We were matched with Oshinobi Travel, and worked with Hiroshi and Emi. From the start, they were courteous and careful in planning everything for us. From taking our desires into consideration to recommending specific excursions throughout our trip, they went above and beyond to make sure that we had the most amazing trip we could have hoped for. Our guides on the ground were just as amazing — Hiro took care of us in Tokyo and Hakone, Sally was our guide through Osaka and Kyoto, and Ryoma led us on the Fushimi Inari hike. Every single one of them was knowledgeable, warm, and genuinely made the trip so much better. They brought the history and culture to life at every shrine and temple we visited and we came home knowing so much more about Japan than we ever expected.

The food alone was worth the trip. We did a sushi making class and an Osaka-style Okonomiyaki class at CFlat which were both so fun — highly recommend! And the restaurants throughout were just outstanding. Our guides helped us with recommendations in each area, making sure we had the best experience and that we tried every lasty local dish.

We also got to snowboard and soak in some onsens up in Nagano which was the perfect way to wind down. The whole trip felt so well-balanced between culture, food, adventure, and just enjoying the scenery.

Can't recommend it enough. Already thinking about our next trip back!

Hotel Reviews

The Okura Tokyo

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Shunran no Yado Sakaeya

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hakuba Yamano Hotel

Hakuba

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Osaka Marriott Miyako Hotel

Osaka

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cross Hotel Kyoto

Kyoto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Shin Kado Ya

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

A Day to Unwind and Relax in Tokyo

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Relax in onsen hot spring

Yudanaka Onsen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

★Savor Japan: homely experience of cooking okonomiyaki with a japanese grandmother (Private Experience)

Osaka

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

★Paths of Japan: Osaka Private Guided Tour: Castle, Street Eats & Local Energy

Osaka

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

★Private tea ceremony experience with a tea master

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

★Paths of Japan: go on a hike and Take a closer look into the depths of fushimi inari

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

★Unfold japan: get immersed in a full course interaction with a maiko

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

★ Guided Tour of Kyoto: Timeless Beauty & Cultural Highlights

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Scenic Hakone Adventures and Transfer to Kyoto

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

★Paths of Japan: Hakone Private Guided Tour: Discover Nature & Art

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Luggage transfer service

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

★Experience a Sushi Making Class in a Sushi Restaurant

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

★Tsukiji and Toyosu Fish Market Walking Tour

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

★Full-Day Guided Tour of Tokyo: Iconic Sights, Culture & City Vibes

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Genuinely incredibly well done, I almost wish I asked for less freedom some days because basically everything planned was awesome. I plan on coming back to japan in the not-so-distant future and hope to use the service again then.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Keihan Tsukiji Ginza Grande

Tokyo

Cool eco conscious hotel

Osaka Excel Hotel Tokyu

Osaka

Cool spot with train access, cool local area is far from shin osaka but central to all sights

ALA HOTEL KYOTO

Kyoto

Spitting distance from the station, nice vibe and staff

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Marunouchi

Tokyo

Kind staff, very stylish

Shin Kado Ya

Awesome. Just really great very traditional, be careful walking around though this place is kind of a maze.

Authenticity & Character

Just really classic vibe and service

Location

Hill top view of the sea in private bathroom, come on now

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

★Unfold Japan: have a go at kintsugi, a traditional japanese art concept

Kyoto

Fun and relaxing

Guides, Drivers and Staff

★Savor Japan: homely experience of cooking okonomiyaki with a japanese grandmother (Private Experience)

Osaka

Fun again not sure if I just got lucky with my group or not but it wound up being really enjoyable

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Japanese Tea Ceremony at a Space Enveloped in Japanese Beauty in Kyoto

Kyoto

This is the quintessential tea experience, no need to look further, its perfect here.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

★Bar Hopping Izakaya Tour in the Lively Nightlife of Shinjuku

Japan

Did not go into this with high expectations, maybe we just had a great group, maybe we got lucky with friendly locals but it was blast

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Scenic Hakone Adventures and Transfer to Kyoto

Japan

Hakone is beautiful but be warned if you start at the point I did it takes several hours to get to odawara for the train in just travel time, plan where you will stop accordingly.

★Go on a hike and Take a closer look into the depths of Fushimi Inari

Kyoto

Fun, need to be fit enough for it though which thankfully I was. But it is not a easy trial at the end.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

★ Guided Tour of Kyoto: Timeless Beauty & Cultural Highlights

Kyoto

My guide was awesome and we managed to get on some hidden paths to avoid the crowds at thier worst

Guides, Drivers and Staff

★Unfold Japan: Watch a live sumo show up close with local hotpot

Tokyo

Not bad, only one I wasn't over the moon over, felt like a medieval times style gimmick but that could be me being too harsh

★Full-Day Guided Tour of Tokyo: Iconic Sights, Culture & City Vibes

Tokyo

Awesome , just great fun got to glimpse everything and we could dodge crowds

Guides, Drivers and Staff

This was our first trip with KimKim — who was recommended to us by friends who recently had a great experience — and we’d have to say it was a pretty flawless ride. Completely easy and enjoyable start to finish, and ultimately unforgettable.

We are a family of four (including two college-age sons) and none of us had ever been to Japan. KimKim connected us with a regional specialist (Jasmine Z) who took time to get to know us a bit online and figure out what we liked / didn’t like, what specific anchor places/events would need to be worked in, and what our budget would be. After that we were working with a Tokyo-based travel company, Hiroshi T., and his colleague Emi M., (Oshinobi Travel) who could not have been more pleasant, efficient, and accommodating. We did essentially 5 cities/hotels in 14 days, including Tokyo on the entry and exit, plus about three day-long excursions. All main island (Honshu) this time. Our itinerary was documented day by day on a shared Google doc, and tweaked a bit through Q&A up to about a month ahead of departure. Pre-trip, KimKim hosted a phone call with Hiroshi at a mutually convenient time to walk through the whole itinerary and answer questions. Result: Amazing trip.

Hiroshi’s hotel choices were all Japanese-owned hotels, superbly located, and nicely varied, all very high quality and all with epic breakfasts, which made getting out of bed an event to look forward to. Hiroshi made a point of meeting us in person and spending essentially half of his day making sure we were able to find and attend a particular site that was difficult for non-Japanese visitors to negotiate. In every city, transfers/drivers as needed were available and on-time. They lined up superb guides in (Ms. Kyoko in Tokyo, and Mr. Shohei in Kyoto, and Ms. Miyuki in Kawaguchiko); we felt that the guides not only provided key history and cultural insights, but gave us a leg up on a hundred different travel basics & hacks, which gave us the confidence to make our way around on the days (most of them) when we didn’t have a guide. Our time was dramatically more efficient given the foundation they gave us. Hiroshi provided train tickets and explicit use instructions in a nicely organized portfolio, so it was easy to track chronologically through our itinerary, and saved us tons of time figuring out the amazing but rather complex transportation systems. As English (and non-Japanese) speakers, we appreciated their command of both languages. We’ll also note that communication was super easy — they were seemingly available all the time (including weekends) when needed, via WhatsApp, and copious itinerary, contact, and basic travel information was shared through Google docs. That info, coupled with our own use of Apple Maps (for transit and walking navigation) and Google Translate (totally useful in the clutch more than a few times) made for a surprisingly smooth journey through even the largest city on the planet.

Kudos and thanks to the KimKim team and Oshinobi (Hiroshi and Emi) for getting it right at every turn and for helping our family make some great memories.

We had a great trip and Hiroshi and the team were great. One potential item for improvement would be improved communication during the planning stage. Sometimes we were confused about why our itinerary was set up the way it was, but when we asked for clarification the explanation always made sense.

Highlights of our trip were the Ryoken in Narai, Sushi in Osaka, day trip to Hiroshima, Kimono photoshoot and Kinstugi in Kyoto, walking the Nakasendo. Great trip.

Hotel Reviews

Cross Hotel Kyoto

Kyoto

Amazing location in Kyoto, close to everything. Rooms were compact and breakfast was all tourists. I think this is typical for Kyoto at this time of year.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Osaka Marriott Miyako Hotel

Osaka

The view!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku

Tokyo

Great location in Asakusa. Just be aware the neighborhood gets quiet after 8 PM, so if you want a later meal there are slim pickings.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hakone Gora KARAKU

Beautiful facility with opportunities to improve service.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

The service is not up to par. For example dinner is included and we were asked for the time when we checked in. The food was fine, but the service was not. We were served a kaiseki meal in less than an hour. Servers hurried the experience and it was rushed and uncomfortable. The service is below average for a property of this caliber.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The onsen facilities were lovely.

Hotel

Beautiful property in a quiet Japanese village.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

★Savor japan: experience making your own sushi followed with a top-notch sushi dinner

Osaka

My favorite meal of the trip. Outstanding Omakase experience.

Quality of Experience

★Unfold Japan: have a go at kintsugi, a traditional Japanese Art Concept

Kyoto

What a neat experience at a 7th generation family business.

Quality of Experience

★Dressing Up in Traditional Kimono and Enjoy a Photoshoot!

Kyoto

I thought this would be silly, but it was a lot of fun. We all enjoyed it.

Quality of Experience

We worked with Jasmine and Hiroshi of Oshinobi Travel, and regret the decision.

Although their service did provide several memorable experiences (Miyokaiku carpentry tour, Yoko the guide for Nikko, Emi's help in coordinating connections), these were overshadowed by repeated disappointments:

The wrong ryokan was booked for the Nakasendo trail, and this was a major disappointment. But even more upsetting was the lack of response to making any correction or taking any responsibility for the oversight. Instead, fault was seemingly placed on us (via the Kim Kim dialog). I requested a refund, and was denied.

Even when we cancelled planned arrangements--such as a guide we no longer needed--no compensation was offered. We enjoyed most of their guides, but some did not have the requisite knowledge / experience of the places we visited (temples, gardens, etc.)

The hotels they selected on their own were standard Western rooms, except for specific requests we had made. We did enjoy the ryokan they booked in Kyoto. The places you stay matter in terms of the experience you have.

The train bookings were also standard / basic, and could have easily been upgraded, given the cost of the trip.

Overall, for the ~$30,000.00 we spent for 10 days, we felt we had an average experience. We had booked with Esprit Travel in the past--and for less--and had trip experiences that were exceptional. We will book with Esprit next time we visit.

Hotel Reviews

The Tokyo Station Hotel

Tokyo

Simply a Wonderful hotel... With History, a Soul, and wonderful staff and food.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Okunoin Hotel Tokugawa

Nikko

Also sterile, western experience.

Hatago Tawaraya Ryokan

Nakatsugawa

The Wrong ryokan, and hence our disappointment. Not much of a Soul, but clean.

Kyoto Yuzuya Ryokan

Kyoto

Loved this place, and its location. We will return.

Authenticity & Character

A true ryokan experience.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Shourekiji Temple Stay

Ayabe

Enjoyed the interactions with the hosts, especially the participation in the Buddhist traditions.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very remote--1.5 hours from Kyoto

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Leisure Time at Nikko

Nikko

Our guide, Yoko, did an amazing job here. Although she had been told we were planning to hike, we went to Nikko for the temples and World Heritage Sites. This took some adjustment on her part, which she did artfully, and took us on an amazing tour. At the end of the tour--which included almost Everything at a leisurely pace--she even sent us off by taking us to various food spots (including saki) for the train ride home.

Embark a Special Himeji Miyadaiku Carpentry Tour and Castle Exploration

Japan

Our best arranged experience, overall. We met the master carpenter at his shop, where he educated us about joinery and various techniques. And then the carpenter himself took us on the tour of the Himeji castle, which he himself had restored 10 years earlier. The guide / translator also did an exceptional job.

Private Transportation Service

Japan

The private transportation was very expensive. We requested a car after we cancelled a previous arrangement, and Hiroshi gave me a price of $350-400 for the morning of the request. We walked instead, had immersive experiences in Kyoto, and then simply took a cab back to the ryokan for a total cost of $8.00.

KimKim & Oshinobi Travel (Reina, Hiroshi & Emi) helped plan and execute an unbelievable trip to Japan in April 2025 in which 4 of us visited Tokyo, Nikko, Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka and Koyasan. Leaving things a bit late (end of February), KimKim was the only travel agent able to put together the itinerary we wanted, finding us hotels, activities and guides that were all top notch. The travel logistics (trains, cars, subways, etc.), coordination and level of service during our trip were second to none, with excellent responsiveness on WhatsApp or by phone during all hours of the day. The suggested activities were all excellent choices as well, and we would not have wanted to miss any of them. Thanks very much for an awesome trip!

Hotel Reviews

THE HOTEL HIGASHIYAMA KYOTO TOKYU, A Pan Pacific Hotel

Kyoto

Executive Rooms are roomy and worth the money. Standard rooms very cramped.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fufu Hakone

Hakone

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

★Tsukiji Fish Market Walking Tour

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport