Pegasus Travel

Working with Ben was easy. He is very knowledgeable and professional. I appreciated his advice and expertise so much. We communicated well during the planning stages and crafted an unforgettable trip to Japan.

While we had a great time on our trip, the price we paid definitely did not match the level of service we were given. Ben was very responsive, but there were many setbacks we encountered during the vacation, the first of which being the moment we landed. When we arrived in Japan at 4 am our private airport transfer was nowhere to be found. After about 30 minutes of standing around and calling/messaging, we finally got in touch with KimKim and the driver who said he got the time wrong and he could be to the airport to pick us up in about an hour to an hour in a half. We were exhausted and opted for two taxis instead. We understood that misunderstandings like that can happen and appreciated that Ben rectified the situation the following day by having our guide reimburse us. On the topic of the guide, one of the two guides we had was wonderful; however, the other guide did not have any information about the sites he was taking us to, hardly knew how to get around/where we were going, and did not speak any English beyond basic conversational skills (despite being marketed as an English-speaking guide). We ended up cancelling him on the last day in favor of just exploring ourselves and had a much better, less hectic day overall.

In my opinion, securing a good guide is one of the two reasons to book through an agent though. The other major perk is having them plan out the logistics which they didn’t do well at all. We were back in the same neighborhoods many days in a row and our itinerary suggested we go to things on days they were closed, which we were not notified of until day-of by the guide and, in one circumstance, not at all (we only found out by looking it up ourselves while we were already en route).

Lastly, we requested certain experiences, like an authentic tea ceremony, and were given the most touristy options available. We were specifically trying to avoid things of that nature and were deeply disappointed upon entering. While it was nice to have sightseeing entrance fees and transit tickets already arranged and paid for, we could’ve easily handled our own transport and tickets and, in some cases, had to do so anyway due to the poor planning of our daily itineraries. The price simply isn’t worth the quality of planning. Lesson learned. Save your money.

Very responsive and open to our requests. Great communication with Ben before, during, and after trip.

When we first considered using Kimkim to plan our family's trip to Japan, I was honestly a little reluctant.

As someone who typically plans complex travel myself, I wasn't sure if anyone could truly understand what we were looking for. We wanted luxury, but not just luxury. We wanted authenticity. We wanted Michelin-level food experiences alongside tiny local restaurants. We wanted our children (ages 10 and 13) to experience the real Japan, not simply move from tourist attraction to tourist attraction. Most importantly, we wanted a trip that would bring our family closer together.

Then we met Bella.

From our very first conversation, Bella was remarkable.

Over the course of months, we probably sent her hundreds of questions, requests, revisions, restaurant ideas, hotel changes, flight updates, and random thoughts. Not once did she make us feel like a burden. In fact, she embraced the process. Every request was met with enthusiasm, thoughtfulness, and genuine care.

What impressed me most was her willingness to adapt. We changed hotels. We added destinations, removed destinations, swapped experiences, changed flights, debated Disney, baseball games, restaurants, and transportation. Bella never missed a beat.

She helped us create exactly the trip we wanted.

And then the trip began.

What followed exceeded every expectation.

The guides Bella selected were exceptional.

Mr. Hajime in Tokyo was fantastic. Knowledgeable, personable, flexible, and passionate about sharing Japan beyond the guidebook. He understood immediately that we loved local culture and hidden gems. Some of our favorite moments came from spontaneous recommendations and side streets we never would have discovered on our own.

Mr. Hiroyuki in Hakone helped us experience a completely different side of Japan. The pace slowed, the scenery changed, and we were able to enjoy one of the most relaxing parts of our journey.

Ms. Ursula in Kyoto and Osaka was equally outstanding. Warm, insightful, and incredibly knowledgeable, she helped bring centuries of Japanese history and culture to life while also making everything accessible and enjoyable for our children.

The drivers were equally impressive.

Every transfer was seamless. Every pickup was on time. Whether we were moving between hotels, stations, or destinations, the logistics simply disappeared into the background—which is exactly how great travel should feel.

One of the things I appreciated most was that the trip never felt rigid.

We had structure when we needed it and flexibility when we wanted it.

Bella listened when we said we preferred local neighborhoods over crowded tourist zones. We explored areas where locals actually live, shop, and eat. We wandered hidden streets in Tokyo, discovered incredible food, and experienced moments that felt authentic rather than manufactured.

The food was extraordinary.

We enjoyed everything from world-class omakase and Tempura Kondo to local ramen shops, yakiniku, Kobe beef in Kyoto, and countless memorable meals in between. Bella understood that we were food-focused travelers and helped us build a dining experience that balanced celebrated restaurants with places we likely never would have found ourselves.

Hakone was magical.

Our stay at Gen Hakone Gora was one of the highlights of the trip. The onsen experience, the kaiseki dinners, the tranquility, and the incredible hospitality created memories our family will never forget.

And then there was the family aspect.

As I write this, we're sitting in the Delta Lounge preparing to fly home.

The thing we're talking about isn't DisneySea. It isn't the Michelin restaurants. It isn't the luxury hotels.

It's how much time we spent together.

This trip gave us something that becomes increasingly difficult to find in everyday life: uninterrupted family time.

We laughed together, explored together, got lost together, discovered new foods together, and experienced an entirely different culture together.

Our children leave with a genuine appreciation for Japan.

My wife and I leave with memories that will last forever.

And our family leaves closer than when we arrived.

That's the true measure of a great trip.

Japan itself is an extraordinary destination, but Bella and her team transformed it from a vacation into a family experience we'll be talking about for decades.

If you're considering Japan and wondering whether to trust Bella and Kimkim, my advice is simple:

Do it.

Trust the process.

Share what matters to you.

Bella will listen.

And if your experience is anything like ours, you'll come home wondering when you can return.

Bella, thank you for your patience, your professionalism, your attention to detail, and most importantly, your genuine care for our family.

You helped create memories that we will cherish for the rest of our lives.

We had an unforgettable family trip to Japan, traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto to Osaka. Our local specialist Ben did such an amazing job planning our trip. He was so responsive to all of our questions and provided great suggestions. Our daughters were thrilled with the activities that were planned for us, from shopping for anime in Akihabara to petting capybaras. We were able to enjoy all of the beauty of Japan's temples, shrines and scenic landscapes and the KimKim team put together an absolutely beautiful trip for us. We had wonderful, knowledgeable guides, particularly Mr. Hiroyuki, who my daughters are still talking about after our trip has ended. I cannot express how much gratitude we have for everyone involved in our trip and I would definitely recommend the KimKim team to anyone travelling.

Hotel Reviews

The TOURIST HOTEL AND CAFE AKIHABARA

Tokyo

The TOURIST HOTEL AND CAFE AKIHABARA in Tokyo was a fantastic place to stay, particularly because of its convenient location. My kids were thrilled to be so close to Akihabara, which was perfect for their anime interests, and the proximity to the train station made getting around effortless. The convenience and location definitely enhanced our experience in Tokyo.

Yuno Yado Shoei

This was a beautiful, peaceful Ryokan. We enjoyed the traditional food in the restaurant, and I had a very nice massage. It was a great experience!

Authenticity & Character

The onsens were peaceful and the food was delicious.

Location

A little far from downtown Kyoto, but easily accessible by bus

Staff

Friendly staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

🍜🏯✨ Osaka Castle, Cup Noodles Museum & Dotonbori Street Food Adventure（Guide, Public Transportation）

Osaka

While we loved all of the individual activities in this day, it was a lot to fit in and by the time we reached Dotonburi we were quite tired and did not get to enjoy it as fully. However, still a great day!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Mr. Hiroshi was very helpful and patient with us

Transport

Hozugawa River Boat Ride and Arashiyama Exploration and Japanese tea ceremony (Private Guide &Public Transportation)

Kyoto

The boat ride on the Hoguzawa river was so fun. The boat drivers were entertaining! We also enjoyed our gift of a rickshaw ride through the Arashiyama bamboo forest, especially since it was a way to see the forest without the crowds of people. The tea ceremony was a beautiful experience, enjoyed by our entire family. My daughters were particularly thrilled with getting to dress in kimono

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Mr. Hiroshi was knowledgeable and friendly. The boat drivers were also very entertaining. The entire staff at the tea ceremony were welcoming and friendly.

Transport

Tokyo Family Adventure with Public Transportation: Akihabara + Sushi Making + Ghibli Museum+Capybara Café Cuteness Anime Quest

Tokyo

We had so much fun exploring Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We enjoyed our day with our guide Mr. Hiroyuki. The staff at the sushi making experience were also so friendly and great with our kids.

Transport

A Day Trip to Mt. Fuji from Tokyo (by private transfer)

Japan

We enjoyed this day, even though we were not able to see the top of Mt. Fuji, it was still beautiful. Our guide also had a wonderful suggestion for lunch where we got to enjoy some local udon.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We loved our guide Mr. Hiroyuki and our diver Mr. Tashiro, who was a familiar face as he had also picked us up from the airport

Transport

Although the drive was longer than expected due to traffic, it was still smooth and comfortable

Have Fun in Nikko (Full day by public transport)

Tokyo

This was a great way to enjoy the beauty of Japan through nature.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport