Vio Travel

Our trip to Japan was truly a 5-star experience from beginning to end. We traveled as three generations — my mother (70), my daughter (13), and me (43) — and the pace of the itinerary was absolutely perfect for all of us. Every accommodation reflected what we had shared as priorities, including thoughtful locations, wonderful amenities, and memorable meals. We especially appreciated the ryokans and the opportunity to experience onsen culture in such an authentic and comfortable way.

One of the most meaningful highlights of our trip was the private cooking experience in Takayama with Toma, Hisa, and Bob. Being welcomed into their home was incredibly special. They created such a warm and comfortable environment and even invited us to dine in their formal dining room. Their home is a cultural treasure, having been the birthplace of more than 6,000 babies over generations, as their family served as obstetricians for the community for decades. Sharing food, stories, and history in such a personal setting created memories we will cherish forever.

Our journey from Takayama to Kanazawa with Ku included a stop in Shirakawa-go to see the UNESCO village. Ku was an excellent driver and guide, sharing insider knowledge about the best times to visit each house and helping us avoid crowds. Her kindness and professionalism made the day feel relaxed and seamless. In Kanazawa, Megu introduced us to the local food scene, taking us to places we never would have discovered on our own and helping us navigate ordering and regional specialties. It was an incredible culinary experience and truly one of the highlights of our trip. The following morning, Megu guided us through the samurai district, beautiful gardens, and geisha district, sharing thoughtful context that made each stop feel meaningful and engaging.

Throughout the entire experience, Leny and her team were incredibly attentive and supportive. They kept us informed about where we needed to be, were always available to answer questions, and even helped recover my daughter’s retainer after it was accidentally left behind at a hotel. Their attention to detail and genuine care allowed us to fully relax and enjoy every moment.

Overall, this was an exceptional trip filled with unforgettable experiences, cultural connection, and thoughtful planning. We are deeply grateful for the care and expertise that went into creating such a special journey for our family. Highly recommend.

Hotel Reviews

Ryokan Hidatei Hanaougi

Takayama

Amazing experience, wonderful service, beautiful rooms and truly immersive experience. Private onsen was beautiful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

HOTEL AO KANAZAWA

Kanazawa

Very friendly staff, clean rooms, lovely bathrooms, comfy beds. Great food, loved the breakfast!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Japanese Cooking Class with Local Family in Takayama Old Town

Takayama

Our private cooking class in Takayama with Toma, Hisa, and Bob was one of the most memorable experiences of our entire trip to Japan. From the moment we arrived, they welcomed us into their home with incredible warmth and hospitality, immediately making our multi-generational family feel comfortable and at ease. The experience went far beyond a typical cooking class — it was a meaningful cultural exchange. We prepared traditional dishes together while learning about local ingredients, customs, and daily life in Takayama. Toma, Hisa, and Bob were patient, engaging, and generous in sharing their knowledge, making the experience enjoyable for all three generations traveling with us. What made the experience especially unique was the setting itself. Their home is a cultural landmark, having been the birthplace of more than 6,000 babies over many generations, as their family served as obstetricians for the community for decades. Sitting together in their beautiful formal dining room to enjoy the meal we prepared felt incredibly special and personal. This experience created memories our family will treasure forever. If you are looking for an authentic, welcoming, and truly meaningful cultural experience in Japan, we highly recommend this cooking class. It was truly 5 stars.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Easy to walk there!

Transfer from Takayama to Kanazawa, including a visit to Shirakawa-go

Japan

Our private transfer from Takayama to Kanazawa with Ku, including a stop in Shirakawa-go, was outstanding and far exceeded our expectations. Ku was an excellent driver — professional, safe, and incredibly kind — making the journey feel comfortable and relaxed for our three-generation group. The visit to Shirakawa-go, the UNESCO-listed historic village, was a highlight of the day. Ku shared thoughtful insights and insider knowledge, guiding us on the best timing to visit each house and helping us avoid the busiest crowds so we could fully enjoy the beauty and history of the village. Her familiarity with the area allowed us to experience the destination in a much more meaningful way than we could have on our own. Throughout the day, Ku was attentive, flexible, and genuinely invested in making sure we had a wonderful experience. The transfer was seamless, enjoyable, and stress-free, allowing us to focus on taking in the scenery and making special memories together. We highly recommend Ku for anyone traveling between Takayama and Kanazawa, especially if visiting Shirakawa-go along the way. Truly a 5-star experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Great driving! Very safe.

Kanazawa Food Tour: Private & Personalized with a Local Guide

Kanazawa

Our time with Megu in Kanazawa was truly exceptional and a highlight of our trip. We had the pleasure of experiencing both a food tour and a half-day cultural tour with her, and both were outstanding. Megu has an incredible depth of knowledge and a warm, engaging way of sharing it that made each experience feel personal and memorable. During the food tour, Megu introduced us to local spots we never would have discovered on our own. She helped us understand regional specialties and guided us through how to order, making the experience approachable and enjoyable for our three-generation group. It was such a fun and delicious way to connect with the culture through food. The following day, Megu guided us through Kanazawa’s samurai district, beautiful gardens, and geisha district. Her storytelling brought each location to life, providing context that deepened our appreciation for the history and traditions of the area. The pacing was perfect, allowing time to explore, ask questions, and truly take in each setting. Megu is thoughtful, knowledgeable, and passionate about sharing her culture. We left with a much richer understanding of Kanazawa and memories our family will cherish. We highly recommend touring with Megu — it was truly a 5-star experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kanazawa Half Day Tour with an English-Speaking Guide by Public Transportation (Private)

Kanazawa

Our time with Megu in Kanazawa was truly exceptional and a highlight of our trip. We had the pleasure of experiencing both a food tour and a half-day cultural tour with her, and both were outstanding. Megu has an incredible depth of knowledge and a warm, engaging way of sharing it that made each experience feel personal and memorable. During the food tour, Megu introduced us to local spots we never would have discovered on our own. She helped us understand regional specialties and guided us through how to order, making the experience approachable and enjoyable for our three-generation group. It was such a fun and delicious way to connect with the culture through food. The following day, Megu guided us through Kanazawa’s samurai district, beautiful gardens, and geisha district. Her storytelling brought each location to life, providing context that deepened our appreciation for the history and traditions of the area. The pacing was perfect, allowing time to explore, ask questions, and truly take in each setting. Megu is thoughtful, knowledgeable, and passionate about sharing her culture. We left with a much richer understanding of Kanazawa and memories our family will cherish. We highly recommend touring with Megu — it was truly a 5-star experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nook and Bom provided a wonderful experience! Their deep knowledge of the excursions and the culture provided us with so many memories that will last forever. I would highly recommend the food tour, elephant sanctuary and the temple tours that we took part of.

Hello, my daughter and I spent 10 days in Australia, and with only that amount of time , we got a very good taste of what Australia is all about, so if you are ever uncertain about 10 days being enough time, the answer is absolutely. Vicky, our specialist, is exceptional, and if planning a trip I would highly recommend using her. She put together a trip that was truly some of Australia's highlights. We spent time in Sydney, the outback, particularly Uluru, and the Great Barrier Reef. Each area had something different to offer. The beaches in Sydney were beautiful, with great shopping. We stayed at Ayers Rock Resort, with great tours to Uluru, and again, lots of local shopping. We visited a huge cattle ranch which was very interesting and saw plenty of sunsets with amazing clear nighttime skies. And finally, we went snorkling in the Great Barrier Reef, which I feel was the best part of our entire time. It was truly a wonderful trip.

Activity Reviews

Panoramic Sydney with Lunch cruise

Sydney

The Panoramic Sydney with Lunch cruise was a bit disappointing. We felt quite rushed during the bus tour part, and my daughter even got motion sickness from the winding roads. There just wasn't enough time at stops, like Bondi Beach, to fully enjoy the sights and shops. We ended up skipping the lunch cruise and explored Sydney on our own, shopping and enjoying the markets, which turned out to be a much better experience.

Uluru Sacred Site & Sunset

Uluru

The Uluru Sacred Site & Sunset was wonderful. We got to see both the sunset and the sunrise, with champagne in the evening and breakfast in the morning, which was such a fun experience. Our guide was excellent, and we really enjoyed the activities despite the flies, which were quite something, but not detrimental to our enjoyment.

Mount Conner 4WD Small Group Tour from Ayers Rock including Dinner

Uluru

The Mount Conner 4WD Small Group Tour was superb. It was fascinating to visit such a vast cattle ranch. We experienced a rare sight of the desert being lush and green thanks to recent rain, which we were told is a once in a lifetime event. Dinner with the local family managing the farm added to the authenticity and warmth of the experience. Seeing the salt lake and learning about the local environment was truly extraordinary.

Southern Daintree Tour + Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas

Port Douglas

The Southern Daintree Tour and Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas were delightful, especially getting to interact closely with kangaroos, which was a dream come true for me. We also saw a koala, although it was a bit hidden in the trees. The tour felt a little packed as we also did a river cruise for crocodile spotting, which we felt we could have traded for more time in the rainforest. Still, the rainforest landscapes and the wildlife habitat were absolutely beautiful.

Mackay Coral Cay Great Barrier Reef Sail & Snorkel with Lunch

Port Douglas

The Mackay Coral Cay Great Barrier Reef Sail & Snorkel was the highlight of my trip. The catamaran took us out into the Barrier Reef for a full day of snorkeling. The coral was stunning, and the water was warm. The wet suits provided kept us safe from jellyfish. It was an incredible experience to be out at sea and see such beautiful marine life up close.

My daughter and I had an amazing time traveling from Osaka to Kyoto to Hakone and Tokyo. Marii was incredibly thoughtful in suggesting activities based on our interests and worked with the tour operators to accommodate her food allergy. The kimkim team was so helpful in sending daily reminders for activities, answering our questions while traveling and preparing tickets ahead of time. It made the trip much more relaxing while allowing us to fit in several cities over 8 days.

The time of year was lovely- pre cherry blossoms so fewer crowds- but we did see plum trees in bloom! The group tours were small and very personalized. It was nice to have time to ask questions. Our favorite activity was traveling from the Hakone hot spring (lovely!) to Tokyo with such a friendly driver who took us to several spots to view Mount Fugi, including by cable car and boat. We were fortunate with a clear, sunny day. It is a special site to see! Also highly recommended any tours to see the temples and Gion district in Kyoto and Osaka dotonbori district at night for the lights and food!

Activity Reviews

Day trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima by bullet train from Osaka

Osaka

Efficient way to see Hiroshima and Miyajima in one day but it did not felt rush. Incredible tour guide!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

O

Transport

Kyoto Casual Pontocho Evening Food Tour

Kyoto

Talk was an incredible guide a delightful to spend an evening with trying loc as l food and sake. He was particularly helpful quite navigating a food allergy. Highly recommend.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hakone to Tokyo Private Transfer: Mt. Fuji and Hakone Full-Day Tour with English-Speaking Driver

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

No

Transport

Transfer from Odawara Train Station to Hakone Hotel

Hakone

Quality of Experience

M

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vicky put together a busy and well-tailored two-week tour of Australian places for us. Small-group and private tours were first-rate, and her very detailed itinerary (59 pages!) offered many options for free time and dining.
The guidance we provided about preferences meant that our tour was geared to our interests very well. Any problems were due to miscalculation on our part: there was a LOT of walking on the tour and my husband had greater mobility limitations than we had expected. Generally, guides were extremely helpful in working around this and there was only one scheduled event that we had to cancel. We also tended to look for dining closer to hotels (and these were excellent).
Great guides included Helder in the Blue Mountains, Andy at Uluru, Errol on the Ocean Road from Melbourne and Jennifer in Hobart. Sue Ann at the Sydney Opera House was also wonderful. All the guides and tour companies showed good planning and a lot of expertise about their local areas and their history and wildlife.
Overall, our tour went very well and was extremely enjoyable.

We had a wonderful vacation and all went smoothly. All of the tours and transportation were well planned with no issues.
Day 1 - Arrived in Sydney. Shangri-La Sydney is a wonderful hotel.
Day 2 - Chef Led Hunter Valley Gourmet Food and Wine tour was great. Jimmy owns/operates the tour and prepares food to pair with the wine. Highlight was going to the new Sydney Fish Market where Jimmy picked up fresh fish and oysters for our food later during the wine tour. The wineries and food were great.
Day 3 - Walking tour, Sydney Opera House tour, and Sydney Bridge Climb Summit. Craig led the walking tour and provided a wealth of information on the beginning of Sydney and concentrated on the botanical garden and how Sydney came about and significant events. The Opera house tour was very good and we were able to the wonderful architecture. It was raining during the Sydney Bridge Climb but rain coats were provided. It is not a hard climb and our tour guide, Nico, kept the group motivated for the climb. The guide has a transmitter and we had ear phones to hear him during the hike. We were drenched but enjoyed it.
Day 4 - Blue Mountain tour - It was raining and couldn't see much. Can't do anything about the weather. We did see another couple on our trip that went on the tour and they showed us pictures that looked awesome.
Day 5 - Travel to Cairns/Port Douglas - Ground transportation and flight went great.
Day 6 - ABC Reef Safaris - The snorkeling was wonderful. We spent about 1.5 hours at two different spots and were led in the water by ABC who also have Marine Biologists on the tour. We saw a Manta Ray which is very rare. The food supplied on the boat was great and plentiful.
Day 7 - Daintree Rain Forest and Nocturnal Tour - Another great tour led by our guide Nicki. We went out on a river boat looking for crocodiles and found a few along the shore. We saw a cassowary bird that is only found in Australia. We had dinner in the rain forest and able to try kangaroo. We did a nocturnal walking tour and spotted quite a few different animals/birds/frogs. Nicki was a great guide and loaded with information.
Day 8 - Bump Track Mountain Biking - This was canceled due to so much rain. The guide, Steve, for the bike ride was willing to do a different tour but the road was flooded. Steve was great to deal with and he was trying to give us a memorable tour but had to cancel.
Day 9 - Travel to Uluru/Ayers Rock with 4wd Mount Connor tour - No issue with ground/air transportation. We stayed at Sails in the Desert Resort and it was very nice. Mount Connor tour was very good but the highlight was having dinner with the cattle farm owner, Amy, where she explained the operation of the cattle ranch and growing up on a million acre cattle ranch.
Day 10 - Uluru/Ayers Rock tour - very good tour with history of the area learning the history of the aboriginal people. A net to cover your face is a must with the flies when it is hot out.
Day 11 - Transfer to Melbourne - No issue with ground/air transportation. Had a wonderful dinner at Hopscotch on Riverside Quay.
Day 12 - Yarra Valley Grazing Tour - We got on a bus from Go West Tours and Ashleigh was our guide/driver and was fun and very entertaining. We sampled wine, cheese, gin, and chocolate on the tour. Wonderful day with beautiful scenery.
Day 13 - Laneways of Melbourne - John was our tour guide and did a wonderful job explaining the history of the city and setting up lots and roadways. He was able to show us how the shops moved goods into the warehouses and the wonderful architecture that you would never see if you didn't know where to look for it. The public library was our last stop and a must see.
Day 14 - Great Ocean Road Tour - This was a tour with just the 4 of us in our group. Cory was our guide and did a great job explaining how the GOR was built by WW1 veterans to help them get over shell shock/ptsd. The coast was beautiful and stopped at a the 12 Apostes. (not really 12) We toured a wildlife sanctuary and spotted a couple of Koala Bears in the trees swaying in the breeze.
Day15-16 - travel back to Sydney and home to USA.

Overall, the trip was fantastic. The transportation within Australia was all planned by Vicky and we had no issues. Everything was planned very well and we loved all of the tours. Highly recommend Vicky!

We had a terrific experience planning our trip through KimKim. Our agent, Leny, was fantastic to work with. She provided excellent hotel and travel suggestions and helped us design a wonderful itinerary. When we needed to make changes to our trip, she handled everything quickly and smoothly, which made the process stress-free.

One highlight was our stay at the FuFu resort in Hakone. It was absolutely amazing. The food and the onsen were 5 stars! The private driver and guide Lenu arranged were also delightful and made exploring easy and enjoyable.

We would definitely use KimKim again for future travel.

Activity Review

Day Trip from Osaka to Hiroshima with Bullet Train

Osaka

We just returned from our travels in Australia and are still processing all the wonderful activities and experiences. The trip offered us so many memorable moments, and we are grateful for each one.

We wanted to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude for all Vicky's help and expertise in planning our trip. Her attention to detail and careful arrangement of every aspect were impressive, allowing us to simply relax, enjoy, and savor every moment. Her assistance made our experience truly memorable and enjoyable.

Thank you Vicky and kimkim!!

Donna

Great trip. Well planned. Enjoyed the animal parks and seeing the different animals. The Opera House tour was one of my highlights. Walking tours in the cities were very informative. Just a fantastic trip!

Hotel Reviews

Adina Apartment Hotel Brisbane

Brisbane

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Laneways by Ovolo

Melbourne

Authenticity & Character

OP

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sails In The Desert

Yulara

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Sebel Quay West Suites

The Rocks

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and Brisbane River Cruise

Brisbane

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Foodie Discovery Walking Tour

Melbourne

Quality of Experience

lol

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Phillip Island Penguin Parade Small Group Eco Tour

Melbourne

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I

Transport

SEIT Uluru & BBQ Dinner

Uluru

Quality of Experience

I

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Camel to Sunset

Uluru

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sydney Opera House Tour

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wildlife, Waterfalls and Wine (Small Group Tour)

Sydney

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Sydney City Small Group Walking Tour (Small Group Tour)

Sydney

Had a hard time understanding this leader. Wish he had a speaker and headsets. Was not able to hear him b cause of the traffic and other people around.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport