An Unforgettable Journey Through Japan
Japan
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May 8 - May 26, 2026
Our recent trip to Japan, organized by KimKim, was an unforgettable experience from start to finish. The itinerary, Cultural Harmony & Culinary Discovery, was perfectly designed, beginning in Tokyo and ending in Osaka. It gave us a wonderful balance of Japan’s rich traditions, modern energy, beautiful scenery, and incredible food.
Every part of the journey felt thoughtfully planned and seamless. We especially want to recognize the wonderful guides who made our trip so memorable. Davin led us on an amazing walking tour of Osaka, bringing the city’s energy and food culture to life. Yosh guided us through Tokyo’s old town and the beautiful Nezu Shrine, where we also had the special experience of crafting our own maneki-neko lucky cat.
Masa gave us an incredible tour of Tsukiji Fish Market and introduced us to the anime and subcultures of Akihabara, which was such a fun and unique experience. Toru showed us Mount Fuji on the most perfect viewing day imaginable — truly an iconic and unforgettable moment. Asuka led our amazing tour of Nara and the Kyoto area, sharing so much history and local insight. Masako was also outstanding, bringing deep knowledge and expertise to our tour of Hiroshima and Miyajima Island.
The culinary side of the trip was another highlight. We enjoyed delicious regional foods, explored local markets, and experienced the depth and variety of Japanese cuisine. Ending the trip in Osaka, known for its food culture, was the perfect finale.
KimKim made the entire process smooth, organized, and enjoyable. The recommendations were excellent, the logistics were well coordinated, and the trip felt personalized and stress-free from beginning to end.
Overall, this was a truly special journey that combined culture, food, history, and discovery in the best possible way. We would highly recommend KimKim to anyone planning a trip to Japan.
Hotel Reviews
Ryokan Aura Tachibana was a true 5-star experience from start to finish. The private onsen in the room was a real highlight, offering a relaxing and authentic Japanese stay. We also loved the experience of wearing the provided kimono/yukata, including the men’s version for me, which added to the traditional atmosphere. The food was exceptional. The 9-course dinners featured authentic Japanese cuisine, with every dish beautifully prepared and meticulously curated. The Japanese breakfast was equally impressive and felt just as thoughtfully presented. The staff were amazing — welcoming, attentive, and professional throughout the stay. Overall, Ryokan Aura Tachibana delivered an unforgettable and highly authentic Japanese experience.
Kyoto Tokyu Hotel was a comfortable stay overall. The rooms were okay and provided what was needed, though they were not especially memorable. One slightly inconvenient aspect was the layout of the hotel entrance. From the front entrance, you have to go down an escalator to reach reception and the elevators to the rooms, which is not ideal when arriving with luggage. On the positive side, breakfast was pretty good, and the hotel has a couple of good restaurants on site, which made dining convenient. Overall, it was a decent hotel with good food options, though the entrance layout could be improved for guests with luggage.
Hotel Hankyu RESPIRE OSAKA has an amazing location, situated above a large shopping and food complex with plenty of dining options nearby. The convenience of the location was definitely one of the highlights of our stay. The main downside was the room size. Our rooms were extremely small, with not enough space to open luggage comfortably, which made things quite inconvenient. Breakfast was good, with lots of options available. There was also a really good restaurant on site where we ended up having dinner twice. The hotel itself is very large, so it was constantly very busy, but overall we loved the location and found it very convenient.
The B Ginza Hotel is very centrally located and convenient for getting around Tokyo, which was definitely its strongest point. It made sightseeing, shopping, and accessing public transport very easy. However, the rooms were very small, even by city hotel standards. Breakfast was quite meagre, and the breakfast area was small and crowded, with many people packed in at the same time. The elevators were also a major frustration — they were often full, and the wait felt endless at times. Overall, the location was excellent, but the hotel experience itself was disappointing due to the cramped rooms, limited breakfast, and elevator issues.
