Excellent planning and support for our 2 week Japan trip

Japan | Jun 15 - Jun 28, 2025

I will start out by saying that this was by far the most we have ever spent on a 2 week family vacation, not including the airfare to and from Japan. However, the itinerary looked great and covered 5 locations in total, so we decided to go for it. I can now say that I have zero regrets and feel like we got a lot of value out of working with Kimkim, and in particular with our travel specialist, Eleanor.

As background, My family lived in Tokyo for 6 months back in 2017, and I lived in Kobe for a few years back in the mid 90's, so I speak Japanese and we are familiar with the culture, getting around, etc. We started our planning several months ahead of time, corresponding with Eleanor over chat. For our trip in mid-June, we wanted to visit familiar spots in Tokyo, and also stop by Kansai (Kyoto or Osaka), Hiroshima, Koyasan, Hokkaido (for the cooler climate), and Okinawa. We ended up dropping Okinawa because we would be too rushed and the flights would be a challenge.

We made some adjustments to the initial itinerary to reduce the cost, but Eleanor had wisely recommended against public transportation in some cases due to the extreme heat and humidity in June, and because it would be challenging in some cases to get a taxi for 4 people plus a guide. In some locations, it was easier to book 2 hotel rooms instead of a single room that fit all 4 of us, and we were comfortable doing that with our 12 and 15 year old boys since we knew Japan was very safe compared to the US. While we were sorting out trip details, we booked our flights to Japan, taking into consideration airline and timing advice that Eleanor provided. Once we had all the major parts in place, we made our deposit!

In the months before the trip, Eleanor checked in periodically, and gave us updates as she reserved trains (Shinkansen/bullet train) and domestic flights. We also make some minor adjustments to itinerary before our departure due to unforeseen circumstances and, Eleanor also caught a discrepancy between the itinerary and our return date. We really appreciated her professionalism and flexibility during those moments!

When we finally started our trip, we really understood the benefits of working with a Kimkim travel specialist - their extensive local knowledge and excellent service! It was a luxury to have private transfers to and from the airports. We had 2 larger suitcases for the adults and the kids each had a smaller carry-on sized bag, but we also each had backpacks. Spaces tend to be tighter in general in Japan, so it was nice to not have to wrangle our luggage onto trains to get around. Eleanor also strongly recommended car service from Kyoto to Koyasan. While I have been to Koyasan a few times before and always took trains and buses, it made things much easier and more relaxing.

Eleanor checked in with us regularly, and we were able to make some other small changes to our itinerary after getting to Japan, such as adjusting pickup and train times. We also had a minor issue with the included breakfasts at one hotel that Eleanor promptly resolved.

The private tours were all very good - we had guides who spoke very good English and were well-prepared to tell us about the sites they took us to. In some cases we had a private car, and in other cases we took public transportation, and the guides took care of purchasing train, bus, and ferry fares as well as entry fees to attractions. The only part that wasn't included was lunch in the middle of the day, but our guides recommended places to eat based on our preferences. A highlight for us was the Moss Canyon (or Corridor, aka Koke no Kairo) and Lake Shikotsu tour. The hike was relatively easy and short, but the ecosystem in Moss Canyon was magical - we saw many different types of moss, spider, mushrooms, snails, etc. It was a chance to be more mindful and present during a busy trip. In retrospect, I would have had days with shorter itineraries as we were often more tired than expected due to the hot and humid weather, but worth noting that while Hokkaido was still pretty warm, the air was more dry, similar to what we're used to in California.

All of the accommodations were also good, though each had their pros and cons. We had a few places with laundry facilities onsite, and almost all had breakfast included. They were always within walking distance of restaurants and shops, though some were in more industrial areas. The standouts were Umekoji Kadensho in Kyoto -- which was entirely shoes-free and had both private and public onsen baths -- and Rengejoin, a buddhist temple in Koyasan. I had stayed there before a few times, but this time we stayed in the stunning Himalaya suite.

All in all, we had a fabulous trip and were so grateful for the planning and support throughout from Eleanor!