Kimkim Trip Reviews

Conveniently located near Tokyo Tower and Daimon station. There are many convenience stores just steps away, and plenty of restaurants, izakaya, and bars within easy walking distance. That said, it's a fairly quiet neighborhood, so if you are looking for lots of excitement and nightlife, it may. not be the best location. We stayed here with our 2 kids, 12 and 15. They had their own room, but we felt like it was very safe. The room was clean and well-stocked with eco-friendly amenities. We actually stayed here twice -- at the beginning and end of our trip -- it was close to some stores and restaurants that we wanted to visit in Roppongi and Azabujuban. The staff is friendly and attentive, always willing to help to call a taxi. There are refreshments and coffee in the front lobby as well as a lovely library lounge stocked with a variety of books. We enjoyed the healthy breakfasts with plenty of Japanese and western foods. The only small snag we had was that we were supposed to have breakfast included for all of us (4 people, 2 rooms) and initially we were told only one room included breakfast. We had help from our travel specialist to correct this but the internal hotel system and process were a bit inefficient in handing the situation. There were coin-operated (and IIRC they might have also accepted credit card payment) laundry machines on the 4th floor (both washer and dryer) but it sometimes takes some patience and planning as there were only two machines for the entire hotel.

This place was amazing - our favorite stay during our 2 weeks in Japan. When you first walk in, you are greeted by staff who take your luggage and direct you to put your shoes in lockers (2 people per locker). The locker keys are kept at the front desk in exchange for your room key. The entire facility has tatami mats, which felt so nice and cool under our feet. On the way to our room, we passed an area where we could pick from 4 or 5 different types of pillows (buckwheat, double fold, etc.) The room itself was quite spacious - we had 4 futons on raised platforms. I pushed two together as a makeshift king bed for hubby and me. The fridge was stocked with bottled water. There were pajamas that you could wear throughout the facility in the rooms, and you can exchange them at the front desk if you need another size. Near the lobby there is also an area where you can pick out a yukata (cotton kimono robe) and obi (belt) in assorted sizes and colors. Other amenities include a lounge where you can get probiotic drinks, filtered water, popsicles, and noodles, selection depending on the time of day. In the welcome lounge, there were cold teas and sake, plus a sweet treat in the evening. One of the highlights of this hotel was the public and private baths. We were feeling modest, so we opted for the private bath - there are 5 rooms available on a first come, first serve basis. Often there was no wait, and when we did have to wait, it was a fairly short time. There are no showers available in the bath facility as guests are asked to shower in their rooms before bathing. The private baths were beautiful - each one had a different shape and there was a lovely but secluded outdoor space. The breakfast buffet was outstanding. The selection included different types of traditional Japanese foods, but also some western, Korean, and Chinese dishes plus a salad bar, cereals, and desserts. It was almost overwhelming! If you go during peak periods you may have to wait for a table, but the turnover was fairly quick. Last but not least, there are onside massages available. We went for massages twice during our stay, and my favorite was the foot massage - perfect after a long day of walking in the extreme heat and humidity. It was pretty easy to get a same day appointment, and prices were very reasonable. This is truly a special place that I hope to visit again if I'm ever in Kyoto.

This was probably my least favorite accommodation on our trip. It was fairly conveniently located, but the front desk staff was unfriendly at check-in, and the included breakfast only had 2 choices (yogurt with granola and an egg sandwich) that you had to select ahead of time. We ended up just getting breakfast for our kids at a nearby conbini. There wasn't much in the immediate neighborhood, but you could walk to Hondori fairly easily, though that mean passing through a red light district. It never felt unsafe, but there were a lot of signs with provocative pictures of young women, and when we walked through with our tour guide she was a little embarrassed. The room was well appointed with a mini kitchen and in-unit washer dryer, which we made good use of. Not a bad stay, but I wouldn't choose to stay here again.

I have stayed at this temple a few times before, starting with a couple of hiking trips in the mid 90s. At that time, we took the train partway and then hiked up to the mountain top. We had basic tatami rooms with several futons and not much else, which was perfect for my budget at the time. I remembered the shojin ryori made with mountain vegetables and koya-dofu as well as a sesame tofu. Then I brought my husband to Rengejo-in during his first trip to Japan in 2008, and he fell in love with it too. In fact, we came straight here from Kansai International. On that trip, we also woke up early to join the 6 am chanting ceremony. The food was delicious and generous in portion. I remember that the doorways were all lined with paper --very traditional -- and we could faintly hear other guests coughing in the distance. Not a problem, but part of the rustic nature of staying in a Buddhist temple. This time, we brought our 2 kids, 12 and 15, with us. We got a ride directly there from Kyoto. Our room, booked by our Kimkim travel specialist, was the beautiful and luxurious Himalaya Junior Suite. It was truly stunning, with a beautifully decorated large tatami room with closets and private bathroom with floor to ceiling windows overlooking a garden. We had a small table with a teapot and snacks, and a mini-fridge and safe. The room was also stocked with yukata and a short jacket that you could wear over it for cooler weather (not necessary in June!) The bathroom was very modern, with a washlet (and lid that opens and closes automatically), beautiful shower and bathtub, and two sinks! The cherry on top: a fancy hairdryer and skin care products. To be honest, I saw how pricey this room is to book, and I'd never choose it for myself, but I am grateful that Eleanor chose this to give us an unforgettable stay. It's worth noting that there are standard rooms in the shokubo with a shared bathroom that are much less pricey. After a quick trip to Family Mart (about 20 minutes away on foot) to stock up on extra snacks for the kids, we adults joined the 5 pm meditation, which started with a brief explanation in English and Japanese, followed by about 40 minutes of meditation. I've gone to a meditation center a couple of times, so it wasn't too bad to sit for 40 minutes. Then we enjoyed our sumptuous dinner in a private dining room, which was served on 2 raised trays with several small dishes (different types of tofu, rice, pickles, vegetables, mushrooms, tempura, soup), and they brought in a third tray with more dishes after we sat down on our cushions. The meal looked like a work of art and we loved it, but our kids filled up mostly on rice --one prefers meat and the other is still picky about vegetables. Luckily we were supplied with an extra large bowl of rice and a pot of green tea for refills. There isn't much to do otherwise, but you can walk around the gardens, and there is a small common room with a TV. We ventured out for a walk and found several other temples and shokubo very close by, as well as a pagoda and children's park. We also discovered an izakaya (Ima-chan) nearby on the opposite side of the street as well as several vending machines with hot and cold beverages and snacks, but we were still full from dinner (I ate some of my kids' food too because it was so tasty and healthy). There are baths for men and women, but the men's bath was already full so we used the bath in our suite instead. The next morning, we checked out and left our luggage near the front for a few hours while we took the bus (about 10 min walk from the temple) to Okuno-in. Another lovely and memorable stay at the beautiful Rengejo-in!

This is a nice no-frills hotel with a public bath and very convenient location just a block from Sapporo station. You can choose amenities from the lobby. We had two rooms for our family of four, with our kids across the hall from us. We saw a lot of Asian tourists, and very few Westerners. On the second floor there is a restaurant that has free drinks and snacks available in the evening (though the desserts had always run out when we checked), plus some vending machines, and ice machine, and men's and women's baths with one coin-operated washer dryer in each. The room was very clean but pretty compact, and every day we got 2 bottles of water and fresh pajamas from housekeeping. The breakfast buffet wasn't huge but had a more-than-adequate selection of Japanese and western foods and a chef who prepared the crepe of the day. The front desk staff were always very courteous and helpful. I missed the opportunity to take advantage of this, but the breakfast tickets could also be used at Kitano Gurume, a seafood market and restaurant that offers a free shuttle for both pick-up and drop off (reservation required). We don't eat much breakfast, so next time I'll definitely save my ticket to use at Kitano Gurume instead! In addition to Sapporo station, there were a few department stores and underground shopping areas nearby, as well as plenty of restaurants, izakayas, and sake bars on nearby streets. It was a 15 or 20 minute walk to Ramen Alley and Tanukikoji shopping arcade. Because Sapporo is not humid like the places we visited in Honshu, it was quite pleasant to walk around in the city, especially in the evening.

The Lake Shikotsu Moss Corridor Hiking Tour was a beautiful and not too strenuous outdoor adventure. The scenery was breathtaking, and since it was at the end of our trip, it was the perfect relaxing way to wind down.

The Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi & Oishi Park tour was well-organized and our guide was fantastic. However, we realized we don't enjoy very touristy and crowded places. It was more of a personal preference as we couldn't see much due to the crowds.

The Day Trip to Furano from Sapporo was mostly well-coordinated, but there was a misunderstanding about the start time due to lack of prior communication, which led to our guide waiting for us. It was resolved, but could have been avoided with clearer communication.

The guide was great the weather very poor

Learning about Sumo and watching the family participate was amazing. The sumo wrestlers were excellent - gracious and humble. We enjoyed their personalities and the lunch was very good. Finding and arriving on time was a little stressful as this was our first experience in Japan, but we persevered and had a great time. Having someone in the family to cheer for was an important part of the event. Photos were priceless.

Learning about Ninja/Samurai history and getting a chance to feel and touch the weapons (take pictures with) was fun. The tea ceremony with kimono was amazing - so much history and culture wrapped up in that event. My family very much enjoyed the matcha tea, and we found we loved the mochi (especially the cinnamon flavor). The host was very good at explaining the ritual but also at ensuring the customs were understood (and practiced).

Walking around at night gave us a different view of Kyoto and we appreciated the local food and drink. Our guide (Nami) was very accommodating and friendly. We were supposed to have another couple join us, but they cancelled so this became a defacto private tour. The food difference between Tokyo and Kyoto were noticeable - our guide explained why. Great experience on our last day in Japan.

Although there only one night, the rooms were lovely, clean. The area was very cool. The food/drink spread they have in the lobby for guests was unbelievable and fabulous! The staff was lovely.

Super tight quarters!!! Centrally located on the rock which was nice.

The hotel was perfectly situated... close enough the the center hub for an easy walk, and distance enough to not have the night noises of people celebrating.

I would ABSOLUTELY recommend this place to stay!!! It was a beautiful setting and the staff could not have been more accommodating and nice. The woman who greeted us who expressed sincere enthusiasm that we were there, the gentlemen (I think Andre was his name) who managed all our luggage, the staff who helped us figure out how to turn our shower on [;)], all seemed to want to provide a great stay for us, and they succeeded!

Our driver was on time and pleasant.

This tour was chock full of information I did not know and wanted to know! It was amazing to be on the actual beaches where so much history occurred! It was moving, but the American cemetery and being present while the flag was being lowered and 'Taps' being played had me teary-eyed. THANK YOU France for honoring our fallen soldiers! I am SINCERELY filled with GRATITUDE!

The truth is, we could have walked from the train station to our hotel as it was that close, and we saw others who had done it. We didn't know so, no regrets.

These were two very beautiful castles to take in and learn about. I really enjoyed this! The only drawback to the day was the winery where they were not prepared for our visit. The staff pivoted well and they set up a nice tasting and charcuterie boards.

SinSe' was a terrific guide. It was an unexpected treat to see exactly where so many famous artists lived and painted. The stories those cobbled streets and hills own...amazing!

Can one really put into words how spectacular this place is?! It was BEAUTIFUL! Our guide could not have done a better job of navigating the crowds while simultaneously providing a wealth of information on the history. She also made sure she took pictures with all of us (7).

I loved this! It was such an incredible treat to be able to say that I was able to cruise down the Seine. I liked having the guide point out various sites, but she didn't overdo it! This ride was a highlight for me.

The Four Seasons in Sydney is amazing. Great service and as an American, rather reasonable.

It is tucked away in the middle of Chinatown- fun location.

Loved the location and style- great place to stay!

the perfect length- 1 hour- to get a lot of fascinating information.

This whole excursion was such a well organized, planned out trip. The boat ride over had a very informative talk given by one of the marine biologists and the staff was all positive and happy. The lunch was great. While on the floating station, not crowded, and again the staff was helpful and informative, The views underneath of the coral reef were beautiful and stunning.

A long day, but completely worth the views and the walk through the rainforest. A bonus stop at a little chocolate shop along the way with beautiful choices.

It was not a crowded excursion which was nice. I think going in winter helped! Felt like we were on our own private beach at Nudey Beach

Highlight of our time in Melbourne! There is nothing cuter than watching these little penguins come in! The animal sanctuary was fantastic as well- we pet so many kangaroos and wallabies.

Loved the farm visit along with the gorgeous views up in the mountains. The Botanical Garden was a nice way to end the day as well.

Breathtaking!

BBQ Lunch was great- so many options and loved some of the unique offerings. The farm setting is just quaint and beautiful!

It is a very spread out property, rooms were large, hot tub available and the breakfast was fantastic.

Beautiful property!

Beautiful property! Enjoyed the hot tub pools. Restaurant was top notch. Great hiking around there if you have time.

It was a fun property!

Older property. Great location.

Hotel was nice. Rooms were smaller but had a good view.

4 star only because we had bad weather that day and couldnt see see anything.

First waterfall we saw and it was spectacular.

Very interesting

First "spa" experience. Didn't spend a ton of time there becuase we still had some sights to see. It was lovely with beautiful views and very relaxing.

Beautiful town with black sand beaches.

Simplu stunning!

beautiful little spot. one of our favorites.

Every waterfall unique and beautiful

Just when you think you have seen them all you come across Godafoss waterfall. Stunning.

Absolutly amazing experience with a supberb guide and caption.

Beautiful spa experience.

Absolutely amazing way to end our trip. The best spa/pool experience!

We preferred the remote places as opposed to a city in Iceland.

4 stars becuase we hit it on a very windy day and was difficult conditions. Good experience though.

Cool place expecially if you are a Game of Thrones fan. Don't need much time there.

Another beautiful unique waterfall.

It is simply stunning Logde nestled in wooded lot located near the entrance to Amboseli National Park with majstic snow capped mount Kilamnanjoro in the view. Tented accommdation is excellent and staff os fanstatic. Chief Chef was marvelous. Food varies (both vegeratian and non vegetarian) were amazing and were delicious

The lodge is simply a beautiful with spacious living room and a bathroom and a loft on the 2nd floor. The staff were friendly and attentive. Phenominal service and food.

This camp is located inside Maasai Mara National Reserve. The lodge nestled inside a dense forest with a picturesque setting and wildlife proximity. The entire lodge site is fenced in and no danger of wild animals entering the property. The wood firepit in the lounge area provided a rustic experience under the cool night air. The close proximity to wildlife, we were able to see many wild animals in one and half days of stay there.

A well designed lodge by passionate owners, with wife being a horticulturist and husband being a chef. The entire lodge is nesteled inside amzing gardens and a cool pool area. Each lodge has beautiful archituctural details with well decorated rooms.

The camp as good as it was advertised to depict the true nature of Maasai tribes. The hotwater system to the comminity shower from a natural hotwater springs is simply authentic, hence the name Maji (water) Moto (hot), hot water in Swahili laungu. The lodge its self built with natural material such mud wall and thatched roof and an open porch in the front is authentic as it can be.

Fabulous hotel nestled inside the Nakuru National Park. A well designed place near the Lake Nakura. Ambiance in and around the property is fantastic. Friendly staff and wide range of food options. Room were clean . Although it was not an issue for us, it may be challening for some people to climb up the numerous steps to reach rooms from the dining area or reception. Directional signs could be placed at thes stragetic locations and could be well illuminated

The tent strucctures of the Camp were set up nicely on the slope of a mountain valley with an imperssive view of the sun setting over the valley. Although I loved walking up and down hill from the reception/dining strucure to the our tent, it may be challening to others to walk up the hill. Since the staff was quick to move our luggage from the safari vehicles to and from the tents, we found it very helpful. The product quality was consistently outstanding and exceeded our expectations.

As I indicated in my intitial review of KImKim, one of the biggest disspointments of this place was the lack hot water shower and flushable toilets which did not work properly during our stay. Staff was not helpful in resolving the hot water issues and flusable toilets . One of the reasons for lack of hot water is a single solar powdered water tank supplying hot water to two tents. With occupants in one tent used the water first, the occupants in the second tent will have no hot water. In addition, cloudy days excesbrated the sitution as the solar panel was not able to heat the water to higher temperature. Also, there seems to an issue to pump system due to lack of vacuum breaker in the water supply lines. Water flow apepars to stop whenever vacuum is created in the water supply pipes. You will need a qualified plumber to resolve these issues.

Hotel offered exactly what we needed.

Beautiful view of the harbor.

Tromsø is a wonderful small city. Beautiful views. Very easy to each airport bus to city center.

Beautiful views. The guide on the boat was really funny and knowledgeable about the local area. She was great.

Small town, but one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen.

So much fun. Really nice facility. Beautiful views on hike.

Such a beautiful church.

Nice, walkable city.

Really nice sauna. Try the polar plunge at least once.

Incredibly beautiful even though it was raining and cold. Guides were very knowledgeable, friendly, and nice.

Great location and nice hotel.

Stunning hotel, family run and very friendly. Don’t miss out on their amazing dinner! The views were amazing and the rooms were roomy and clean.

Amazing location with an outstanding view of the fjord. Clean rooms and comfortable

Nice hotel in the city right off of the pier. Small rooms but clean and comfortable.

My favorite hotel in all of The Netherlands! Each room is unique and fanciful. The breakfast is delicious and the staff could not be more friendly and welcoming.

Building dates back to the 1700s. Charming and quaint, it is in a great location. About one block from the (spotless) metro. Convenient to seeing many sites in Amsterdam. Friendly staff.

Can't live without this! Makes travel within the country so easy!

The bike culture in the The Netherlands is the envy of the world and for a good reason!

This hotel was more than adequate and in a great location. The breakfasts were amazing and the staff helpful

Lovely older hotel

The hotel looks wonderful. When we arrived we were welcomed by staff. However the room was a disappointment. We could hear the band playing and I called the desk after 11 and they responded in a way that was not very helpful. Also the room was obviously a smoking room and had a strong cigarette smell. We were moved the second night

Great location, comfortable room and friendly staff

Great location in the center of town. Easy to walk to the Westport house

This was a bad experience. When we were shown the room I noticed ear plugs and when I asked about the noise issue the response was that it should be ok for a Wednesday night. The yelling on the street and the music was so loud and did not end until after2. The street cleaners started at 5:45 AM

The Colony Tour on Achill Island was excellent. However, it was scheduled for two hours but ended up taking over three, which was longer than anticipated. Nonetheless, the experience on the island was great, and we appreciated the depth of the tour.

The breakfasts and staff were very good. Unfortunately, the accommodations left quite a lot to be desired. The room was very cramped, had no windows or other means of ventilation, and was way too warm at night. There was no room for unpacking luggage. The bathroom smelled of sewage. The hot water was unreliable. And, the soap and shampoo dispensers remained empty, despite our requests that they be refilled. The building has a beautiful interior, but we would opt for a Motel 6 over such an uncomfortable facility.

Beautiful rustic hotel with great staff. Unreliable hot water and no bathroom ventilation.

Beautiful view, great staff, good restaurant, comfortable room. More modern than our other accommodations while in Peru.

The accommodations were comfortable, and the locations was convenient. There was no electricity or hot water the first night.

Beautiful hotel in a great location. Close to all the in-town attractions. Very friendly staff.

Ceci was a great guide. The tour was very informative, and we got to try quite a lot of different foods. Most of the food was prepared in front of us with the chefs explaining the process as they went. Barranco is beautiful. A must-do tour.

Nice rooms but the ones facing the street are loud.

Great view and amazing breakfast.

Amazing room and deck with daybed and chairs. Hot tub was too hot for the weather.

Challenging but well worth it! One of our best days.

Loved it! Guide was fun and sang for us.

6 hours and not much cooking. Wine tasting was a few sips of wine and no details. Hosts were charming but food was bland. We had to sit through 45 min history lesson. I was a bit perplexed.

The feel of a bnb at a hotel. Everything was clean, updated, and the staff went above and beyond. Highly recommend!

If you are looking for an over the top resort, this is it.

Everything was just perfect about this place! The staff were kind, the breakfast was delicious, the amenities were beautiful, and it was so clean! We can’t wait to return.

Excellent stay here while we were in our honeymoon. The staff was so kind, the location is an easy walk to the downtown, and the view was lovely. The amenities were clean and updated.

Boris was amazing!!

Our driver, George, Dobo the oyster man, and the vineyard family were some of our favorite people on the trip. So kind, we learned so much, and enjoyed each experience. **I would not recommend this for anyone that gets car sick.