Kimkim Trip Reviews for Japan

Bastien was wonderful and very cooperative. He is not a local specialist to the level that I would expect - but I am a very experienced traveler who is looking for very specific experiences. Once we arrived in Japan, the guides he had arranged were excellent and were the kind of local specialist we needed as part of the planning. My suggestion is to introduce the traveler to the in-country guides earlier in the process - it would have avoided some confusion on our end and un-necessary back and forth in the planning.

Having said all of that - we had an amazing trip. Bastien and Kim Kim saved us an enormous amount of time and the in-country guides and resources were excellent.

Kind regards,
Louise

Angel was the best! She patiently worked with us over many months of planning our trip to Japan, giving us expert advice while also responding to our requests. During the trip, she checked in with us every day, making sure that we had the information that we needed. And when we had to make big changes, due to the illness of one of our group of four, she worked tirelessly to adjust the itinerary. It was like being taken care of by a trusted friend or family member! In several cities, we had tours with excellent local guides, including in Tokyo, Kanazawa/Shirakawago, Kyoto, Nara and Hiroshima/Miyajima. We did a very fun guided bike ride outside of the charming town of Takayama, as well as a wonderful self-guided two days of walking on the Nakasendo Trail. Only the two food tours were disappointing. The hotels were all nice too, with the exception of the one in Kyoto. Our stays in Hakone, Takayama and Miyajima were especially memorable. My friends and I would highly recommend working with Angel!

Hotel Reviews

ASAI Kyoto Shijo

Authenticity & Character

It was too busy, with a crowded and noise restaurant and lobby area.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms very small. Breakfast choices very limited and the food not very good.

Mercure Hida Takayama

Takayama

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

One Day Miyajima Island and Hiroshima Tour

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Osaka

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Nara City Tour, Overnight in Osaka

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Fushimi Inari-Taisha

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Cycling in Takayama

Takayama

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Shirakawago Day Trip by public transportation

Kanazawa

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tokyo Night Foodie Tour in Shinjuku

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Tokyo City Tour

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

What an incredible experience! As a first-time female solo traveler in Asia, I couldn’t have asked for a smoother, more enjoyable trip. The Kimkim team was fantastic, and a huge shoutout to Leny, my amazing Kimkim agent, who was always just a message away with helpful insights, restaurant suggestions, and even quick itinerary tweaks while I was in Japan. Truly a godsend!
My journey took me through Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Takayama, Kanazawa, and back to Tokyo over the span of two weeks. The big cities were so much fun to explore—especially with the thoughtfully chosen hotels that made each stay comfortable and convenient. The smaller towns gave me a completely different perspective on Japanese culture that I never would have discovered on my own.
Every hotel was excellent, the food was out of this world, and the tours were exactly what I hoped for—most ended up being private, which made everything feel so personal. The tour guides were incredible and really brought each destination to life.
If you’re a female solo traveler wondering if this is doable—it absolutely is! Kimkim made it stress-free and enjoyable from start to finish. 10/10 would recommend, and I’m already planning my next trip to Japan!

Hotel Reviews

Park Hotel Tokyo

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Hotel Sanraku Kanazawa

Kanazawa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mercure Hida Takayama

Takayama

The public baths are a huge win! What a great hotel and location. But beware, there are a LOT of tours that stay here too, so there tend to be long wait times to the elevators or breakfast in the mornings.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Thousand Kyoto

Kyoto

Really such a fantastic location to get anywhere you need in Kyoto and beyond. In the center of it all!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Matsuzakaya Honten

Kanagawa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hyatt Regency Tokyo

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Authentic Sumo Experience in Tokyo with Chanko-nabe Lunch

Tokyo

Wow, wow, wow—this experience was absolutely amazing! Learning about sumo wrestling directly from retired sumos was unforgettable, and then having them cook a delicious lunch for us? How cool is that! The sumos were hilarious, passionate, and so eager to share the history and culture of the sport. After the meal, we even practiced and had a match in the ring with them—which was hysterical fun and such a unique memory. 10/10 recommend, especially because our tour guide, Mayu, was so personable and an excellent translator, making the whole experience seamless and enjoyable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo forest & Garden Half-Day Walking Tour

Kyoto

My tour guide, Ayuri, was absolutely amazing! I loved this entire tour—it gave me the chance to see areas that most travelers overlook because of the usual “tourism blinders.” Ayuri’s knowledge and passion made the experience unforgettable.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimono wearing and Tea ceremony (Sado) in Kyoto (Private)

Japan

I can’t rave enough about this Tea Ceremony experience! The women running the tea house were incredibly kind and generous with their time. What was supposed to be a 30-minute visit turned into an hour and a half of conversation, laughter, and exchanging stories with the staff. This was truly the highlight of my entire trip—an authentic, heartfelt experience that I’ll never forget. If you’re considering it, don’t hesitate. I recommend it 100%!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Relaxing Evening: Private Onsen and Kaiseki Dinner

Hakone

Hakone is a beautiful and fun destination, but I realized that traditional ryokans aren’t for me. While the experience is unique and deeply rooted in Japanese culture—complete with traditional clothing and footwear—I personally found it a bit uncomfortable. For travelers who want an authentic cultural stay, I highly recommend trying a ryokan at least once. However, if you prefer familiar comforts, this experience might push you out of your comfort zone and could feel a little stressful. The site itself was amazing and the staff incredibly attentive.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ghibli Museum & Ghibli Film Appreciation Bus Tour (Round Trip from Shinjuku)

Tokyo

As a huge Studio Ghibli fan, visiting the museum was an absolute dream come true. My tour guide, Michico, was incredible—so knowledgeable and passionate, and it made the experience even more special knowing she was a fellow Ghibli fan. She was truly a highlight of the trip! The museum itself is something beyond words—magical, whimsical, and full of surprises. It’s a must-visit for any Ghibli lover. I spent hours exploring, letting my inner child lead the way, and loved every minute of it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Master Tokyo's Must-Sees: 5-hour Tsukiji, Akihabara & Asakusa Highlights Tour

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ken was a great tour guide and made the experience so fun and personal! 10/10 for Magical Trip

Transport

The trip was great - seamless and a lot of on the ground help once we got to Japan. We had fun learning about the metro system and generally walking all over. And some of the guides were terrific. The Kyoto visit was by far the most incredible part of the week. Thanks for your help!

Hotel Review

Patina Osaka

Osaka

Absolutely amazing! Brand new, right on Osaka Castle... A little walk to the metro but not bad. Breakfast was incredible. We will definately stay here again!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Experience Old and Nostalgic Tokyo: Yanaka Walking Tour

Tokyo

Very neat learning about this neighborhood. The guide Michiko Aoyama was incredible - she was tireless and took us all over, to all the alleys of the neighborhood finding millinium old shrines. Great tour! And wonderful tour guide!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo forest & Garden Half-Day Walking Tour

Kyoto

Incredible. the guide Akira Itoh was knowledgable and very friendly. An incredible visit!

Quality of Experience

Food

Tofu lunch was a bit boring

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I cannot express how amazing this trip was! Olivia planned such an amazing itinerary based off of the things we were interested in. Her expertise made our trip so easy and fun. Our guide Yoshiko was the absolute best! She went above and beyond and made our days so fun. I hope KimKim gives her a raise because she is one of the best tour guides I’ve ever met. Sonny was also awesome!

Our hotel Sakura Terrace was a lovely stay. They have an amazing ceramic plate sauna, and massage chairs in the lounge.

I don’t think our trip could’ve gone better and I will definitely be using this company again.

With many thanks and appreciation to Ada for planning an itinerary that included most everything that we requested. Ada was there with support from start to finish. Hotels were booked within walking distance to the rail stations, and our rail tickets were sent to our first hotel location. Drivers and guides were prompt, professional, and kind. Ada's attention to detail was amazing. She even helped us to contact and visit with relatives that we initially had no information of their whereabouts. That was the highlight of our trip. Thank you, Amazing Ada!

Hotel Reviews

Daiwa Roynet Hotel KANAZAWAEKI-NISHIGUCHI

Kanazawa

Very conveniently located. Clean, comfortable room. Wonderful breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Authenticity & Character

Location

Location

Staff

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cleanliness & Comfort

THE BLOSSOM KUMAMOTO

Hotel was convenient. Many shops nearby for shopping. Clean, comfortable room. Breakfast was wonderful. Very friendly staff member offered to take photos of us in the indoor garden.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Around Takayama, Ascend Hotel Collection

Takayama

Convenient for our walking tour of the city. Comfortable, clean room. Wonderful breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Chisun Grand Nagano

Very, very convenient to public transportation. Clean, comfortable room. Delicious breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Taoya Kisoji

Tsumago

Lovely setting. Clean, comfortable room. Wonderful breakfast!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Park Hotel Kyoto

Kyoto

Room was clean, comfortable, located conveniently for our activity. Delicious breakfast!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

高野山 真田坊 蓮華定院 -Koyasan Sanadabo Rengejoin-

Kota

Luxurious lodging! Wonderful opportunity to attend evening meditation and morning service. Breakfast and dinner were incredible, very interesting, very delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Forza Osaka Kitahama

Osaka

Very friendly staff. Great location. Amazing breadkfasts.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Takayama Full-Day Walking Tour

Takayama

This was an enjoyable walking tour of the marketplace and walks along the river. Tomoko san comes from that area, so our tour was more personal because she gave us information as a native of the city. She stopped often and offered to take photos of us at scenic places. She took us to a family operated noodle shop, which was a real treat. We enjoyed Takayama very much.

Full Day Shirakawa-go Tour From Kanazawa to Takayama

Kanazawa

We really enjoyed Shirakawago. The history of the village and the tour of the Temple and the museum were fascinating. I took many photos with hopes that some research now will give me a better understanding about the silkworm business. Naoko san was an excellent guide, speaking English and educating us about the history of the World Heritage Village and offering to take many photos of us. This was high on our list of places we visited. Our driver was prompt and very patient.

1 Day Historic Obuse and Hokusai Mad Man of Art Tour in Nagano

Nagano

We learned quite a lot about Hokusai and were able to see some of Hokusai's work and learn about his history. Our guide was very knowledgeable. We enjoyed our time with him.

Full Day Snow Monkey Park Tour (Join-in) & Sake Tasting

Nagano

Sake is not my drink of choice, but I did settle on a sake that I liked. We were given many choices. Staff at the sake brewery were pleasant and helpful. The Monkey Park was a nice hike up the mountain trail, and we were grateful that one monkey was there to entertain us.

Hike from Magome to Tsumago

Magome

This was the initial reason for going to Japan, but it left me the most disappointed. Tour guide was not astute enough to realize that I was recovering from bilateral Quadriceps strain from climbing the 5 tier pagode in Osaka a few days earlier. I am 84 years old and was carrying a backpack with overnight necessities. She walked rapidly, leaving me about 25 yards behind and then having to rush to "catch up." At one point, I asked her "May I ask a favor of you? Can you walk slower?" As a result of not walking a steady, slower pace, I was unable to physically complete the last bit of the trail to Tsumago. It required a taxi to get to our hotel. Although she stayed with us to register at the hotel, we did not require that help. That added time made her late for her train connection and she had to stay in a hotel that night. We offered to pay for her overtime, but she declined. I am disappointed that I couldn't complete the final part of the Nakasendo Trail.

Enjoy Temples & Bamboo Grove in Kyoto

Kyoto

Hector was a wonderful tour guide who taught us so much about the history of the area as well as of Japan. We will remember him warmly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Learn the Secrets Behind Ramen in a Cooking Class

Osaka

This was a fun class. Certainly will attempt to put to use what we learned about ramen and gyoza.

Osaka Day Trip: Shitenno-ji Temple, Hozenji Yokocho, Kuromon Ichiba Market

Osaka

Perfectly planned and executed! Judy was an amazing to work with. She customized our 9 day trip to Japan with our family of four. The trip was comprehensive and all inclusive of hotel, transportation and activities, less airfare. All the hotels were of excellent quality and all centrally located. All tour guides and transportation specialists communicated at least one day in advance to confirm all our bookings throughout the trip. They were all very knowledgeable and provided superb, quality service. Judy had recommendations and answered all our questions. She was available and communicated throughout the whole trip. I would highly recommend KimKim and would definitely use them again for our next trip to Japan or Asia. Our trip went as perfectly as can be!

Hotel Reviews

The Royal Park Hotel Iconic Osaka Midosuji

Osaka

Great hotel. Our hotel got two people and had do split up our family of 4 into two connecting rooms which worked out okay too. Rooms were smaller than other hotels but clean, classy. Located in a business district. Hotel is more for professionals and business. One subway stop away from Umeda which is the big central station with shops. Overall very nice hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

GOOD NATURE HOTEL KYOTO

Kyoto

Very nice hotel. Nice, clean, green, modern. Great breakfast. Spacious room to fit our family of 4. Located in the center of action, shops and restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

&Here TOKYO UENO

Perfect for families. Love that Ueno Park is across the street for a stroll. Safe. Clean. Spacious. Centrally located. Kids loved the bunk beds.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Across the street from Ueno Park, near zoo and central to transportation

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

One Day Miyajima Island and Hiroshima Tour

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was the most knowledgeable guide we have evee experienced.

Transport

Bonsai Garden at Hoshun-in Temple (Daitokuji Temple)

Kyoto

Very beautiful trees and meticulously maintained garden.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

Nice experience of Japanese customs and tradition. We did this with our 8 and 11 year old. The event is very formal and very respectful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Kids-Friendly Tokyo City Tour with Akihabara

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Eleanor was always available for help and was able to sort things out when needed. She checked on us during our trip to ensure everything was going well. All of the local guides and were very nice. It was great to experience both the urban and rural parts of Japan.

I booked a trip for our family (two daughters, ages 9 and 11) and husband. My husband and I are both well-traveled (60+ countries, with and without travel agents, staying anywhere from camping/ hostels to 5-star relais chateaux properties). I used KimKim because I wanted to maximize our limited time and make the trip smoother with our girls. Over-all we had a fantastic trip and experienced the culture. We loved many of the recs the agent made: the onsen (3 nights! Worth it), which felt authentic, the Sumo experience, visiting the shrines and temples. We could have passed on visiting Akihabara area (overstimulating) and we added the Mpig cafe and TeamLabs (both shouldn’t be missed and so fun w kids) on our own. The agent was responsive, polite- we had no trouble contacting her. Despite a very successful trip, my over-all rating of KimKim is poor: The massive mark-up (over 30%!) was not justified.

Stupidly, I didn’t double-check prices before booking (in the past, when I’ve used agents, there has only been a 10% +/- markup and I assumed this was standard) and realized much later that there was an over 30% mark-up. I kept hoping the exorbitant price would be made up for by care and attention to detail, but sadly, this was not the case. Here are some examples:

* Booking through the agent made things worse
* We arrived in Tokyo at 9pm, tired and jet-lagged, and informed that our hotel was booked for 3 instead of 4 nights. The hotel was full, and the extra night couldn’t easily be added on, and we were told we would have to change rooms (and downgrade!). Additionally, they had no locked storage area- presenting some logistical challenges and burden. I knew what happened: The original itinerary I booked had us in Tokyo for 3 nights; however, the agent overlooked a small detail- that Sumo was not offered on Sundays (something clearly stated on the website-a red flag then), resulting in a whole itinerary change, adding a night in Tokyo. Apparently, my name was misspelled, and the 3+1 nights were not linked. They said they upgraded us for the 3-night stay, but the room they gave us was identical to the one in our itinerary photo, so that didn’t make sense. Regardless, it ended up working out- someone “cancelled”, we kept the room, but it was stressful and a very disappointing way to start the trip: not worth 30% markup!
* The agent sent us to the wrong location for the sushi-making experience. The new site was several blocks away, and the Sushi place said that they emailed us about the change, but, having not made the booking myself, I was never informed. We ran to the new site and made it a few minutes late.
* The agent sent us to the wrong location for the Samurai sword experience, and it wasn't booked long enough and was heavily overbooked (I think they made a mistake, as the staff looked stressed). This resulted in missing part of the experience. KimKim did refund us that portion of the experience without hesitation- they knew it was a screw up.
* For the Sumo experience, they emailed us photos, but because I didn’t make the reservation, the photos didn’t get sent directly to me, and I had to request them from the agent to get them- not a huge deal, but not VIP. Not worth paying an extra 30%!

* Luggage storage in Kyoto train station was like Hunger Games! We had to store our luggage for a day at the train station so we could make our tours and have time for lunch. I specifically asked the agent if it was easy to find lockers, knowing we had 5 pieces of luggage, and she reassured me they were readily available. Well, 30 minutes of frantically searching in the train station, we secured 5 lockers all apart from one another. Not a big deal, but certainly not worth 30% markup.

* Our two guides were kind, patient, and prompt but they were average in knowledge. They knew the brochure information but did not offer any in-depth knowledge of the areas. No one knew the best places to get food (my husband is vegetarian) or had that back-alley, in-the-know experience that exceptional guides have. Not worth the 30% markup.

* Food recs were non-existent. The agent offered no specific food recommendations based on personal experience, nor did the guides. No one had firsthand knowledge of the restaurants in the heavily touristed areas we were in. The onsen has a very challenging menu as well - we braved it one morning with the Japanese breakfast, but it was so fishy and pickled, it was inedible to us (I normally am an adventurous eater, but this was too much!). The western breakfast was price-fixed with soupy scrambled eggs, weird cuts of meat… For some, this might be a luxury, but for most Western folks, especially those with kids, this is not worth the money. It would’ve been nice to have that firsthand information and have someone give us some recs of nearby restaurants that were open early (very few were open before 9 or 10 am in Arashiyama). Again, all issues we expect while travelling, but by using an agent with a huge markup, these details needed to be managed.

* Hotel recs were hit and miss. We loved the onsen (except the breakfast) because it felt local and authentic. We slept so well! The Karaksa chain hotels were good hotels- clean, good breakfast, but I struggled with the locations. They were convenient next to the train station, but they were not close to cool areas of town, and there weren’t a lot of dining options near the hotel in Osaka.

Over-all, we had a wonderful trip but I would not book through KimKim again- If they are going to charge these prices, every small detail should be managed and they simply were not…. (and even then, 30+ % markup! I blame myself for being so gullible and not fact checking…) All of our tours/ experiences could have easily been booked through GetYourGuide or basic website searches- there was nothing special that KimKim offered that couldn’t be done on your own. Don’t make my mistake! Do your homework on pricing first.

Sandy did a phenomenal job of planning our trip to Japan. Never having experienced Japan I knew nothing of best places to go for our interest and methods of traveling. The hotels were picked to our specifications, we care about both location and quality. We had expert private guides who took us places and helped us manage where to eat for our special diets. Everything went according to plan and we are currently planning another trip with KimKim.

Genuinely incredibly well done, I almost wish I asked for less freedom some days because basically everything planned was awesome. I plan on coming back to japan in the not-so-distant future and hope to use the service again then.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Keihan Tsukiji Ginza Grande

Tokyo

Cool eco conscious hotel

Osaka Excel Hotel Tokyu

Osaka

Cool spot with train access, cool local area is far from shin osaka but central to all sights

ALA HOTEL KYOTO

Kyoto

Spitting distance from the station, nice vibe and staff

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Marunouchi

Tokyo

Kind staff, very stylish

Shin Kado Ya

Awesome. Just really great very traditional, be careful walking around though this place is kind of a maze.

Authenticity & Character

Just really classic vibe and service

Location

Hill top view of the sea in private bathroom, come on now

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Have a go at kintsugi, a traditional Japanese art concept

Kyoto

Fun and relaxing

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Homely Experience of Cooking Okonomiyaki with a Japanese Grandmother

Osaka

Fun again not sure if I just got lucky with my group or not but it wound up being really enjoyable

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Japanese Tea Ceremony at a Space Enveloped in Japanese Beauty in Kyoto

Kyoto

This is the quintessential tea experience, no need to look further, its perfect here.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Izakaya Tour in the Lively Nightlife of Shinjuku

Japan

Did not go into this with high expectations, maybe we just had a great group, maybe we got lucky with friendly locals but it was blast

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Scenic Hakone Adventures and Transfer to Kyoto

Japan

Hakone is beautiful but be warned if you start at the point I did it takes several hours to get to odawara for the train in just travel time, plan where you will stop accordingly.

Go on a hike and Take a closer look into the depths of Fushimi Inari

Kyoto

Fun, need to be fit enough for it though which thankfully I was. But it is not a easy trial at the end.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guided Tour of Kyoto: Timeless Beauty & Cultural Highlights

Kyoto

My guide was awesome and we managed to get on some hidden paths to avoid the crowds at thier worst

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Watch a Live Sumo Show Up Close with Local Hotpot

Tokyo

Not bad, only one I wasn't over the moon over, felt like a medieval times style gimmick but that could be me being too harsh

Full-Day Guided Tour of Tokyo: Iconic Sights, Culture & City Vibes

Tokyo

Awesome , just great fun got to glimpse everything and we could dodge crowds

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Japan was a trip of a lifetime! The Japanese sure know how to cook, loved all the food we tried! We especially appreciated how smooth our guides made the trip- Hal was a great historian in Kyoto to explain the history of Japan during the rule of the Sho-Gun. Safi was especially helpful explaining how the trains work in Tokyo and navigated us around Tokyo seamlessly and gave us a great recommendation for ramen in Harajuku. Tomi was very knowledgeable about the Toyota company foundings and provided a great recommendation for hitsumabushi in Nagoya. If we had a do-over, we probably would want to spend more time in Nagoya after having visited, it’s a lovely city and we appreciated the smaller size compared to Tokyo.

Hotel Reviews

The Thousand Kyoto

Kyoto

The lobby smelled nice when you enter, of lavender! We spent two nights here, loved the proximity to the train station. There is a very nice ramen restaurant that we found near the hotel to enjoy our thanksgiving dinner at. The hotel breakfasts, both Japanese and western style were yummy.

Authenticity & Character

Once we figured out how the iPad in the hotel controlled the room, that was a nice feature. It had lots of info on the restaurants in the hotel, services, room lights etc.

Location

Proximity to trains, made it very easy for our return trip home

Staff

All of the staff were great, very accommodating for letting us drop off our smaller luggage and hold at the desk while we explored Kyoto in the day time.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was extremely clean

Hilton Nagoya Hotel

Naka-ku Nagoya

Very nice hotel, they had a cool train display for the holidays in the lobby! Staff were friendly and the breakfast was very good! We were only here one night and enjoyed our brief stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

We were able to enjoy a nice walk to the train station from the hotel!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Again, extremely clean room.

Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel, A Pan Pacific Partner Hotel

Loved the closeness to the Shibuya station for exploring around Tokyo. The staff were all extremely helpful when we had questions about setting up a cab or shipping our luggage to Kyoto. The bar on the 40th floor made really good cocktails and the Japanese breakfast was so yummy.

Authenticity & Character

Very modern hotel with lots of nice amenities

Location

Closeness to train station, food and shopping

Staff

Extremely polite and patient

Cleanliness & Comfort

Enjoyed the turn down service with tea and chocolates provided

Activity Reviews

Museums Exploration in Nagoya

Nagoya

My husband loved this! He was like a kid in a candy shop at the automobiles museum. It was very cool learning about how Toyota originally started as a textile company and then became an automobile maker- especially enjoyed how the Industries museum noted different events occurring in the world as they became a car maker company.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi & Oishi Park

Japan

Even though the weather was not the most cooperative, we had a good time. It was impressive to see how a 12,000 foot mountain can be completely hidden with what I’m assuming is snow clouds. Enjoyed the 400 stair walk to the pagoda that overlooks the Mt Fuji valley and learning about its construction during WW2 for missing and injured Japanese soldiers (was nice to get a Japanese perspective on events in the pacific theater). We bought some cool souvenirs and tried pizza with sweet potatoes as a topping!

Quality of Experience

The fall foliage was stunning- even though we could not see the mountain, we could still enjoy the fall foliage

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Having a private driver was nice, especially to be able to nap on the return trip to Tokyo while still adjusting to the jet lag. Again, very nice to do this with Safi again, we liked the continuity of the guides as she was with us in Tokyo.

Transport

Nice and smooth, the Alphards are nice vehicles to travel in.

Tokyo Day Tour with Tsukiji Outer Market & Senso-ji - East & Central

Tokyo

Loved trying the food- only thing I wish we would have done is to have had a smaller breakfast. We were both pretty full by the time we started exploring the fish market but were able to enjoy some really nice matcha and crab. I especially enjoyed the deep fried sweet potatoes in the market from Asakusa.

Quality of Experience

Liked seeing all the activity in the market and trying Japanese snacks

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Safi was fantastic! We enjoyed running around the city with her, she’s a very fun person and easy to communicate with.

Transport

Loved riding all the trains

Bastien really went above and beyond and we had an amazing trip to Japan. This was our first time and we didn't want to have too many activities or too little and felt this trip met the perfect balance! All of our tours and guides were the top tier and we had so much fun with them. Traveling with KimKim is always the best because it is customized and also structured to provide the perfect balance for a vacation!

Hotel Reviews

Cross Hotel Osaka

Osaka

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Shisui, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Nara

Nara

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

GOOD NATURE HOTEL KYOTO

Kyoto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

RIHGA Royal Hotel Hiroshima

Hiroshima

Authenticity & Character

A little old school type hotel!

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort and Spa

Hakone

Authenticity & Character

This hotel is so perfect, warm, cozy and inviting!

Location

Staff

10/10 staff! So on top of everything!

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Royal Park Hotel Iconic Tokyo Shiodome

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

So close to so many train lines! Great spot!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Flower Arrangement "IKEBANA" in YANAKA/Taito-ku /TOKYO

Tokyo

Full Day Tokyo City Tour with Senso-ji Temple

Tokyo

Guides, Drivers and Staff

It was a pleasure working with Greg, Japan specialist with KimKim. He was flexible and accommodating. Based on our discussions, he put together a full itinerary packed with great activities and excellent hotels. Except for a couple of minor snafus and delays which prevented us from doing everything, the choices Greg made were generally excellent. At our request, Greg arranged for private tours in Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto, and Hiroshima. The hotels selected were generally excellent. He prearranged all train tickets between cities and provided good guidance in explaining how to navigate local transportation. The best guided tours were the Shinjuku food tour (absolutely top notch sushi (I think the guide's name is Takeshi)) and in Kyoto ( our guide Pam was one of the best guides we've ever had - highly engaged, great sense of humor and extremely accommodating). The private tea ceremony and small group session with a geisha (who conversed with us, played a game and performed a traditional dance) in Kyoto were very special and particularly memorable. We found crowds somewhat overwhelming in popular spots in Kyoto and the Hiroshima peace museum (absolutely packed and could not really see the exhibits well). But all-in-all the planned activities were well worth it, and the package was very well organized. One piece of advice - do as much research on your own in advance so that you can make sure any particular items of places of interest will be included in the agenda which can be custom tailored to your interests, and leave some free time in order to relax, explore on your own, etc.

Activity Reviews

Private Tokyo Night Food Tour in Shinjuku

Tokyo

Guide took us to a relatively obscure sushi restaurant featuring a private session with a sushi chef who explained and prepared everything before us. Sushi was fresh. Probably the best I've ever had!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sumo Show with special, sumo nabe lunch included

Tokyo

Entertaining and educational. But not a true sumo match. Still worth it.

Quality of Experience

A lot of the events on our itinerary felt like tourist traps or promotional items that KimKim is paid to advertise. For example, on one occasion, we grabbed lunch at a random hotel, and did a food tour where one of the restaurants was staffed by people who barely spoke Japanese. Our tour guides were great; locals who were much more skilled at Japanese than English, for better and for worse, and offered us amazing recommendations for places to go and restaurants to eat at... only to take us to the restaurant booked by KimKim, which they had very little to say about. However, on one occasion, KimKim let us pick the restaurant we ate at, which was pretty amazing. That same tour hit a bunch of authentic temples, which while deeply over-commercialized, were great to see. I'm biased toward that tour because we saw more nature than shops. If there's a tree on Mount Fuji, we didn't drive anywhere near it... but Kiyomizu was breathtaking.

The reason for the stars off is primarily the amount of tour that felt like a cookie-cutter, copy-and-paste operation. We adjusted our itinerary to be close to family and friends, but the parts that we moved made me question our guide's experience. Because we were further away from the usual events, our typical day began a little after 7AM with an hour or more of transit. Sure, we incurred that when we asked to be further from some of them... but as an example, we were closer to Mt Fuji than her normal tour. She had us leave our hotel at 6AM sharp to be to Tokyo station in time to catch the shuttle... right back to where we started. Literally we drove past our city on the way back to Mount Fuji. This is the sort of thing I paid a planner *specifically* to prevent, and it wasn't an isolated incident: We had to leave the very next day at 7:25 AM to catch a bullet train between our two hotels... which allowed us to arrive *over two hours* before we were able to check in. After we were back in the city from the copy/paste itinerary, things smoothed out. But basically, just look up someone else's itinerary! KimKim won't do a good job on customizations.

My group had a lot of fun on this trip. The rating is because I genuinely believe we'd have had *more fun* if we just planned it all ourselves.

Hotel Reviews

Kyoto Tokyu Hotel

Kyoto

This hotel was pretty amazing, but it was more of a roller coaster. The breakfast bar was great; I'd have been blown away had I not just been at a Keio Plaza that set my expectations sky-high. This hotel's breakfast had most of the same stuff, though our other hotel literally had a soft serve ice cream machine... how do you compete with that? Additionally, this hotel's restaurants had very weird hours. Some were only open alternating Tuesdays/Thursdays, for example. The dinner restaurant required reservations... at a hotel. Otherwise, the amenities were on point, and I particularly appreciate the hotel shuttle to Kyoto Station. The rooms had a good deal of floor space but were short on furniture, meaning there weren't many places to set things, so luggage just had to sit on the floor. At least doing so left plenty of walkway. The fixtures (showers and toilets) were all great, there were no problems with water temperature or pressure, and the hotel had blackout curtains and other lighting control. The hotel paid a lot of attention to aesthetics; the lobby was stunningly beautiful. However, there was only one set of elevators in the whole hotel, so we managed to stop on every floor on our descent from level 6, just to watch people elect to wait for the next elevator.

Authenticity & Character

Stunning lobby, good Japanese breakfasts

Location

Very close to a cool temple, and within a comfortable commute of Kiyomizu and many others.

Staff

Helpful and friendly staff, very accommodating for English speakers

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beds were comfy and the whole hotel was very clean, neat, and pretty. More room to set stuff would have helped.

Keio Plaza Hotel Hachioji

Tokyo

This hotel's breakfast bar is carrying it. It was that wonderful. The hotel had water pressure problems and the shower flailed wildly between unpleasantly cool and painfully hot. But I worked around that by drawing a bath, and I'd do that every day for the breakfast bar, which blew the other hotel from our trip out of the water. The beds were comfortable, though on the firm side, which I believe many will appreciate. Beyond that, our experience was perfect. The rooms were small but there was space to put our stuff under tables and on a shelf above the beds' headboards, so we did better here than at our other hotel which had more floor space but no furniture to put things on.

Authenticity & Character

Features fancy Japanese toilets and modern lighting fixtures. Blackout curtains, good lighting control with multiple color temperatures. American hotels could learn a thing or two.

Location

We wanted to be in Hachioji specifically, so this was convenient for us. If you're vacationing mostly in Tokyo, this will not be convenient for you.

Staff

Very friendly and accommodating to English speakers.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was neat and tidy. Housekeeping did great.

Activity Reviews

Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Fushimi Inari-Taisha

Kyoto

This experience really made the trip for me. Kiyumizu was breathtaking; a real must-see among the temples. We actually hit multiple on this tour, and our guide was so friendly and accommodating; she made plenty of time for all the stuff we wanted to do. Dinner selection was on us, which was also stunning. If I ever book through KimKim again, I'd just tell them I want more of this. It was night and day in so many respects. We met the guide at our hotel, at an hour we set; she provided us bus passes so that we didn't have to worry about transit for these events (or anything else that day), we did everything we wanted at the temples, had a great meal, and left ecstatic.

Quality of Experience

Everything about it. The places, the guide, the pacing, the meetup.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

She was fantastically accommodating; beyond what I'd ever expect, especially given our other tours.

Transport

Transport was provided; everything was included.

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

Experience oozed authenticity; any deviation from that was carefully noted by our hostess. Good for tourists as there was time for photo shoots in our kimono, which was strongly encouraged. The place featured a small "zen garden" kind of structure for it, and while said garden was pretty much in the heart of the city where I'm not sure grass can actually grow, they made it work. Sitting on my knees is hard, but the hostess was very accommodating in that respect.

Quality of Experience

The authenticity of the experience, along with how sharable a moment it is (from a tourist point of view).

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Friendly and informative, with good English skills.

Transport

We brought ourselves, so N/A

Mt. Fuji & Arakurayama Sengen Park Standard Lunch Course (Round Trip from Shinjuku or Tokyo Station)

Japan

The tour guide was friendly, spoke great English, and took us through some basic Japanese language and culture lessons, which was cute. These stops were over-commercialized tourist traps that managed to be all about Mount Fuji while exhibiting surprisingly little nature (our final stop was better, as it was a shopping center located next to a very scenic lake). The stops on Fuji itself were just tourist traps that charge you (separately and individually) to so much as use the restroom (there *is* a free one on site, as well). I was told to avoid Mount Fuji because it's a tourist trap, and I accepted the risk because hey, I'm a tourist. What I didn't expect is some extremely poor planning on the part of KimKim that made the whole day a huge pain. We had to leave our hotel before breakfast opened (which would have been at 7AM) to make it to the meetup point on time (a bit after 8 AM). To add insult to injury, the bus we boarded in Tokyo passed within a few hundred meters of said hotel an hour later. I was livid. My party constituted three of the five individuals on this tour, and the other two were from a separate stop; KimKim should have arranged a stop for us. Breakfast was not provided on the tour, nor did we have time to catch any before departure. Lunch was some sad prepackaged meal offered at a random hotel along the way. I enjoyed our time by the lake, though.

Quality of Experience

Better scheduling with our existing itinerary.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was wonderful; friendly, informative, helpful, patient.

Transport

We were on a bus most of the time. How much walking we did was up to us, and we didn't need to worry about rail.

Master Tokyo's Must-Sees: 5-hour Tsukiji, Akihabara & Asakusa Highlights Tour

Tokyo

A lot of good sights, especially the thunder temple, and a good guide to tell us about them. Japan has largely over-commercialized these temples, but it doesn't feel so bad because it's all cheap, all done on the honor system (within the temples; stands around them are pretty touristy), and all deeply rooted in their culture (even most of the local shops and food stands). Some of the pacing could be improved; I'd rather walk and talk when possible, but this tour still left some wiggle room so we could do what we wanted in the area, and the guide made time for photos and helped us out with them. The tour also left us plenty of time to structure the rest of our day around it.

Quality of Experience

Flexible schedule, friendly guide, and good food at a quality restaurant.

Food

Food quality was good, quantity was acceptable, and timing was such that we could do what we liked in town afterward.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was very friendly and helpful, spoke English pretty well, and did his best to make the experience great for us.

Transport

Guide told us where to go, we just had to provide bus fare

Tokyo Night Foodie Tour in Shinjuku

Tokyo

Our guide was great. The choice of eateries was questionable. The food selection was predetermined, rather than just setting a budget, so some members of our group left after eating very little (of the 8 pieces of sushi and 3 tempura that were offered at the first joint). The second joint seemed to be higher quality and was far more impressive. We actually bailed on the third place because it was just some type of ice cream and our group was falling asleep, nearly out of phone battery, by that point in the day.

Quality of Experience

Restaurant selection, food variety

Food

Variety, selection... these were two of the three worst restaurants we ate at on our whole trip. They weren't *bad,* there were just *better,* all around.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was very friendly and informative. We learned a lot from him.

Transport

Most of this experience was just walking somewhere to eat two fistfuls of food, the pacing of meals and stops was terrible, and we had no time to adjust for things the group was actually enjoying.

This is was a trip of a lifetime. Every city was different and memorable. All of our guides were knowledgeable and timely. We are not big shoppers so they were able to accommodate our extra time with additional sights. Shona, our local specialist, was able to help us adjust a train ticket within an hour and helped us navigate minor bumps during our trip.

Hotel Reviews

Shibuya Tokyu REI Hotel

Tokyo

This hotel was very basic but location could be a huge draw for some people because it is right off of shibuya crossing and near the large train station.

Authenticity & Character

Pretty basic hotel.

Location

For us the location was very loud and busy which we do not love. But some people might like how busy it is.

Staff

When checking on the computer the staff brought me to I told the staff member helping me I had paid for breakfast already. She said I did not and so I bought 2 additional breakfast vouchers. Our local guide had to call the front office and ask for a refund which they did but seems like a situation that could have been avoiding.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean but basic

Miyako City Osaka Hommachi

Osaka

Best hotel we stayed in while on our trip. Room was by far the biggest out of any location. Very nice lobby with a great luggage locker and coffee/drink machine.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Not as close to any metro station but easy walk to main tourist spots

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very comfortable bed

Daiwa Roynet Hotel Hiroshima-ekimae

Hiroshima-shi, Hiroshima

Very new hotel. Breakfast selection was great. Very convenient to the train station and local train cars.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful views of the mountains and the city for our room

Location

So close to the major train station with lots of food options

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Park Hotel Kyoto

Kyoto

Hotel was nice. They had a fitness room and a coin laundry facility. Location was good near a metro

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right near a metro station

Staff

Kept rooms clean and friendly in lobby

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bed was comfortable and rooms were clean.

Hakone Hotel Kajikaso

Hakone

This hotel has potential to be a great place to stay for the right people. The onsens are great but there is no tattoos allowed so my husband could not enjoy. The rooms are outdated with peeling wall paper and old bathrooms. The dinner and breakfast was included which in theory sounds great but the menu is fixed. The food is definitely for a particular person who values presentation over taste. I would be surprised if a kid would enjoy any of the food because it is heavily raw fish.

Authenticity & Character

This is hotel is authentic. When going to meals you were encouraged to wear a yukata provided by the hotel. Beds were comfortable but room did not have properly working AC.

Location

Hotel is on the river in Hakone which is nice. Easy to get to town and right near a 7-11

Staff

The person who checked us in did not mention we were supposed to wear the yukata to each meal so we showed up in our normal street clothes which was awkward. Also, we had to cancel a dinner due to a reservation which led to multiple confusing phone calls from various staff and we even had someone enter our room despite having a do not disturb sign on the door.

Cleanliness & Comfort

AC did not function properly

the b ginza

Overall a nice hotel. Rooms were small but that is standard in Tokyo. The breakfast was good but the sitting area could only accommodate a certain amount of people so most mornings there was a 5-15 minute wait to get in.

Authenticity & Character

They had a coffee machine and pancake machine in the lobby which was nice

Location

Near a metro and a lot of great shopping

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel was clean but bed was pretty firm.

Activity Reviews

Full Day Miyajima Island and Memorial Park Tour

Hiroshima

A day full of beautiful views and a beautiful memorial. Miyajima is very pretty but I would advise getting there early to avoid big crowds. The memorial was hard to see but was so well done.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

Fun learning about tea ceremonies. This is not a full tea ceremony but you still learn a lot.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Sagano Scenic Railway & Tenryuji Temple

Kyoto

Arashiyama was great. We did a scenic train ride that was pretty but if you are sitting on the wrong side of the train you barely get any views. Bamboo forest was cool but way over crowded

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kyoto's Cultural Treasures: Fushimi Inari-Taisha, Nijo Castle and Kinkaku-ji

Japan

Our local guide Yoko was great. There is so much to see in Kyoto and she was able to bring us to all the highlights. We had extra time and she was able to bring us to an extra temple with 10001 Buddha sculptures.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

1-Day Mt. Fuji & Hakone Tour [Return by train] With Lunch, From Shinjuku

Tokyo

Nice day trip with 3 key experiences. We were able to see Mt Fuji which made the experience. We went up to station 5 so we actually got to be on Fuji which had great views of surrounding mountains. Lunch was decent, food was cold but had variety. Then we headed to a scenic boat ride which was short and I could have done without but some people really enjoyed it. Then we went up to a shrine on the top of a mountain using a cable car. Great views and cool shrine.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Hands-on Cooking Experience: Nigiri Sushi and More

Tokyo

The beginning of the class was a little awkward because it seemed like that were training a new hire to lead the class. The second half ran really smoothly and was fun. Sushi and quality of products were great. You end up eating everything you make and it’s a lot of food

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Tokyo City Tour

Tokyo

Had a great time seeing the highlights of Tokyo lead by Yumi. She was knowledgeable and was able to tailor the day to what we preferred.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Greg planned an amazing 11-day trip for us in Japan. We got to see a lot of Japan, do a whole range of activities, eat a bunch of local foods (often via food tours), and travel around the country like locals on Japan's awesome public transportation. Some of Greg's instructions on how to get places, and what our timing was, were a bit confusing, but he offered to get on a call with us, which we did, and were able to clear up the confusion. So make sure you're clear on all of the details and know where to find what you need either on the KimKim app or from other source given to you by the travel agent.
One of the real highlights was that the company Greg used for our tours (Magical Trips) keeps the groups very small and uses local guides. We got to ask all sorts of questions of the guides and really connected with them, as well as the other person or people who were in our group. Through those conversations we learned the most about Japan's culture and daily life and this really made our trip.

Activity Reviews

Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo forest & Garden Half-Day Walking Small Group Tour

Japan

The store was excellent because it took us off the beaten path so that we got to see some temples and gardens that we never would’ve seen. It also got us away from the crowds in the bamboo forest. We learned a lot and and really enjoyed talking to our guide Ayuri.

Sushi Making Cooking Class near the Tokyo Tower

Tokyo

We thoroughly enjoyed this class! We had taken a sushi making class at home, but this one blew it away. Not only did we learn how to make sushi like a pro but the sushi we made was some of the best we’ve ever had. Our instructor was great and fun and knowledgeable and spoke English perfectly. Definitely recommend!

Quality of Experience

The instruction, the instructor, the food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We just returned from our anniversary trip to Japan, and I can say with complete confidence that booking through KimKim was one of the best travel decisions we’ve ever made. In fact, this is our third trip using KimKim. From the very first planning email to the final farewell in Osaka, the entire experience was seamless, personal, and unforgettable.
Ben, our travel specialist, was phenomenal. He helped us build the perfect itinerary—listening to everything we wanted, adding thoughtful suggestions, and tweaking the schedule along the way to fit our style. Thanks to him, our trip struck the perfect balance of culture, food, adventure, relaxation, and those “wow” moments we’ll be talking about for years.
And then there were our guides: Peter and Ursula.
These two were an absolute gift to our journey.
Peter, our Tokyo & Hakone guide, made navigating Japan’s transportation system feel effortless. He taught us subway skills worthy of a Mario Bros. level-up, showed us how to experience Shibuya Crossing like locals, and gave us incredible historical context at temples and shrines. He even congratulated me on my sumo match at the lunch show (yes… I stepped into the ring and no, my training was not focused enough 😂).
Ursula, our guide through Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka, was equally fantastic. From sake tastings in Fushimi to zen moments at the Golden Pavilion, she blended humor, storytelling, and deep cultural knowledge in a way that made every day feel like traveling with a friend. She helped us navigate the language barrier, made sure we didn’t get lost on trains, and offered endless tips to help us blend in better than we probably deserved. Both guides were great to pack in as much adventure each day while still leaving us with free time to roam and explore on our own.
Every single day was packed with memorable highlights, many of which KimKim helped coordinate:
✨ Sushi-making with a 4th-generation master (we are now “certified” Nigiri makers and have enough footage for a full-length documentary).
✨ A tea ceremony and learning to whisk our own matcha at a university.
✨ Visiting a capybara at a café—one of Emily’s bucket list items.
✨ Riding the bullet train to Kyoto with snacks in hand and Mt. Fuji peeking through the clouds.
✨ Walking through Arashiyama’s bamboo forest and a rickshaw ride through its historic streets.
✨ A full cultural immersion day in Fushimi Inari, weaving through the famous vermilion torii gates.
✨ A relaxing soak and stay in Hakone with incredible views of Mt. Fuji.
✨ Exploring Osaka Castle and ending our trip at the Umeda Sky Building with panoramic nighttime views.
And beyond the excursions, the guides helped us handle everything—from ordering meals to using the Suica card. They answered every question, solved every hiccup, and made us feel completely supported the entire way.
KimKim didn’t just plan a trip—they helped create a collection of memories that feel like a chapter from our own personal, globe-trotting storybook.
If you’re considering a trip to Japan—especially if it’s a special occasion—book with KimKim. Ask for Ben, and if you’re lucky, you’ll get Peter and Ursula too. They helped make our anniversary adventure everything we dreamed of…and then some.
Arigatou gozaimasu, KimKim team.
We’re already thinking about following the green light to our next chapter.
—Ray & Emily

I visited Japan with my best friend I've known since middle school. Ben has been very responsive with planning out the trip. Maru-san was our guide in Kyoto and he was awesome. He knew so much history everywhere we went. Betty-san was our guide in Hakone and Tokyo and she was a lot of fun as well! She knew all the great places to take a good photo.

I recently organized a group trip to Japan for 15 travelers through KimKim and worked directly with Angel as our specialist. This was my sixth time working with KimKim and once again the level of customer service, communication, and genuine care stood out in a major way.

Even though I did not travel with this group myself, Angel and her team were responsive, patient, and committed to supporting a very full itinerary across Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. Managing a group of this size with many moving parts is not easy, and overall the coordination, accommodations, and activities were excellent.

Our hotels in all three cities were beautiful, centrally located, and convenient for exploring on foot or by train. The activities chosen for the group were engaging and memorable. TeamLab Planets was a highlight for many and became one of the most talked about experiences of the entire itinerary. Travelers also enjoyed the castles, shrines, markets, and cultural touches throughout the journey.

We did encounter a few hiccups during the trip, which I believe are helpful to name for growth on both sides. Some of the full day excursions were too long and packed too tightly, which made the days feel rushed for travelers who wanted more time to absorb the history and culture. Time management and pacing are especially important for first time visitors to Japan, and future itineraries would benefit from shorter days, more breaks, and a bit more built-in flexibility.
We also had inconsistent experiences with local guides. One of our female guides was phenomenal, thoughtful, and highly communicative. Another guide struggled with communication and cultural expectations, which created some strain during one of the full day tours. That said, Angel was receptive when this was brought to her attention and took action to support the group.

There was also an issue with the tea ceremony and samurai museum tickets not being booked in advance even though they had been paid for. This was understandably frustrating for travelers who were looking forward to these activities. I appreciate Angel and Sandy stepping in quickly to help resolve this, and I am currently processing reimbursements on my end with their support. Mistakes happen, and I appreciate the team’s transparency and willingness to correct it.

Despite the challenges, what impressed me most was the care, grace, and helpful attitude Angel consistently demonstrated. She was in daily communication with our trip leaders, monitored the group’s needs closely, and made every effort to keep things running smoothly. Her dedication did not go unnoticed by the travelers or by me.

Overall, this was a meaningful trip for my community. My travelers experienced Japan through culture, food, history, and shared connection. The minor issues do not overshadow the fact that KimKim curated a beautiful journey for us, and our group made incredible memories together.

I would absolutely work with KimKim again and with Angel again. With a few adjustments to pacing and guide selection, I know future Japan itineraries will be even stronger. Thank you, Angel and Sandy, for your time, flexibility, and support through the entire process.