Kimkim Trip Reviews for Japan

Everything Kimkim touched in preparation for our trip was flawlessly arranged and executed.
Our long standing hotel accommodations, transit connections, and air and rail tickets made for seamless enjoyment and ease of travel flow.
The availability of Shona to assist or answer questions was a given and much appreciated when we received her help managing a luggage transfer between hotels.
The four days of guided excursions were flawlessly executed and so easily accomplished thanks to the expert handling of the local guides and professional drivers. Even our day in Kyoto where we relied on mass transit to visit multiple locations on every side of the city were incredibly easy thanks to the excellent transportation infrastructure of the city, prefecture and country.
Shout out to Ayumi and Sochi for insight into both the history and current lifestyle of Japanese culture. Guide Ian’s perspectives provided a good contrast as a western expat living the dream in Japan.
Lastly, we arranged our ski portion of the trip mostly independently and it went really well thanks to the most excellent service provided by Hokkaido Nomad car rental in Sapporo. The camp car service was flawless. We had engine trouble on New Year’s Eve and Suzuki (our rental lead) delivered a brand new camp car to our location in less than an hour, ON NEW YEARS EVE. Amazing.

We had a wonderful experience working with Sandy to put together our trip to Japan. We had 3 couples traveling both together and separately which made the trip quite complex. Sandy listened carefully to the parts of the trip where we knew what we wanted and then made excellent suggestions for hotels, tours and transportation where we didn't have specific ideas. We had particularly wonderful tours in Kanazawa for the artisan tour and Michico's Sumo Championship tour through Sunrise. The trip went perfectly every day, every tour, every transfer, every train ride and every hotel. Sandy was very responsive for the year of advance planning and then she was in touch with us every day of the trip. She answered our questions quickly, sent ongoing information on time and made sure everything went smoothly. This was independent travel at its very best. We were so fortunate to have been able to work with KimKim and Sandy to create our incredible trip to Japan.

Hotel Reviews

BYAKU Narai

Narai

BYAKU Narai was a standout on an international level. It was just an extraordinary place, and it is such a lovely location.

Onsen Ryokan Yuen Shinjuku

The Ryokan Onsen in Tokyo was a fantastic choice, thanks to my son-in-law. The onsen on the roof, despite being only on the eighteenth floor, offered a great view of Tokyo. Watching the sunrise and sunset while in the onsen was an incredible experience.

Gora Kansuiro

Hakone

Gora Kansuiro was a place filled with history as it was the first in the entire area. While a little funky, we really enjoyed it. The people were fantastic, and the food was incredible. Nestled in a garden, it offered a unique experience surrounded by nature and history.

The Gate Hotel Kyoto Takasegawa by Hulic

Kyoto

We absolutely loved the Gate Hotel in Kyoto. The location was terrific, situated in the middle of everything, making it easy to get around. The hotel has a wonderful history as it was an old school before being transformed. Everything is based on the eighth floor, from check-in to the bar and breakfast – offering a spectacular view of the hills with temples. Witnessing the sunrise and sunset from there was magical.

Activity Review

Private Snow Monkey Tour

Nagano

The Private Snow Monkey Tour was our first tour and it was utterly charming despite the cold weather. Learning about how the monkeys adapted to use the hot springs from watching humans was fascinating. The area is managed, and the monkeys thrive in a well-cared environment. It's exciting seeing them up close without barriers, and our tour was perfectly timed to witness the monkeys descending for their morning routine.

Sandy was in contact with us almost every day and was very responsive. I would recommend her for sure

THANK YOU for the trip – it was SO well planned, and clearly a LOT of thought went into it. We are so grateful, and we are now big KimKim fans!

We travel a LOT, to all kinds of crazy places! It is unrealistic to travel across the world and expect things to NOT go wrong. What matters, and why we work with travel professionals like you KimKim, is to have support and back up when things DO go wrong – THAT is what matters! KimKim seamlessly fixed an issue on our travels, and they are THE BEST, and you can travel worry-free!

Our planner Ben was remarkable - attentive, knowledgeable and friendly, and our guides Roy, H and Piter were exceptional.

10/10, DO recommend! Thank you, team KimKim, for an amazing experience and incredible 'whatever it takes' service!

My Husband and I had a fantastic honeymoon in Japan, all thanks to our trip planner/agent Eleanor, our Tokyo guide Yoshi, our Osaka foodie tour guide Jimmy and Moika, and lastly our Kyoto guide Maasake. We especially enjoyed a Temple in Kyoto where we descended into a pitch black, dark area to make a wish on a stone, and come out the other side "rebirthed". It was such a different experience and we felt immersed in Japan's spiritual culture. The food was incredible. The foodie tour showed us unique foods that we had not had before and wouldn't have though about trying otherwise. They were great company too; it felt like going out on the town with a couple of local friends. Tokyo was our first destination and Yoshi was fantastic about teaching us how to use the public transport system and appropriate ways to enter Shrines. He answered all of our questions that mightve come off as "silly" or "ignorant" without judgement. This was our first trip ever to another country and it couldn't have gone better. Eleanor answered every single question cam and I came across, even during the trip. She always got back to me no matter what, and gave some good advice to avoid struggling a lot through some of the busiest areas of Japan. Thank you everyone and Kimkim for an unforgettable honeymoon.

The trip was great. We planned our trip to Japan during a very busy season of life when we didn't have time to do the research we'd normally like to do. Sandy connected us with all the important sites and was accommodating to our requests. She booked all our train reservations and knew what needed to be booked ahead of time in terms of trains and museums. Her suggestions about what to do in our free time were very helpful. Highlights were the Ghibli museum and Food tour in Tokyo and the bike tour in Kyoto. Our tour guides in every city were knowledgeable and kind. The hotels she chose for us were very nice, and all throughout the trip she shared updates of what was coming up next and info on using the transportation in that city. The only thing that was disappointing was finding out the Peace Museum was closed while we were there for the new year holiday. We would have scheduled our itinerary differently had we known that ahead of time and put Hiroshima earlier in the trip. So double check those types of details if you are traveling during the new year, or other major holiday. For a family of 5 it's also much easier to eat if you have a reservation, so plan ahead for that. Overall it was a fantastic trip and the experience with KimKim both before the trip, and while we were there, was very good.

Hotel Reviews

Cross Hotel Kyoto

Kyoto

Great location, nice lobby, good breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

THE KNOT HIROSHIMA

Hiroshima

Loved having the bar area on the 14th floor to hang out with views of the city. Great proximity to the bus that takes you to the train station! Breakfast was decent.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hakone Kowakien TEN-YU

Hakone

Fun to have bathtubs on balcony to have hot springs baths not in the onsen. Buffet was huge but got old after 2 days. Shuttle available to take you to the Open Air museum, but it doesn't pick you back up so need to acquaint yourself with public transportation. Staff was nice, had great massage at their spa.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku

Tokyo

This hotel is clean and had rooms with 3 beds if you are traveling with kids/a group. The breakfast was good with a good coffee option in the morning. Location is near the Senso-Ji temple and markets around there. Nice friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Good for visiting Senso-ji temple and markets but far from some other parts of town.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Hakone and Lake Ashi Tour with Hakone Tozan Railway

Japan

Tour guide was great but this just wasn't our favorite part of the trip. The hike we did on our own, Mt. Kintoki, was wonderful. A little steep so a bit of a challenge but we were rewarded with amazing views of Mt. Fuji!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Miyajima Island and Memorial Park Tour

Hiroshima

Our guide Mayumi was excellent, telling us a lot of history about Hiroshima and the impact of the bomb there. She took us somewhere yummy for lunch, then onto Miyajima. It was a great day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kyoto: Guided E-Bike Tour

Kyoto

Our family of 5 (2 teens + a 20 year old, plus parents) loved this. Our guide Philippe took us to off-the-beaten-path locations in east Kyoto which was great after having seen all the crowded main sites. Our kids ranked this high on the list. We had electric bikes so it was easy!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Drive to Hakone with Mt. Fuji Tour

Japan

Had a great guide who shared a lot of history as we drove. We ended up with a freezing cold day which made it a little less comfortable than it would normally be!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Asakusa Sumo Club: Sumo Show Admission with Chankonabe in Tokyo

Tokyo

This was campy fun. Glad we did it but felt very touristy! Food was pretty good.

Quality of Experience

Tokyo Night Foodie Tour in Shinjuku

Tokyo

One of our family's favorite things we did! Jun was our guide and he was fantastic and had great energy.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Tokyo City Tour with Akihabara district

Tokyo

Good overview of the city. Our tour guide was flexible and accommodating to what we wanted to see. nice to have a driver to take us around on our first day in the country, helped us get our bearings!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overall, we found the experience to be very good. While the itinerary was somewhat fast-paced, it was ultimately very satisfying and offered a nice balance between cultural activities and experiences specifically enjoyable for the girls. We truly appreciated the effort and care that went into designing the program.

That said, we would like to share a few recommendations that we believe could help strengthen future trips:

First, in some cities we arrived in the late afternoon and were directed to places that were already closed or about to close. This happened in Kanazawa, where despite rushing, we were unable to access the gardens, which closed at 5:00 pm. It might be helpful to adjust recommendations or arrival times in these cases.

Second, several of the guides did not speak English well. While we fully understand that the general population is not expected to speak English, we were told that we would have support from guides with at least an intermediate level of English. Unfortunately, this was not always the case. We prefer not to mention names, as we feel that would be inappropriate, but we believe this is an important point to take into account.

Third, the last day in Osaka felt too short. It may have been more beneficial to spend less time in another city in order to make time for Osaka or possibly skip Osaka altogether.

Finally, we suggest taking into account the situation we shared regarding the museum in Hiroshima, in order to be especially careful with schedules during public holidays.

We share these comments with appreciation and in a constructive spirit, as we truly value the experience and the work behind it.

A big hug and congratulations on such a well-organized trip.

Warm regards,

My husband and I went to Japan for a little over two weeks to see the red maples and gold ginko leaves, and we were not disappointed! Claudia and her team did a wonderful job of making sure our vacation went smooth and helped arrange tours with excellent guides we adored. From Kiyo and Yuki for our Tokyo Tours to our Osaka food guide and our self-discovered Kobe Sake Guide (Kampai Sake Tours with Hiro), we had amazing and kind people showing us the culture and beauty of Japan. The hotel accommodations, especially those in Osaka and Kinosaki were great. Food recommendations and activities were also top notch. Thank you Claudia and team for your hard work and help— we had a lovely time!

Hotel Reviews

Nishimuraya Honkan

Kinosaki

A very expensive stay, but so worth the price! Keiseki meals, private in room baths and onsens, and kind/attentive staff makes this place super special.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Royal Twin Hotel Kyoto Hachijoguchi

Kyoto

Loved the ambiance of this hotel. Very calming and elegant. Location was a little far from Kyoto’s station, but not awful (10-15 min walk). The room was a little smaller than our other rooms, but was still very nice.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Royal Park Hotel Iconic Osaka Midosuji

Osaka

Beautiful hotel, large room, great location

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very convenient to train stations, nice area to be in

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kyoto History and Culture

Kyoto

Leo (Ryosuke — I think his name was), was previously a teacher, I believe, because his knowledge on history of landmarks in Kyoto was impeccable. We had a great time with him leading the way and saw beautiful places and learned a lot! He also took great pics!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Osaka Food Tour

Osaka

One of our favorite tours! The food was SO GOOD and I am convinced there is no way we would have found this place without our amazing guide! Thank you so much for the experience and all the great knowledge of Osaka and its food culture.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Akihabara Tour

Tokyo

Yuki was so knowledgeable about the area and fun to spend the afternoon with. He and his colleague showed us all around akihabara, which otherwise would have been very overwhelming. He even was able to connect us to a great restaurant and make a reservation for us in Kobe later on our trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the World of Ghibli and explore more of Tokyo!

Tokyo

Kiyo was so fun and lovely to hang out with! Really enjoyed all her knowledge and her amazing food recommendation in town.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

All the members of my family have been to Japan multiple times, but this trip helped us to deepen our understanding and explore new parts of the country we'd never accessed before. Shona provided wonderful service from planning to booking to helping us to handle unexpected bumps in the road (a member of my party left their passport at a hotel early on, and she was immensely helpful in us getting it back seamlessly and stress free).

A few standout guides/experiences:
Architecture Walking Tour in Omotesando - this was our first formal experience on the trip and set the tone. Yoshi was a passionate, thoughtful, and friendly guide who helped us to understand the architectural treasures hidden in plain sight in this busy neighborhood.

Hidden Gem Food & Whiskey Night Tour near Roppongi - We were staying in Roppongi and didn't realize that there was such an amazing enclave of restaurants so close by. Ellen clearly loves food and this neighborhood, and seeing it through her eyes was very fun. At the end of the night, we ate a meal at the neighborhoo Obaa-chan's restaurant. What a special experience to be in a 4 table restaurant and be served a home-cooked, custom meal from the neighborhood granny!

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Chureito Pagoda & Oishi Park - Really loved spending time with Toru. He helped provide a great background on Japanese history and geography. His enthusiasm for the towns was infectious. It was clear how excited he was to get clear views of Fuji and this made the experience special.

Takayama Full-Day Walking Tour - Miyuki has so much pride and love for Takayama. You could tell based on her description of the annual festival, and the way she would pick up any stray pieces of litter along the way during our tour. That spoke volumes to me about the values of Miyuki and the Japanese people overall. She also pointed us towards her neighborhood restaurant, which was probably the one of the best meal and dining experiences we had during the trip. Still thinking about that Omelette.

Half Day Artisan Tour in Kanazawa - Nozomi was energic, fun, and incredibly well connected in the city. I was impressed with her connection to so many of the artisans of Kanazawa. Impressively, we decided to spend the first part of the tour in the Geisha district, and Nozomi was able to provide a full history and background from memory, without planning. Additionally, she heard we were interested in seafood and pointed us to a very special restaurant to enjoy after the tour, even calling and making a reservation for us. Never would have found that place on our own and I've never seen my dad so happy at a meal.

Hotel Reviews

Hyatt Centric Kanazawa

Kanazawa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Located right next to the train station, and next to some amazing restaurants

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel, A Pan Pacific Partner Hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

A little dated compared to our other accommodations on this trip.

Mitsui Garden Hotel Roppongi Tokyo Premier

Tokyo

Right in the heart of Roppongi. Solid breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Honjin Hiranoya Kachoan

Takayama

Wonderful full service Ryokan.

Authenticity & Character

Very authentic Ryokan

Location

Staff

Kind and attentive

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms were quite large, with multiple rooms.

Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu

Hakone

A wonderful Ryokan experience. There are two different onsens, which alternate between Men and Women each day. We were left slack jawed by the outdoor waterfall and hotspring. Simply magical. Would recommend the buffet meals here - they're quite extensive and quite good.

Authenticity & Character

Top tier onsens

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Amazing food on site

Activity Reviews

Half Day Artisan Tour in Kanazawa

Kanazawa

Nozomi was energic, fun, and incredibly well connected in the city. I was impressed with her connection to so many of the artisans of Kanazawa. Impressively, we decided to spend the first part of the tour in the Geisha district, and Nozomi was able to provide a full history and background from memory, without planning. Additionally, she heard we were interested in seafood and pointed us to a very special restaurant to enjoy after the tour, even calling and making a reservation for us. Never would have found that place on our own and I've never seen my dad so happy at a meal.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Takayama Full-Day Walking Tour

Takayama

Miyuki has so much pride and love for Takayama. You could tell based on her description of the annual festival, and the way she would pick up any stray pieces of litter along the way during our tour. That spoke volumes to me about the values of Miyuki and the Japanese people overall. She also pointed us towards her neighborhood restaurant, which was probably the one of the best meal and dining experiences we had during the trip. Still thinking about that Omelette.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Chureito Pagoda & Oishi Park

Tokyo

Really loved spending time with Toru. He helped provide a great background on Japanese history and geography. His enthusiasm for the towns was infectious. It was clear how excited he was to get clear views of Fuji and this made the experience special.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hidden Gem Food & Whiskey Night Tour near Roppongi

Tokyo

We were staying in Roppongi and didn't realize that there was such an amazing enclave of restaurants so close by. Ellen clearly loves food and this neighborhood, and seeing it through her eyes was very fun. At the end of the night, we ate a meal at the neighborhoo Obaa-chan's restaurant. What a special experience to be in a 4 table restaurant and be served a home-cooked, custom meal from the neighborhood granny!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Warm, passionate, and very personally connected to the neighborhood

Architecture Walking Tour in Omotesando

Tokyo

This was our first formal experience on the trip and set the tone. Yoshi was a passionate, thoughtful, and friendly guide who helped us to understand the architectural treasures hidden in plain sight in this busy neighborhood. Great experience if you want to practice photography!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Instead of booking a large, generic group tour with fixed dates, rushed schedules, and little flexibility, I wanted something more personal for my first solo trip to Japan—and Kimkim delivered exactly that. Being able to choose my own dates and have a completely customized itinerary was exactly what I was looking for.

My local specialist, Leny, really took the time to understand who I am and what I wanted out of this trip. Over several weeks, we worked together to create a thoughtful, well-paced daily itinerary. I could choose from hotels that matched my style and budget, a mix of private and small-group tours in areas I wanted to explore, the foods I was excited to eat, and the sights I didn’t want to miss. Everything was well organized, including realistic travel time between locations, which made the trip feel smooth and stress-free.

Leny’s expertise, planning, recommendations, and patience made this trip truly exceptional and memorable. Every tour she arranged was fantastic—none were canceled, and all of the guides were knowledgeable, friendly, and genuinely enthusiastic. Some personal highlights included the 5-hour Tsukiji, Akihabara & Asakusa Highlights Tour, Best of Shibuya Food Tour, Dinner with a Maiko in Kyoto (which unexpectedly turned into a private dinner with a Geisha!), the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest & Garden walking tour, Kyoto’s Nijo Castle and Imperial Palace tour, and the All-Star Food Tour in Ginza.

One of the most valuable parts of the experience was knowing that Leny or someone on her team was always available if I needed help. I received daily reminders of the next day’s plans along with any tickets or vouchers, which was reassuring. Her real-time communication and spot-on recommendations for restaurants, shops, souvenirs, and museums were invaluable. Even when something didn’t go as planned, Leny and her team jumped into action, kept me informed, and resolved the issue with a solution that ended up being even better than the original plan. And when I got lost in Japan’s train stations many times, her team’s patience and guidance made all the difference.

Even though this was a solo trip, I felt like I had a supportive team behind me. Next time, I plan to bring my two teenage daughters to Japan, and I will absolutely be using Kimkim again to plan that trip.

I am a planner at my core and it was a huge leap of faith to trust someone else to plan the details of my solo trip. Cory exceeded my expectations and delivered an amazing experience in Japan. Cory optimized my long wish list of to dos with enough structure and flexibility to accommodate the unexpected. It was in that flexibility that provide me the opportunity to linger in a bookstore just a little bit longer, or pop into a small local coffee roaster and chat with the owner and learn about the beans he roasted on site and even met his mother who popped in - magic truly occurs in the moments between breaths. And the guides Cory partners with are such amazing people, each of them made the trip so special.

Cory’s in country support continued to provide the level of attention and care that she is known for. No trip or event is flawless but knowing that Cory was there to help solve for those unplanned situations made the trip so much better. I ended up having a few questions and a late train change request that Cory quickly responded to and managed for me - allowing for a seamless experience.

I absolutely cannot wait to go back with my family and work with Cory again. I recommend Cory, with absolute confidence, to partner with you on your trip to Japan.

We cannot say enough amazing things about our travel agent, Adeline, for coordinating what was truly the vacation of a lifetime. We have traveled to many places around the world, but this was by far the best vacation we have ever taken. From start to finish, we took full advantage of every single moment of this trip.

The itinerary was perfectly designed, starting in Fukuoka and ending in Tokyo, with every destination, hotel, and experience thoughtfully planned. Everything was meticulously mapped out—from what to see, to how to get there, and even where and what to eat. The balance between culture, food, sightseeing, and free time was absolutely spot-on. We experienced Japan in a way we never could have planned on our own.

While we could have selected the places we wanted to visit, thanks to Adeline, the logistics were flawless. We never wasted time figuring things out, moving inefficiently, or missing opportunities. Her planning ensured we were always in the right place at the right time, giving us more time to see, do, and truly enjoy Japan.

We provided a list of key things we wanted to see and took advice from Adeline (who has lived in Japan) to ensure the entire trip was perfectly customized to our interests and travel style.

We also had full support throughout the trip. For example, when unforeseen circumstances required us to change the following day’s plans, Adeline adjusted the entire itinerary within hours and sent us a complete, updated plan without any disruption to our experience.

Every detail was handled with care—transportation, accommodations, timing, and recommendations were completely seamless. We felt supported the entire time while still having the freedom to enjoy the adventure stress-free.

This was hands-down the best vacation of our lives, and it’s 100% thanks to the expertise, planning, and passion Adeline put into making this dream trip a reality. If you’re considering traveling to Japan, or anywhere… do yourself a favor and book with her. You will not be disappointed.

Highly recommended!

Hotel Reviews

Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu

Hakone

A little disappointed couldn't use the onsen due to tattoos so couldn't give full review as we couldn't experience the main point of this hotel. Besides that the room and location is very authentic and gives nice experience

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Park Hotel Tokyo

Tokyo

Great experience at this hotel from the location to the staff. They made the experience special

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Self-Guided Sightseeing in Arashiyama

Kyoto

Very nice nature spot but be prepared for allot of people. Recommend getting the guys that run you around on a carriage tour for more vip experience. The monkey park was cool but you need to climb to the top of the mountain to get there. The area in general is beautiful and su much to do

Quality of Experience

Transport

Onsen, Ryokan, and Mt. Fuji Experience in Hakone

Hakone

Couldn't use the onsen because of tattoos and is main selling point of the hotel. Was able to use private onsen in the room which was ok. The room is meant to be traditional which was nice experience. Cable cars were shut down most the day due to wind. Pirate ship was nice. Pay the vip to get more private experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Difficult to move around this area. Used taxi allot not to waste time

Sumo Morning Practice

Tokyo

The Google address to the location is wrong so when you get there they have a sign to go to the right address which made us arrive late to the event which was disappointing since being 30 min late to an event that was only 1 hour we lost allot of time. Besides that was great

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Google address provided was incorrect causing delay

Half Day Samurai Ninja Museum and Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

The tea ceremony was very nice to dress up and be explained how the tea ceremony works. The samurai Ninja experience was a bit anticlimactic and more tailored to children. We could have skipped the samurai part and only don't the tea ceremony

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tea ceremony staff was great. Samurai guide not so much

Transport

Easy to find

This was our first trip to Japan and my wife and I were looking for an active and immersive cultural experience in addition to exploring the traditional tourist destinations such as Tokyo and Kyoto. I had read about the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trail network in the Kii Peninsula and thought that would be the perfect choice combination of a challenging activity within a more rural area of Japan. It was quickly apparent that I would need a travel specialist to help me understand the options, logistics and booking of accommodations while on the Kumano Kodo. I heard about Kimkim through a Condé Naste article no thought to give them a try. What a great decision to contact Kimkim! I was connected to Stefaan in their Kyoto office and it was an easy and enjoyable experience to plan and book the trip from that point on. We were on the trail for six nights and Stefaan booked a selection of small hotels/onsen ryokans and guesthouses which were each an amazing experience in Japanese hospitality and cuisine. Kimkim partnered with Oku Japan to book and organize the hiking trail maps, transportation logistics and accommodations and everything was exactly as promised and exceeded our expectations. We hiked a total of 72 km and 3,600 m of vertical elevation gain over five days on the Nakahechi route of the Kumano Kodo and it was a fantastic experience. I unreservedly recommend Kimkim and Oku Japan to as travel specialists to explore this unique and special part of the world!

We had an amazing time visiting Japan. Cory was fully present and extremely helpful from start to finish of our trip. I appreciate her organization of paperwork, bullet train tickets, chronological order of documents, and specific instructions on using each. This made getting around easy. We loved our guides, especially Pam. She is generous and kind and took us to places not on our itinerary. All the food tours were unique and enjoyable. Cory tweaked our itinerary based on our requests and offered unique experiences. I will recommend her services to friends. I appreciate having to ways to see Mt Fuji since Hakone gave us a foggy day when the ropeway wasn’t running. Along our journey people we met often asked about our favorite experience, a question I could not answer because each moment offered something special. That’s a credit to Cory. I do think it would be helpful to tweak itineraries a bit based on seasons as December days are shorter than spring and summer.

Hotel Reviews

Shiba Park Hotel

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Love the library decor and display of paper products.

Location

An easy walk to a station to catch the train.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Suiun

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Daiwa Roynet Hotel Hiroshima-ekimae

Authenticity & Character

This hotel is part of a high rise and has exceptional views but is very modern.

Location

Great location in relation to Hiroshima Station but a ways from attractions.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

KAYA Kyoto Nijo Castle

Kyoto

Authenticity & Character

Location

A bit off the beaten path.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mitsui Garden Hotel Kanazawa

Kanazawa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easy to walk to major attractions.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Miyako City Tokyo Takanawa

Even though the room was small, it was organized well and offered a good view and seating. Love the wet room and efficient use of space.

Authenticity & Character

Location

A good place to start given the Gateway across the street.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Japan

We were the only ones in this tour, and it felt as though the guide was going through the motions. The entire experience was rushed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nishiki Market Brunch Walking Food Tour

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Nara Day Trip with Half Day Walking Tour (Lunch included)

Japan

The deer are aggressive!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony with Kimono Wearing (Higashiyama)

Japan

Quality of Experience

You might discover you like matcha tea.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our host was fascinated by the size of my husband’s hands. 🤣

Private Kyoto Temples & Gion Tour

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Pam is an amazing guide. She knows all the best photo spots.

Transport

Discover the secret gems of Kanazawa - Private Walking Tour

Kanazawa

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Izakaya food tour in Shinjuku (14 small tastings)

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Max was very knowledgeable and personable.

Meiji Jingu Shrine with Private Guide

Tokyo

Our guide knows a lot about the Shinto religion and made it possible for us to attend a service offered only a few times a year. This was a special day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sumo Show with special, sumo nabe lunch included

Tokyo

Tons of fun and laughs w/ excellent audience participation. Very good food and service, too. They give you a photo and a gift bag.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Asakusa, Senso-ji Temple, Nakamise Dori with Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide

Tokyo

Loved visiting the temple but felt a bit rushed by our guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide needs to know the exchange rate. I think he gave me the Euro or British pound rate when I asked. I should have checked the rate myself.

Transport

Sandy planned and supported our family trip to Japan (a food-focused itinerary with Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hokkaido), and I can honestly say she made the whole experience feel effortless — even when it wasn’t.

From the planning stage she was proactive and transparent: she flagged when hotels were selling out, offered alternatives quickly, explained things like ryokan room sizes and shared bathrooms, and matched accommodation to the kind of “Japanese experience” we wanted (inns, futons, breakfasts, onsen where possible). She also gave practical advice that genuinely mattered on the ground — luggage rules for the Shinkansen, what to expect at onsen (and tattoo limitations), and what we needed for arrival procedures.

What impressed me most was her care and problem-solving once we were travelling. We changed plans and added an extra night in Tokyo; she immediately worked through options and locked in rooms for all five of us. We hit payment limits and she offered solutions (split payments / alternate options) so we could keep moving. When a booked cooking class had to be cancelled due to a genuine emergency at the host’s home, she reorganised our day and processed the refund quickly. When we spotted an airport mix-up in the itinerary, she corrected it straight away. When we asked last minute about extra luggage for a flight transfer, she upgraded us to a van so we weren’t stressed or late. She also helped with special requests (including securing rugby tickets and train travel) that weren’t part of the original plan.

Throughout the trip she checked in, sent clear day-by-day details, and made sure we had contacts and instructions — so we could relax and enjoy being together rather than constantly troubleshooting. Sandy made our first organised tour abroad a genuine breath of fresh air. We’d use her again in a heartbeat and recommend her to anyone who wants a trip that’s well planned and well supported.

Part 2 from Emily G: A few highlights and recommendations from this trip: Hakone - spend at least two nights and days in Hakone - hot springs area. A great place to wind down at the end of the trip. Lovely. Go to the Open Air Museum! Leisurely enjoy the baths. Ride the gondola (ropeway) and take walks. Loved MIyajima Island (after a sobering and important day in Hiroshima). Had only one night and wished we had 2. Much to explore and at a slower pace. Loved Takayama - much more than Kanazawa. 3 nights there is good. Bike ride outside of town with Tomo! Dinner at Alba! (tiny place, make a rez, tell Juske you learned about it from the women from San Francisco, etc). Two days walking on the Nakasendo Trail. So beautiful to be out walking in nature most of the day and not too hard at all - but i would add a 3rd day if you have time. All of our hotels were comfortable EXCEPT don't stay at ACAI in Kyoto. Too "hip", tiny rooms, you can do better. Of course you will visit the many shrines, temples and castles and I enjoyed them much more than I expected - and you will go to Tokyo (explore the neighborhoods), Osaka, Kyoto (go to the Philosophers Walk) if this is your first visit; and we heard of SO many other places to explore. One more thing - among the many benefits of working with KimKim are the many guided excursions and day trips/city tours that they plan. Every guide was Excellent! and went above and beyond in many ways, Ask for Yumi in Tokyo; Sumi in Kyoto; Fumi in Kanazawa. Ernesto in Nara; Mayumi in Nara and Hiroshima. Arigato! BTW, this trip went so well that we are already planning a second KimKim trip in February in New Zealand and impressed with the help of our specialist, Michelle!

We worked with Adeline at Kim Kim to plan our first trip to Japan, and the experience exceeded every expectation. She handled all hotels, transportation and created a recommended daily itinerary with lots of travel tips. While not totally stress free as Japan is intimidating with its size, language barriers and cultural nuances, everything went smoothly and logically.

Our hotels in Tokyo, Hiroshima and Kyoto were close to train stations, clean and quiet. Only change I would have made is location of hotel in Kyoto. Since our time there was short it, we would have preferred to stay in the heart of the tourist area. However it did have a public bathing pool which was awesome at the end of a ten-mile walking day.

This was one of the best trips we’ve ever taken. Kim Kim delivered exactly what they promised and will absolutely use them again.

Hotel Reviews

The Blossom Kyoto

Kyoto

Room was smaller and no view. Loved shower, bathing pool and snack area. Location was not ideal for what we ended up doing but that was our fault as we changed our itinerary.

Sheraton Grand Hiroshima Hotel

Hiroshima

Beautiful hotel and location to train station. Wonderful food buffet and staff. Hotel was so quiet and fast elevators considering how large it is.

Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyobashi / Tokyo Station

Excellent location and breakfast. Would have upgraded to a larger room if one was available.

Activity Review

Half Day Private Guide in Tsukishima

Tokyo

Carol was a fantastic guide. It was our first morning in Japan and we ended up not going to Tsukishima but to Asakusa and Shibuya and Meiji Jingu followed by a wonderful lunch off the beaten path. She showed us so much and gave us tips and places to explore on our own. Wish we had more time with her.

My trip to Japan was an incredible experience from start to finish. Planning everything through Kimkim was smooth and stress-free, and Eleanor made sure every detail was taken care of. I had three guides throughout my journey — each one was warm, knowledgeable, and made me feel welcome everywhere I went.

We explored Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, and each city offered something unique — from Tokyo’s energy and food to Kyoto’s temples and history, to Osaka’s lively street culture. The most memorable part of the trip was visiting Hakone — the views, the peaceful atmosphere, and the onsen experience were truly unforgettable.

Overall, this trip exceeded my expectations. Everything ran seamlessly, and I can’t thank Eleanor and the Kimkim team enough for helping make it such a meaningful adventure. Highly recommend!

The guides we had in Japan were amazing and they provided excellent experiences. Our hotels were great. We loved our trip.
Our contact at KimKim was not resident in Japan. It seems like he was working off a menu as opposed to experience. Some experiences were given as 4 hours long but in reality less than 2. Excursions were changed between days after we agreed on a specific day. It is important to pay close attention while planning.

Hotel Reviews

Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel Kyoto Premier

Kyoto

The hotel in Kyoto was great for our four-night stay. Both Tokyo and Kyoto hotels had fantastic breakfast buffets offering both continental and Japanese options.

Mt. Fuji View Onsen Ooike Hotel

The room was fine with a little garden. Initially, the front entrance was hard to find due to a lack of signage. Once inside, the hotel was nice. Louise prefers bathtubs and this hotel lacked one, but it was manageable for two nights.

Yufuin Baien Garden Resort

Yufu

We selected this hotel on recommendation s from a friend and it did not disappoint. The rooms were spacious and clean the private outdoor and indoor bathing areas were wonderful and made for a special experience.

Authenticity & Character

A truly Japanese experience

Location

A private setting a short walk into the village

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Royal Park Hotel Iconic Tokyo Shiodome

Tokyo

Great hotel with comfortable rooms. The breakfast buffet is excellent with western as well as Japanese food available. All fresh. On a clear morning we could even see Mt Fuji from our table. It is an easy walk to catch a local train or the subway

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Self-Guided Nishiki Market Food Experience

Kyoto

We did enjoy the Hidden Gardens experience. Our guide, we called him Kay, was great, and we enjoyed the interaction with him.

Half Day Imperial Palace East Gardens and Senso-ji Tour

Tokyo

This was our first temple visit in Japan. Very interesting!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was knowledgeable and helped me to get a stamp.

Osaka Castle with guided tour

Japan

I loved this tour. Osaka Castle is beautiful and has a lot of history. Well set up to see

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide is descended from samurai and very knowledgeable

Transport

We took the JR to close to the castle

Half Day Arashiyama Cycling Experience

Kyoto

This was fun but a little hairy riding through traffic for part of it. Going to see the monkeys (macaques) was a bit of a hike up.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was fun and gave a good explanation of the Japanese

Transport

Bikes are in good shape - 15 speeds

Lake Kawaguchi Cruise Tour

Fujikawaguchiko

We did the half day tour and it was not even that long, maybe 2 hours, not including the wait.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sumi-e(ink painting) Experience in a relaxing green tea shop in Tsukiji, Tokyo

Tokyo

I wish I was a better artist, not having done this before but the class was fun anyway. You have a choice between an ink painting on a board or coasters

Quality of Experience

Kyoto hidden Gardens walking tour

Kyoto

The gardens are beautiful especially with the fall colors.

Half Day Arakurayama Sengen Park and Mt.Fuji Panoramic Ropeway

Fujikawaguchiko

As Mt Fuji was covered in clouds, our guide for the two days suggested we wait until the next day do the Ropeway and boat cruise the next day and we were rewarded with beautiful sunny skies. Instead the guide took use to the Itchiku Kubota Art Museum and it was amazing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nikko - Day trip

Tokyo

This was not part of KimKim’s original plan but they provided a driver and a great guide which made it extra special

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It is a bit of a drive from Tokyo but it gave use a chance to chat with the guide

Peter was our guide in Tokyo, and Hiroshi was our guide in Kyoto. Both men were wonderful!!! Very knowledgeable, polite, and blended into our family.