Kimkim Trip Reviews for Japan

Both our tour guides, Yumi and Yuki, were fantastic. Yumi in particular went above and beyond and really tailored our tours to our interests, she even helped us reserve a taxi when we got to Hakone. Overall we had a wonderful time!

Activity Reviews

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

Japan

Yuki was a fantastic tour guide, we learned a lot and loved our tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi with Oshino Hakkai

Japan

Due to the heat, our tour guide Yumi suggested some different locations that fit with our interests. We had a lot of fun!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Tokyo City Tour with Akihabara district

Tokyo

Yumi was an awesome tour guide!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bella did an amazing Job planning our trip!! This was the most amazing and stress free international trip I have ever taken. Our tour guides were also amazing. Does it cost more to use a travel agent, yes. Is it worth it, absolutely!!!!

Judy was amazing and very responsive. She helped with some last minute emergency changes and was way ahead of me without needing to be asked. 100% would work with her again!

Leny did a great job helping us organize and plan a Tokyo trip for our group of 7 people. Managing a group of this size takes a lot of coordination, and she kept us well-organized throughout the process.She provided us with a solid variety of activity options to choose from during the initial stages. We really appreciated her flexibility during the planning phase, as she listened to our suggestions and was very accommodating when we needed to make changes to the itinerary.Thanks to Leny’s thorough preparation and responsiveness, our trip to Tokyo went smoothly. She is a reliable planner who truly listens to her clients' input.

Our fun activites included go-karting on the streets of Tokyo, visiting the Tsukiji Fish Market, participating in a Japanese traditional tea ceremony, kimonos and all! We also visited a local garden.

Leny created a group chat on WhatsApp for our trip and was available throughout our journey.

We had a great trip. The Shiminani biking was probably the high point but we liked Kanazawa, Takayama, and Hakone a lot as well. The support from Angel was also really great throughout the trip - it was really nice having her available on the trip chat for questions. The guides and drivers were all really good.

My husband and I just returned from our trip to Japan and have said multiple times how absolutely perfect it was. I am so glad we worked with Elizabeth and KimKim on this bucket list trip. They connected us with world class tour guides and interpreters - I keep telling people that we may return to Japan just to visit Naoko. She was our tour guide for two days in Kyoto and one in Osaka. Not only was she incredibly knowledgeable about past and present Japan, but she was adaptable, thoughtful and full of recommendations for places to eat, see, shop, etc. In addition to her tours, the other highlights for us were our private kyudo and iaido lessons in Kanazawa - both brought me to tears because they were so meaningful and our teachers were so genuine as they shared their culture and history with us. It sounds like a lot of people don't choose those experiences, so I cannot recommend them enough for a traveler looking to feel immersed in the culture on their visit. Another experience we will treasure forever is our dinner with a geisha (geiko) in Kyoto. I do not have the words to describe that evening and do it justice so just trust me, ask Elizabeth to schedule this for you if you can! What an absolute privilege it was to have that experience. I also loved our Kanazawa market tour with Selda and our Nishiki market tour with Leandra and would not hesitate to recommend both experiences! Finally, Elizabeth and her colleagues were so easy to work with via WhatsApp on the trip and even sent us videos to help us navigate the train stations. Japan has been my husband's bucket list trip and again, I am so glad we connected with Elizabeth through KimKim to plan the most perfect trip. We will remember our time in Japan forever!

Hotel Reviews

Kanazawa Sainoniwa Hotel

We loved Kanazawa Sainoniwa Hotel!!! Our room was great, the food was top notch (I will dream about that breakfast forever!), the staff was so kind and helpful, and you can't beat the access to the public onsen.

Authenticity & Character

Location

I gave it a 4/5 because you do need to take a taxi to and from town, but it's very easy so I wouldn't hesitate to stay here again.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Courtyard by Marriott Tokyo Station

Tokyo

We had a quick overnight in Tokyo and chose this hotel based mostly on location. It has all the standard amenities you might need, including a fantastic breakfast, but it's real value is in the location. I'd stay here again if we needed a home base in Tokyo near Tokyo Station.

Authenticity & Character

This was a Marriott and it felt like a Marriott - which was fine! We had other accommodations in Japan with more character but since we only had one quick night in Tokyo, this worked out perfect for the location.

Location

Very close to Tokyo Station and walking distance to Ginza and other Tokyo locations. Great spot!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kanazawa Samurai Diary (Budo) & Samurai Iaido Experience

Kanazawa

We ended up splitting the activities so we did kyudo one afternoon and iaido the next day. Both were absolute privileges to be part of and I can not recommend them enough. It was a really special way to feel immersed in the history and culture of Japan as our teachers walked us through the steps that have been practiced for hundreds of years. I honestly was moved to tears at both experiences and am so grateful of the time and energy given by our teachers. These were very special experiences.

Quality of Experience

Both of our experiences were incredibly authentic - in a way above and beyond anything I could have ever expected.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our translator was amazing!!!

Dinner with Maiko in a Traditional Kyoto Style Restaurant Tour

Kyoto

It is very hard to write this review because it's hard to really explain how special this dinner was. We ended up having dinner with a geiko (the Kyoto term for geisha) and it was an experience I will treasure forever. Few get the opportunity to dine with a maiko or geiko so I would encourage anyone who can do so to make sure to prioritize this as they plan their trip to Japan. It was such an interesting way to immerse ourselves in the history and culture of the area - plus the food was delicious! I cannot recommend this enough.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

She was fantastic! It felt like having dinner with a friend and she did a great job introducing us to the geiko.

The 10 Tastings of Kanazawa: Street Food

Kanazawa

Selda was an incredible guide on this trip! She encouraged us to try foods we were initially hesitant about and I am so glad she was with us as we explored the market. I discovered many foods that I wouldn't have without her, and I loved learning more about the history of Kanazawa and how it's fish market has impacted the history there. From the freshest fruit, to the juiciest steak, to the largest oysters and freshest sushi.....what an amazing way to spend an afternoon in Japan!

Quality of Experience

Selda really made this experience so special. Anyone can visit Kanazawa market, but being there with her meant we got to experience what the locals enjoy.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Selda was such a warm and funny guide. It felt like exploring the market with a good friend.

Nishiki Market Food Experience

Kyoto

We absolutely loved our food tour at the Nishiki market! Without Leandra's tour, I doubt we would have tried half of the food that we did - she encouraged us to try foods that looked different than something I might chose myself (and I loved them!), and she did a great job explaining how each food fits into the culinary life of a Kyoto resident. I also appreciated that the food included all sorts of things like sweet, savory, meat, pastries, seafood, tempura, etc. She did a great job introducing to foods that looked a bit intimidating and she also gave us some great recommendations for the rest of our time in Kyoto!

Quality of Experience

She did a great job introducing us to food that looked intimidating to this westerner! I loved everything we tried and I also enjoyed learning more about the history of the market itself in addition to the culinary history of each booth/storefront.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Leandra was absolutely fantastic! I highly recommend booking a food tour with her!

I will start by saying I loved Japan. The itinerary was based on a trip another kimkim representative – who had left kimkim – had put together but was still on your web site, and that trip really appealed to us. What we did do was a nice mixture of cultural things (shrines, temples, even riding the subway) and food-oriented activities – sushi making class, ramen making class, sake tasting, street food tour, sushi and waygu beef tasting, etc. This is a nice way to get to see Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka in a relatively short time. I now have a better idea of what we can do ourselves in terms of getting around, and what we need help with.

Our tour guide in Tokyo was one of the best we have ever had anywhere. I mean it. She was super!!!! Not only did she know a great deal about Japanese history and culture, but even while we were waiting for things, she would explain things – like bowing, etc. She also gave us tips about keeping cool - -5 degree neck towels, using a small fan, using a spray to cool us down. These are ‘forever” tips, and I just shared them with our daughter who is heading to Italy.

Our guide in Kyoto and Osaka was fine and extremely nice, but she did not have a depth of knowledge – particularly about food – and I believe her English was not quite strong enough. She was adaptable, however, and found us a place to buy knives and other things we asked about. So overall I thought she did a good job. Thus, we found her very responsive and helpful, despite the bit of English problem. And since I was in Japan without being able to speak more than a modicum of Japanese, one can hardly complain!

My main concern is with communication problems with our main travel agent Eleanor. We found it impossible to get detailed itineraries in advance. We waited for a very long time to get picked up in the Tokyo airport. We did not see anyone with a sign when we left baggage claim, and walked outside. We kept asking where the driver was, but couldn’t seem to get an answer. I felt very bad for him, and I still have absolutely no idea where he had been waiting. A simple email, text, or message on What’s App with his exact location would have been helpful. All we got was “he was there” and a photo of his sign. I think I sent the message “where” about 5 times.

For our foodie tour, it was super unclear where we were expected to get to. One set of itineraries said we needed to get to that part of Tokyo by subway. Another said we were to get driven there. We were very mixed up about pick-up and meet up times and places on many occasions. While taking the subway at rush hour in a new city would have been challenging, and we were glad to be driven and picked up, a detailed itinerary would have solved this problem.

We had another extremely stressful incident getting on the bullet train in Tokyo to head to Kyoto. We almost missed our train, because we were not given whatever “code” we needed to scan at the entrance. I sent a lot of messages on this one, and the bullet train person ran us to the gate and got us through somehow. Luckily a person named Jonathan sent us the correct bar codes or we wouldn’t have been able to exit either.

When we were leaving to fly home, Eleanor sent us a message late the night before and said the car would pick us up at 11 am (for a 12:45 pm flight to Tokyo – then U.S.) and the driver sent us a what’s app message that he would pick us up at 11:20 pm – and neither time was acceptable. It was over 30 minutes to get there by car, and we had baggage to check. Having less than an hour to get checked in for what is an international flight technically is just crazy. When I saw this the night before, I immediately sent a message through the Kimkim app that we needed to be picked up by 10 a.m. at the latest. Eventually this got arranged, and the new driver was very prompt the morning we left. However, a question to us before hand of how much time we needed and when we would like to get picked up would have saved a lot of late night scrambling on the part of Eleanor.

I view these issues as a lack of ability to provide detailed itineraries for the entire trip, with times, bar codes, meeting spots, etc. in advance – certainly by at least 2 days in advance. Receiving this late at night the day before a specific set of activities was difficult. By providing detailed itineraries in advance, we wouldn’t have a panic late at night. This all adds up to insufficient clarity and timeliness in the communications from Eleanor.

Overall, the trip was great. I adored Japan, and I cannot wait to go back. It is unfortunate that we had the communication difficulties we had. We did not have any of these problems on our February trip to Costa Rica – nor when my husband used your group in Morocco.

Hotel Reviews

Shiba Park Hotel

Tokyo

This is a small boutique hotel. While the rooms were small, they were really comfortable. I loved the little origami crane inside a box in the room. The lobby has small snacks and coffee 24/7, and this is really nice when you crave a little something. They have a great breakfast. They also have a HUGE book collection on two floors. This is very unique, and it feels very special. I would stay here again, although I wish they would have more towel bars in the bathrooms (which are small).

Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo

Kyoto

This is a very large hotel, but it could not be more convenient if you are taking the ultra-fast train to Osaka or Toyko. It is directly across from the train station. It is also really close to two excellent shopping areas - one directly by the train station and another just up the street. The rooms are small but comfortable. The bathroom is also small, and needs some towel bars! We had one small window with no view at all. This is not particularly a problem, but it is disconcerting to look onto a wall! FYI: If you want a late check out, they will charge you for it. However, they will hold your bags for you. They have a big breakfast, with something for everyone.

Fairfield by Marriott Osaka Namba

Osaka

This is a modern hotel in downtown Osaka. The rooms were very comfortable, and the bathroom very modern. They also have a great breakfast in the morning. I highly recommend this hotel.

Activity Reviews

Osaka day trip with Kuromon Market

Osaka

If this was the street food tour day, that was fun. We tried takoyaki (the octopus balls) although ours were not cooked in the middle, an okonomiyaki (fun to eat and watch the theatrics of the decorating), but no skewers. As you can't buy food and walk with it, as it is rude in Japan, you had to sit. I think this could have been better planned. I think our guide was not particularly interested in food. And since we are interested in food, the experience was not as good as it could have been. We walked a lot, and we were both hot and tired. This area is very touristy - it doesn't make it bad, but it is good to know that.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tsukiji Market & Sushi-Making Workshop tour

Tokyo

The market was not open because it was a national holiday...bummer. We would have liked to see the fish market. Our travel agent should have known that the fish market would be closed. It made our guide a bit at a loss, since a fair bit of time was alloted for this. He did a good job of filling in, but of course it was a non-event. The sushi making was fine. We basically got to assemble sushi from fish they cut, rice they prepared, etc. I guess I thought we would be actually making sushi. Was it fun? Yes. Could I go home and know how to make sushi? Well, a bit I supposed. Next time I would take a real cooking class.

Quality of Experience

Food

How can you not like sushi?

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kyoto Sightseeing Tour with Sake Tasting

Kyoto

It was very hot, so we never made it to the shrine. My husband stayed back to sit in an air-conditioned rest area. I also did not realize that the zillion tori gates were all actually donated by businesses and were actually advertisements. My guess I would feel differently if we had walked as far as the shrine. We asked about tasting my favorite gin at the distillery tasting room. That was amazing, and we appreciated the last minute addition. The sake tasting was not good. It was so unmemorable I cannot even remember the name of where we went. It was at a single sake distillery, and thus all we tasted were three of their sakes. They were good, but it seemed odd. We were expecting to hear about the process of sake making, the different types of sakes, etc. but there was little in English - and basically no one talking about these things. I would have preferred to go to a sake bar and just tasted the recommendations of the bartender.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Strolling through Osaka's food streets

Osaka

I found this a bit of a bore. There are so many restaurants, and it is clearly a HUGE tourist street. I prefer to eat at places where locals are eating, and eat better food. That being said, I ultimately picked a restaurant that seemed to have the least hype, and it appeared to be full of Japanese people eating their lunch.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kyoto: Ramen Cooking Class at the Ramen Factory & Souvenirs

Kyoto

This was fun, and we did get to make ramen noodles. The instructor was enthusiastic (all women). You get to then eat your ramen, so that is nice too. You do not get to make the broth (but they did give me a recipe when I asked at the end). They also cooked the chicken that went into the soup, and gave us eggs, etc. already cooked. Maybe that is all you can expect if you are there for such a short time. However, it was fun, and people of all ages could enjoy doing this. I figured we would get chopsticks, but instead we just got the white cloth we tied around our heads. I do not view this as much of a souvenir. Next time I would prefer an actual cooking class.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

I was very surprised that this was actually a "dress in kimonos" tea ceremony. I had assumed we would be tasting different types of Japanese tea. In the end, it was actually fun to get dressed up. The actual tea ceremony - the details and then the actual matcha making - did not take long. It was interesting, however. I certainly would not want to do this more than once.

Quality of Experience

The kimono process was interesting in and of itself. The actual tea ceremony was rather a non-event.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

High-Quality Japanese Whisky Tasting in Shibuya

Tokyo

This was quite a surprise. We were led up stairs to the "tasting room", which was basically like a small apartment. We had our 10 whiskies, and because I don't drink that, I got to taste a local gin. We actually ended up buying two bottles. I would have appreciated a bit more snack food - as it is hard to drink even small tastes without some food. They really had a lot of whiskeys. It was unclear how the 10 we tasted were chosen.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Seemed to know a good deal about whisky.

Transport

We walked over there. It is important to let people know they will be climbing stairs. That was a bit hard for my husband.

Tokyo Night Foodie Tour in Shinjuku

Tokyo

This was a lot of fun. I certainly have had sushi many times, but our particular Magical Tour guide took us to 4th floor restaurants and 17th floor ice cream places. One could not have found these easily on ones own. All three restaurants were excellent and fun. Plus the view of Tokyo at night from the 17th floor of the Kabukicho Tower was AMAZING!

Quality of Experience

Great food.

Food

Great sushi, great wagyu beef, and lovely ice cream with Japanese-specific flavors.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

He was very energetic. We walked by the giant 3-d cat and the godzilla "statue" - this was quite fun and amazing.

Transport

We walked. That was part of what made it interesting.

Full Day Senso-ji, Meiji Shrine and Harajuku Tour

Tokyo

This was one of my favorite days in Japan. Our guide in Tokyo was the BEST EVER! I learned so much more than what we actually "saw". We learned about Japanese history, the history of religion in Japan, and even things about gravel use on paths and when and how to bow. The things were saw were quite interesting. The shop associated with the Meiji Shrine is absolutely the best - the curation of items is first rate. The cafe is also excellent, offering a great variety of snacks and interesting drinks - which we needed because it was so hot!

Quality of Experience

The Meiji Shrine is very interesting.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was the BEST!!!

Transport

We took the subway. I am glad we did it with our guide, as everything I had heard before coming to Japan made it seem intimidating. It was great - so clean and well labeled. We even took it later that night by ourselves.

Hilda, did a fantastic job overall. We had several changes to our itinerary given we were traveling with an infant and she was able to accommodate them all. Additionally, she answered all questions we asked and was even responsive to questions during our time there. We had a great experience

We had booked a 2 week trip to Jopan in June/July 2026. . We enjoyed the trips with the guides Ayumi San ( trip to Nikko ), Sunny San ( Kyoto ) , Yoshido San ( Nara and Osaka ) and Mayumi San ( Hiroshima) providing much needed background information on the place so we could get a broader perspective and have a richer experience.
A special thanks to Sandy who worked with us patiently, built and implemented an itinerary which worked for us. The accommodation, connectivity with trains and personal transports made the trip enjoyable so we could look forward to the places rather than logistics.

First, I should say we had a fun and memorable trip to Japan. We did pretty much everything we had in mind, and many things were good. The shortcomings were in the details. Although it is not the fault of the travel agent or Kimkim, the part of Japan in which we traveled is very hot and humid in July. We really should have gone during a different time of year. Many of the fine details arranged by the travel agent were problematic. For example, we arrived in Tokyo via Mongolia Air, which uses terminal 2. Our driver was waiting for us in terminal 1. It took over an hour and a lot of angst to connect with our driver. The travel agent had our flight information, and should have directed the driver to the correct terminal. Another example, is our departure from the Osaka airport. The travel agent told us our driver would pick us up at our hotel at 11:00. The driver sent us a text saying he would get us at 11:20. Our flight boarded at noon. It was a half hour drive to the airport, and it took us an hour and fifteen minutes to get into the terminal, check our luggage, get through security and walk to our gate. Obviously, there was a scheduling problem. We did insist on an earlier pickup, which happened. The quality of the tours varied. We had a guide for a day in Tokyo who was possibly the best guide we have ever had. She taught us so much about Japanese history, culture and religion. She was a wonderful traveling companion, and her English was excellent. We had a different guide for three days in Kyoto and Osaka who was a poor guide. She was very nice and friendly, and she was great at navigating between sites. She knew a few historical dates, but she really taught us nothing. And her English was poor. The quality of some of the things we did was variable. We did an excellent ramen making class. Our sushi making class was superficial. We did not even get to cut our own ingredients. The sake class and museum were nothing more than an ad for one sake company. It taught us absolutely nothing and was a waste of time. I expect a travel agent to be more selective. I could have done better using Trip Advisor. In summary, the quality of the trip was variable. Due to the problems, I really am not sure if we will use Kimkim again.

I will mention that we started our Asia trip with two weeks in Mongolia. We used a different travel agency for that portion of the trip. Our Mongolia experience was absolutely perfect in every way.

Our guide Soleil was very attentive and perfectly helpful. Her choices for activities and events matched our interests perfectly and she was in large part responsible for our wonderful family vacation. I recommend her services to anyone traveling to Japan. Thank you to the KimKim team for a lovely trip.

Our trip was magical, but many thanks goes to our travel specialist, Cannon. He provided the perfect amount of advice and planning so that we were able to experience everything we wants and then some. If anyone is planning a trip to Japan and your specialist happens to be Cannon, you are in great hands! Thanks Cannon!

My family and I are truly grateful for the partnership and support of Leny and her team.

From the very beginning of the planning process I felt at ease and excited about receiving the best care and advice from Leny. I had already talked to two different planners at independent companies and neither of them could provide the service that Leny did. She offered great recommendations, and coordinated the best hotels and guides and could give true feedback being a local and speaking the language.

Our memorable excursions were the samurai experience, ramen making and the open air museum. Thank goodness for all the Shinkansen help- she told us the platform and all the information beforehand- otherwise it would have been overwhelming to navigate . I changed my plans when we were nearly done with our planning and Leny worked through all the changes and stayed positive and professional ☺️

I especially want to point out the help she provided my husband when he lost his passport- she connected with the uber driver/taxi company and helped work out the return of his lost bag. She stayed calm, worked late and really went above and beyond to help us come up with a plan. We are forever grateful.

Thank you Leny and team- and we plan to use KimKim for future trips- and have already mentioned the company to our friends.

Monique and Nick Williams

Every place we stayed was absolutely wonderful. The experiences, like the sushi making class and the hot springs, were top notch. We were traveling with teenagers, so it was important that the activities and plans also met their needs, and our guides were excellent at that.

Eleanor did an outstanding job planning our family vacation trip to Japan. The itinerary was well‑organized, the tickets were handled smoothly, and the train directions were incredibly easy to follow. Every guide we met was knowledgeable, friendly, and made the experience even better. I truly recommend KimKim for anyone looking to book a stress‑free and well‑planned trip

This was a bucket list trip for me and it turned out really well. The itinerary was in line with my budget and was incredibly fun. A big part of what I was looking for was a great food experience. Check! I wanted to see historically and architecturally significant places. Check! I wanted fun local shopping where I could purchase goods not available in New York. Check! Some tour guides were a better fit than others, but everyone was professional and knowledgeable. They brought me to places I never would have found on my own.

In sum, I would highly recommend this outfit for booking a trip to Japan. I had a great time and got a lot of value for my money.

While we had a great time on our trip, the price we paid definitely did not match the level of service we were given. Ben was very responsive, but there were many setbacks we encountered during the vacation, the first of which being the moment we landed. When we arrived in Japan at 4 am our private airport transfer was nowhere to be found. After about 30 minutes of standing around and calling/messaging, we finally got in touch with KimKim and the driver who said he got the time wrong and he could be to the airport to pick us up in about an hour to an hour in a half. We were exhausted and opted for two taxis instead. We understood that misunderstandings like that can happen and appreciated that Ben rectified the situation the following day by having our guide reimburse us. On the topic of the guide, one of the two guides we had was wonderful; however, the other guide did not have any information about the sites he was taking us to, hardly knew how to get around/where we were going, and did not speak any English beyond basic conversational skills (despite being marketed as an English-speaking guide). We ended up cancelling him on the last day in favor of just exploring ourselves and had a much better, less hectic day overall.

In my opinion, securing a good guide is one of the two reasons to book through an agent though. The other major perk is having them plan out the logistics which they didn’t do well at all. We were back in the same neighborhoods many days in a row and our itinerary suggested we go to things on days they were closed, which we were not notified of until day-of by the guide and, in one circumstance, not at all (we only found out by looking it up ourselves while we were already en route).

Lastly, we requested certain experiences, like an authentic tea ceremony, and were given the most touristy options available. We were specifically trying to avoid things of that nature and were deeply disappointed upon entering. While it was nice to have sightseeing entrance fees and transit tickets already arranged and paid for, we could’ve easily handled our own transport and tickets and, in some cases, had to do so anyway due to the poor planning of our daily itineraries. The price simply isn’t worth the quality of planning. Lesson learned. Save your money.

Our 16-day adventure through Japan was an incredible experience, and we truly appreciate the time and effort Shona put into helping us plan such a memorable trip. She listened to our interests, understood our family’s travel style, and provided recommendations for experiences, accommodations, and transfers that made our journey special.

There were, however, a few areas where the planning and support could have been improved. We did not receive our finalized itinerary until about five days before departure, which limited our ability to arrange some additional activities we would have liked to include.

We also experienced a significant issue with our hotel in Okinawa. Before departing Texas, we specifically asked about the itinerary description stating “2 twin beds and room perfect for a couple getaway” because we were traveling as a family of four. Shona reassured us that the hotel had confirmed the room would be large enough to accommodate all four of us. Unfortunately, upon arrival, the room provided was not suitable for our family. Although the issue was eventually resolved by moving us to another property, the stress involved and the time lost during our vacation were disappointing and could have been avoided.

Communication during unexpected situations was another challenge. While traveling, two typhoons were approaching our route, and we reached out to Shona for guidance on whether we should continue to our next excursion/destination or adjust our plans. Unfortunately, we were unable to reach her directly and again had to use the emergency support number. While the emergency assistance was appreciated, having direct access to Shona during these important moments would have provided additional confidence and reassurance.

Overall, we had an amazing trip and are grateful for Shona’s expertise, recommendations, and the effort she put into planning our Japan adventure. The trip itself was wonderful, and her guidance helped create many unforgettable memories. With earlier delivery of the final itinerary and more reliable direct communication when unexpected issues arise, the overall experience would have been exceptional.

Ben was amazing to work with and provided excellent service in planning and while in country. This was a trip to remember thanks to his help.

Outstanding experience and without doubt the best vacation we’ve ever had.
Sandy at KimKim provided an itenary for our trip to Japan that matched exactly with what we wanted to do and where we wanted to go. The cost of the trip was in line with our previously established budget. Hotels were superb and centrally located to what we wished to do. All arrangements with regards to hotels, excursions, transportation, etc were planned and confirmed and we had zero issues with any of these items.
Our guides for the tours were superb and went above and beyond. Yukio was fantastic showing us Osaka, Hiroshima, and Kyoto and made our whole experience visiting these places stress free and enjoyable. Yuna took us to the best places in Tokyo and navigated us superbly through the city.
Drivers for pick ups were always on time and very helpful.
This was our first experience using KimKim and visiting pacific Asia. We loved it and wished the vacation had never ended! Thank you!

Hotel Reviews

Hilton Tokyo Narita Airport Hotel

Tokyo

The Hilton Tokyo Narita Airport Hotel was a wonderful way to end our trip. We were surprised to find that we had been booked into a suite, which was huge compared to the typically small rooms in Japan. It felt like a palace or a house, and it was a very comfortable and spacious place to relax before our departure.

Mitsui Garden Hotel Osaka Premier

Osaka

The Mitsui Garden Hotel Osaka Premier was a lovely hotel in a great location. It was comfortable and well-situated for exploring Osaka. We had no complaints about the hotel, and it contributed positively to our stay in the city.

Asakusa Tobu Hotel

Our hotel in Tokyo, the Asakusa Tobu Hotel, was perfectly situated. Just outside the door was a narrow alley full of restaurants leading to one of Tokyo's main shrines, which was very convenient. Across the street was the rail station for the metro, making it easy to get around. The central location was praised by everyone who visited us, and it really enhanced our experience in Tokyo.

Cross Hotel Kyoto

Kyoto

Fantastic location in Kyoto. Very friendly and helpful staff and room was lovely. Breakfast buffet had everything and whole hotel very clean and had a great vibe about it.

Authenticity & Character

Very clean. Staff professional, helpful and friendly.

Location

Very central and close to all the shops, restaurants and train stations but also off the Main Street and very quiet.

Staff

They made every effort to make sure our stay was enjoyable and answered all our questions.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was spacious and clean. Whole hotel was clearly well maintained and cleaned.

Activity Reviews

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

Kyoto

Great combination of activities and my wife is still smiling from the experience of wearing a kimono!

Quality of Experience

Great combination of activities

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Staff at each location were very friendly and helpful

Tokyo Highlights: A Day of Tradional & Modern Culture with Local Life

Tokyo

A great blend of activities/sights that gave us a great overview of this wonderful city. From visiting fantastic food markets to majestic shrines and spacious parks this day tour was a perfect way to.enjoy Tokyo.

Quality of Experience

A huge city and the day was spent visiting a variety of locations stress free

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide, Yuna, took care of us superbly and spent the correct amount of time at each site explaining everything and answering all our questions.

Transport

Spending a day using the Tokyo metro was quite an experience but made stress free by our guide

Enjoy Temples & Bamboo Grove in Kyoto

Kyoto

This day took us to some of the main highlights in Kyoto and was superb. Our guide, Yukio, took care of us and we spent the right amount of time at each location and he explained all the attractions. Fantastic day!

Quality of Experience

Seeing so many of the main attractions in one day stress free

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide could not have been better

Transport

A combination of trains, cars, and buses very well planned