Kimkim Trip Reviews for Japan

This was our first experience staying in an Onsen. Definitely something one should try at least once when they visit Japan! From leaving your shoes at the front door to picking out a kimono to wear while on-site, each experience was new. Dinner was served over several courses in your own private space in the dining area. Breakfast was in the same space, with many dishes offered. The beds were comfortable and the room was spacious and comfortable.

We weren't sure when we were first presented with the idea to stay in a hotel located within the train station in Hiroshima, but it turned out to be one of the best stays! The room was on the smaller side (bed right up against the wall), but we didn't spend much time there, as we were out seeing the historical sites. Breakfast in the on-site restaurant was outstanding with many local and western items to choose from. We caught the streetcar steps from the hotel door, and when we were leaving to head back to Tokyo, the Shinkansen platform was just at the other end of the train station. Easy Peasy!

We really enjoyed our 5 night stay at this hotel. The room was a nice size with a comfortable bed, and a relaxing shower that was separate from the sink and toilet (which was in it's own space!). The breakfast was outstanding, with many different dishes to try. The location was near a laundromat, restaurants and public transportation. The Nijo Castle was a short walk away and well worth the visit!

We stayed two nights in this hotel. The room was large enough to have space on both sides of the bed!! On-site restaurant offered a delicious breakfast with something for everyone. The location was walking distance to many sites and public transportation.

We enjoyed 4 nights at this hotel. The room was a bit smaller than we were thinking it would be (bed was against the wall and one of us had to crawl over the bed each night to sleep. The view from the room however, was amazing! We were on the 17th floor and had a city view with gorgeous sunsets. The on-site restaurant had an outstanding breakfast with many local and western dishes to try! The location was excellent being close to many subway stations and temples. We went to a 6:00 a.m. Buddhist service that was a 10 min walk from the hotel. We would definitely stay here again!

We've been on many food tours, and this one was pretty good. We had a small group of 6 for this tour, which was a good size. Our guide, Yuma, was nice and showed us some local history and a small temple where you wouldn't have expected to see one!. The local food was good.

We were fortunate to have Pam once again as our guide! She met us at our hotel and we took a taxi to the train station to catch a local express from Kyoto to Osaka for the day. Dotonbori and Shinsekai were short subway rides away from Osaka Castle. There were so many shops to explore in these districts! The castle was beautiful, though we didn't go inside as there was a huge line.

When this experience was first presented, I didn't think we would appreciate it as much as we did. Hisae and her mother were excellent, patient teachers. Japanese Calligraphy is very different from English calligraphy. For this class, we used a thicker brush to write out different symbols. Who knew a couple downward strokes and cross bars were a word! The brush strokes are performed in a style unique to Japanese Calligraphy. Hisae's mother was very gracious and wrote out our grandchildren's names in Japanese calligraphy for us to present to them as something special from Japan.

Our guide, Pam, was the best! She walked us down some back roads to see some off the radar temples before heading to the bamboo grove. The bamboo is never cut in this area, so it's quite dense and beautiful!

What a fun experience! It's like getting ready for the prom. You pick out your kimono and the ladies help you get it wrapped the correct way. Then they do your hair and add accessories to your hair to make you shine! Then it's off to take pictures in the garden. Once you're done, you are led to the tea room where a lovely lady explains and demonstrates how to make Matcha tea. This experience was something even my husband enjoyed. There is also an option to wear your kimono all day as you wander around the Gion area.

Akira was our guide for this half-day tour. We toured around the Rokuharamitsu-ji and Kiyomizu-dera temple. What amazing buildings! Our next stop was in the Gion area of Kyoto. So much history and streets to wander down!

We had a lot of fun with the guest artist decorating Japanese bowls to keep - we were pleasantly surprised how well our bowls turned out! The location was close to where we were staying and was in a one room building, which is also used for other activities. Lots of light and a welcoming location.

Our guide, Rimiko, took us all around the Omicho Market where we tried some raw oysters, Crab and pork croquettes, local Wagyu beef freshly grilled as well as some favorite desserts of Rimiko that she introduced us to. We stopped at the Oyama Shrine on the way to the Samurai district and saw where the Samurai lived at one time, though the area has been gentrified.

This actually turned out to be a fun experience. The retired sumo wrestlers had a good rapport with the audience and knew how to work the crowd!

This was a small group tour with 7 of us (an Australian family of 5 and my husband and myself). The guide spoke very good English - she had lived in Australia for a time, which was very helpful as we had lots of questions. The tour actually took place in parts of the red light district of Tokyo. What an eye-opening experience that was. Often food tours will inundate you with 7-10 stops .This tour was nice in that we only went to 3 spots. The first stop was to a restaurant where we had tempeh and sushi. The second stop was the best - Korean barbeque wagyu beef we grilled at the table - delicious! Last stop was to see the lights over the city and have some gelato. The tour guide was fun and the group had a good time!

We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Masa-san, our guide the first full day in Tokyo! Masa-san was very knowledgeable about both the Buddhist and Shinto temples we explored. He was enormously helpful in showing us how to navigate the subway system and using our Suica card.

Excellent location for tourism in Osaka. A busy property, small but comfortable room, good breakfast, no evening restaurant - but it the center of unlimited dining places.

A medium sized chain hotel, well-run and well-located for touring Kyoto and environs.

Modern building just across from Uno station. Not fancy but functional, and very good restaurant attached. Baths a short walk away - a separate facility more like a US spa, but many good bathing facilities and other amenities. However, for exploring Naoshima, not the best choice, as ferry schedule limits time on the island. If Naoshima is the objective, stay on Naoshima.

Extraordinary place, high on a hill with panoramic views of Takamatsu and inland sea, and private outdoor granite baths for every room. Yet convenient by taxi at reasonable cost to Ritsurin Garden and other tourist sites.

A small, quiet, and beautifully designed modern building well-located in Takayama. The room was small but so carefully designed that it was one of the better places we stayed.

Spectacular location in remote Iya valley. Older buildings, rambling layout, very good food, beautiful baths at the bottom of the canyon, rooms high above with great views. Hard to get to but worth the journey, and well-located for Oboke gorge exploration.

After a day of hiking on Nakasendo trail, a beautiful and serene place, both modern and traditional. Excellent food, great bathing facilities, a nice common room, well-designed traditional room. Remote location with good shuttle service to train station and local village. Would have liked to stay on.

A traditional design, older property, with excellent location close to Gora station and cable car. Beautiful outdoor bath, comfortable traditional room. Chosen to begin our Japan trip, it was excellent. Property a little worn, and food not the very best we had, but very good and overall the location and atmosphere make this an excellent place both for relaxing in place, and for touring the Hakone area.

Oboke George scenic boat ride is short but spectacular with stunning views and important geology. Vine bridge we expected to be trivial, but turned out to be a wonderful piece of engineering: now with steel cables hidden in the structure, but the design of the fiber structure is a wonder.

We visited Katsura 30 years ago, and it was our most memorable experience in Japan. This time, the garden is still an extraordinary example of design - one of the finest gardens of the world. The feeling is both ancient and modern - as though Frank Lloyd Wright went back a few centuries. But the tour felt rushed, the group of 20 was too large, the English speaking guide was full of information but careless about whether her group could hear it. It seems they are trying to get as many people through as possible, timing the tour to 60 minutes, with no time for reflection or calm. Yet, if this is the only way one can see Katsura today, the experience is still worth it.

Pam was so amazing and we could not recommend her more! We had an incredible experience walking through Kyoto, eating great food, and learning about its history. Definitely enjoyed every minute of this tour and would recommend to anyone considering it!

Nice quiet hotel, very helpful friendly staff. Nice rooms which were clean and quiet. Buffet was not the greatest but we made due.

Nice hotel, and located very close to Kyoto station. Buffet was good and the rooms were clean and quiet.

This hotel is a bit older but clean, we had our own private open air bath and a wonderful view! Nice and quiet and within walking distance to town and the train station.

Very nice helpful staff. Nice clean rooms and great service. The restaurants were lovely. Close to the train station we needed and to Tokyo tower.

This tour on the island Miyajima which they also call oyster island so if you go you need to try the oysters. I am not an oyster fan but did try them there and quite liked them. Hiroshima museum was extremely packed and because of this we did not get to see as much as we would have liked. They really should do timed entrance times but they do not. So expect to be packed in there like sardines.

This was a really good tour, I would recommend to anyone who likes food and wants to try food they have probably never had.

The bamboo forrest was really cool. Did not know that bamboo grew that quickly.

Our guide was very knowledgeable and we had a great time getting to know Kyoto.

Would have been an awesome trip, we however didn't actually get to see Mt. Fuji due to the bad weather, thanks Mother Nature! The bus was comfortable and the guide and driver were great. Lunch was provided and it was authentic so maybe not for everyone but okay with us.

The museum is quite small but the staff are nice and know their history.

This was fun, a bit cheesy but still a good time. Food was okay.

Great way to see the history and culture of Tokyo, our quide was awesome and even helped us to navigate the crazy train station. Had a great sushi lunch at her favorite sushi restaurant that was awesome!

Mr.Kong and staff over and above accommodating

Excellent 4 star Centrally located

Magic made with Onsen

Great time

Great hotel especially for Hilton Honors gold members. Good benefits.

An amazing Japanese style hotel. The room was a very good size with great amenities kits. Loved the shower and Onsen. Very close to historical and quaint area with lots of shrines, temples, restaurants and shops.

A very pleasant and centrally located hotel. Access to trains, restaurants and shops were very close. Asian breakfasts. Staff very helpful.

The Tea Ceremony was an amazing experience. Getting dressed into a kimono was fun. I think I actually looked good in it. The tea ceremony was very spiritual and culturally sensitive.

The young guide was terrific. Very friendly and knowledgeable of the area. Food from the various restaurants was delicious.

I was the only one in my session, so it was a private.

Nice hotel. Well located for Ginza and shopping.

Super traditional hotel. Great onsen. Helpful staff. Well located on a lovely island.

Super hotel. Great breakfast. Helpful staff. Well located.

Super hotel. Great breakfast. Helpful staff. Well located.

Super hotel. Helpful staff. Well located.

Super traditional hotel. Great food. Attentive staff. Well located.

Super hotel. Great breakfast. Helpful staff. Well located.

A visit to the Peace Park, a Hiroshima-speciality lunch and a moving visit to the atomic bomb-related museum.

Enjoyable trip to see and sample the delights of the busy market. Knowledgeable and interesting guide.

A delightful hour spent trying to handle the calligraphy brush, with a souvenir of handywork to take home

A valubale introduction to the nature and purpose of the Tea Ceremony.

Enjoyable trip into Geihsa and Samurai history. Knowledgeable and interesting guide.

Enjoyable tour. Knowledgeable and interesting guide.

Enjoyable trip. Knowledgeable and interesting guide.

Enjoyable trip to hidden restaurant and bar. Knowledgeable and interesting guide.

Close to restaurants and shopping in Osaka.

Close to train station, which was very convenient

Great location; close to the metro stop, shopping and restaurants. Excellent breakfast choices for an American traveling in Japan.

We went to Osaka Castle in the morning - very impressive, and then walked and took public transport to the sky-high views. Very nice. Then Ursula took us to a famous shopping area where we bought things to take home.

The Peace Memorial is something everyone should see. It was heartbreaking to see the pain and suffering of so many Japanese people. It was a beautiful day, and after the museum we enjoyed walking the grounds, and got to see school children bringing chains of cranes to the memorial dedicated to a girl who died as a result of her injuries. It was a very meaningful experience.

Ursala took us to a temple area, and then to a beautiful garden area developed by a famous Japanese actor of the early 1900s. It was a lot of walking, but that is fine with us. The tea ceremony was definitely a highlight of our time in Japan. I had no idea I would be dressed in a kimono; it was a detailed experience and we really enjoyed it!! I was a bit nervous about getting to the train station in time to retrieve our luggage and get on the train to Hiroshima. Ursula stayed with us at the tea ceremony location to be sure we got where we needed to be and on time.

Ursala met us at the train platform; she communicated that her train had been delayed. Kyoto was HOT; and we enjoyed the tour and took enough breaks to make it enjoyable.

I liked the transport; we visited the museum and did a cool Virtual Reality tour of climbing Mt. Fuji. We didn't see Mt. Fuji (it was cloudy), but Peter did all he could for us to have a good experience. The cable car to a viewing site was great.

Lots of areas of Tokyo were covered, we enjoyed the Sumo Show, and were amazed at the Anime area - we've never seen anything like it!

The day we took this tour turned out rainy at times, but Peter was a great guide. The museum was interesting; he was able to show us so many part of Tokyo!!

Nice hotel but very busy and crowded

Loved this hotel.best one we stayed in.

The hotel is very chic and free bubbly and ice cream are great. The in room bath and outdoor decor were great. The restaurant was not good.

Great staff, breakfast and amenities. Loved this hotel

We loved Nara

The rain made our tour difficult but overall great

This was by far the very best tour during our entire trip. We loved the experience, the route and the sites. Our guide was the best and made the experience enjoyable and fun.

Very touristy

Bad weather and no views

Excellent guide

Mayu our guide was the best. She was informative, friendly and fun. This was one of our favorite tours.

Very relaxing vibe at this hotel. The rooms were very spacious. It was nice to have a sitting area in the room and we also enjoyed the balcony space and private onsen. The shared onsen space was lovely - I definitely preferred the garden view with the waterfall. The only feedback that I would have is that the restaurant buffet menu tries too hard to cater to different tastes and the food might be better if they focused on just several dishes rather than a vast array.

Very well located near the Kyoto train station. Despite this, the neighbourhood is very quiet with several good restaurants nearby. Room was comfortable and well sized as well.

This was a great tour. We weren't fully sure about the full day tour, but the time flew by so quickly. We learned alot and appreciated having time both with our guide and for free exploration. We also enjoyed the craft activities. Our guide Yasushi was very talented in his ability to share his knowledge and passion for his home city.

The food was delicious and our guide was very informative not only about the food, but the Kansai region. It was lovely to be able to meet other people who also enjoy food.

We feel so lucky to have been able to experience sumo. The tour was helpful in understanding the history and the sport. Our tour guide obviously really loved sumo and she shared her enthusiasm with us. I will definitely recommend this to anyone going to Japan in the future during tournament time.

Loved this hotel! Great location close to the subway, Nikishi market, food and shopping. 7-eleven conveniently close too! The family suite was great for my kids and parents. Spacious and had everything we needed and more. The kids loved the tatami room! Having a washer/dryer was convenient. The happy hour was awesome and the coffee/tea machine was a great perk. The kids loved the bingo game for gacha ball prize too. Would definitely stay at Mimaru again!

This was a bit more traditional than I expected and both the public and private onsets were very small. The outdoor onsen had so many mosquitos that ate me alive. The dinner and breakfast were delicious!

Loved the location! So convenient for good food in every direction of Asakusa! Close to the subway and so convenient to jump on the Ginza line to go to Shibuya or Ginza. The family suite was spacious. The kids loved the tatami mats room!

Very special hotel, really enjoyed the location and in house facilities. Very close to the train station. The restaurant has only a set menu for dinner and breakfast which are to be prebooked so plan meals accordingly. There is a tourist tax to be paid and in cash only. The public and private onsen are a must do when staying here.

Centrally located and well connected to 2 main train lines. There is tourist tax that has to be paid at the hotel.

Very close to the tram station and the vibrant streets for food and shopping.

Great location. Very close to the Metro station and the buzzing area of Asakusa.

This was a beautiful walk through a beautiful forested area finally reaching the magnificent Torii gates. There is a fair bit of walking on inclines and steps.

This is an activity you cannot miss. It was conducted seamlessly and was very enjoyable.

The location was incredible and well worth the visit. Involves walking and a steep step climb if you want to reach the very top. Yet a must do when based in Osaka. The guide was the same from the day before. It was encouraging to see that she had taken some of our suggestions and was much better prepared.

This was a magical location. A fair bit of walking over uneven terrain and some incline. The guide was very young and seemed a bit inexperienced however we appreciated her trying her best.

This was an entertaining and fun way of getting to know and experience a bit about the Sumo culture. Very good set up and the bento meal was good. This is a must do in Osaka.

This place was magical. A fair bit of walking with steps and steep incline. Rio was our guide and she was simply wonderful... very plesant, kind and knowledgeable. She adjusted the pace to suit my mothers walking abilities yet made sure we saw everything.

The guide took us to some very local stops and by the end of it we were really stuffed with some authentic and very delicious Japanese food.

Very lovely experience. Mr Ken and the driver were great. Mr Ken took special care of my mother when walking the steep hill to the viewpoint and pagoda. There was an approximate 2.5 hours drive either way but our driver was very safe and the ride was comfortable.

This was a great way to walk and experience some of the highlights of Tokyo. The guide was friendly and shared insights about the areas, local food and activities.