Kimkim Trip Reviews for Japan

The guides selected for us were phenomenal! They shared their culture and experience with us and made the trip memorable! The drivers were amazing and communicated with us for rack pick up. The itinerary was customized and exceeded all of our expectations. There was only one glitch with the travel system (wrong airport listed) but we recovered and made it to the destination on time!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Forza Osaka Kitahama

Osaka

Overall a fine hotel with fine rooms that met our needs, even breakfast was fine. It is located near shopping and restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Richmond Hotel premier KYOTO SHIJO

Very nice hotel with a stylish lobby! It is located in the middle of downtown and near shopping and restaurants. The hotel is also next to a grocery store. The room was comfortable and we had plenty of room to move around (the largest room of the 5 hotels we stayed at during a 2-week trip to Japan). The breakfast had many traditional Japanese dishes, with plenty of options for travelers. There are laundry machines and a smart tv in the room so you can see availability in the laundry room without leaving your room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mitsui Garden Hotel Shiodome Italia-gai Tokyo

We loved staying here! My family of 3 stayed here twice during a trip to Tokyo for a total of 6 nights - by far our favorite hotel during our trip to Japan. The most comfortable beds and enough room to move around. Great breakfast. Great location - Within walking distance to the metro, convenience stores, and a coffee shop. Plenty of laundry machines and an onsen on the top floor.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

HOTEL THE BOTANIK SEWOON MYEONGDONG

Seoul

Great location! Great breakfast! Great room! A favorite from a recent trip to Seoul! Highly recommend!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Japan

Arrive with an appetite! The guide took us to 3 locations using the metro and we tried a variety of Osaka food! Our favorite was the end of the evening when we tried Osaka style savory pancakes (pancake is slightly misleading since it made me think of US style pancakes- these are made with shredded cabbage)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Nara City Tour, Overnight in Osaka

Kyoto

The deer park is impressive- there are 1000 deer roaming the area. While the deer are aggressive and easily overwhelming, if you move further into the park you can feed single deer without fear of being nipped at or bitten. The stone lanterns and shrines scattered among the park are impressive.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Bamboo Grove and Monkey Park Tour

Kyoto

The monkey park is a bit of a hike up the side of a mountain (stairs and step walk). Once you reach the top, the monkeys are close to you! Our guide knew the best time to arrive, so we beat the crowd, but it got rather crowded before too long. The bamboo grove is near the monkey park. What a sight to see! Perhaps one of my favorites because once you move beyond the tourists the grove is very serene and peaceful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Kyoto City Tour (Kinkaku-ji Temple, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Nijo Castle and Fushimi-Inari Taisha)

Kyoto

A great way to experience Kyoto! Our guide, Zumi, was phenomenal! He took us throughout Kyoto, using the metro, the bus, and even a taxi to get us to each location. He took us further into the locations so we could see more than most tourists.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Tokyo

We had 2 guides for the day - which was a lifesaver when moving through the crowds of people and traveling to multiple locations. They certainly took us to the most amazing spots in Tokyo!

Quality of Experience

Quality of Experience

Food

The guide had us sample a few items unique to the area and suggested a great spot for lunch. Lunch was close to 1:30pm.

Food

The guide had us sample a few items unique to the area and suggested a great spot for lunch. Lunch was close to 1:30pm.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transport

Half Day Seoul City Tour with Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village

Seoul

A fantastic way to see Seoul! We started with an option to rent traditional clothes for part of the day (watching the changing of the guards and wandering through the museum). Our guide, Jake, was amazing!! He shared a lot of knowledge about the customs of Korea - which made the experience richer. He suggested a great location for Korean Bulgogi and then took us to a few shopping areas. Jake to our interests into account and customized the rest of our itinerary.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hozugawa River Cruise

Kyoto

A highlight for our family trip to Japan! Only a few parts of the river had fast flowing water (just a few splashes). The guides shared information about the area and made the trip even more memorable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Street Go-Cart Tour

Tokyo

What a cool way to experience Tokyo!! The route we followed was fun and the guide took photos which really added to the experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Kyoto

3 separate activities: tea ceremony with kimonos was a family favorite! The experience of getting dressed in kimonos was a rush! Learning about the tea ceremony was a treat! Samarai Ninja experience started at one location in town - where we practiced throwing stars and blowing darts. Probably an activity more for smaller children. The museum is located across town - a 10 to 15 minute walk. We accidentally started at the museum and walked to the Ninja Experience, so we did not return to the museum afterwards.

Quality of Experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We worked with Cory to plan an Multiday day Japan trip with our granddaughter.
The Itinerary was outstanding and every arrangement was very smooth. Guides were excellent and informative- we really especially loved Pam in Kyoto!!
The classes and experiences were wonderful, and were kid friendly.
Hosts were fun and we learned a lot while having a great time!
Our granddaughter really had a great time, and we will all have many memories to cherish.

Hotel Reviews

9h nine hours Ningyocho

Tokyo

Great capsule hotel. Very sage

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Blossom Kyoto

Kyoto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Laforet Club Hakone Gora Yunosumika

Hakone

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel New Otani Tokyo Garden Tower

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Izakaya food tour in Shinjuku (14 small tastings)

Tokyo

Max was great- good energy!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Japanese Calligraphy Experience (Nara)

Japan

This was the highlight of the trip. Guides were wonder and so kind- treated us like family. Very special. We loved Hanna!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Samurai Ninja Museum with fun experience

Japan

Felt a bit rushed

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony with Kimono Wearing (Higashiyama)

Japan

Such a great cultural experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sushi Making Cooking Class near the Tokyo Tower

Tokyo

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

Japan

Yuki was awesome

Quality of Experience

Oh

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ramen Noodle Cooking Class

Kyoto

So much fun a so yummy!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Not applicable

Wagashi Sweets Making Experience with an Artisanal Confectioner (Wagashi Issho)

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rickshaw in Asakusa

Tokyo

Full day exploring Meiji Jingu, Harajuku & Shibuya

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Kyoto Temples & Gion Tour

Japan

Pam was friendly and so informative. A pleasure to work with

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Very responsive and open to our requests. Great communication with Ben before, during, and after trip.

Fine job in selecting guides in Kyoto, but other than a food tour in Tokyo the experience was not as expected.

Activity Reviews

Kanazawa Food Tour: Private & Personalized with a Local Guide

Kanazawa

Not a normal food tour as it was going to two restaurants and ordering off the menu. Not what we expected, fortunately the food was good.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Authentic Ramen & Gyoza Making Class in Kyoto

Kyoto

I would recommend this cooking class to anyone

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Enjoy your private open-air bath and dinner

Kaga

We didn’t care for this experience

Kanazawa Artisan Half Day Tour

Kanazawa

Didn’t have a very good guide, though the experience was good

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dinner with Maiko in a Traditional Kyoto Style Restaurant Tour (Small Group)

Kyoto

Not to be missed experience in Kyoto and great fun evening.

Welcome to Kaga: Japan's Hidden Gem of Hot Springs and Art

Kaga

Not enough information on the experience

Best of Shibuya Food Tour

Tokyo

Great tour guy with lessons in Japanese culture which was great experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Private Half-Day Walking Tour: EasternTokyo Your Way (by Public Transportation)

Tokyo

Unfortunate heavy rain dampened our experience and SkyTree was a bit too commercial.

Tokyo: teamLab, Azabudai Hills & National Art Center Tour

Tokyo

Poor guide, but ok experience.

Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo forest & Garden Half-Day Walking Tour

Kyoto

Good guide for the local temples and the forest experience.

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

Japan

Good experience for our 17 year old grand daughter.

We absolutely loved our trip to Japan! Shona helped us get the balance just right, between guided experiences and independent travel. Our guides were exceptional and allowed us to cater our days and gain much more than we could have on our own. The assistance in transportation with luggage was especially appreciated. Lastly, the app was easy to use and had everything we needed in one place.

We couldn't have been happier about our trip and will definitely use Kimkim again!

Activity Reviews

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

Kyoto

If we were to do it again, we'd do the Tea Ceremony and skip the Samurai Ninja Museum. Purely a matter of personal preference, but we loved the tea ceremony and didn't find the Samurai museum very engaging.

Full Day Tokyo City Tour

Tokyo

Moto was an exceptional tour guide. We inited him to visit us at home, because we sincerely enjoyed his company so much!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

When we first considered using Kimkim to plan our family's trip to Japan, I was honestly a little reluctant.

As someone who typically plans complex travel myself, I wasn't sure if anyone could truly understand what we were looking for. We wanted luxury, but not just luxury. We wanted authenticity. We wanted Michelin-level food experiences alongside tiny local restaurants. We wanted our children (ages 10 and 13) to experience the real Japan, not simply move from tourist attraction to tourist attraction. Most importantly, we wanted a trip that would bring our family closer together.

Then we met Bella.

From our very first conversation, Bella was remarkable.

Over the course of months, we probably sent her hundreds of questions, requests, revisions, restaurant ideas, hotel changes, flight updates, and random thoughts. Not once did she make us feel like a burden. In fact, she embraced the process. Every request was met with enthusiasm, thoughtfulness, and genuine care.

What impressed me most was her willingness to adapt. We changed hotels. We added destinations, removed destinations, swapped experiences, changed flights, debated Disney, baseball games, restaurants, and transportation. Bella never missed a beat.

She helped us create exactly the trip we wanted.

And then the trip began.

What followed exceeded every expectation.

The guides Bella selected were exceptional.

Mr. Hajime in Tokyo was fantastic. Knowledgeable, personable, flexible, and passionate about sharing Japan beyond the guidebook. He understood immediately that we loved local culture and hidden gems. Some of our favorite moments came from spontaneous recommendations and side streets we never would have discovered on our own.

Mr. Hiroyuki in Hakone helped us experience a completely different side of Japan. The pace slowed, the scenery changed, and we were able to enjoy one of the most relaxing parts of our journey.

Ms. Ursula in Kyoto and Osaka was equally outstanding. Warm, insightful, and incredibly knowledgeable, she helped bring centuries of Japanese history and culture to life while also making everything accessible and enjoyable for our children.

The drivers were equally impressive.

Every transfer was seamless. Every pickup was on time. Whether we were moving between hotels, stations, or destinations, the logistics simply disappeared into the background—which is exactly how great travel should feel.

One of the things I appreciated most was that the trip never felt rigid.

We had structure when we needed it and flexibility when we wanted it.

Bella listened when we said we preferred local neighborhoods over crowded tourist zones. We explored areas where locals actually live, shop, and eat. We wandered hidden streets in Tokyo, discovered incredible food, and experienced moments that felt authentic rather than manufactured.

The food was extraordinary.

We enjoyed everything from world-class omakase and Tempura Kondo to local ramen shops, yakiniku, Kobe beef in Kyoto, and countless memorable meals in between. Bella understood that we were food-focused travelers and helped us build a dining experience that balanced celebrated restaurants with places we likely never would have found ourselves.

Hakone was magical.

Our stay at Gen Hakone Gora was one of the highlights of the trip. The onsen experience, the kaiseki dinners, the tranquility, and the incredible hospitality created memories our family will never forget.

And then there was the family aspect.

As I write this, we're sitting in the Delta Lounge preparing to fly home.

The thing we're talking about isn't DisneySea. It isn't the Michelin restaurants. It isn't the luxury hotels.

It's how much time we spent together.

This trip gave us something that becomes increasingly difficult to find in everyday life: uninterrupted family time.

We laughed together, explored together, got lost together, discovered new foods together, and experienced an entirely different culture together.

Our children leave with a genuine appreciation for Japan.

My wife and I leave with memories that will last forever.

And our family leaves closer than when we arrived.

That's the true measure of a great trip.

Japan itself is an extraordinary destination, but Bella and her team transformed it from a vacation into a family experience we'll be talking about for decades.

If you're considering Japan and wondering whether to trust Bella and Kimkim, my advice is simple:

Do it.

Trust the process.

Share what matters to you.

Bella will listen.

And if your experience is anything like ours, you'll come home wondering when you can return.

Bella, thank you for your patience, your professionalism, your attention to detail, and most importantly, your genuine care for our family.

You helped create memories that we will cherish for the rest of our lives.

My wife and I are pretty independent travelers. We have done trips to all 50 US States and a few trips abroad by basic research and online bookings. So this year when we decided to travel further and we picked Japan, I thought it would be the same. It really wasn’t. I was having a difficult time knowing where to stay (Tokyo is very large) what things we needed to see, and the best way to travel to multiple cities within our budget. Also we were a little worried about the language barrier and finding our way around. We did not want to do a guided tour, we like working on our own timetable, but were worried about doing this on our own. After looking through several websites, came across KimKim and on a lark filled out some information. Before long, we were contacted by Carinta and through a basic survey on our interests and goals she came up with a really great vacation package. We had a video chat and fine tuned a few things, but were very happy with the plan! So our anticipation grew and we had our vacation all prepped and planned well in advance. A few weeks before our trip we received our Roadbook with all the specific information and links, along with some helpful cultural tips. Another video chat with Carinta to go over the points and answer any questions and we were ready to go!
The accommodations that she picked for us were all wonderful. The train travel between cities was all laid out very well. We only had one ticket issue with an experience (could not get the ticket link to come up) but a quick text and the issue was solved immediately. All of the locations that were suggested that we had no idea about but went to because of the suggestion were all fantastic . And because we weren’t in a group dynamic, we did a few things on a lark that we had a great time doing. She did provide us with an airport pickup and a half day guided tour, so we did have a little help navigating the public transport and finding our way around to start. That was super helpful, and not sure we would have been so bold with our travels ha we not had that initial help. The contact from KimKim on travel days was appreciated, and even though we didn’t have any huge issues or emergencies, the fact that we had a resource there was incredibly comforting. This was honestly a great experience from the start through the trip and I am so happy that we went with this company, and we are already thinking of our next adventure with a little more confidence knowing this company is here.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Androoms Kyoto Shichijo

Kyoto

Great hotel super close to Kyoto Station. Nice neighborhood, very comfortable room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ryokan Aura Tachibana

Hakone

Our first stay at a Ryokan and it was incredible. The room was super spacious and comfortable, the private onsen was so relaxing, and the meals there were some of the greatest meals we have ever had.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

the b asakusa

Tokyo

Very nice accommodation, super convenient location, staff was wonderful, nice breakfast buffet, had a great stay here.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Super close to transit, great food and sites nearby.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hakone Free Pass (3 days)

Hakone

Great experiences, and not having to worry about individual ticketing is super nice.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Experience Kabuki Theater

Tokyo

So intriguing! I have seen Kabuki before, but never at this level and environment. Fascinating experience.

Digital TeamLab Borderless Museum

Tokyo

So much fun we actually did another in Kyoto.

Quality of Experience

Visit Tokyo Skytree

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Sumo demonstration around a Japanese meal!

Japan

So much fun! And the meal was delicious!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Experience Ryokan

Japan

Nothing we would have individually picked, but what a great time! Incredible vacation experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Staff here went above and beyond all the time. Incredible hospitality.

Transport

Airport assistant premium Tokyo HND [8:00 - 20:00]

Tokyo

After 20 hours of plane travel, not sure how we would have found our hotel without this service. Highly recommend!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Afternoon Tea Ceremony

Kyoto

Very interesting cultural experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Goodbye Japan!

Japan

Having a private driver so we didn’t have to haul luggage through public transport was a super comforting way to end our trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Local Private Guide Half Day Tokyo

Tokyo

Such a great way to get acquainted with the city. Learned a lot about the history of Tokyo while also getting a lot of tips about navigating such a vast space. Our guide, Charlotte, was tremendous.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an unforgettable family trip to Japan, traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto to Osaka. Our local specialist Ben did such an amazing job planning our trip. He was so responsive to all of our questions and provided great suggestions. Our daughters were thrilled with the activities that were planned for us, from shopping for anime in Akihabara to petting capybaras. We were able to enjoy all of the beauty of Japan's temples, shrines and scenic landscapes and the KimKim team put together an absolutely beautiful trip for us. We had wonderful, knowledgeable guides, particularly Mr. Hiroyuki, who my daughters are still talking about after our trip has ended. I cannot express how much gratitude we have for everyone involved in our trip and I would definitely recommend the KimKim team to anyone travelling.

Hotel Reviews

The TOURIST HOTEL AND CAFE AKIHABARA

Tokyo

The TOURIST HOTEL AND CAFE AKIHABARA in Tokyo was a fantastic place to stay, particularly because of its convenient location. My kids were thrilled to be so close to Akihabara, which was perfect for their anime interests, and the proximity to the train station made getting around effortless. The convenience and location definitely enhanced our experience in Tokyo.

Yuno Yado Shoei

This was a beautiful, peaceful Ryokan. We enjoyed the traditional food in the restaurant, and I had a very nice massage. It was a great experience!

Authenticity & Character

The onsens were peaceful and the food was delicious.

Location

A little far from downtown Kyoto, but easily accessible by bus

Staff

Friendly staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

🍜🏯✨ Osaka Castle, Cup Noodles Museum & Dotonbori Street Food Adventure（Guide, Public Transportation）

Osaka

While we loved all of the individual activities in this day, it was a lot to fit in and by the time we reached Dotonburi we were quite tired and did not get to enjoy it as fully. However, still a great day!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Mr. Hiroshi was very helpful and patient with us

Transport

Hozugawa River Boat Ride and Arashiyama Exploration and Japanese tea ceremony (Private Guide &Public Transportation)

Kyoto

The boat ride on the Hoguzawa river was so fun. The boat drivers were entertaining! We also enjoyed our gift of a rickshaw ride through the Arashiyama bamboo forest, especially since it was a way to see the forest without the crowds of people. The tea ceremony was a beautiful experience, enjoyed by our entire family. My daughters were particularly thrilled with getting to dress in kimono

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide Mr. Hiroshi was knowledgeable and friendly. The boat drivers were also very entertaining. The entire staff at the tea ceremony were welcoming and friendly.

Transport

Tokyo Family Adventure with Public Transportation: Akihabara + Sushi Making + Ghibli Museum+Capybara Café Cuteness Anime Quest

Tokyo

We had so much fun exploring Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We enjoyed our day with our guide Mr. Hiroyuki. The staff at the sushi making experience were also so friendly and great with our kids.

Transport

A Day Trip to Mt. Fuji from Tokyo (by private transfer)

Japan

We enjoyed this day, even though we were not able to see the top of Mt. Fuji, it was still beautiful. Our guide also had a wonderful suggestion for lunch where we got to enjoy some local udon.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We loved our guide Mr. Hiroyuki and our diver Mr. Tashiro, who was a familiar face as he had also picked us up from the airport

Transport

Although the drive was longer than expected due to traffic, it was still smooth and comfortable

Have Fun in Nikko (Full day by public transport)

Tokyo

This was a great way to enjoy the beauty of Japan through nature.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Adeline was a fantastic trip planner! She had so much patience as we moved our schedule around. The guides and drivers she found for us were great and the hotels were super convenient. She explained everything to us so we were able to take the subway, hail cabs, and use Uber in Japan. Favorite activities were driving street carts in Shabuya, tea with a Maiko in Kyoto, and Teamlabs. We scheduled three activities a day and got them all in!

I found kimkim after a frustrating and disappointing experience with a local "luxury" travel agent. From the first trip survey and timely assignment to a local expert, I knew immediately I had found a fit.

I feel so fortunate that Ben was responsible for planning our trip because he clearly wanted to create a truly customized trip for my family - not regurgitate or cobble together other itineraries he'd already planned.

In our initial planning stage, Ben made sure to keep a momentum in our communication to ensure that we could secure any necessary activities or experiences in plenty of time. He also asked detailed questions and always took feedback to heart so that we could fine tune our overall plan and the activities for each day.

The kimkim itinerary system lists each part of the trip (transportation, hotel stay, experience, etc.) separately so it's very easy to do your own research of whether or not it's a fit for your needs and then provide your feedback and thoughts.

There were some very specific things that I wanted to include in the trip for our family that weren't typical and Ben found structured classes or local neighborhoods to explore for each one.

As the departure date for our trip approached, Ben made sure to provide all the necessary details and confirmation numbers we would need and the kimkim app made information easy to find whenever we wanted to check on specific details.

The guides that Ben assigned to us for each activity seemed hand-picked for the timing of the trip and specific goal.

Peter-san was calm and collected in the chaos of someone's first day in Tokyo as we moved through the city using public transportation.

Hitoshi-san took great care in mapping out a half-day bike tour through Takayama that allowed us to visit landmarks that would have otherwise taken a couple of days to see.

Amanda-san clearly loves sharing her vast knowledge of Kyoto along with accommodating some quick shopping requests since we had some extra time in our day.

At the end of our trip, Miki-san helped us navigate parts of Tokyo we hadn’t seen and shared daily trips and tricks that helped us enjoy the area like locals.

Akiko-san, our translator for the tofu making class, ensured we had clear instructions along with some added humor along the way. She also took the extra time we had after finishing class early to provide a quick walking tour of the area since she is an expert in that neighborhood.

Each person we interacted with was helpful, kind, and clearly enjoyed their role in the process.

Throughout the trip, Ben was in touch so even a minor hiccup could be addressed in a timely manner.

I highly recommend both kimkim and Ben!

Hotel Reviews

Karaksa Hotel Tokyo Station

Tokyo

This hotel is the perfect final destination in Tokyo because of its location and wonderful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sotetsu Fresa Inn Kyoto-Kiyomizu Gojo

kyoto

This room was well appointed, had comfortable beds, and even had a bathtub!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Takayama Ouan Hotel

This was the only hotel that didn't seem in the same class as the others. Not only was the room an awkward layout, but it was well-worn and even a little dusty. It may be that we just got a room that needed a little TLC compared to the others,

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Onyado Yuinoshou

At first, I wasn't sure that we needed to spend the night in Shirakawa-go, but once we arrived at the hotel, we knew it was worth it. Since we stayed here at the midpoint of our trip, it slowed things down in a way that we didn't feel we had to be moving all the time. The property is gorgeous and the views of the valley, soothing. Everything you need to enjoy the baths is provided and they even have a variety of special pillows you can take to get a great night's sleep.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Onyado Nono Kanazawa Natural Hot Spring

Kanazawa

Not only was the location just what we needed to explore the sights of Kanazawa, but the room was a great size for a family of four. Our room even had a little sitting area which allowed us to organize and coordinate our plans and our packing. This hotel had a breakfast buffet instead of a standard meal so we were able to try a variety of freshly prepared dishes. After the hustle and bustle of Tokyo - both Kanazawa and this hotel provided a wonderful opportunity to slow down a little bit.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The TOURIST HOTEL AND CAFE AKIHABARA

Tokyo

This hotel was a great fit for us because we could enjoy the high energy of the Akihabara area then return to a quiet street and neighborhood to decompress after a long day. The rooms were designed to use space efficiently and had all the necessary amenities. The breakfast options provided something for everyone and since they were freshly prepared for each person, they provided a great start to our day.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

⚾️ Afternoon Baseball Game at Meiji Jingu Stadium

Tokyo

If you are a baseball fan, a game in Japan is a must! It's easy to take public transportation, but make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes. You can bring food into the game so feel free to purchase some snacks while walking to the stadium. Or, there are plenty of food options once you arrive if you prefer.

Quality of Experience

🌿 Traditions in Tokyo: A Day of Tofu & Indigo Dyeing Experience

Tokyo

It's always fun to learn from experts. Kai-san's tofu workshop gave us the skills to make tofu at home. Akiko-san was the interpreter and the two worked so well together that it was seamless communication. Miki-san was our guide and she made sure to provide details about the area/neighborhood while helping us get to these smaller workshops located in places we may not have visited otherwise.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

🏯🍜 Kyoto Culture & Culinary Day: Kinkaku-ji, Nanzen-ji & Ramen Workshop

Kyoto

It was a great day in Kyoto with typical sightseeing and a quick food focus . Amanda-san is a highly knowledgeable guide who helped us navigate the Kyoto bus system while seeing the sights. We also got to make ramen noodles with Momo who clearly loves sharing the craft with anyone hoping to learn more. The ramen workshop also included lunch, so make sure to arrive hungry!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Cycling in Takayama

Takayama

Our guide, Hitoshi-san, took the time to hand-draw a map of our route and clearly explained it to us before we left. After all the walking we had done on the first part of the trip, it was nice to cover more ground on a bike and to experience Takayama in a different way.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The public transportation from Shirakawa-go to Takayama

Japan

A beautiful ride through the hills.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Really enjoyed planning this amazing first trip to Japan. Marii listened to all of my requirements and helped me put together a trip that was memorable for all. We did encounter some glitches, but she rectified them and in the end everything worked out well
Tokyo stay at the Indigo Shibuya was amazing. The meiji shrine shinto ritual tour is highly recommended. We toured Tokyo on the east side with Molly and Yuri and had a great time exploring all the food choices and getting their recs for shopping and dining places in Asakusa and Akihabara. The sumo wrestling is just a fun family event so would rec.
Hakone Ryokan was superb and relaxing as an in between city stay
Kyoto was a favorite and we enjoyed our Tea Ceremony the most. The Gion tour was not necessary as we could have done on our own. The Thousands Tokyo is very well situated near the station allowing us quick in and out for exploration.
Hiroshima/Miyajima tour was well executed by our personal tour guide yuko who kept us on track but never made us feel rushed.
All of our train tickets were purchased ahead of time and we used our suica card for metro and short travel distances which worked great. Our guides were a big help in helping us navigate all this when asked.
I highly rec Kim Kim for those travelers that need some help with coordinating hotels, transfers and ideas for tours. I was fully involved in all the decision making with Marii guiding me along the way.
I really enjoyed our 2 main chats to put together all the days and tours which helped personalize our trip.
We were exhausted at the end of the day but really enjoyed the whole trip and will be back to Japan to enjoy at a bit of leisure. Awesome country with amazing people who were very welcoming.
We returned back to Tokyo for another day and loved the Wagyu beef and sake tasting tour. Probably should have done earlier in our tour so we could enjoy the correct sake for the rest of the trip!

Hotel Reviews

Daiwa Roynet Hotel Ginza PREMIER

Tokyo

After our other two hotels, this one is mediocre. But pricing of hotels in ginza are astronomical so this was more of a budget hotel, with a comfortable room. Breakfast was okay but not as nice as the other stays in Shibuya and Kyoto

Authenticity & Character

very basic

Location

Staff

helpful when needed but didn't go out of the way

Cleanliness & Comfort

clean but no real ambience

The Thousand Kyoto

Kyoto

Great location and the staff is very helpful with navigating the area and trains. Make sure to come out the central hall at the station to get to the hotel. We went out the wrong way. They were very helpful in transferring our bags back to Tokyo and it only took a few minutes on our end.

Authenticity & Character

beautiful lobby

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

room was big enough for the 3 of us

HAKONE GORA BYAKUDAN

Hakone-machi

A must for a first time traveler. But one night is enough.

Authenticity & Character

the decor in the room was amazing

Location

one with nature

Staff

treated us like royalty with great attention to detail

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Indigo Tokyo Shibuya

Shibuya

Decent size room for 3 people. Well situated near Shibuya station but quiet. Breakfast was amazing and service excellent

Authenticity & Character

the decor

Location

Staff

everyone was very kind

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kyoto Evening Gion Food Tour

Kyoto

Our guide was very kind but could not speak fluent English. He walked us around Gion, but we could have done that on our own and read from tour books. Took us to a traditional Kyoto Kaiseki dinner and conversation with him at that time was good.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

very kind guide, but his English was not very good and he was not able to engage with information during our stroll. He did take very nice pictures of our family

Relaxing Evening: Private Onsen and Kaiseki Dinner

Hakone

This is a 5 star experience you should not miss. We stayed at Gora Byakudan which provides an amazing experience at the Onsen, dinner and breakfast. They explain the tradition of the onsen and there are many instructions to follow prior to stepping in to the open onsen. We had a private one on our balcony as well which was nice. The dinner is like nothing I have experienced. You have to keep your mind open as it is very traditional kaisaki.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Dinner & Live Sumo Show with Former Professional Wrestlers

Tokyo

No trip would be complete without a live sumo show. Had a good time with our daughter and the crowd really fed in to the whole experience

Quality of Experience

Food

Hot Pot and Champo were okay

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wagyu Beef & Sake Paring Foodie Tour in Ginza

Tokyo

Really fun experience with a knowledgeable guide. Encompasses understanding sake and then a very nice teppanaki style wagyu experience

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Hiroshima and Miyajima Tour from Kyoto with a Multilingual Guide by Public Transportation (Private)

Kyoto

Yuki was a wonderful guide and helped navigate the trains, boats and admission to the sites.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

You use high speed trains and local transport that is included in the cost of the tour. Tickets were prepurchased

Kimono Tea Ceremony Gion Kiyomizu (Private)

Japan

One of our favorite experiences. Very authentic and full of detail and beauty. She was so knowledgeable of the customs and rituals. They use excellent matcha so enjoy

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tokyo to Hakone Transfer: Mt. Fuji and Hakone Full-Day Tour with English-Speaking Driver

Japan

Our driver Gary was committed on getting us a view of Fuji which we somehow did for 15 min before the cloud cover came back. Took us to some amazing view points and never rushed us. Was a great resource on culture in Japan and ways to navigate the other cities. Spoke excellent English

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bring your music and enjoy on the drive!

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

Tokyo

Great way to get an understanding of the fish market and the offerings. It is overwhelming with instagram influencers swaying you to go to certain vendors. Our guides knew where to go for the best offerings and introduced us to so many dishes which helped with our choices later in the trip

Quality of Experience

Food

so many varieties to sample.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

navigating the metro/subway for the first time so it was helpful

Special Access: Join a Traditional Shinto Ritual at Meiji Shrine

Tokyo

Highly recommend to immerse yourself in to the shinto culture and get an inside peak at the shrine

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had 4 guides Dolly, Hiroshi, Taka and Pete. All of them excellent guides and we had a great time with them.
Japan is a amazing place and the experience during this trip exceeds our expectations starting with the planning by Bella , the sightseeing and the hotels.
We loved all but we enjoy the most Kyoto and Hiroshima.

Hotel Reviews

Onyado Nono Kanazawa Natural Hot Spring

Kanazawa

Good tradition Japanese Hotel but also adapted to western clients

Authenticity & Character

Walking without shoes and quimono made our stay special. Also the public bath was vrry well equiped

Location

Near to a lot of restaurants

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Public bath

THE KNOT HIROSHIMA

Hiroshima

Great location and very comfortable room

Authenticity & Character

The variety of food in the breakfast

Location

Central place very near to the locations we visited

Staff

The staff was nice and the restaurant food and service were excellent

Cleanliness & Comfort

All

Activity Reviews

Family-Friendly Day Trip Itinerary: Hakone – Lake Ashi – Kawaguchiko – Tokyo (Guide, Private Transfer)

Japan

Fantastic. Beautiful sightseeing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Public transport very well planned

Hiroshima's Legacy: Peace Memorial & Okonomiyaki（public transport）

Hiroshima

Very emotional and must to see the Peace Memorial Museum and Park

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My favorite activities were the knife making and the gold leaf chopsticks. I really liked all the wood I saw in Japan. Tons of the signage is just a large slab with their name on it. I did bonk my head fairly hard by looking down at the floor construction while walking through a samurai house, the wood working was fascinating. The ceiling height not so much. 4 out of the 5 places we stayed were absolutely incredible, top notch. The hyatt in kanizawa, was not bad by any means. It's just the other 4 were much better.

Everything tour wise went great, each guide met us in our lobby and had local/native knowledge of the areas we toured. I asked each day if the driver would eat lunch with us, and was told no, and that I should not get him a lunch from the restaurant. That felt strange to me.

So much of the history has burned down and been rebuilt, but it was neat to see things that had survived

I cannot recommend Leny enough! From the very beginning, she took the time to get to know both me and my daughter and what we hoped to experience on our mother-daughter trip to Japan. She truly listened to our interests and created a personalized itinerary that was perfect for us. She arranged our train tickets, coordinated activities, and handled so many details that made the entire trip stress-free.

What really set her apart was the support her and her team provided while we were actually in Japan. Whenever we had questions or needed guidance, we could reach out through WhatsApp and receive quick, helpful assistance. It truly felt like we had someone looking out for us every step of the way.

Leny is incredibly kind, friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely cares about creating meaningful travel experiences. Thanks to her, my daughter and I were able to enjoy an unforgettable trip together and make memories that will last a lifetime. Her attention to detail, responsiveness, and personal touch made all the difference. I would absolutely use her services again and highly recommend her to anyone planning a trip to Japan or any other destination.

We had an amazing two week trip with our 18 year-old son to visit the highlights of Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka/Nara and the Kumano Kodo trail. Our local specialist Winnie did a great job coordinating the complexities of transportation so that everything went smoothly, and her choice of guides, hotels, and activities were excellent. She checked in with us regularly, and I found the kimkim app to be very helpful with regards to communication and itinerary review. I was especially impressed with our local tour guides- all were outstanding/highly recommended (Yumi in Tokyo, Yoshiko in Kyoto/Nara, and Wada from the Wakayama local guide association for our hike of the Kumano Kodo trail). Can't wait to get back to Japan!

Activity Review

Full Day Tokyo City Tour

Tokyo

We had an exceptional guide (Yumi). Since this was our first visit to Japan, we really appreciated her expert knowledge and review of Japan's important history and culture as we visited all of the main historical/cultural sites in Tokyo. She also gave us additional very helpful suggestions for places to see later on our own in Tokyo.

Quality of Experience

the quality of the guide was outstanding

Guides, Drivers and Staff

highly knowledgeable, went above and beyond to explain things and offer additional suggestions for things to see and do

Transport

driver and guide were always punctual and notified/confirmed everything in advance (via whats app, which was easy)

The entire Kkmkim Team exceeded our expectations . Bella took care of us with planning and scheduling , Both , Ryuji and Yuya, our Japan guides did an excellent job . Each had a unique style and went out of their way to accommodate last minute additions to the schedule . They were a lot of fun to spend some of our vacation with .

Hotel Reviews

Cross Hotel Kyoto

Kyoto

Clean and comfortable .

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyobashi / Tokyo Station

Clean and comfortable. Center of tyoko so that was cool

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Onyado Nono Namba Natural Hot Spring

Osaka

Very unique hotel. Clean and comfortable Best breakfast if you like authentic Japanese food

Authenticity & Character

No shoes past the lobby, grass type mats for flooring . Unique and cool

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Shiba Park Hotel

Tokyo

Very nice hotel and excellent service

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to restaurants and sightseeing

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kyoto Arrival & Fushimi Culinary Experience（Private Guide & Public Transportation）

Kyoto

The bullet train was a nice way to see some country side and take a rest . The ramen making class was fun and the staff was great . The ramen was excellent as well

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mt. Fuji Scenic Ropeway & Gotemba Whisky Experience (Private Guide & Vehicle)

Tokyo

Sadly Mt. Fuji was clouded up and the tram was closed for some reason - having said that the drive gave us a different perspective from city hustle and bustle. The udon noodlelunch was and experience as well as tasty .

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Osaka Highlights, Kuromon Market Experience & Dotonbori Cruise (Private Guide& Public Transportation)

Osaka

The market was interesting and a must do . It’s touristy but a must see . The boat tour was simple but entertaining

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kyoto Highlights before taking a Train to Osaka (Private Guided Day Tour)

Japan

We did a saki brewery tour that was informational and the tasting was helpful for future saki experiences

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tokyo Market & Sushi Experience with Flexible Afternoon Exploration（Morning Guided Tour By Public Transportation and Afternoon Self-Guided）

Tokyo

Tokyo market was a visually exciting and interesting. Sushi class was a lot of fun and delicious

Quality of Experience

Food

Fresh sushi is always great

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Take taxi’s

Tokyo City Highlights & Cocktail Experience（Private Guide & Public Transportation）

Tokyo

It was an activity rich day ! 4 temples, quick stop for a haircut and shave , public transportation, etc .

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Take taxi’s

A wonderfully coordinated trip from KimKim, our advisor Winnie, and our various local guides and drivers from the in-country agency. The trip was fast-paced in order to see as much of our selected cities as possible - Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka. We found the Pirate Ship Boat Ride on Lake Ashi in Hakone to be a bit gimmicky, but other than that everything was wonderful.

Leny did an amazing job from start to finish. She helped us find activities catered to our children's interests and everything on our itinerary was truly a wonderful time. We were frankly nervous as we do not speak the language of our destination and we had never ventured out on a trip this far from home. But Leny made the planning process way less stressful and opened our eyes to a few adventures we hadn't even considered.

Activity Reviews

Afternoon Bamboo Forest & Monkey Bike Tour

Kyoto

Very exciting experience. We had a wonderful time and really enjoyed getting to see a side of Kyoto we couldn't have otherwise. It was so helpful to have a guide lead the way from the money park and the bamboo forest so we could simply enjoy the experience and not worry about navigating.

Quality of Experience

really cool to see the city by bike and from the monkey park

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Don was fantastic - very knowledgeable and committed to safety

Transport

easy to find - we met outside of the train station to it was very convenient

Kyoto Ramen & Gyoza Cooking Class with Professional Chefs

Kyoto

We all had a really wonderful time and would happily come back to this experience again if we are back in Kyoto.

Quality of Experience

The staff truly made the experience a fun and engaging time

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The staff truly made the experience a fun and engaging time

Transport

we met at a clearly designated meeting point and our guide brought is to the nearby kitchen. very easy to find and very clearly marked.

The trip planning and recommendations by Ben were superb. The local guides (Yo, Roy and Ricky) were very friendly and went out of their way to ensure we say everything. 10/10.

Hotel Reviews

Candeo Hotels Osaka The Tower

Osaka

Incredible views from the Onsen.

Hotel Vischio Kyoto by GRANVIA

Kyoto

Mercure Hida Takayama

Takayama

Laforet Club Hakone Gora Yunosumika

Hakone

Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku

Tokyo

Unbeatable location. The breakfast, while good, was not at the same level as the other hotels we stayed at and there are no public baths.

Activity Reviews

Osaka Exploration: Castle, Cuisine (Ramen Included), and Sky-high Views (Private Guide & Public Transportation

Osaka

Day in Arashiyama: Rickshaw Rides, Bamboo Strolls, Serenity at Three Temples, & Delightful Encounters at the Monkey Park with Tea Ceremony with Public Transportation

Kyoto

Day Trip Itinerary to Shirakawa-go from Takayama with Public Transportation

Takayama

Shirakawa-go is incredibly beautiful and it was a nice change from the big cities.

Private transfer from Tokyo to Hakone via Mt. Fuji

Japan

Tokyo Skytree, Sumo Experience & Michelin Tempura Tour with Public Transportation

Tokyo

Tokyo One-Day Public Transport Tour: Tokyo City Exploration: Tsukiji, Shibuya & Afternoon Independent Leisure

Tokyo

Using KimKim was one of the best decisions I made when planning a trip to Japan for my son and I. It was so nice to not have to agonize over which hotel to stay at, which train to take, which sites I should go see, and many other very important/stressful things I didn’t have to worry about since Bella ( my trip planner at KimKim) had already taken care of it. She was wonderful to work with the entire way through my trip. She was super flexible when I realized my 15 year old son and I needed more flexibility than having an actual guide with us everyday midway through our trip, she pivoted and was able to give us all the reservations for us to explore alone, rather than with a guide. They booked so many cool experiences for us that I wouldn’t even know existed ( kimono wearing tea ceremony, monkey park, romantic train, water front shrine in Hakone). We loved our guides we did have- big thank you’s to Yo and Frank for making our trip stress free, informative, and lots of fun. Bella, Yo, and Frank made my son’s and my trip to Japan so much fun and not at all stressful, and for that I cannot thank them enough! I would use kimkim again in a heartbeat!

Hotel Reviews

Citadines Namba Osaka

Osaka

Great location and had bigger rooms. Only downside is you could hear trains when they were rubbubg ( like 5am on) nice bright room with all the amenities.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Vischio Kyoto by GRANVIA

Kyoto

Great location, next to train stations, but no amenities and a little far from the sights.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walking distance to Kyoto train station, but farther from sites.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

No ameneties ( qtips, razors, etc)

Hakone Hotel Kowakien Tenyu

Hakone

The VIEW! And the baths. Wish I stayed here a couple more nights. Absolutely beautiful.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro

Tokyo

Breakfast was so good! Hotel was a little out of the tourist area, which we found to be nice and relaxing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Osaka Exploration: Castle, Cuisine & Sumo Culture(Private Guide&Public Transportation)

Osaka

The sumo show was great fun for my teenage son and I. The castle was magnificent. We ate conveyor belt sushi for lunch ( something we really wanted to try-so fun!)

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hidden Paths of Arashiyama: River Journey, Moss Temples & Bamboo Whispers（Private Guide, Public Transportation）

Kyoto

The boat was shut down due to high/ rough water, so we did monkey park and romantic train instead. So much fin and absolutely beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day tour by public transport in Kyoto: Fushimi Inari Shrine, Nikishi Market, Converyor belt Sushi , Samurai and Ninja Museum and Tea Ceremony

Kyoto

The shrine is beautiful- go early for less crowds. The tea ceremony was amazing. You get to dress up in beautiful kimono and learn about why they have tea ceremony then make your own matcha tea. So fun, so worth it!

Quality of Experience

C

Guides, Drivers and Staff

R

Transport

Fuji Five Lakes Tour, Transfer to Hakone

Japan

The sites are beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yo and driver were wonderful

Transport

Half-Day Tokyo Tour by Public Transport：Tsukiji Outer Market, Sushi-making class and Free Afternoon

Tokyo

So fun. Sushi making was hands on and so tasty?

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport