Kimkim Trip Reviews for Japan

Lenny and the entire team made this trip a memorable experience.

Bella did an amazing job of coordinating an unforgettable trip to Japan for my mother, sister and me. She was extraordinarily proactive during the trip, providing detailed overviews of the upcoming itinerary each day during the trip with tips on how to best enjoy our time. We had one day with some minor issues (a venue we were supposed to visit was closed for the day) and when we mentioned this disappointment she immediately responded by booking (and paying for) an unforgettable traditional Japanese lunch the next day to make up for the inconvenience. Our local guides (Peter in Tokyo and Hakone and Hiroshi in Kyoto) were wonderful - and both took many, many photos which was much appreciated as it’s rare to have so many photos of your whole group since someone in the group is usually the primary photographer. Overall a wonderful experience!

I was planning a two-week trip to Japan as a surprise for my partner. We didn't want to be part of a tour group, and wanted it to be a couple's trip fir the two of us. We had never been to Japan, and I started by looking at guide books but it was so overwhelming. I foudn kimkim online, and the reviews were good. I reached out through kimkim about a year and a half before our trip, and the local expert, Olivia, was so patient with me. She asked me our interests, and suggested an amazing itinerary, to introduce us to history, art and culture in Japan. She listened and helped me tweak certain parts of itinerary. She set us up with English-speaking guides in Tokyo, Kanazawa, Shirakawa-go, Kyoto, Nara and Osaka, and suggested other places in each town that we could explore on our own. Once we arrived at the airport, there was a driver there to meet us, and we had specific information (in my kimkim app!) for every tour guide who would meet us, every hotel, all transportation, and our itinerary was fool proof. There was also flexibility so we could explore on our own, as we wanted. Every stop was seamless, and we felt so well taken care of everywhere we went. I recommend kimkim and Olivia very highly and have already recommended them to friends who are planning a trip to Japan. We loved our trip and plan to come back, and will contact kimkim again. Arigato!

Hotel Reviews

Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku

Tokyo

Fantastic location in Asakusa! Plenty of things to walk to from this hotel, and easy to get to other venues (like Meiji shrine and Imperial Palace Gardens). Excellent breakfast. Will go back when we visit Tokyo again.

Authenticity & Character

Modern and clean, great breakfast with Japanese and western selections

Location

Great walkability

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora by IHG

Hakone-machi Ashigarashimo gun

The hotel was elegant and the in-room onsen bath was AMAZING. What holds it back from 5 stars was that ours came with a pre-selected dinner that wasn't great, and the hotel felt more corporate than authentic. The breakfast was much better than the dinner.

Authenticity & Character

Onsen bath was great. The hotel and staff felt corporate

Location

We arrived by taxi -- nowhere to go but the hotel for dinner

Staff

Nice and attentive, but corporate

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was great and the bed was really comfortable

Mitsui Garden Hotel Kanazawa

Kanazawa

Onsen on the roof made this a great experience. We could walk everywhere we wanted to go from this hotel. And the obansai breakfast buffet was the best we had in Japan.

Authenticity & Character

Try the Onsen! Having this truly Japanese experience was great. And the Obansai buffet was incredible for breakfast!

Location

Central Kanazawa near the Omicho market

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

FAV LUX HIDATAKAYAMA

Even though the hotel was built recently, it felt dated and tired. If you are a family traveling and need a room with lots of beds, it might make sense, but we were a couple traveling without kids and we could hear the kids in the room next door late into the night.

Authenticity & Character

The breakfast was really limited.

Location

It was near the train station, like a lot of other hotels, but the neighborhood at night felt deserted

Staff

Staff was friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

The carpet was dated, and the bathroom had a window into it from the bedroom. It was odd.

Mercure Kyoto Station

Kyoto

The hotel had a terrific staff and an excellent restaurant. The breakfasts were great -- lots of Japanese and western options. Our room was very comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Modern and clean, but we definitely felt like we were in Japan with the great meals and decor

Location

Easy to get to with our bags from the Kyoto Station

Staff

Friendly and helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mercure Tokyu Stay Osaka Namba

Osaka

Good location and comfortable room

Authenticity & Character

Good breakfast options -- lots of Japanese selections as well as westerno options

Location

We were located near the prime shopping area of Osaka

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bathtub in our room was great!

Activity Reviews

Half Day Artisan Tour in Kanazawa

Kanazawa

Our English speaking guide took us to the outskirts of Kanazawa where we met a kimono maker. He told us (through our translator) about his artistic process, how kimonos are made (hand-painted and dyed), and showed us some of his work and techniques. One of the most memorable experiences of our trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Shirakawa-go, Hida Furukawa, and Takayama Tour from Kanazawa

Kanazawa

Our driver and guide, Junpei, was very knowledgable and so courteous. He was able to give us a lot of history about the towns. The house tour in Shirakawa-go was incredible.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Junpei was amazing! We learned so much from him!

Transport

Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Nijo Castle, Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Fushimi Inari-Taisha

Kyoto

Our tour guide, Yvonne, was terrific. She explained the history (which we were really interested in) and showed us so many things that make Kyoto such a special place.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yvonne was amazing. She was extremely knowledgable about Kyoto! And so friendly and patient! She took us by train and taxi around the city, in ways we couldn't have navigated alone.

Transport

Sightseeing in Arashiyama - Boat Ride and Bamboo Grove

Kyoto

I didn't know what to expect but this peaceful day and beautiful day was a highlight of our trip.

Quality of Experience

It was so peaceful and serene, it was immersive for us

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yvonne was great guiding us to the boat, to visit a temple and into the bamboo grove (and insearch of matcha ice cream!)

Transport

We took a very comfortable train, with our guide's help

Tokyo: Sumo Tournament with Guide & Assigned Reserved Seat

Tokyo

If I had to choose ONE favorite thing about the trip, it would be the Sumo tournament. The pageantry was incredible. We loved the experience of watching sumo with 11,000 people. And the explanatory guide before hand was terrific.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Before the tournament we had an English-speaking tour guide (from a Latin country) who loved sumo. He was so enthusiastic that we got very excited for the tournament before we went in to see it.

Transfer from Kyoto to Osaka via Nara

Japan

Nara was beautiful, and the bowing deer have to be seen to be appreciated. I had read about the deer, but didn't understand how different they were to all the deer I'd ever seen. Really amazing and a highlight of our trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yvonne told us a lot about the temple, "Buddha's nose" and how to feed the deer.

Transport

kimkim arranged a private car.

Half Day Imperial Palace East Gardens and Senso-ji Tour

Tokyo

Sarah, our tour guide, was great. It was our first day in Tokyo and she took us on the subway (quite the experience) to the Imperial Palace garden and then to Senso-ji. She told us about the history, the traditions at the temple (handwashing, for example) and we felt like we got a grasp the first day. Both of these sites are really worth seeing in Tokyo.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sarah was terrific

Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Japan

Masa was a great guide to food and Osaka culture. We had a small group, and he listened to what we were interested in (and we got to do some cooking at our last stop!)

Quality of Experience

We went to a part of Osaka we would not have found on our own!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Masa was amazing!

Transport

Went by subway which was fun!

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

Dressing in a kimono and learning about the tea ceremony was a highlight of the trip.

Quality of Experience

The ladies who helped us dress in kimono and do our hair added to a great experience. We learned a lot about japanese culture and courtesy.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Samurai and Ninja Museum with Experience

Kyoto

This turned out to be even more interesting than we expected. There was so much excellent history about the samurai and Shogunate that we were able to get a lot more context for the history of Japan as a whole.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Leny was great! She planned a great trip for me to Hakone. The hotel was so good and very traditional with a private onsen in it which was brilliant. I also loved being on Lake Ashi, the tea house and just walking around Hakone. Hakone is truly a place to escape and the surroundings are tranquil. Definitely highly recommended if you want to relax and get away to a quiet place. Leny also provided me with a good local guide Mitsuri-san and he was excellent. Made my trip very special by taking me to some non touristy spots

Hotel Reviews

Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu

Hakone

Loved the traditional ryokan style hotel. It was very clean and spacious. Having a balcony looking out to the greenery, the forest was breathtaking. The balcony also had a superb private onsen and it was truly a nice traditional Japanese experience. The breakfast and dinner was excellent!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hyatt Tokyo

tokyo

Outstanding hotel. The location was perfect to go around to nearby places. Loved going to some quiet local areas recommended by the hotel. Location in Mimato and the Roponngi area made it special. The staff at the hotel know how to curate trips and experiences for you. The food and restaurants are of very high quality. Breakfast was excellent. The traditional Japanese food and the European breakfast was of very high quality The room was very spacious. Loved the pool and the workout area. The workout area can be improved. It was tight and claustrophobic. But on the whole the pool and gym was good. Staff are very polite and lovely

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hidden Hakone: Scenic Views, Local Traditions & Quiet Nature

Hakone

Had a great tour guide Mitsuri san. He did a fantastic job.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Hakone!

Hakone

Welcome (Yokoso) to Tokyo!

Japan

Cannon was amazing. He helped plan the trip making revisions as we discovered places we wanted to see. A few days before we left he reviewed the itinerary with us, answering our last minute questions, which was super helpful. His suggestion for Kim Kim to provide private transportation for us from and to the airport made the trip so much easier. We took one suitcase that was larger than carry on, and he arranged our train tickets to provide space in the oversize luggage area of the train car, making managing our luggage as we moved from town to town easy. He really "listened" to our description of the kind of trip we wanted. We ended up with the perfect mix of group tours, a private tour for one day and lots of time on our own. The hotels were great, and he helped in the planning so we only stayed in 4 cities ( I did not want to move too often) but the helped us get some day trips to other cities/sites we wanted to see. He listed in our itinerary directions for using public transportation and times of day to visit certain sites. Once we were in Japan, he responded to our questions with suggestions for transportation (IE when a train or taxi was the best option) and restaurants. His restaurant suggestions provided us with a wide variety of various types of Japanese dishes. Cannon responded quickly to our questions. He often offered options for site seeing with the pro and cons of each. We had a great time and are thankful to Cannon,

Hotel Review

The Hotel Sanraku Kanazawa

Kanazawa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hidden Fushimi Inari Hiking Adventure: Discover Kyoto Beyond the Crowds

Japan

The hike was great. We saw and learned so much on the way to Fushimi Inari. Our guide was very knowledgeable. It was fairly strenuous; my knees are weak and I used a hiking stick. There were lots of stairs, some without rails. I am so glad I did this hike and would do it again.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

1 Day Tour from Kanazawa: Shirakawa-go, Gokayama and Wood Carving Village

Kanazawa

The day was great. I appreciated the stops especially seeing Ainokura and being able to make paper! The transportation was good, group size large enough to enjoy others insights and small enough to be able to ask questions.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All were courteous, helpful and considerate. Guide very knowledgeable.

Transport

The tour was very very good overall. The hotels were probably two star hotel, very small rooms, OK breakfast, except the one in Hakone ( very interesting hotel). The most interesting part of our tour was our visit to Biovortex (Kyoto). Origami in Tokyo was fun and appreciated. Shirakawa-goh and Gokayama trips were very interesting too. All the shrine/temple visit recommendations were good, Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine and Daisho-in Temple were our favorite and we learned a lot. Visit to Hakone and cable car and rope car rides were excellent. As for guides and drivers, Mr Ko was ok, could have been more helpful with luggage. Mr. Motoki Watanabe and Mr. Masahiko Joguchi were excellent guides. Ms. Tomo was very good and tried her best. The guide from Snow Monkey (Justin) was good, he was disturbed by other tour participants, they were trying to do their own thing and getting separated from the group. And finally Mr. Yuan (driver to Tokyo) was extremely helpful A++.
The trip transportation arrangement was very good and timely, seat selections were appreciated. Thank you Cannon. We are experts in Japan’s transport system now.
We also visited YUSAI-TEI House in Kyoto, on our own( friend’s recommendation), we recommend that it should be recommended to others who are planning this tour. Restaurant recommendations will be helpful too. Our most favorite parts were Biovortex (unexpectedly excellent) and YUSAI-TEI and navigating the transport system. All was great.

I am so appreciative of all of the helpful advice, support and arrangements made by Olivia! This was our first trip to Japan, and she patiently provided options and advice to build an itinerary around our interests and budget. With Olivia, we were able to build a good mix of planned activities and unplanned free time, and set a relaxed pace that best suited us. Once we were in Japan, she was also extremely helpful in making some last minute changes when an excursions and or hotel accommodation did not go as planned. We had a wonderful trip. Thank you, KimKim!

Soleil really took the time to hear what our heart’s desire were for our trip to Japan. Thank you Soleil, for your sensitivity, charm, attention to detail and professionalism. Soleil and her colleagues prompt d us every step of the way so we knew what was next in our itinerary, which was comforting.

In northern Okinawa Aoka created an oasis of calm. I have been reflecting on our time together particularly the discussion with the Shaman and our profound discussion of being in the moment, praying to our ancestors and reflections in the window of the villa. Fascinating how we are in the moment and at the same time our moments because our memories. Will always have fond memories of Aoka and the restorative, peaceful, nurturing time we spent together. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You🙏🏾 For the peace….

Thank you Ayumi for you patience and understanding with our late start. We really lucked out with having you as our guide; the sensitivity, creativity, and flexibility made our day with you serene. As a Mother you can understand how profound it is that Victoria wanted to hold hands with you. ❤️

I recommend and endorse KimKim wholeheartedly for your travel sojourns and expeditions.

Warm regards,
Dr and Mrs Bayley

We really enjoyed the itinerary that Eleanor created for our visit to Japan. She was friendly, responsive to our preferences and full of ideas. Our transfers, drivers and guides were all professional and friendly.

This was a beyond wonderful trip to Japan… Memories will last the remainder of my life.
The guides were professionally excellent, always punctual, pleasant, flexible, and very informative.
I would not hesitate for a second to recommend kimkim. We will definitely use your services for our next international trip.

Hotel Reviews

the b asakusa

Tokyo

Great location and excellent service.

Authenticity & Character

Darken floors

Location

Asakusa convenient neighborhood

Staff

Everyone

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything

Hakone Yumoto Fujiya Hotel

Hakone

Authenticity & Character

Best hotel onsen

Location

Surrounded by natural beauty

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything

Hotel Vischio Kyoto by GRANVIA

Kyoto

Great hotel. Public bath and breakfast buffet in particular.

Authenticity & Character

Loved the toilet and shower

Location

Located a few hundred feet from Kyoto Station

Staff

Everything

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wonderful amenities… Even a pull down privacy screen.

Osaka Excel Hotel Tokyu

Osaka

Great hotel, and even better breakfast

Location

Centrally located

Activity Reviews

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi with Oshino Hakkai

Japan

Great day in Mount Fuji vicinity with boat ride on lake.

Quality of Experience

All good

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Wonderfully professional guide

Transport

Vehicle luxury

Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Kinkaku-ji Temple, Nijo Castle, and Fushimi-Inari Taisha

Kyoto

Amazing castles, and shrines. Kinkaku-ji shrine amazing

Quality of Experience

Amazing history

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledgeable and pleasant

Transport

Great subway system

Sightseeing in Arashiyama - Boat Ride , Bamboo Grove & Monkey Park

Kyoto

Park is beautiful. Loved the monkeys.

Tokyo Highlights Day Tour with Tsukiji Outer Fish Market

Tokyo

Fish market is amazing. Could have spent more time there.

One Day Miyajima Island and Hiroshima Tour (Kyoto Return Trip)

Japan

Miyajima island is wonderful with Shinto shrines and a great shopping area. Hiroshima is a sobering experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great guide as usual

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

Very enjoyable, getting dressed in authentic Japanese kimonos for the ceremony. Fun learning how to make authentic Matcha tea.

Full Day City Tour with Osaka Castle

Japan

Amazing castle and surrounding grounds.

World Heritage Himeji Castle & Kōko-en, Kobe tour

Japan

Castle is amazing. Not enough time allotted to Nunobiki Ropeway.

Cory was a delight to plan our trip with! We had a diverse group and she helped us to find something for everyone. Cory also helped us to feel prepared with how to use the transit systems and feel confident we could get where we needed to go, on time. We really enjoyed Kyoto, with our guide Pam. We got to see so much and appreciated having a local point of view. We also enjoyed the fast pace of Tokyo with Karin who adjusted our itinerary to maximize lower traffic times at high traffic sites. We so enjoyed our adventures in Japan.

Hotel Reviews

Hakone Kowakudani Onsen Ryokan Mizunoto

Hakone

The hotel is unique and the hot springs were enjoyable. The included meals were not great, we had much better traditional meals.

Authenticity & Character

Location

There is a garden just across the road and the hotel is in a quite area. It was not ideal to have to walk bags up the hill after a long bus ride

Staff

Staff was kind. We had logistics trouble with the bus not running on time. Staff was kind but unable to help us resolve the issue.

Cleanliness & Comfort

KAYA Kyoto Nijo Castle

Kyoto

Location was nice, it was a walk from the train station but staff were very friendly and helpful. We had a great stay and the beds were comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Helped us get a taxi for 6 on short notice for dinner!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel the Celestine Tokyo Shiba

Tokyo

We had a very nice stay!

Authenticity & Character

Location

There was a walk to all mass transit, a doable 10min walk but of note if you have luggage.

Staff

Very kind. We had to check in early and leave bags, they were in our rooms when we returned, stress free!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Akihabara Anime & Gaming Adventure Tour

Tokyo

This was a unique tour. Our guide was kind and knowledgeable about the area. We had expected more of a focus on anime than the general area and hipsters but it was a unique experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was great. Made things feel comfortable and accessible. Took us to places we likely would not have walked into without the guide.

Tokyo Night Food Tour in Shinjuku

Tokyo

We loved this experience! A highlight of the trip! The guide was outstanding and the food was delicious!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Japanese Calligraphy Experience (Nara)

Japan

This was an exceptional experience! We had a great time learning and creating together. The setting was just beautiful, a lovley garden out back and such kind host.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Outstanding! We were not rushed and they were kind about our artistic attempt!

Private Kyoto Temples & Gion Tour

Japan

Pam was wonderful! We saw so much and really enjoyed our adventure!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony with Kimono Wearing (Higashiyama)

Japan

A beautiful experience! Would recommend for anyone looking for a unique and authentic experience.

Quality of Experience

Getting dressed in a kimono was fun and unique!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full day exploring Meiji Jingu, Harajuku & Shibuya

Tokyo

A great introduction to Tokyo! Covers a lot of ground and is an orientation to the metro system if you haven’t used it before

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

If I could give Bella 10 stars I would! When my husband was alive we travelled all over the world and NEVER have I experienced the quality of care, professionalism, attention to details and kindness that Bella extended to my girls and myself. My desire, booking this trip was to have a "once in a lifetime experience" celebrating two big birthdays - my daughter's 60th and my 90th and I couldn't have made a wiser choice. The two local guides Peter and Hiroshi were delightful and what a treat and surprise it was at the end of our trip to be presented with a video of the many photos they took along the way. . This was my first time traveling to Japan and I was impressed with how welcoming and polite the Japanese people are, and how immaculate the country is - their toilets are remarkable compared to every country I have visited, including the United States. Thank you Bella

My son and I just returned from a fantastic trip to Japan. Sandy was wonderful to work with. She patiently answered all of my questions and offered insightful suggestions for the itinerary and daily activities. The hotels were exceptional and perfectly located for our needs. We especially loved The Ace Hotel in Kyoto. The drivers and guides were reliable and checked in via WhatsApp with meeting locations. Our time with Yoshie in Tokyo was particularly special. Sandy coordinated all of the trains and transfers and checked in several times during the trip to make sure that things were going according to plan. Highly recommend Sandy and the KimKim team.

Active Japan trip. Cannon was extremely helpful throughout the planning of our Japan trip as well as during the trip when he was very accessible by email and the kimkim app. The transportation arrangements showed off Japan’s great transportation infrastructure and provided us with a nice variety of ways to experience it. Also a nice variety of places to stay and things to do.

Hotel Reviews

the b asakusa

Tokyo

Small rooms but otherwise very nice

Location

Fuji Kawaguchiko Resort Hotel

Fujikawaguchiko

Great view from hotel room. Popular with those who liked onsens but we didn’t do that. Food was good

Location

Near the lake

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean

Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo

Kyoto

Great location

Location

Near train station

Hotel Vista Osaka Namba

Well located. Good breakfast.

Location

Near busy part of Osaka which was interesting

Staff

JR Clement Inn Imabari

Ehime

Good location. Helpful staff

Location

Near train station

Staff

Helpful. Spoke English well

Benton Guesthouse, Nostalgic Showa-era Private Full House Rental

Lots of room. Choice of beds. No breakfast but near to store. Near cycling route and they catered to cyclists.

Authenticity & Character

Tatami mats or western bed options.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Green Hill Hotel Onomichi

Onomichi

Great location at the end of the cycling route and near the train station.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nice that they had coin laundry as we were due for that.

Shinagawa Prince Hotel

Tokyo

The buffet breakfast was disorganized and crowded, even at 6am. Staff in bar/restaurant on 39th floor were rude, snooty and overbearing. The view was nice but didn’t make up for the cover charge, service charge or overpriced drinks. Lots of additional amenities but they all came at significant extra cost.

Location

Near train station but not some of the more interesting neighbourhoods.

Staff

Give people a table to sit at in buffet and make it larger.

Cleanliness & Comfort

At least it was clean

Activity Reviews

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi, Arakurayama Sengen Park & Oshino Hakkai

Japan

Oshino Hakkai was crowded and we could have skipped that. The Sengen Park hike was good but unfortunately the mountain was not visible due to cloud. The lake was nice

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Polite. Nice vehicle. Traffic was terrible and it took 3.5 hours from the Tokyo hotel. Would have been better to leave earlier probably. Driver seemed to be looking at his phone a lot while driving (not just the phone for maps)

Kayaking on Lake Kawaguchiko with Mt. Fuji views

Fujikawaguchiko

Guide was great. Scenery wonderful. Sturdy kayaks. Rest of our kayaking group was experienced too, so we got to travel well down the lake. Nice view of Fuji from the lake

Full Day Nara City Tour, Overnight in Osaka

Japan

Certainly worth seeing this area for the temple and the ridiculous number of deer.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Osaka Local Food Walking Tour (Join-in)

Osaka

Enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide. We were the only two in the group so we were able to try the foods and places that we hadn’t already experienced.

Cannon was the glue that made our trip seamless. Planning a trip to Japan can be overwhelming because there is so much to see and do. Our family had figured out the broad strokes of our itinerary, but we didn't know how to put everything together in a logical and navigable way. Cannon filled in the blanks, helping us with transportation details, the order of our events/tours, suggestions for open times, and other critical elements that made our trip smooth and easy. He got back to us immediately when we had questions, both before and during the trip. He took the time to organize a call before we left to walk us through every day's plan so we felt comfortable or could edit things together. We couldn't recommend him more highly for your trip to Japan. It's so worth it to have someone like Cannon to help you, especially if this is your first trip to this amazing country.

Our guides were very good, knowledgeable and engaging.
The person who booked our accommodations
Did not deliver what was promised,. The final agreed to itinerary reserved specific hotel accommodations. At two if the hotels our accommodations were substandard and we paid for the better ones. Our agent , Elizabeth, was a huge disappointment in several important ways. As a result ,
I will never use your company again. I will definitely give you a poor review on trip advisor

Our initial planning of out trip to Japan was very easy & exciting. Eleanor quickly responded to our questions and understood the type of experience we were looking for. Once we booked the trip and reviewed the itinerary, we found several errors and contradictory information. When this was pointed out, Eleanor quickly acknowledged the mistakes and fixed them. The planning of having to get ourselves to the Kimono experience/tea ceremony first thing on the first morning after arriving was stressful, as we had to navigate the subway system during rush hour while we were jet lagged and in a hurry. After that our guides made everything easy and interesting. We enjoyed 5 days of hiking on the Kumano Kodo Trail, also arranged by Kimkim. The luggage transfer was flawless. Our first night accommodation on the hike was by far the best. The host family was warm & inviting. The guest house was excellent. The 2nd night in Chitkatsuru was well below acceptable. After that 3 night of futon on the floor. Would have been nice to have had the option of western style bedding the last night at the resort in Katsura. All-in-all a very good tour.

I would like very much to thank sandy for a wonderful time in Japan. Her suggestions met up with what I wanted to see and suggested even some unknown to us. She was accessible and gave good restaurant suggestions. She is knowledgable is a great advisor on Japan thank you sandy for all your help.

As for the guides, they were all very good and knowledgable. We enjoyed immensely the architecture tour in Tokyo and our guide was over enthusiastic it was great. The other tours in Kyoto were equally enjoyable.

Judy and her team did an amazing job! Our hotels were ideally located near train stations and the fish markets. During the Hakone portion of our trip we got a full view of Mt. Fuji and ate the famous Owakudani black eggs! The onsen experience at the Tokinoyu Setsugetsuka Hotel was relaxing! We were also able to eat traditional Japanese dinner and breakfast!
In Kyoto, my brother and I enjoyed the Fushimi Inari walk in the morning, we decided to walk up to the peak that evening! It was worth seeing the site during the morning and the evening. I also appreciate the recommendation to visit the Kyoto Nintendo Store.

Overall, it was a memorable experience!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Keihan Tsukiji Ginza Grande

Tokyo

Good hotel. Close to metro train station and the local fish market. The breakfast buffet had a good variety of food and drinks.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tokinoyu Setsugetsuka

Hakone-machi

My brother and I ate authentic Japanese dinner and breakfast. We appreciate the option to dress in a traditional yukata. The onsens were relaxing. I also enjoyed the private open air bath located in our hotel balcony. The hotel also offered free snack bar, complimentary ramen, popsicle and yogurt drink. I bought some Hakone souvenirs from the hotel gift shop.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo

Kyoto

Great breakfast buffet! Hotel is walking distance from Gion District and Pontoco Alley.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half Day Bamboo Grove and Monkey Park Tour

Kyoto

The monkey trail offered pit stops for us to pause and learn more about them before feeding them. To avoid overfeeding the monkeys, each group is limited to feeding the monkeys a pack of apples or peanuts. The Bamboo forest is beautiful and well maintained.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was informative and patient. She ensured I didn't feel worn out during the hike up the monkey mountain trail. I also enjoyed a nice lunch and bought souvenirs at Main Street.

Transport

Smooth ride. Complimentary water bottles.

Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi Tour

Hakone

The weather was clear enough for us to see Mt Fuji! We learned the floating Tori Gate at Lake Ashi is meant to provide good luck for couples. Our guide also said Hakone used to be a crucial checkpoint between Tokyo and Kyoto.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide made a pit stop at owakudani and let us eat the famous black eggs!

Transport

Fushimi Inari Taisha and Kinkakuji Temple

Kyoto

Our guide gave good background info about both sites. After our hike up Fushimi Inari we ate delicious green tea ice cream infused with gold specs. I learned the original golden pavilion was burned down and had to be rebuilt! At Kinkaju Temple, we stopped by a station where you pick up a rock. The effort it takes to pick up the rock provides estimated time for your wish to come true. We also saw a rock island shaped as a turtle that symbolizes longevity and a waterfall where if a koifish jumps above a waterfall it becomes a dragon; similar to how Magikarp eventually evolves into a Gyarados!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was informative and patient. She showed us highlights of each station.

Transport

Smooth ride.

This was our first trip to Japan, in preparation for a major visit all around the country next year. We selected KimKim after reviewing several companies for the "golden route" that we wanted to see first....Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto and Osaka, with day trips to Nara, Fuji, Kobe, etc. Winnie was very responsive and that along with the reasonable cost for the 11 day trip caused us to go with KimKim. Overall the trip was great, we were 4 star hotels and most met our preferences quite well. Day trips were solid and enjoyable...guides who picked us at the hotel made the day trips easy....though I would suggest on the meeting locations for day trips where we had to go somewhere to meet our guide that they send photos of the locations we need to start from, ie Train station or things like the JR line info office. KimKim did provide great photos of the meeting locations which were very helpful, but where to go to get there were a bit of a challenge, We verified the day before we had to meet a tour how to get their from our hotel location and it worked for us...a few other people made mistakes that could have been avoided if beginning train location photos were provided like the ending locations were. But our taking some time the day before to see what trains etc we needed to go to solved the issue for us. A high spot for us was our guide YUKI...she did our tour in Koyto Bamboo Forest and was simply amazing....she even followed up the next day to be sure we knew how to go to our day trip with another guide! All the guides sent photos of our day with them, both for KimKim and us as clients which made the picture taking of us as a couple at each site easy. Overall a great experience with KimKim.

Hotel Reviews

Hakone Yumoto Onsen Tsuki no Yado Sara

Hakone

Great dinner in our room at the hotel! It was amazing and since we don't drink alcohol they gave us a great juice alternative. The location was good and room comfortable...

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Station

Kyoto

Great Kyoto location very close to the main train and subway station...very nice staff. Helpful and efficient. Room was a good size and well stocked. And their English skills made communicating easy, whiteout our translation app!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Osaka Excel Hotel Tokyu

Osaka

Room was poorly laid out and the smallest of all our cities we went to, including Tokyo and Kyoto, and Osaka is not that expensive. They had a very sharp light fixture right over my head on one side of the bed, almost seriously hurt myself, and I spoke to the manager....which by the way was about the only staff member who spoke English....since no hotel has good instructions for running the HVAC, they are all in Japanese, I had to use my translation app to try and get the right room temp...and when I asked the front desk to help...two people even with the translator took 10 minutes to understand that I needed them to fix the temp. The location is ok...very high-end part of town....and not really very many restaurants for dinner. The hotel restaurant was very expensive and only had about 5 main courses to choose from. So we had to walk a bit to find some decent places to eat.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo forest & Hidden Garden Half-Day Walking Tour with Michelin Lunch

Kyoto

YUKI as a guide was amazing....explained everything....and the highlight for us was some "Quite time" in a small temple garden, beautiful and wonderful. The special temple lunch was fine....not as "private" as I expected, since they had several rooms for about 20 people each, but the food was fun and the overall meal and removal from the major crowds were nice. The tour and YUKI made what could have been a crowded tourist day very enjoyable.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

YUKI did great tour and follow up

Transport

Tokyo City Tour: Imperial Palace East Gardens, Senso-ji Tour & Meiji Shrine

Tokyo

Enjoyed the day and the guide was knowledgeable...about what I expected from an overview of Tokyo highlights. He had prepaid subway cards for us which we gave back at the end of the day....so we never had to stop and wait for him to purchase tickets we all just went right trough the gates. And we enjoyed having a private tour!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

1-Day Mt. Fuji & Hakone Tour [Return by Bus] With Lunch (From Tokyo Sta. Area, Tour Ends at Odawara Sta.)

Tokyo

Guide was great...group was good size with 10 people...weather was marginal, since we were having a typhoon, but that is NOT the guides fault and the weather opened up for about 2 minutes so we could see Mt. Fuji....then we saw it from the train the next day in Blue sky!

Quality of Experience

You can't control the weather

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Make Your Own Bonsai with a Professional Bonsai Artist in Tokyo

Tokyo

This was fun for us becasue we have a particular interest in Bonsai...and we got to meet Master Kunio Kobayashi himself! He signed a book for us and we got to see his famous prize winning tree and watch him do some pruning on a new tree he was working on....

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Did it on our own from the National Museum in a taxi...so it was easy to get to, but a bit expensive to use a taxi...

World Heritage Himeji Castle & Kobe Tour

Osaka

The castle is amazing!!! And we were their for the fist "fire" in its history! A child accidently hit the fire alarm when we were in the very top of the wood castle! So it cleared out fast and gave us a fright for a few minutes until they figured out what happened...then we got a few fun photos of the fire brigade! And it was very quiet for a while....since everyone else was evacuated...but the castle in amazing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Nijo Castle, Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Fushimi Inari-Taisha

Kyoto

Really enjoyed the Torii Gates at the Shinto shrine and the hike up through thousands of gates....even though we only went up half way....and our guide was careful to be sure we were safe on a slightly rainy day....private tour met our expectations in a crowd.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nara Half Day Trip Walking Tour

Japan

You have to like deer...they have 3000 that wander the city....but seeing the area was interesting...though the oldest pagoda in Japan is not to be seen since it is under renovation until 2032....but the area was interesting....for a first visit to Japan.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport