Kimkim Trip Reviews for Japan

I went into kimkim and my local specialist Shona blind. I researched the site, hedged my bets, and took a plunge I'm forever grateful for. Shona helped me customize my trip to meet my interests and fit my travel style (experienced solo traveller, massive nerd). She answered all my questions and was wonderful to work with. The guides I met throughout my trip were really special people: Yumi, Takehiko, Tomoko, thank you so much! I loved getting to see Japan as a guest with locals giving me invaluable insight. I am so honored to have had this experience, and the next time I venture across the Pacific, I will absolutely use kimkim and Shona again.

Hotel Review

Shiba Park Hotel

Tokyo

Very cool book-loving boutique hotel in a quiet neighborhood that's still in easy walking distance of convenience stores and public transportation. Great breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Their theme is books: every floor features mini libraries and guests are encouraged to peruse all the different selections to find something to take back to their room.

Location

Minato, Tokyo

Staff

Very polite and helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

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

Kyoto

It's obviously a thing for tourists, but at no point did I feel like I was infringing on Japanese cultural practices. Rather I felt welcomed to share, learn, and participate in a respectful environment. Also, wearing a kimono is just cool.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Excellent! We shopped around for our recent vacation to Japan and got multiple quotes from various companies. They weren’t the cheapest or the most expensive and I was actually a bit reluctant since the price was very reasonable. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the service and the accommodations they selected as well as the excursions selected. Angel was excellent, she listened and expertly tailored our trip to our needs. Her knowledge gave us ample time to transfer to our next destination and with very little effort. She was reasonably available when needed or had any questions. There was also an emergency contact to the company is anything should come up. We are definitely using them again for our next vacation. Kim Kim made our vacation amazing and stressless, as a vacation should be. Thank you KimKim and Angel for a wonderful trip.

The only cons are that the prices are not transparent nor is a breakdown given. The price was very reasonable so it didn’t matter so much. At times if you have an urgent question it may take a while to get back. They got back to us on every occasion though and answered any question we had. As first time travelers to Japan we were a bit confused with the surroundings but with a little time and effort we were able to figure it out on our own so most of the questions were just panic being in a foreign environment.

It was truly the trip of a lifetime! Our guide in Tokyo, Alan, was spectacular—knowledgeable and engaging, making every moment unforgettable. Simon, our trip planner, was amazing, maintaining excellent communication throughout the entire experience. The hotels, activities, and recommendations were outstanding, enhancing our adventure. I highly recommend this travel service for anyone looking to explore Japan in a unique and memorable way

We overall had a great 10 day trip in Japan. The locations and experiences were exactly what we were looking for, you can't go wrong with all the wonderful things to see in the country. We did have issues with our particular tour specialist. We felt that she provided a 'copy and paste' itinerary from other trip plans and was not individualized based on our questions and feedback. While planning other Kimkim trips, it was more of a back and forth looking for feedback, but any questions or comments we had would automatically result in a new trip plan - there wasn't the specialized communication that I had experienced with other trip guides. I was particularly disappointed with the restaurant reservations. I asked 6 weeks in advance of our trip for recommendations and help making reservations and our guide said she would get back to us and never did. Only after prompting, she provided a list of top 10 restaurants in Tokyo - something we easily could have found ourselves. Given how packed Japan is and personal food sensitivities, finding restaurants for dinner was very frustrating and a problem that could have been avoided. I do love Kimkim and have recommended them many times, but I do say it is dependent on the knowledge and the willingness to help by your assigned guide.

Activity Reviews

Explore Imperial Palace, Senso-ji Temple and Tokyo Tower

Tokyo

Our guide, Keiko, had difficulties navigating the subway - she got confused multiple times resulting in delays. She was very personable and friendly, but we didn't feel that she knew the city too well other than the major tourist areas we were visiting.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide didn't seem to know how to navigate Tokyo subways well. She was informative when we asked questions, but we were expecting for her to provide more information on overall history and culture of Tokyo/Japan.

Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Fushimi Inari-Taisha

Kyoto

Zumi is a fabulous tour guide and super responsive to whatever we were interested in or any particular requests we had. We loved everything we saw this day and Zumi went out of his way to provide us an excellent experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Nara City Tour, Overnight in Osaka

Kyoto

Leon was an incredible driver and guide. We were expecting him to just drive us around, but he walked around with us providing information and taking pictures for us. When it started to rain, he volunteered to run back to the car and come pick us up so we didn't get wet. He even brought us to an additional park that wasn't on the itinerary - he was great!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi Tour

Hakone

Sam was a great guide - I wish we could have started our trip with him in Tokyo. He was super informative about history, religion, and customary practices at temples. We learned so much from him at the very end of our trip that we wish we had known from the start. I do think a guide isn't really necessary for what we did on this particular day, we only really needed a driver but we were happy to spend the day with Leon nonetheless.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We were very impressed with the professionalism and enthusiasm displayed by all members of the KimKim team. The trip was truly an amazing experience from our first contact with Kate through Mr. Jeon’s drop off at the Seoul airport. I will not hesitate to recommend KimKim, and we will not hesitate to use your services in the future ( no need to send weekly emails). Sorry to be a broad brush stroke but everybody was good, proactive, attentive, polite, and would be rated highly. The hotels were all above average - the Mercure in Takayama was our favorite - the Excel in Shibuya probably our least favorite but still very acceptable. The itineraries which Kate developed were wonderfully executed by the team members. I have one suggestion - we had a driver in Takayama - probably not necessary / we took buses in Kyoto, which was interesting , but very time consuming. A driver in Kyoto may have been a better use of resources. Thanks for asking for my feedback. Keep up the good work!!!!!! Best regards, Adrian

My husband and I used Kimkim for the first time to help us plan a trip to Japan. Eleanor was responsive to all our requests and communications during the planning phases of our trip. Her thoroughness and attention to details made us feel Kimkim would be able to help us if problems arose. The locations of hotels she recommended were ideal in accessing the public transportation and sites we wanted to visit. The logistics of transporting us from airports and train stations to hotels were excellent. The drivers made contact with us the day before, sent photos of the cars and license plates and were always waiting for us when we arrived. We had arranged several private guides in Kyoto and Tokyo. The guides also texted us the day before our tour and confirmed details. The guides and drivers collaborated smoothly and allowed us to be flexible if we wanted to modify our tour. In Tokyo, For the 'night life' tour in Tokyo, our guide Ryoji maneuvered us through crowds and narrow alleys to experience up close the vitality of the entertainment district. We had requested a special tour of Ginza district architecture and during the planning stage, the agency contacted us directly to learn more about what we were interested in. We were delighted by Haruka's tour - it was exactly what we had hoped for. She brought illustrations of earthquake-resilience construction that enhanced our understanding of what we were seeing. In Kyoto, it was awkward because the guide had been told our tour would last all day, but we had clarified that we did not want a tour longer than 3 -4 hours. We learned that it was best to sit down together before starting a tour and talk about what was planned, then explain to the guide what our preferences were and our target time to end.

Cory was absolutely wonderful throughout our trip. It's such a blessing to have someone local guiding you, as they truly understand the little nuances that first-time visitors might miss. Cory's advice to grab a bento box from a specific spot to which side on the train to sit on to see Mt. Fuji, and suggestions for great lunch spots made our experience even more special.

From the beautiful kimono tea ceremony to shopping in Ginza and exploring the breathtaking shrines, we loved every moment. Cory’s attention to detail and thoughtful recommendations helped us fully embrace the culture and kindness of the people. We are incredibly grateful for Cory’s assistance from start to finish, making this trip unforgettable.

Thank you, Cory, for going above and beyond!

Hotel Reviews

Mitsui Garden Hotel Otemachi / Tokyo

Tokyo

Our stay at the Mitsui Garden Hotel Otemachi was absolutely delightful. The staff were so kind and welcoming, and the rooms were spotless and comfortable. The breakfast was a highlight for us—my husband is still raving about the egg sandwich, calling it the best he’s ever had in his life (and he’s not easy to impress, lol!). The location was perfect; we could easily walk to different areas, grab snacks, and explore the city. When we visit Tokyo again, we’ll definitely stay here and recommend this hotel to all our friends. Thank you for making our trip so memorable!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Kawaramachi Jokyoji

Kyoto

A Tranquil and peaceful experience that we loved! Our stay at the Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Kawaramachi Jokyoji was amazing! The calm and serene atmosphere inside the hotel was incredible, and the traditional Japanese-style bathhouse was such a unique and fantastic experience. When we were tired from a long day of fun, we would go there. The rooms were spotless and perfectly prepared for us, making our stay comfortable and relaxing. The location was ideal—just a short walk to great food and shopping. One of the highlights was stepping outside to find a charming local business with a Kyoto coffee truck run by the sweetest guy serving absolutely delicious coffee. We absolutely loved our stay and can’t wait to return!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

remm plus Ginza

The Remm Plus Hotel was an ideal choice for our trip. The location couldn’t have been better—right in the heart of the shopping district! The rooms were cozy, spotlessly clean, and ready for us upon arrival, which made for such a smooth check-in experience. The breakfast was great, with plenty of options to choose from. We also loved how easy it was to step outside the hotel and find delicious food nearby. The automatic check-in process was modern and convenient, and the staff was absolutely amazing. When we needed extra assistance, they were quick to accommodate us with such kindness and professionalism. We would definitely stay here again and highly recommend it to anyone visiting the area!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Shibuya Bar Hopping Night Tour in Tokyo

Tokyo

We had an incredible time on the Shibuya Bar Hopping Night Tour, and our tour guide, Masa, made the experience truly exceptional. He ensured that everyone in the group felt included, engaged, and comfortable throughout the evening. Our 22-year-old son and his friends especially loved the tour, but we also found it to be a fantastic experience. Masa’s deep knowledge of the area and his insights about Tokyo’s nightlife were invaluable. This tour is perfect for your first or second night in the city because it helps you get a feel for the local spots and plan where you might want to visit again later. The places we visited were unique and authentically local, which was exactly what we were hoping for. While there were plenty of fried food options available—which many people would enjoy—we personally would have preferred a bit more variety. That said, it didn’t take away from how much we loved the experience overall. If you’re looking for a night of great drinks, fun exploration, and learning about Tokyo’s vibrant nightlife, this is an absolute must-do. We’d gladly do it again!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony with Kimono Wearing

Kyoto

A beautiful cultural experience for everyone. The Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony with Kimono Wearing was an unforgettable experience. My family joined me, and although the boys participated to indulge me, they ended up learning so much about the art of tea making, the culture, and, of course, the beauty of wearing kimonos. Personally, I enjoyed this—it made me wish I had someone to style my hair and dress me every day! The atmosphere was serene, and the attention to detail was impressive. We arrived a little early and had time to visit a nearby coffee shop, which turned out to be amazing—such a charming area with a great vibe. This experience was a wonderful opportunity to learn, connect, and grow together. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to explore and appreciate Japanese culture in an authentic and meaningful way.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Mount Fuji Trip with English Speaking Guide

Tokyo

Here’s a polished version of your review for the Mount Fuji Trip with an English-speaking guide: Although I wasn’t able to attend the Mount Fuji trip, the others in our group had a fantastic time. While they were a bit bummed that it was too overcast to see Mount Fuji itself, they thoroughly enjoyed exploring the surrounding areas. The guide was excellent—knowledgeable, engaging, and helpful throughout the trip. They made sure the group had a great experience, providing interesting insights and ensuring everyone felt comfortable. The other locations visited were beautiful and offered a wonderful glimpse into the region's culture and scenery. Overall, it was a memorable trip that everyone appreciated, even with the cloudy weather. I’d definitely recommend this tour for anyone visiting the area—it’s worth it for the experience, the guide, and the chance to explore beyond just the iconic mountain.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Too many iterations that required repeated checking and input on my part. Most private guides did not speak English well enough, the only one that was fluent as well as knowledgeable was Hector (our guide in Kyoto). Several mid day train’s bookings needed to be changed to earlier in the day, as the original timing didn’t make sense. While planning was less than perfect, Sandy’s execution and daily follow up was excellent.

Activity Review

Mt. Koya and Temple Stay Experience

Mount Koya

Amazing visit to the open cemetery and shrine; very enjoyable (including meals) and educational experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a fantastic time in Japan and owe it all to Shona and the KimKim team. KimKim found the perfect balance for us. The hotels, guides, transportation, and sights were exactly what we wanted. We didn't have a good idea of how to tackle this ourselves since it was our first trip to Japan, and Shona guided us through the options of sights and activities, hotel service levels, guides and time on our own, and everything else. We were able to select options and hotels based on our budget, and the choices she helped us make turned out to be exactly what we were looking for. Everything ran perfectly, and we felt completely covered in every respect. We literally would not change a thing about the trip, and came away loving Japan.

Hotel Reviews

UNO HOTEL

Okayama, Tamano

Great alternative for those unable to stay on Naoshima island. Excellent facilities, and across the street from the ferry. Wonderful, friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character

It is a great modern hotel, with all the amenities.

Location

across the street from the ferry

Staff

super helpful and friendly. Everyone spoke English

Cleanliness & Comfort

great modern rooms, super clean and well equipped.

Hotel New Otani Osaka

Osaka

Beautiful larger hotel. Very convenient for the Osaka Castle, and easy access for the city.

Authenticity & Character

nice and well appointed. Room got hot at night though.

Location

very close to the castle

Staff

very friendly and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mikasa Ryokan

nara

Great hotel if you want the true Ryokan experience with public bath, futon sleeping and full Japanese meals.

Authenticity & Character

totally authentic in every way.

Location

easy access from Nara city

Staff

very friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

very clean. you have to be ready to sleep on futons

THE SCREEN - Boutique & Luxury Design Collection -

Kyoto

Super cool designer hotel.

Authenticity & Character

unique designs, large rooms, well appointed.

Location

across from the castle, but off the busy street so it is quiet.

Staff

very friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

very clean and comfortable, though seating in the room was very close to the floor, so not great for older people.

Shiba Park Hotel

Tokyo

great location, very attractive hotel, great service, great all around.

Authenticity & Character

Cool vibe, modern amenities, great mix of design and comfort.

Location

convenient, close to temples and activity, but super quiet on a side street.

Staff

unbelievably kind and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

the rooms are smaller, but are very comfortable and well appointed. very clean and cool feel to it.

Activity Reviews

Gion District and Nishiki Market

Kyoto

this was our favorite day in Japan. The Market is awesome to experience, and the Gion district has the most authentic Japanese feel of anywhere we went.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Miyama Village Tour From Kyoto

Japan

Very interesting area to visit, but not worth the driving time unless you have time to spare. Just not enough to it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Enjoy a Full Day Tour in Nara

Nara

Nara is an exceptionally unique place. The Buddhist temple is enormous and amazing, and the Shinto shrine is incredibly beautiful. All the while you are sharing the space with deer who roam about town.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Osaka

You have to do this if you are in the Osaka area. It is an amazing experience of sights, sounds, people and food.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ika was a fantastic guide.

Transport

Full day Tokyo city tour with Rikugien Garden

Tokyo

Our itinerary of the Rikugien Garden, the Ginza district and the sky tower was perfect. Great launch into the Tokyo experience and fascinating to see.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day City Tour with Osaka Castle

Japan

Wonderful last day in Japan. The Castle is a fascinating history lesson and magnificent to see. The Peace memorial is moving and interesting. Walking the streets and shops was wonderful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We chose to use KimKim for our second time since we had an an amazing ttrip with KimKim in Italy last year, May 2023. All of our expectations were met and we thought we would have the same experience this year with our trip to Japan. Unfortunately, this was not the case. From the moment, we arrived in Tokyo, there were problems. They were as follows:

1. The room in our Tokyo hotel was small and totally outdated for a 4 star hotel. The bed was small and up against the wall which only allowed us to enter the bed from one side. Needless to say, this was a major inconvenience as we had to climb over each other to get into bed. We contacted Asia Highlights and they rectified the situation the next day by moving us to another room which was bigger and more modern. This was the type of room we were expecting from day one. We spent 5 nights in this hotel.
2. Our guide for Tokyo was extremely poor. He was supposed to contact us the night before
to make arrangements about when and where to meet the next day. We did not hear from him until we decided to contact him. Not a great first impression. Once we met him, Carter, we realized there was going to be a language barrier. His English was poor and his understanding of English was just as poor, making communication a challenge. He was very inexperienced an did not know the logistics of being a good guide. He lacked the knowledge and expertise of a guide and really did not not make our visit to Tokyo enjoyable. We kept giving him the benefit of the doubt, but his performance was sub par.
3. When we arrived in Hiroshima, we met our driver at the train station who would take us to our hotel. Unfortunately, the 10 minute drive to the hotel took 1 hour because the driver did not know where he was going. Again, a real lack of communication.
4. Finally, at our hotel in Osaka, we came across the same problem with our room as we did in Tokyo. The room was again small, bed to one side and the room was very dated. This time, we could not change rooms because all of the rooms were booked. Not pleasant. We are seasoned travelers and these accommodations were unacceptable.

On a positive note, we were extremely pleased with our guide, Ho. (Kyoto to Osaka) He was a true professional and paid strict attention to detail. He made the rest our trip very enjoyable. He made changes to the itinerary as he saw fit and always took our needs into consideration when planning the days ahead. Asia Highlights also tried to make accommodations and were responsive to our many messages back and forth but it really did not make up for the poor execution of this trip. We booked this Trip last December and this should have given them ample time to provide us with the best experience possible. As the company that represents them, a better vetting process should be in place. In conclusion, this trip was highly disappointing.

It was a very well planned trip. Sandy and her team were always available to assist us during the trip. The only thing we will possibly do different will be to not carry all our luggage to Mount Koya or Koyasan.

Great trip, but our trip coordinator was slow to respond more than once.

Unfortunately, we had a flight delay on the way over, which resulted in us arriving a day late. We were charged for the first night in the hotel. Kim Kim said they would refund half of the hotel price.

Shinkansen tickets (Tokyo to Kyoto) were supposed to be at 1100. We planned a tour in Kyoto based on that time. Unfortunately, we received a message from Shona the day before with tickets that were at 1200.

The evening before the transfer to Kyoto, we tried to change the ticket ourselves (at the station) to 1100, but this was not possible because Kim Kim did not provide the original email that issued the tickets (Kim Kim only provided the attachments). So we messaged our coordinator, Shona. She answered that she would follow up before 10 AM the next day (the day of the tickets). Next day…No answer at 10. Shona responded at 1010 that she would confirm it for us right away. Nothing back until 1040, asking if we were at the station…(we had been there since 9:30) .

At 9:55 we got a message from the emergency coordinator, Heidi, asking (again) if we were at the station. By then, it was too late to have the tickets changed to 10:00. Heidi provided a transfer for us to the our planned tour directly from the station in Kyoto. Overall, a last minute save, but this whole thing was really annoying. For whatever reason, Shona was unable to respond quickly on what should have been a fairly easy change, with plenty of lead time to fix.

Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed the trip. Our tour guides Ayumi (Tokyo), Seiya Maegawa (Kyoto), and Luna (Osaka) were AMAZING.

We would certainly go to Japan again, to see more of the country, but I would be hesitant to use KimKim again due to the coordination issues we experienced.

Hotel Review

Hotel Vischio Kyoto by GRANVIA

Kyoto

AMAZING BREAKFAST!! Great location, right next to the Kyoto station.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Right next to the Kyoto station

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Fushimi Inari-Taisha

Kyoto

Our guide, Seiya Maegawa, was FANTASTIC. He shared so much detail about each place we visited. Very personable, and just did a wonderful job bringing each place to life that we visited.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tokyo Highlights Day Tour with Tsukiji Outer Fish Market

Tokyo

Ayumi did a wonderful job ! She asked us about our preferences before we left on the tour, and did a great job sharing Tokyo with us!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ayumi is a WONDERFUL tour guide. She speaks English very well, and was very personable.

Transport

Ayumi came prepared with a day pass for the trains for each of us. She did a wonderful job teaching us how to navigate the public transportation system in Tokyo.

Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Japan

Great food and a wonderful tour guide! The only thing I’d change… We ended up missing out on Soba at the end because the other members of the group had eaten too much at the first two restaurants. We would have liked to have tried it (we still had room), but the tour ended.

Quality of Experience

TASTY FOOD!!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Luna did a wonderful job.

Transport

The meeting point is in a very loud location (at the entrance to a train station). We had a hard time hearing our guide until we were away from under the train tracks.

Leny did an amazing job setting up our trip and our trip schedule. She was attentive throughout the trip and easy to communicate with throughout the trip. Leny added Google maps for us to assist us getting around. Leny also saw that it was my wife’s Birthday during the trip and arranged for some memorable surprises for her. We would highly recommend using Leny to plan a trip for a trip to Japan.

Hotel Review

Hakone Kowakien TEN-YU

Hakone

This hotel stay was one of the highlights of our stay in Japan. I would very highly recommend a stay here along with their Kaiseki dinner.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Quiet hotel surrounded by natural beauty.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Sayonara Japan!

Kansai International Airport (KIX)

The driver was on time and got us to the airport in plenty of time for our departure.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Authentic Sumo Experience in Tokyo with Chanko-nabe Lunch

Tokyo

Best Of Shibuya Food Private Tour - Evening

Tokyo

Clara, our tour guide was amazing taking us around Shibuya to off the beaten path places to sample food.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Nikko Tour from Tokyo with English Speaking Guide (Private)

Japan

Very long day trip to Nikko. We went to a waterfall that was fogged in. Walked around town to a okay lake. The highlight was to the Nikko Toshogu Shrine.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Japan

Harry was fantastic

Kyoto : Experience Tea Ceremony with a Maiko (Geisha) in a Premium course

Kyoto

Maiko was good but I would not recommend this venue or experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full day Osaka Food & Culture Tour with Government Licensed Guide (Private)

Osaka

This tour was good but there actually was no food provided on this tour. That is the reason for 3 stars. It was history and culture tour only. The food portion was taking a 10 minute walk through Kuromon market.

Half-Day Tokyo Tour with English-Speaking Guide

Tokyo

Excellent day spent with Ritzuko. Very efficient

Full Day Kyoto and Nara Tour with English-Speaking Guide

Japan

Good trip

Nishiki Market Delights: A Brunch Foodie Adventure

Kyoto

Semi was an amazing guide who wanted us to sample all of the delights of Nishiki market followed by a nice lunch.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our local guide was really good - kept us organized, helped with restaurant planning, and good overview of places, e.g. shrines and traditional places.

My trip to Japan was awesome. Eleanor, my representative from KimKim, worked hard to make sure that all of my wishes were included on my itinerary. I had a blast at the Sumo Wrestler stable, the hedgehog cafe, lacquer store where I was able to finish painting a design on a small tray, seeing the city of Sapporo from the top of the Olympic ski jump, and using my skills to find a particular restaurant in Sagamihara where I used to eat the most delicious gyoza many years ago. (And yes it is still open after 40+ years!). All of this would not have been possible without the help of Eleanor and the private guides that I had in each city for a day. I would definitely use their services again on another trip. I do like being able to discover places on my own but having a one day guide in each city increased my confidence and gave me information that I wouldn't have known on my own.

Hotel Reviews

Royal Park Hotel Tokyo Nihonbashi

Tokyo

Super convenient location with the subway station being under the hotel. Great included breakfast buffet. Wonderful registation and concierge staff that were able to help me transfer my luggage by courier to my next location so that I could travel luggage free on public transportation. Only down side to this hotel is that they do not have self-serve guest laundry machines, but I was able to find a public pay laundromat just about one or two blocks away. Very easy to use just needed Google translate to work the machines!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Residence Hotel Takayama Station

Very interesting small hotel in Takayama. I can see how this hotel could be used as a long-stay place. The room was comfortable, nice batieGood location to food, and convenience stores. I would choose this hotel again if I ever found myself in the area. Also, the registration staff was extremely helpful with luggage service to my next location, making calls to help with the language barrier, and overall answers to my questions,

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kanazawa-Eki Nishiguchi

Kanazawa

Have you ever heard the saying location, location, location? Well, the saying fits this hotel. Adjacent to the bus station, and a short 5 minute walk from the train station makes it very convenient. Again, the front desk staff was very helpful and friendly. Would stay here again if in the area.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Marunouchi Hotel

This hotel was also in a very good location in relation to public transportation. Helpful and friendly staff, and a clean and inviting atmosphere. I would stay here again if in the area.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mitsui Garden Hotel Sapporo West

Sapporo

This hotel was also in a very good location in relation to public transportation. Helpful and friendly staff, and a clean and inviting atmosphere. I would stay here again if in the area.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Tokyo City Tour with Tsukiji Outer Fish Market

Tokyo

Super fun but soooo crowded. I would prefer to see it at a less crowded time.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Authentic Sumo Experience in Tokyo: Enter the Sanctuary

Tokyo

Oh boy! I Ioved this experience! I would definitely suggest this experience if you are even just a little bit interested in sumo. I had the opportunity to watch some wrestlers show us some of their exercises and even let the participants get in the ring to try to do them with guidance. At the end of the demonstration each group participant had the oppertunity to get in the ring once again and try to out-do the pros by pushing them out of the ring. We were able to put on an informal kimono and have our pictures taken in the ring with both wrestlers. After the demonstration was done, we were invited to have a hotpot lunch made by the wrestlers in a very informal setting were we could ask questions and get the answers from the sumos. I really liked this experience. It is suitable for families with children of about 8+ years old.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Takayama City Tour

Takayama

I had a wonderful day here with my private guide. It was during a festival that I visited and was able to try many different foods from the street venders as well as see the parade of Japanese shrines. Learned quite a bit about the history with my guide. I would definately go to visit here again if in the area. It is a breath of fresh air after spending time in the busy city of Tokyo.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Kenrokuen, Kanazawa Castle & Tea Culture Tour

Kanazawa

Wow! What a beautiful area to visit. I had a great day with my private guide and learned quite a bit of new information regarding the area. I would visit this area again if in Japan.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Sapporo City Discovery with Genghis Khan BBQ and Sapporo Beer Tasting

Sapporo

The Sapporo Brewery is a sight to behold. It is a beautiful brick building the has been well maintained and houses a museum of the beer industry in Sapporo. My guide was great at pointing out details that I would have missed in being there on my own. I didn't take advantage of the BBQ or the beer tasting, as those things don't appeal to me. Instead we ate at a smaller local restaruant and had great ramen and gyoza! If in the area I would suggest visiting the Olympic stadium, Clock Tower, and the Sapporo TV tower.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

All three of our guides were very responsive, knowledgeable, and friendly. I would highly recommend them.

Support in-country, and especially with language barriers, was really helpful and important. Itineraries include pretty touristy stuff, but also things you don't want to miss! Kate was very kind and responsive - added a special touch when I had my birthday in Japan! Second time using KimKim and it is very useful.

We wanted to visit Japan, but not as part of a large group. We chose Kimkim to help us plan our trip and provide support if we needed it. The whole experience from planning, through to the trip itself, was excellent. We chose our own schedule based on the existing Kimkim packages. Our contact, Angel, arranged travel and hotels for us and advised on how sensible our chosen schedule was, suggesting changes where necessary. The hotels chosen were all lovely and the travel arrangements ran very smoothly.
Angel was always very responsive and quick to answer our questions and offer help during our trip. Nothing was too much trouble. Our four guides Kumi, Yumi, Junko and Yoshi were all great – informative, friendly and really good company.
We had hopes of what the holiday would be like before we went and it was every bit as good as we dreamt it would be. Thank you, Angel, for a memorable trip and for all your help!

We had the unfortunate experience of having our tour canceled the day we were leaving for our trip. In the end, in "forced" us to discover on our own. We ended up loving our time in Yamaguchi (less touristy, less populated)

All train tickets were as promised.

We oved our hotel in Yamaguchi.

Mizuho, our guide in Kyoto and Osaka was fabulous. She was so caring, and a true ambassador for Japan.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Groove Shinjuku

Tokyo

Room a bit small but the location was perfect. Great view of the Scramble. The Breakfast Buffet was fabulous!

Authenticity & Character

professional staff

Location

views - walkablilty

Staff

very attentive at check in

Cleanliness & Comfort

room a little small.

Cross Hotel Kyoto

Kyoto

Great location

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rengejo-in

koya

A real treat

Authenticity & Character

a peak into a Budhist community

Location

loved the town

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was beautiful and serene

Osaka Excel Hotel Tokyu

Osaka

A very convenient location

Authenticity & Character

seems a bit old (I think we were in an older tower, multiple tower location was confusing.

Location

good for transportation

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

clean, but bed wasn't very comfortable, room quite small.

Hakone Ashinoko Hanaori

Hakone

Loved the personal hot bath.

Authenticity & Character

A true onsen.

Location

The view in the morning was breathtaking

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Experience the Sumo and Sushi-making Culture of Japan

Tokyo

Sumo demonstration was fun. Sumo wrestlers were great with the crowd. The sushi leaders were charming, but not sure I would recommend. l

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Tokyo City Tour

Tokyo

nice to have guide... we would have been lost otherwise.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

good and knowledgeable - kept us on track!

Transport

Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi Tour with Whisky Tasting

Tokyo

One of my favorite moments

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had to take a very crowded bus with a lot of baggage on the way down.

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya with Nishiki market

Kyoto

Well done, something I would never do at home. They were crowded.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The hostess of the tea was so charming.

Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Osaka

It was nice to go to areas that we would not have ventured on our own.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide - Duncan did a great job.

Full Day Kobe Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum and Himeji Castle Tour

Osaka

great guide

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

our guide lead us through very crowded subway rides. Added to our experience!

Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Fushimi Inari-Taisha

Kyoto

A lot of walking, but saw a lot!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

knowledgable