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Kimkim Trip Reviews for Japan

4.6
Based on 251 ratings
Read 251 verified reviews by travelers who booked their trip to Japan on kimkim. You can also read reviews about kimkim on 3rd party sites including Google, TrustPilot and Yelp.

Hotels were good. Transport between different...
Japan | Mar 30 - Apr 12, 2024

Zoka
Zoka M.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Apr 15, 2024

Hotels were good. Transport between different places with the van was good.
Tours guides took us from the hotel to the van and to the planned destinations. We had too many tourist guides, some of them were very unexperienced and they lacked any deep knowledge of the places that they took us to. It seems that the language was a barrier, too.
This trip was overpriced for the quality that we had.

Local specialist: Alisa Liu

Shona was very quick to respond and accommoda...
Japan | Mar 27 - Apr 5, 2024

F
Frances T.
Canada | Reviewed on Apr 14, 2024
Shona was very quick to respond and accommodated our concerns. There was the nice feature of customized private tours; Shona made changes as needed. There are a few things that can be worked on to improve service:
1) Guides need prior training to be more knowledgeable about sites and the transportation system. We learned that the guides did not have a proper selection process; they only had a short interview and were asked if they knew English, and there was no formal identification of... Read more

Shona was very quick to respond and accommodated our concerns. There was the nice feature of customized private tours; Shona made changes as needed. There are a few things that can be worked on to improve service:
1) Guides need prior training to be more knowledgeable about sites and the transportation system. We learned that the guides did not have a proper selection process; they only had a short interview and were asked if they knew English, and there was no formal identification of English proficiency.
2) It is suitable for travellers to experience the public transport system; however, it is more practical to use taxis if the public system takes too much time.
3) There is a need for more instantaneous communication between the office and the guides; for example, the guides did not get updated on our changed hotel.
4) I used KimKim for my Spain travel May 2023, that experience was far superior than the Japan experience.

Hotel Reviews
HOTEL MYSTAYS PREMIER Akasaka

Well located in Tokyo, many eating places around, breakfast good, rooms small but very user friendly with space-saving design, clean and adequate; 7-11 store situated downstairs for snacks etc.

Authenticity & Character
Well located in Tokyo, many eating places around, breakfast good, rooms small but very user friendly with space-saving design, clean and adequate; 7-11 store situated downstairs for snacks etc.
Location
Close to subway stations and eateries
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
THE THOUSAND KYOTO
Kyoto

The rooms are big, clean, and comfortable. The breakfast has lots of variety.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel New Otani Osaka
Osaka

Grand Hotel, many restaurants and upscale shopping are attached. It is a great location, close to Osaka Castle and the river, and a nice walk along the river and neighbourhood. Fantastic breakfast buffet, Western and Japanese, the best breakfast buffet we had during the trip.

Authenticity & Character
Grand Hotel, many restaurants and upscale shopping are attached. It is a great location, close to Osaka Castle and the river, and a nice walk along the river and neighbourhood. Fantastic breakfast buffet, Western and Japanese, the best breakfast buffet we had during the trip.
Location
Grand Hotel, many restaurants and upscale shopping are attached. It is a great location, close to Osaka Castle and the river, and a nice walk along the river and neighbourhood. Fantastic breakfast buffet, Western and Japanese, the best breakfast buffet we had during the trip.
Staff
Service outstanding
Cleanliness & Comfort
Perfect.
Activity Reviews
Spot Early-Blooming Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo
Spot Early-Blooming Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo
Tokyo

Blossoms do not fully bloom with cold snaps. Not anyone's fault. The guide was enthusiastic for the first half of the tour, but then he lost steam and was off to do the tasks on his agenda. I have to take my time walking and cannot do stairs well. The guide knew this; he was accommodating the first half of the tour, yet for the last hour or two, he did not take time to look for elevators and escalators; he would walk fast and way ahead of us. We had to try to catch up. That evening, I could not get up to walk as my right leg hurt too much; fortunately, it recovered after the night's rest. One good positive attribute of the guide: his English was good, he did make a good effort the first half of the day and guided well.

Quality of Experience
See above
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Part of the transportation should be by taxis, to save time and walking.
Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchiko Cruise and Oshino Hakkai
Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchiko Cruise and Oshino Hakkai
Tokyo

The driver was excellent, and it was a smooth ride. The driver was helpful. The guide was personable and had a good command of English. The guide and driver accommodated our suggestion. The weather was foggy and rainy in the morning, so we adjusted our destinations on schedule and could see Mount Fuji in the afternoon when the sun came out.

Quality of Experience
See above
Guides, Drivers and Staff
See above
Transport
See above
Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Fushimi Inari-Taisha
Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Fushimi Inari-Taisha
Kyoto

Our guide was terrific. He is passionate about his work and talks almost nonstop about the history and background of Japan. He is friendly and personable, has a wealth of knowledge, and has a good command of English. He was attentive to our needs. He is the best guide I have ever met.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Some of the transportation should be done by taxis to save on time and energy.
Full Day Tour to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Sagano Scenic Railway
Full Day Tour to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Sagano Scenic Railway
Kyoto

The guide's English can be better. He needs to have a better knowledge of the public transport system and the structure and layout of the Aryashima bamboo grove. We needed to walk around the loop of the bamboo grove twice as the guide did not know the train station's information. The guide is well-meaning, though. He was unfamiliar with the Kyoto public transit, he took us to the wrong station etc.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The guide's English can be better. He needs to have a better knowledge of the public transport system and the structure and layout of the Aryashima bamboo grove. We needed to walk around the loop of the bamboo grove twice as the guide did not know the train station's information. The guide is well-meaning, though. He was unfamiliar with the Kyoto public transit, he took us to the wrong station etc.
Transport
Some of the transportation should be done by taxis to save time and energy.
Day Trip to Nara
Day Trip to Nara
Nara

I liked the Buddhist temple, but the rest of Nara was not as exciting as it was portrayed. The guide was well-meaning; she studied the destination ahead of time and did her best to give us information, but her English was not good, so I found it difficult to understand. She was unfamiliar with the public transportation system and made some mistakes. It would have been far better if we had taken taxis that day. We asked her to call the office for permission, but the office did not respond.

Quality of Experience
I liked the Buddhist temple, but the rest of Nara was not as exciting as it was portrayed. The guide was well-meaning; she studied the destination ahead of time and did her best to give us information, but her English was not good, so I found it difficult to understand. She was unfamiliar with the public transportation system and made some mistakes. It would have been far better if we had taken taxis that day. We asked her to call the office for permission, but the office did not respond.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
I liked the Buddhist temple, but the rest of Nara was not as exciting as it was portrayed. The guide was well-meaning; she studied the destination ahead of time and did her best to give us information, but her English was not good, so I found it difficult to understand. She was unfamiliar with the public transportation system and made some mistakes. It would have been far better if we had taken taxis that day. We asked her to call the office for permission, but the office did not respond.
Transport
I liked the Buddhist temple, but the rest of Nara was not as exciting as it was portrayed. The guide was well-meaning; she studied the destination ahead of time and did her best to give us information, but her English was not good, so I found it difficult to understand. She was unfamiliar with the public transportation system and made some mistakes. It would have been far better if we had taken taxis that day. We asked her to call the office for permission, but the office did not respond. It ended up the day was very uncomfortable and tiring.
Full Day City Tour with Osaka Castle
Full Day City Tour with Osaka Castle
Japan

The whole day exceeded my expectations. Others had biased me to think Osaka was uninteresting. The guide was very good. She had a good command of English and gave us information on interesting facts. She was attentive, problem-solving, and knowledgeable. The main agent, Shona, responded to our request to use taxis, so the day went a lot more smoothly.

Quality of Experience
The whole day exceeded my expectations. Others had biased me to think Osaka was uninteresting. The guide was very good. She had a good command of English and gave us information on interesting facts. She was attentive, problem-solving, and knowledgeable. The main agent, Shona, responded to our request to use taxis, so the day went a lot more smoothly.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The whole day exceeded my expectations. Others had biased me to think Osaka was uninteresting. The guide was very good. She had a good command of English and gave us information on interesting facts. She was attentive, problem-solving, and knowledgeable. The main agent, Shona, responded to our request to use taxis, so the day went a lot more smoothly.
Transport
The whole day exceeded my expectations. Others had biased me to think Osaka was uninteresting. The guide was very good. She had a good command of English and gave us information on interesting facts. She was attentive, problem-solving, and knowledgeable. The main agent, Shona, responded to our request to use taxis, so the day went a lot more smoothly.
One Day Miyajima Island and Hiroshima Tour (Round Trip From Osaka)
One Day Miyajima Island and Hiroshima Tour (Round Trip From Osaka)
Japan

The guide was good. His English is fair; it can be better, but it is better than some. He was attentive. The main agent, Shona, responded to our request to use taxis, so the day went much more smoothly.

Quality of Experience
The guide was good. His English is fair; it can be better, but it is better than some. He was attentive. The main agent, Shona, responded to our request to use taxis, so the day went much more smoothly.
Food
The guide was good. His English is fair; it can be better, but it is better than some. He was attentive. The main agent, Shona, responded to our request to use taxis, so the day went much more smoothly. The guide took us to amazing place for oysters, best oysters I ever had.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The guide was good. His English is fair; it can be better, but it is better than some. He was attentive. The main agent, Shona, responded to our request to use taxis, so the day went much more smoothly.
Transport
The guide was good. His English is fair; it can be better, but it is better than some. He was attentive. The main agent, Shona, responded to our request to use taxis, so the day went much more smoothly.
Local specialist: Shona Zhang
Shona
Shona Zhang
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Apr 18, 2024
Dear Frances, Warm greetings from Shona. It is my great honor and pleasure to tailor your Japan tour to your preferences. Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughtful feedback. I am very sorry that the performance of our guides in Tokyo and Kyoto did not reach KimKim standard and your expectation. Since the number of international travelers coming to Japan this year is significantly higher than we anticipated，we lack experienced tour guides during the cherry blossom season. We... Read more

Dear Frances,

Warm greetings from Shona. It is my great honor and pleasure to tailor your Japan tour to your preferences. Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughtful feedback.

I am very sorry that the performance of our guides in Tokyo and Kyoto did not reach KimKim standard and your expectation. Since the number of international travelers coming to Japan this year is significantly higher than we anticipated，we lack experienced tour guides during the cherry blossom season. We sincerely regret that we were unable to provide adequate training within the limited time for our newly hired guides. We will try our best to arrange more training to help them to be more capable. Thank you very much for your understanding and kind suggestion.

I agree with you that it is more practical to use taxis as the public transportation normally takes more time. In Japan, the general types of transportation include private transfers, public transportation, and taxis. Private transfer in Japan is much more expensive compared to other countries, so the tour price can be very high if using private transfer for the whole trip. Taxi is less expensive than private transfer，but it is still more expensive than public transportation and difficult to estimate the price in advance. Therefore，to keep the budget in a suitable range , we usually recommend our travelers to use some public transportation in the major cities with convenient public transportation systems.

I am very glad to know that you were happy with the accommodation I chose for you and we will recommend them to more future travelers.

Thanks again for your feedback. We appreciate your suggestions a lot and look forward to having the opportunity to be at your service again in the future.

Best regards,
Shona

The overall experience was great. Our KimKim ...
Japan | Mar 30 - Apr 7, 2024

Ebi
Ebi M.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Apr 14, 2024
The overall experience was great. Our KimKim specialist was very helpful, responsive, and available especially during our trip.
All the guides that we received in Japan were amazing and went above and beyond.
Just to clarify, I would categorized this trip as an adventure and not so much of a relaxing vacation so we did lots of activities and sight seeing (30K+ steps on daily basis). I had 3 children (9-14) with me so it was a bit challenging at times however the guides were incredibly... Read more

The overall experience was great. Our KimKim specialist was very helpful, responsive, and available especially during our trip.
All the guides that we received in Japan were amazing and went above and beyond.
Just to clarify, I would categorized this trip as an adventure and not so much of a relaxing vacation so we did lots of activities and sight seeing (30K+ steps on daily basis). I had 3 children (9-14) with me so it was a bit challenging at times however the guides were incredibly helpful to minimize the pain.

Hotel Reviews
RIHGA Royal Hotel Kyoto
Kyoto
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Mystays Premier Omori
Tokyo

The room was a bit tiny.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The room was a bit tiny.
Local specialist: Kate Long
Kate
Kate Long
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Apr 15, 2024
Dear Ebi, Thank you for your detailed feedback on your recent trip. I'm thrilled to hear that you had an overall great experience!!😀 It's wonderful to know that our guides in Japan met and exceeded your expectations. Their dedication to ensuring a high-quality experience for our travelers is something we take great pride in. I will be sure to pass along your compliments to them; it's comments like these that motivate our team to continue delivering exceptional service. 😊 I understand that... Read more

Dear Ebi,

Thank you for your detailed feedback on your recent trip. I'm thrilled to hear that you had an overall great experience!!😀

It's wonderful to know that our guides in Japan met and exceeded your expectations. Their dedication to ensuring a high-quality experience for our travelers is something we take great pride in. I will be sure to pass along your compliments to them; it's comments like these that motivate our team to continue delivering exceptional service. 😊

I understand that you categorized this trip as more of an adventure, with a full schedule of activities and sightseeing that required a significant amount of walking. It's commendable that you and your children took on this challenge with enthusiasm. I'm glad to hear that our guides were able to support you and make the experience as enjoyable and pain-free as possible for your family.

Please know that we always aim to tailor our travel experiences to suit the preferences and needs of our clients, and your feedback will certainly help us in refining our offerings for future travelers with similar interests 😊

We hope to have the opportunity to assist you again in planning your next adventure, and we'll be sure to take into account the energy levels and interests of you and your children to ensure a well-balanced experience 🙌

Once again, thank you for choosing us for your travel needs, and we look forward to welcoming you back for another memorable trip in the future😊

Warm regards,
Katie😊

Japan April 2024
Japan | Mar 30 - Apr 7, 2024

Victoria
Victoria S.
San Rafael, CA | Reviewed on Apr 14, 2024
Sandy was very easy to work with and incorporated all our input into the itinerary. She helped us plan a really well-rounded Japan trip! We got extremely lucky while we were there as the cherry blossoms were delayed in their blooming and therefore coincided perfectly with our travel dates! Additionally, we had great weather. Read more

Sandy was very easy to work with and incorporated all our input into the itinerary. She helped us plan a really well-rounded Japan trip! We got extremely lucky while we were there as the cherry blossoms were delayed in their blooming and therefore coincided perfectly with our travel dates! Additionally, we had great weather.

Hotel Review
Watermark Hotel Kyoto
Kyoto

Rooms at the Watermark are quite small, but it was very comfortable for the four nights we stayed there. There are really pretty lighting options in the rooms (lantern and wall lighting), which was a fun feature. The buffet breakfast was an excellent way to start the morning! There are both western and Japanese options. The hotel is not located very close to restaurants or epicenters, but is close to a subway line or a 25-30 minutes walk to more exciting areas.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Full Day Tokyo City Tour
Full Day Tokyo City Tour
Tokyo

Our tour guide, Meiji "May," made this day particularly special. He has a great personality and was clearly a very experienced guide, navigating crowds and transportation like a pro. He also recommended an AMAZING restaurant for lunch, Asakusa Tsurujiroh Hanare.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi Tour (join-in)
Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi Tour (join-in)
Hakone

Mt Fuji is beautiful! The drive up was a great way to see the countryside, but where we stopped up the mountain was very crowded. The boat ride wasn't our favorite part, though Lake Ashi is lovely. The gondola ride offered great views but also wasn't a highlight.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Shibuya Sky and Sumida River Cruise
Shibuya Sky and Sumida River Cruise
Tokyo

Shibuya Sky is very cool; even our Tokyo-based guide was impressed. It was his first time visiting and he thought the view was more expansive than some other vantage points in the city, like Tokyo Tower or Skytree. The Sumida River Cruise was a bit underwhelming in our opinion, but a unique opportunity and cool way to see architecture along the river.

Day Trip to Nara and Uji
Day Trip to Nara and Uji
Kyoto

This was a long day with lots of driving! The temple is very impressive with it's scale, but at this point of the trip we had seen so many shrines and temples. The dear were cute, but we both felt we didn't need to go back to see them. Good food in Nara! We really liked our guide. Very helpful, positive, and fashionable!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Bamboo Grove and Monkey Park Tour with a Boat Ride
Bamboo Grove and Monkey Park Tour with a Boat Ride
Kyoto

The Bamboo Forest was very crowded which made it feel less magical. The garden at Tenryu-ji Temple right near the forest however is beautiful! The monkey park was very fun; it's a bit of a hike to get up there but subsequently offers a great view of the area. Lastly, the boat ride (Arashiyama Tsusen) was one of our favorite experiences! It's very cool to see how the boat is propelled with a bamboo stick, and there's a motor powered boat that comes up halfway through the trip to sell food and beverage.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our Kyoto guide, Tomoko, was lovely! We enjoyed spending the day with her.
Transport
Local specialist: Sandy Ren
Sandy
Sandy Ren
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Apr 17, 2024
Dear Victoria, Hope you are doing fantastic.Thank you so much for your kind words about your Japan trip with us.It is my great pleasure to create an itinerary that met all your expectations. It sounds like you had an incredible time, especially with the fortunate timing of the cherry blossoms and the fantastic weather. The details about the Watermark hotel are noted, and we're glad to hear that despite the room size, you found it comfortable. The variety at the buffet breakfast sounds... Read more

Dear Victoria,

Hope you are doing fantastic.Thank you so much for your kind words about your Japan trip with us.It is my great pleasure to create an itinerary that met all your expectations.

It sounds like you had an incredible time, especially with the fortunate timing of the cherry blossoms and the fantastic weather. The details about the Watermark hotel are noted, and we're glad to hear that despite the room size, you found it comfortable. The variety at the buffet breakfast sounds delightful, offering a perfect start to your mornings.

We're pleased to hear that Meiji "May" added to your experience with his expertise and recommendation for the restaurant. Your insights into Mt. Fuji and the various attractions along the way are invaluable for future travelers, and we appreciate your honest feedback.

The experiences in Shibuya, Nara, and Arashiyama sound both exciting and enriching, despite some crowds and long days. It's wonderful to hear that you had positive interactions with your guides and enjoyed the unique aspects of each location.

Once again, thank you for sharing your experience with us, and we hope to assist you with your future travel plans.

Best regards,
Sandy

Visit to Japan during Cherry Blossom Season 2024
Japan | Mar 27 - Apr 5, 2024

L
Lorna W.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Apr 12, 2024
We engaged with KimKim because of a very positive experience to Spain last year Frances, one of the traveler had. We expected the KimKim standard to carry through. This is my first experience in engaging an agent for a customized itinerary. Both of us had visited Japan before. We loved the country and was hoping to get a good glimpse of the cherry blossoms, thus a repeat itinerary was acceptable, while we were also hoping to see new things. Shona as an agent was efficient in setting up an... Read more

We engaged with KimKim because of a very positive experience to Spain last year Frances, one of the traveler had. We expected the KimKim standard to carry through.

This is my first experience in engaging an agent for a customized itinerary. Both of us had visited Japan before. We loved the country and was hoping to get a good glimpse of the cherry blossoms, thus a repeat itinerary was acceptable, while we were also hoping to see new things.

Shona as an agent was efficient in setting up an itinerary and responsive to our questions and requests during the month long planning. We were hoping for a more comfortable tour but amenable to public transportation even though we indicated excessive walking can be an issue. We were told that private cars would not be an option because of high season demand, even though some guides commented it was a surprise that we did not have a car.

Our transfers to and from hotels were handled well. The drivers were punctual and efficient. Our transportation via local subways and trains much less so, especially when some guides did not seem to be very familiar with the system. There were excessive walking, as well as time spent in figuring out the proper trains to take, acquiring tickets, or finding escalators/elevators. It was exhausting in a busy city. The situation was rectified on the last three days in Osaka when we were given taxi service to destinations. The Osaka experience was much more pleasant without the hassle of public transportation.

We had 6 guides during this trip. In general, I find the local guides to be average. Most of them were guides to take us from one destination to another, without depth of knowledge of the place. Their English language skills were mostly sub-par. I wonder about their qualifications of being tour guides than just being local. Learning about their personal background stories were more interesting than the knowledge I gained about the places from them. They were all friendly and polite. Some tried harder than others.

The hotels were ok. They all offer great breakfast buffet. The New Orani Hotel in Osaka was the best in terms of amenities and space, exactly the kind 5-star hotel we were asking for.

Regarding the logistics during the trip. I was not happy with the communication between the central office and the local guides. We had questions from a guide asking what hotel we were at in Tokyo, we had to tell another guide in Kyoto our new hotel, and one guide actually went to the wrong hotel because of the change which costed half the morning. That type of information should be communicated properly from the office.

We had to change hotel las minute in Kyoto, which had costed us substantially extra to secure during initial booking. We looked forward to staying in that 5-star hotel in a nice city. We ended up having to change hotel at the last minute because of a mix-up in reservation. Shona did well to get us a hotel quickly but there was a lot of anxiety and it was very disappointing. Shona was on top of things during our trip and responded quickly to the needs and other issues we encountered. She should be commended for her attention and willingness to compensate for shortfalls.

All in all, Japan is a very beautiful country with friendly people and a lot to offer. I would definitely consider visiting again but I would scrutinize the details more carefully to assure my experience meets my expectation.

Hotel Reviews
HOTEL MYSTAYS PREMIER Akasaka

Nice location. Comfortable bed and conveniently located. 7/11 store in basement and availability of free laundry are nice amenities. Buffet breakfast is very good. Room is a little cramped. Enough chairs to sit but almost no space to move around.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel New Otani Osaka
Osaka

Very nice hotel of 5-star quality. The room is spacious with chairs, coffee table and desk. The beds are comfortable. The buffet breakfast is excellent with high quality and variety of both western and Japanese food. The hotel lobby is linked to high end shops - fun to browse. Its location is right across from the river with a bridge to the Osaka Castle. Very pleasant walk.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Spot Early-Blooming Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo
Spot Early-Blooming Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo
Tokyo

Public transportation to the city sights quite hectic. We did not follow our exact original itinerary. Our customized itinerary allowed us a visit to the Fish Market, which is interesting with great seafood. The visit to the bottom of the Tokyo Tower was a waste of time and effort, especially since we were not scheduled to go up.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide was ok to start the trip, but seemed to have lost interest in the afternoon and was in a hurry to finish up and get us back to hotel. He was walking at least 1/2 block in front of us :(
Transport
Take taxi or use private car to save time and energy.
Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchiko Cruise and Oshino Hakkai
Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchiko Cruise and Oshino Hakkai
Tokyo

Mt Fugi boat ride on Lake Kawaguchiko was beautiful with perfect weather. Oshino Hakkai Village was very scenic with the small ponds. Great grilled fish.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Fushimi Inari-Taisha
Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Fushimi Inari-Taisha
Kyoto

The touring of the various sites were good, very crowded in most places because of the high cherry blossom season. Beautiful sites, streets with interesting shops. Kyoto never disappoints.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Tour to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Sagano Scenic Railway
Full Day Tour to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Sagano Scenic Railway
Kyoto

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is amazing. The boat ride was also very enjoyable. The scenery was captivating, just wish for more cherry blossoms. The Sagano Railway was supposed to be a highlight, but the guide did not know our booking was for a certain time and location. We ended up in the wrong station, and walked through the bamboo grove twice to the right station.. Also with advanced booking and assigned seating, the tour company should be aware of the direction of the train and booked us on the scenic side (water side). We were not able to enjoy the scenic water front, a bit disappointed.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Day Trip to Nara
Day Trip to Nara
Nara

It was a long ride from Kyoto. We started late due to meeting location mixup. The guide was not given our hotel. BY the time we get to Nara, it was well past noon. Even the deer were full and not interested in our food. Nara is a nice city with long history thus the temples were all interesting. The guide tried hard and did her homework, but a more knowledgable guide might be able to give us more information. We were short of time and did not make it up the hill to see the city of Nara. IT was a long day as we were also heading to Osaka the same evening.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day City Tour with Osaka Castle
Full Day City Tour with Osaka Castle
Japan

Even though it was a rainy day, I enjoyed the castle visit, the exhibit was nicely done. The city museum was also fun to visit, especially indoors on a rainy day. The Umeda Building has amazing architecture. Very enjoyable. The guide was not experienced, since she was very new, but she conducted herself well. Her English was also the best among the guides we had. The Shinsaibashi was very crowded, as expected. It was probably not the best option to put at the end of a long rainy day. We had good kobe beef dinner there though. We used taxi service for the day. Much better than negotiating subways. We were also just in town, so not very tiring.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
taxi service.
One Day Miyajima Island and Hiroshima Tour (Round Trip From Osaka)
One Day Miyajima Island and Hiroshima Tour (Round Trip From Osaka)
Japan

Miyajima Island is beautiful. It has interesting touristy sights, eats and scenery, but not crowded. I was able to enjoy the sights and scenes without much anxiety. Hiroshima is a sobering experience. The Memorial and the Museum were all well done. I am glad I finally get to visit the site of such an important event in human history. The day was not rushed. Very enjoyable.

Quality of Experience
Food
Oysters!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Shona Zhang
Shona
Shona Zhang
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Apr 21, 2024
Dear Lorna， Greetings from Shona and Thank you very much for sharing your detailed feedback on your recent trip to Japan with us. We deeply value your insights and are committed to addressing each of your concerns to ensure a better experience for future travelers. We sincerely apologize for any inconveniences you experienced during your journey. I'm glad to hear that the initial planning process with me was efficient and responsive. It was truly an honor and a pleasure to customize your... Read more

Dear Lorna，

Greetings from Shona and Thank you very much for sharing your detailed feedback on your recent trip to Japan with us. We deeply value your insights and are committed to addressing each of your concerns to ensure a better experience for future travelers.

We sincerely apologize for any inconveniences you experienced during your journey. I'm glad to hear that the initial planning process with me was efficient and responsive. It was truly an honor and a pleasure to customize your Japan trip.

Your comments regarding transportation challenges, especially in bustling city environments, are duly noted. We understand the importance of comfort and convenience, particularly for travelers with mobility considerations, and will strive to improve our transportation arrangements and guide selections accordingly. In Japan, the general types of transportation include private transfers, public transportation, and taxis. Private transfer in Japan is much more expensive compared to other countries, so the tour price can be very high if using private transfer for the whole trip. Taxi is less expensive than private transfer， but it is still more expensive than public transportation, and difficult to estimate the price in advance. Therefore， to keep the budget in a suitable range, we usually recommend our travelers to use some public transportation in the major cities with convenient public transportation systems. However, I should be more considerate and provide more detailed information for you and Frances.

I am very sorry that the performance of our guides did not reach KimKim standards and your expectations. Since the number of international travelers coming to Japan this year is significantly higher than we anticipated， we lack experienced tour guides during the cherry blossom season. We sincerely regret that we were unable to provide adequate training within the limited time for our newly hired guides. We will try our best to arrange more training to help them to be more capable. Thank you very much for your understanding and kind suggestion.

Regarding the communication gaps between our central office and local guides, Measures will be taken to enhance communication and minimize any discrepancies in future itineraries.

We deeply regret the last-minute hotel change in Kyoto and the associated stress it caused. We will thoroughly review our reservation procedures to prevent such occurrences in the future.

Once again, we extend our sincerest apologies for any shortcomings you experienced. Your feedback serves as a valuable tool for continuous improvement, and we remain committed to delivering unforgettable travel experiences and look forward to welcoming you back to Japan again.

Wish you a happy life all the time.

Warm regards,
Shona

Mie in Kyoto and Osaka was the best guide!!! ...
Japan | Mar 25 - Apr 6, 2024

Ana
Ana W.
Mexico | Reviewed on Apr 09, 2024
Mie in Kyoto and Osaka was the best guide!!! She was so kind and helpful, Layla in Tokyo was nice the only problem was that she was all the time in the cellphone like every minute, and Mina in takayama and Emily there were nice I liked the trip…. The other thing was that I noticed was missing that the tour was nice but had a lot of anime and a few spots in the cities that were important… so sometimes we had a chance to change the itinerary a bit but other times we couldn’t… so it was a... Read more

Mie in Kyoto and Osaka was the best guide!!! She was so kind and helpful, Layla in Tokyo was nice the only problem was that she was all the time in the cellphone like every minute, and Mina in takayama and Emily there were nice I liked the trip….

The other thing was that I noticed was missing that the tour was nice but had a lot of anime and a few spots in the cities that were important… so sometimes we had a chance to change the itinerary a bit but other times we couldn’t… so it was a bit disappointing no to see the city specially in Tokyo and Kyoto but we were able to manage things!!

The drivers were very helpful and the van is excellent!!!! I really enjoyed having a van and it was not a usual van it was in perfect conditions

Hotel Reviews
Ryokan Asunaro
Takayama

The best experience in Japan !!! I love the tradicional hotel, the staff was very nice!!! And it was perfect

Authenticity & Character
The tradicional stile
Location
Everything is really near!! Restaurants, the market, train station
Staff
Very nice and kind
Cleanliness & Comfort
The comforter of the bed is the best I’ve tried, and everything was very clean and in their place
Cross Hotel Kyoto
Kyoto

The beds were perfecto for a family of 3!!! And very nice the breakfast buffet, well located

Authenticity & Character
Location
Everything was close
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Full Day Takayama & Shirakawago Tour by Private Car(Miyagawa Market, Takayama Jinya, Shirakawa-go region )
Full Day Takayama & Shirakawago Tour by Private Car(Miyagawa Market, Takayama Jinya, Shirakawa-go region )
Takayama

Loved both places!!!!

Quality of Experience
The vans that took us everywhere were the best traveling vans ever!!! Very comfortable
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full day Kyoto Tour by Private Vehicle
Full day Kyoto Tour by Private Vehicle
Kyoto

Mie the guide made everything better!!! She is the best guide tour, helpful and nice!!!! And Kyoto is amazing city

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
the best best guide ever Mie!!!!!! She is a must in this tour!!!!
Transport
Full Day Osaka Highlights Tour(Osaka Castle, Dotonbori, Kamigata Ukiyoe Museum, Umeda Sky Building)
Full Day Osaka Highlights Tour(Osaka Castle, Dotonbori, Kamigata Ukiyoe Museum, Umeda Sky Building)
Osaka

It’s was nice I would have skipped the kimagata museum! But all of the rest was very nice !!! Since we had Mie as well and she is from Osaka she knew exactly where to take us!!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Kyoto Arashiyama Tour by Private Car (Okochi Mountain Villa, Bamboo Groves, Nonomiya Shrine, Tenryuji Temple, Vegetarian Shojin-ryori Lunch, Monkey Park, Sagano Scenic Railway)
Full Day Kyoto Arashiyama Tour by Private Car (Okochi Mountain Villa, Bamboo Groves, Nonomiya Shrine, Tenryuji Temple, Vegetarian Shojin-ryori Lunch, Monkey Park, Sagano Scenic Railway)
Kyoto

We had a great time!!!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Emily was very nice, she saw we were very tired this day so she made the trip less stressful and understanding with us!! She knows a lot of the culture and had a very interesting was of explaining things
Transport
Half Day Afternoon Make Your Own Anime Tour By Public Transport
Half Day Afternoon Make Your Own Anime Tour By Public Transport
Tokyo

I’m giving 4 stars because we didn’t go to the museum, instead we change the itinerary so we could know the city more since I’m not a fan of anime!! And the guide took us to Meiji which was a must and we didn’t have it in the original plan! And she took us to a restaurant I had made plans so it was nice and we got to travel by publicly transportation which was a nice experience as well

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
I’ll just tell Layla to use the cellphone less
Transport
Local specialist: Cathy Chen
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Memorable trip
Japan | Mar 21 - Apr 3, 2024

P
Peter P.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Apr 08, 2024
All in all a memorable trip that gave us a good overview of Japan. Everything went smoothly. Guides and drivers showed up on time and handled all the details- the little things that can blow up a trip- efficiently. Our guides were personable and friendly and eager to help. Except for a period where Kate was on holiday she always responded to us quickly. (It might be a good ideas to have a back-up person to cover holidays) We were a bit disappointed that our guides in general didn’t speak... Read more

All in all a memorable trip that gave us a good overview of Japan. Everything went smoothly. Guides and drivers showed up on time and handled all the details- the little things that can blow up a trip- efficiently. Our guides were personable and friendly and eager to help. Except for a period where Kate was on holiday she always responded to us quickly. (It might be a good ideas to have a back-up person to cover holidays)

We were a bit disappointed that our guides in general didn’t speak better English. I realize it’s kind of arrogant to travel to another country and expect to communicate like at home, but for a relatively high end trip like this we expected better.

Also, a couple of our guides were Chinese students studying in Japan. Delightful people but English was at least their 3rd language. We also found their knowledge of Japanese history to be lacking.

It’s also worth noting that the train system in Japan is pretty intimidating for Americans unfamiliar with train culture. We were given Shinkansen tickets by our guides but had to figure out how and where to use them. Thankfully the Japanese people are very helpful when the see bewildered Americans standing in an overwhelmingly busy train station. Just something to keep in mind when you plan future trips.

2 of our 3 hotels were great. Who is disappointing by the Ritz? After booking and paying for the trip our Kyoto hotel was changed from a 5 star to a 3 star. While the Resol Trinity was very pleasant and well located the rooms were very tiny and hard for two people to move around in. We put our luggage in the bath tub to get it out of the way.

All in all a delightful and well planned trip. Lots of moving parts and with so much that could have gone wrong but didn’t. All very professionally orchestrated.

Local specialist: Kate Long
Kate
Kate Long
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Apr 15, 2024
Dear Peter, Thank you for taking the time to write and share your thoughts on our services and how your trip to Japan went with us. We’re glad that you found everything went smoothly, and that the guides and drivers showed up on time. However, we were sorry to learn that you were disappointed that our guide’s English level was not of a high standard, as well as that a couple were Chinese students studying in Japan. As far as we are aware all guides are licensed as this is required of... Read more

Dear Peter,

Thank you for taking the time to write and share your thoughts on our services and how your trip to Japan went with us.

We’re glad that you found everything went smoothly, and that the guides and drivers showed up on time.

However, we were sorry to learn that you were disappointed that our guide’s English level was not of a high standard, as well as that a couple were Chinese students studying in Japan. As far as we are aware all guides are licensed as this is required of them to take foreign tourists.

We appreciate you highlighting these issues to us as we will be following up with our local team you have raised here.

We would also like to apologize for the hotel arrangements and recognize that more care should have been taken to check the standard of the hotel as we knew your specific requests and requirements.

We value your input and will endeavor to strive and make improvements and provide necessary training for our staff.

Thank you again for taking the time to write and we were pleased that you did find the trip to be delightful and well-planned.

Best regards,
Katie :)

Memorable Trip to Japan
Japan | Mar 17 - Mar 28, 2024

E
Emma Z.
the Netherlands | Reviewed on Apr 07, 2024
Fei organised a wonderful trip to Japan (5 nights Tokyo, 5 nights Kyoto) for our family of four. Our tour guides (Gaku, Marcus and Slash) were absolutely fantastic – very accommodating, knowledgeable and kind. The drivers were impeccable, always punctual and helpful, taking all the stress of out of travel. The excursions chosen by Fei were amazing – and we have taken home many happy memories! We would highly recommend KimKim and Fei. Read more

Fei organised a wonderful trip to Japan (5 nights Tokyo, 5 nights Kyoto) for our family of four. Our tour guides (Gaku, Marcus and Slash) were absolutely fantastic – very accommodating, knowledgeable and kind. The drivers were impeccable, always punctual and helpful, taking all the stress of out of travel. The excursions chosen by Fei were amazing – and we have taken home many happy memories! We would highly recommend KimKim and Fei.

Hotel Review
Hotel Kanra Kyoto
Kyoto

Absolutely best hotel to stay in in Kyoto. On arrival we were greeted by the very friendly and helpful staff and a refreshing cup of tea. The front of house staff were extremely helpful in organising a table in the restaurant as well as providing excellent recommendations for a nearby coffee shop and restaurant. Rooms were beautiful and thoughtfully prepared. Restaurant was absolutely amazing - as were the restaurant staff. Would definitely stay here again.

Authenticity & Character
Beautiful peaceful rooms
Location
Staff
Front of house staff and restaurant staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
An Insight into Local Religion: Fushimi Inari-Taisha, Nijo Castle and Kinkaku-ji
An Insight into Local Religion: Fushimi Inari-Taisha, Nijo Castle and Kinkaku-ji
Japan

Our guide Gaku was super. She also had a great recommendation for lunch. Room for improvement? Perhaps only 2 out of the three activities would have been enough on this days.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Gaku was a fantastic guide - friendly, knowledgeable, interested in comparing and discussing different cultures. Driver was super helpful and kind.
Transport
Very clean and comfortable cars. Excellent driving.
Half Day Sagano Bamboo Grove and Tenryuji Temple Tour
Half Day Sagano Bamboo Grove and Tenryuji Temple Tour
Kyoto
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Marcus was very attentive and found the quietest corners of the very busy Grove and allowed us lots of time in the Zen temple to stop and stare. He also had some great recommendations for trying local food. Again, our driver was superb - kind helpful and excellent driving.
Transport
Clean comfortable transport. Excellent driving.
One Day Hiroshima and Miyajima Island Tour
One Day Hiroshima and Miyajima Island Tour
Hiroshima
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Amazing! Slash was super friendly, very understanding and lots of fun to be with. He went the extra mile to help us find a restaurant at the end of our long day trip!
Transport
We used the Shinkansen and public transport. All very pleasant.
Local specialist: Fei He
Fei
Fei He
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Apr 08, 2024
Dear Emma, Hope you are doing fantastic and so happy to know you have had such a wonderful trip with your family in Japan. Gaku, Marcus, and Slash are amazing guides and they are so delighted with that they made your experience memorable and stress-free. The drivers' punctuality and assistance also made a big difference. Regarding Hotel Kanra Kyoto, it sounds like you had a fantastic experience there. The friendly staff, beautiful rooms, and excellent restaurant all contributed to a... Read more

Dear Emma,

Hope you are doing fantastic and so happy to know you have had such a wonderful trip with your family in Japan.

Gaku, Marcus, and Slash are amazing guides and they are so delighted with that they made your experience memorable and stress-free. The drivers' punctuality and assistance also made a big difference.

Regarding Hotel Kanra Kyoto, it sounds like you had a fantastic experience there. The friendly staff, beautiful rooms, and excellent restaurant all contributed to a memorable stay.We will make notes of your feedback and do better recommendation for our future travelers.

Thank you very much for sharing your feedback and for recommending KimKim. If you have any further comments or need assistance in the future, feel free to reach out.

Best regards,
Fei

Wonderful Visit to Japan
Japan | Mar 22 - Mar 31, 2024

D
David S.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Apr 01, 2024

Kim Kim did an amazing job of planning, organizing, and communicating both before and during our trip to Japan. Myaen was always in contact wanting to ensure that we were prepared and understood our timetable. We would absolutely use Kim Kim again in the future.

Local specialist: Myaen Verzosa
Myaen
Myaen Verzosa
Local specialist in Tokyo | Replied on Apr 02, 2024

Hi David,
Thank you very much for your kind words and for taking the time to share your experience with us. Your feedback means a great deal to us, and we're genuinely thrilled to learn of your positive impression. Knowing that you'd consider entrusting kimkim with your travel plans again in the future brings us immense joy. It was our pleasure to assist you and your family in creating memorable experiences in Japan, and we look forward to the opportunity to assist you again whenever you're ready to plan your next adventure.
Best regards,
Myaen

Japanese gems
Japan | Mar 1 - Mar 12, 2024

jewelkamal@yahoo.com
[email protected] A.
India | Reviewed on Mar 31, 2024
Fei has planned a great trip for us, Jennifer was cool like a good friend, Ho was very professional. He also has good photography skills. We had a great time there. We experienced all the major attractions . It was exciting participating the tea ceremony, To watch the sumo wrestling live was an all together different experience .Onsens in Hakone were great.Great trip and made wonderful memories Read more

Fei has planned a great trip for us, Jennifer was cool like a good friend, Ho was very professional. He also has good photography skills. We had a great time there. We experienced all the major attractions . It was exciting participating the tea ceremony, To watch the sumo wrestling live was an all together different experience .Onsens in Hakone were great.Great trip and made wonderful memories

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku
Tokyo
Hakone Kowakien TEN-YU
Hakone
Laforet Ito Onsen Yunoniwa
atami
MIMARU SUITES KYOTO SHIJO
Tokyo
MIMARU OSAKA SHINSAIBASHI EAST
Osaka
Activity Reviews
Full Day Tokyo City Tour
Full Day Tokyo City Tour
Tokyo
Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi Tour with Whisky Tasting
Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi Tour with Whisky Tasting
Tokyo
Meet Blossoming Pink Cherries in Atami: Acao Forest and Itogawa Promenade
Meet Blossoming Pink Cherries in Atami: Acao Forest and Itogawa Promenade
Atami
Half Day Sagano Bamboo Grove and Tenryuji Temple Tour
Half Day Sagano Bamboo Grove and Tenryuji Temple Tour
Kyoto
Gion Geisha Show and Walking Tour
Gion Geisha Show and Walking Tour
Kyoto
Half Day Samurai Ninja Museum and Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya
Half Day Samurai Ninja Museum and Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya
Kyoto
Half Day Osaka City Tour
Half Day Osaka City Tour
Osaka
Tokyo Skytree and Shibuya Scramble Crossing
Tokyo Skytree and Shibuya Scramble Crossing
Tokyo
Transport
Full Day Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Kegon Falls & Lake Chuzenji Tour
Full Day Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Kegon Falls & Lake Chuzenji Tour
Tokyo
Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Fushimi Inari-Taisha
Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Fushimi Inari-Taisha
Kyoto
Full Day Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Itsukushima Shrine Tour
Full Day Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Itsukushima Shrine Tour
Osaka
Local specialist: Fei He
Fei
Fei He
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Apr 02, 2024

Dear Mr. Kamal,

Greetings from Fei.Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback.We're thrilled to hear that Jennifer and Ho made your experience memorable.

It's fantastic to know that you had the opportunity to experience all the major attractions, including the tea ceremony and watching sumo wrestling live. We're delighted that you enjoyed the onsens in Hakone as well.

Creating wonderful memories is what we strive for, and we're glad we could be a part of your journey. If you ever need assistance with future trips or have any questions, feel free to reach out to us.

Warm regards,
Fei

Japanese delight
Japan | Mar 1 - Mar 12, 2024

kolla
kolla t.
India | Reviewed on Mar 31, 2024
Another amazing trip from Kimkim.Perfectly organised with attention to minute details and great guides.Jennifer has become a part of our team ,a friend who was cheerful ,bubbly and very helpful.Our 2nd guide Ho was a thorough gentleman and went out of his way to show us places and experiences and took a lot of beautiful pictures of us.Fei our coordinator did a great job curating the perfect itinerary showing us the quintessential Japanese experiences in our short trip.Thanks once again Kimkim... Read more

Another amazing trip from Kimkim.Perfectly organised with attention to minute details and great guides.Jennifer has become a part of our team ,a friend who was cheerful ,bubbly and very helpful.Our 2nd guide Ho was a thorough gentleman and went out of his way to show us places and experiences and took a lot of beautiful pictures of us.Fei our coordinator did a great job curating the perfect itinerary showing us the quintessential Japanese experiences in our short trip.Thanks once again Kimkim and looking forward for trip to SouthAfrica.

Hotel Review
Hakone Kowakien TEN-YU
Hakone

Awesome hotel in amazing and scenic locale,loved the two public onsens

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Onsen experience must
Local specialist: Fei He
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Fei
Fei He
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Apr 07, 2024
Dear kolla, Hope you are doing fantastic. Thank you so much for your kind words and feedback about your recent trip with Kimkim. We are thrilled to hear that your experience was enjoyable and that our team, including Jennifer and Ho,contributed positively to your journey. It's fantastic to know that Jennifer's cheerful and helpful demeanor and Ho's gentlemanly approach made your trip memorable. We're also delighted that you loved the Hakone Kowakien TEN-YU hotel and its scenic... Read more

Dear kolla,

Hope you are doing fantastic.

Thank you so much for your kind words and feedback about your recent trip with Kimkim. We are thrilled to hear that your experience was enjoyable and that our team, including Jennifer and Ho,contributed positively to your journey. It's fantastic to know that Jennifer's cheerful and helpful demeanor and Ho's gentlemanly approach made your trip memorable.

We're also delighted that you loved the Hakone Kowakien TEN-YU hotel and its scenic surroundings, especially the two public onsens.

We look forward to welcoming you on your future adventures.If there's anything else we can assist you with, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Best regards,
Fei

Couldn’t have planned it better!
Japan | Mar 19 - Mar 27, 2024

Camille
Camille W.
Dallas, TX | Reviewed on Mar 29, 2024

We had the greatest trip. We had enough going on everyday but not too much that we felt overwhelmed or rushed. We had a good variety of activities. Myaen was the greatest. We planned everything together, gave me all the information I needed and checked in on us periodically through the trip. Couldn’t have asked for a better time in Japan and we are so excited to return!

Local specialist: Myaen Verzosa
Myaen
Myaen Verzosa
Local specialist in Tokyo | Replied on Mar 29, 2024
Hi Camille,
I'm thrilled to hear that you had such an incredible time during your trip to Japan!
It was truly a pleasure planning your trip with you, and ensuring you had all the necessary information and support along the way was my priority. I'm delighted that you felt supported throughout your journey.
Thank you for your kind words and for trusting us with your travel plans. Knowing that you're excited to return to Japan is the best compliment we could receive. Whenever you're ready to... Read more

Hi Camille,
I'm thrilled to hear that you had such an incredible time during your trip to Japan!
It was truly a pleasure planning your trip with you, and ensuring you had all the necessary information and support along the way was my priority. I'm delighted that you felt supported throughout your journey.
Thank you for your kind words and for trusting us with your travel plans. Knowing that you're excited to return to Japan is the best compliment we could receive. Whenever you're ready to plan your next adventure, we'll be here to assist you every step of the way.
Wishing you and Jon many more unforgettable travels ahead!
Best regards,
Myaen

Japan in 8 Days in March!
Japan | Mar 16 - Mar 24, 2024

Anisha
Anisha L.
Mead Valley, CA | Reviewed on Mar 28, 2024
What an amazing trip! Kelly was exceptional to work with. She planned our trip meticulously. She was always so patient with us and gave us great advice on what to do and see. She curated a perfect trip for us. Kelly booked our drivers, train tickets and the hotel in Kyoto. She also arranged English speaking tour guides in Tokyo and Osaka. We asked her to secure sumo wrestling tickets for us once they went on sale which she was able to do. Attending that tournament was one of the highlights of... Read more

What an amazing trip! Kelly was exceptional to work with. She planned our trip meticulously. She was always so patient with us and gave us great advice on what to do and see. She curated a perfect trip for us. Kelly booked our drivers, train tickets and the hotel in Kyoto. She also arranged English speaking tour guides in Tokyo and Osaka. We asked her to secure sumo wrestling tickets for us once they went on sale which she was able to do. Attending that tournament was one of the highlights of our trip. Kelly was always so flexible with the changes we made to the itinerary to make it exactly what we wanted. Our only wish was that the cherry blossoms were in bloom while we were there but it was a little too early. We highly recommend this service and will definitely be using KimKim again in our future travels!

Hotel Reviews
THE HOTEL HIGASHIYAMA by Kyoto Tokyu Hotel
Kyoto

Great location, exceptional service. I would have liked a hotel with a gym, a lobby bar and better toiletries. There was no soap provided in the rooms except for the shower gel. The hotel concierge was very helpful and made reservations for us a few times. The buffet breakfast was wonderful each morning. I love that matcha latte machine!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Conrad Tokyo
tokyo

This hotel is spectacular! The location is amazing, the service is superior, the rooms are beautiful and large. Everything was thought of to the finest detail. Even the smell of the lobby is amazing. The lobby has the most incredible views of the Japanese skyline. We sat at night at the lobby bar and could see straight to the Tokyo Skytower! The buffet was very good but the service was overwhelmed at times. We had to wait a while to get a table at times and the wait staff rarely checked on us. But otherwise they offered a good variety of food offerings. The executive lounge was a highlight. Not only were the views amazing but the service was always spot on. The food throughout the day was wonderful and there was a large variety of beverages. This hotel was far more than a hotel, it was an experience - one that I hope to have again!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
2024 Sumo Grand Tournamen held in EDION Arena Osaka
2024 Sumo Grand Tournamen held in EDION Arena Osaka
Osaka

This was a highlight! It was such a fun way to experience the Japanese culture. I've never seen anything like it but even though we couldn't understand it, we were able to cheer along and have a great time. I've already recommended this to everyone that I know that wants to go to Japan in the future. It's a must!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Dotonbori Food Experience
Dotonbori Food Experience
Osaka

The Dotonbori area was really fun to see and experience. There were so many food options and everything was so crowded so I'm glad we had a guide. He wanted to make sure to give us what we wanted but he didn't really have an agenda in mind of where to go. We started with gyoza as an appetizer at a stand which was delicious. We then went to a restaurant where he ordered dinner for us. There were several plates that he ordered for us and told us what the local specialties were. We then left and went to get a match ice cream for dessert. While it checked the boxes, I was hoping to stop at more locations and try things as we toured the area as opposed to sitting in one restaurant.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Better idea of what to do and eat
Local specialist: Kelly Lu
Photo taken by Anisha L
Photo taken by Anisha L
Kelly
Kelly Lu
Local specialist in Bangkok | Replied on Mar 29, 2024
Dear Anisha， Greetings from Kelly and thank you so much for your wonderful feedback and detailed review of your trip with us. We are delighted to hear that your experience was amazing and that our planning and service contributed to a perfect trip for you. Your insights on the accommodations at THE HOTEL HIGASHIYAMA by Kyoto Tokyu Hotel and Conrad Tokyo are valuable. We appreciate your feedback on the amenities and services provided, as well as the highlights of your stay at each... Read more

Dear Anisha，

Greetings from Kelly and thank you so much for your wonderful feedback and detailed review of your trip with us. We are delighted to hear that your experience was amazing and that our planning and service contributed to a perfect trip for you.

Your insights on the accommodations at THE HOTEL HIGASHIYAMA by Kyoto Tokyu Hotel and Conrad Tokyo are valuable. We appreciate your feedback on the amenities and services provided, as well as the highlights of your stay at each hotel.

Attending the 2024 Sumo Grand Tournament and experiencing the Dotonbori Food Experience were indeed standout moments of Japan trip. We are thrilled that you enjoyed these cultural experiences and found them to be must-do activities in Japan.

Thank you once again for choosing our service, and we look forward to assisting you with your future travels. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you need any further assistance or have more adventures planned.

Best regards,
Kelly

Japan 2024-Spring
Japan | Mar 16 - Mar 25, 2024

L
Lori D.
Fresno, TX | Reviewed on Mar 27, 2024

Fei was fantastic! She is a great planner and went over our itinerary in detail. Plus, she was readily available throughout the trip to help with additional arrangements and questions.

Our local guides (Aruyi, Yuki, Remi and Mizu) were knowledgeable and attentive to our interests and capabilities.

Seeing Japan from Tokyo to Hiroshima was a trip of a lifetime thanks to the help of kimkim!

Local specialist: Fei He
Fei
Fei He
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Mar 29, 2024

Dear Lori,

Hope you are doing fantastic.

Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We are delighted to hear about your positive experience with me and our local guides during your trip across Japan from Tokyo to Hiroshima.Especially ,we are thrilled that our local guides were able to provide you with knowledgeable insights and personalized attention, making your trip truly memorable.

We are honored to have been part of creating a "trip of a lifetime" for you, and we look forward to welcoming you back for more unforgettable adventures in the future.

Warm regards,
Fei

Nippon calling
Japan | Mar 1 - Mar 12, 2024

Kolla
Kolla S.
India | Reviewed on Mar 15, 2024
Fei ,our travel coordinater was just amazing,she helped me plan the trip soo well and efficiently ,making all my wishes and all the experiences i wanted come true.
Jennifer- our guide for the 1st 6 days was soo friendly ,guided us well and became a good friend for all of us
Mr Ho-our guide for the last five days in Kyoto and Osaka,is a perfect guide and went out of his way to show us places and capture great pictures of us all.
The only negative I can tell of our 12 days trip is the... Read more

Fei ,our travel coordinater was just amazing,she helped me plan the trip soo well and efficiently ,making all my wishes and all the experiences i wanted come true.
Jennifer- our guide for the 1st 6 days was soo friendly ,guided us well and became a good friend for all of us
Mr Ho-our guide for the last five days in Kyoto and Osaka,is a perfect guide and went out of his way to show us places and capture great pictures of us all.
The only negative I can tell of our 12 days trip is the Kimono photoshoot ,I wanted a professional photographer and wanted to make it a memorable shoot.We were not happy with the quality of the kimonos provided and there was no photoshoot at all.Mr Ho was kind enough to take us out and clicked some good pictures.Barring this one experience,rest of the trip was amazingly coordinated by Fei and the two guides.Thanks kim kim for organizing one more great trip to me.Regards,
Kolla

Hotel Reviews
Hakone Kowakien TEN-YU
Hakone

Amazing hotel,awsome locale and the best of them all are the two onsens,one with an infinite pool overlooking hills and another with a waterfall.Five stars

Authenticity & Character
Location
Picturesque
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Laforet Ito Onsen Yunoniwa
atami

Traditional Ryokan

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
MIMARU SUITES KYOTO SHIJO
Tokyo
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
MIMARU OSAKA SHINSAIBASHI EAST
Osaka
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Tokyo Skytree and Shibuya Scramble Crossing
Tokyo Skytree and Shibuya Scramble Crossing
Tokyo
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
We used public transportation-trains to reach skytree
Full Day Tokyo City Tour
Full Day Tokyo City Tour
Tokyo
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi Tour with Whisky Tasting
Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi Tour with Whisky Tasting
Tokyo
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Fei He
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Fei
Fei He
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Mar 21, 2024
Hi Kolla, Hope you are doing fantastic.Thank you for your wonderful feedback and for choosing Kimkim for your trip planning! We're thrilled to hear that Jennifer and Mr. Ho made your experience memorable and enjoyable. It's fantastic to know that they went above and beyond to ensure you had a great time and captured beautiful moments. We apologize for the inconvenience with the Kimono photoshoot and understand the importance of making such moments special. Your feedback regarding this... Read more

Hi Kolla,

Hope you are doing fantastic.Thank you for your wonderful feedback and for choosing Kimkim for your trip planning!

We're thrilled to hear that Jennifer and Mr. Ho made your experience memorable and enjoyable. It's fantastic to know that they went above and beyond to ensure you had a great time and captured beautiful moments.

We apologize for the inconvenience with the Kimono photoshoot and understand the importance of making such moments special. Your feedback regarding this experience will be taken into consideration for future improvements.

We appreciate your kind words and look forward to assisting you with more amazing trips in the future.

Best regards,
Fei

Sandy organized some amazing local things for seeing a lot of sights in a short amount of time
Japan | Feb 28 - Mar 10, 2024

Shelby
Shelby S.
Dallas, TX | Reviewed on Mar 11, 2024
Sandy organized some amazing local things for us. We especially loved the Tea ceremony and Fushimi Inari hike in Kyoto and our half day tour in Nara. Todai-Ji is an absolute must see in Nara. Read more

Sandy organized some amazing local things for us. We especially loved the Tea ceremony and Fushimi Inari hike in Kyoto and our half day tour in Nara.

Todai-Ji is an absolute must see in Nara.

Hotel Reviews
Onyado Nono Namba Natural Hot Spring
Osaka

This place was great! Very clean, the staff was super healthy, great breakfast and a great onsen. The location was right near the Dotonbori, so no shortage of food and entertainment options. If you have an outside room, you might hear some noise from the street, but it was never enough to cause any problems. In fact we slept great both nights we were there.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel
Tokyo

Great location, large room, and excellent breakfast. A bit dated in the look but had everything we needed and we could walk to Shibuya Crossing for some shopping.

Authenticity & Character
Standard hotel that's a little dated, but was clean and had everything we needed.
Location
Right next to Shibuya crossing, but not in the thick of traffic.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Sandy Ren
Sandy
Sandy Ren
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Mar 12, 2024
Dear Shelby, Hope you are doing fantastic. Thank you for your positive feedback.We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the experiences I organized for you, especially the Tea ceremony, Fushimi Inari hike in Kyoto, and the half-day tour in Nara. We all love Todai-Ji and it's our great honor to recommend it for you. We are so delighted to know that you enjoyed your stay at Onyado Nono Namba Natural Hot Spring in Osaka. I'm glad the cleanliness, friendly staff, and relaxing onsen contributed... Read more

Dear Shelby,

Hope you are doing fantastic.

Thank you for your positive feedback.We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the experiences I organized for you, especially the Tea ceremony, Fushimi Inari hike in Kyoto, and the half-day tour in Nara. We all love Todai-Ji and it's our great honor to recommend it for you.

We are so delighted to know that you enjoyed your stay at Onyado Nono Namba Natural Hot Spring in Osaka. I'm glad the cleanliness, friendly staff, and relaxing onsen contributed to a fantastic experience for you.I'm pleased that despite some street noise, you were able to enjoy restful nights during your stay.Thanks a lot for your understanding.

Thank you once again for your kind words and for choosing kimkim to organize your Japan trip. If you ever need assistance with travel arrangements in the future, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Warm regards,
Sandy

I can't remember the names of the guides bu...
Japan | Feb 26 - Mar 6, 2024

J
Jim C.
Wilmette, IL | Reviewed on Mar 07, 2024
I can't remember the names of the guides but they all were fantastic. If you want to know the high points of the trip just look back at our itinerary. The whole damn thing was exceptional. Read more

I can't remember the names of the guides but they all were fantastic. If you want to know the high points of the trip just look back at our itinerary. The whole damn thing was exceptional.

Hotel Reviews
Shibuya Stream Excel Hotel Tokyu
Tokyo
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Green Plaza Hakone
Hakone
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Kyoto Tokyu Hotel
kyoto
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Osaka Excel Hotel Tokyu
Osaka
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Full Day Meiji Shrine, Senso-ji, Hamarikyu Gardens &Tokyo Tower Tour (Join-in)
Full Day Meiji Shrine, Senso-ji, Hamarikyu Gardens &Tokyo Tower Tour (Join-in)
Tokyo
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Osaka Walking Tour (Osaka Castle & Water Bus)
Osaka Walking Tour (Osaka Castle & Water Bus)
Osaka
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi Tour (join-in)
Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi Tour (join-in)
Hakone
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Kinkaku-ji Temple and Fushimi Inari Taisha (Join-in)
Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Kinkaku-ji Temple and Fushimi Inari Taisha (Join-in)
Kyoto
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Osaka Foodie Walking Tour at dark
Osaka Foodie Walking Tour at dark
Osaka
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day Sagano Bamboo Grove & Arashiyama Walking Tour (Join-in)
Half Day Sagano Bamboo Grove & Arashiyama Walking Tour (Join-in)
Kyoto
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sword smith factory visit and knife making class
Sword smith factory visit and knife making class
Kyoto
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Angel Tang
Angel
Angel Tang
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Mar 08, 2024

Hi Jim,

Hope you are doing fantastic.Thank you for sharing your incredible experience in Japan with us. We truly appreciate your review and are thrilled to hear that you had a fantastic time. It was a pleasure working and planning with you. We hope to welcome you back to Japan again.

Take care and keep exploring.

Warm regards,
Angel

Fei was awesome and very helpfull with everyt...
Japan | Feb 11 - Feb 18, 2024

Khosiyat
Khosiyat M.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Feb 29, 2024
Fei was awesome and very helpfull with everything throughout this vacation! She helped me to make plan and changed everything if I needed something different. While I was in Japan, she was very helpful when I had any questions. It was very convenient for people like me who isn’t great at planning trips, she planned everything and all the hotel and tour guides were great! I had blast while I was in Japan!
Thank you Fei for everything! I can’t wait to go back to Japan again and plan... Read more

Fei was awesome and very helpfull with everything throughout this vacation! She helped me to make plan and changed everything if I needed something different. While I was in Japan, she was very helpful when I had any questions. It was very convenient for people like me who isn’t great at planning trips, she planned everything and all the hotel and tour guides were great! I had blast while I was in Japan!
Thank you Fei for everything! I can’t wait to go back to Japan again and plan everything with you again!

Hotel Reviews
Keio Presso Inn Tokyo Station Yaesu

Staff was very helpful! Great location for everything. Good restaurants around the hotel. Staff was very helpful with sending my luggage too.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
HifumiRyokan Kyoto station

Location was great, right by the Kyoto station and great places near by! Super clean hotel and also I had the best breakfast there!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Full Day Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Kegon Falls & Lake Chuzenji Tour(join-in)
Full Day Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Kegon Falls & Lake Chuzenji Tour(join-in)
Tokyo

I got super lucky on being the only person on the tour so whole day was awesome! My tour guide was great! She showed me great historical sites and great lunch together!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Kinkaku-ji Temple and Fushimi Inari Taisha (Join-in)
Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Kinkaku-ji Temple and Fushimi Inari Taisha (Join-in)
Kyoto

Great thing to do if you want to see historical sites in one day when you are in Kyoto for short time! Guide was awesome, he was very helpful with everyone! He checked in if everyone is doing okay! It was great tour and loved our tour guide!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Fei He
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Fei
Fei He
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Mar 05, 2024

Hi Khosiya,

Hope you have a great day.Thank you so much for your kind words and feedback. I'm glad to hear that you had a blast in Japan and enjoyed all aspects of your trip, including the accommodations and tours.

I'll be sure to pass on your appreciation to our guides and the rest of the team. We can't wait to welcome you back to Japan for another amazing adventure. If you ever need assistance with planning your next trip, my team and I will be more than happy to help.

Warm regards,
Fei

We had a wonderful vacation in Japan
Japan | Feb 4 - Feb 16, 2024

A
ADRIAN I.
Florence-Graham, CA | Reviewed on Feb 19, 2024

We had a wonderful vacation in Japan and Fei (our coordinator from KimKim) was with us along the way, taking care of all the details and making our experience a memorable one.
We enjoyed all the places that we visited (Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto Kanagawa and Osaka), with everyone of them offering something different. We enjoyed very much the visit to the Himeji castle that is south of Kobe.
Very good experience overall and thank you to Fei again for taking care of all the details.
Adrian Iancu

Local specialist: Fei He
Fei
Fei He
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Feb 19, 2024
Dear ADRIAN, Hope you have a great day. It's fantastic to hear that you had a wonderful vacation in Japan! It's my great honor to have played a role in making your experience memorable by taking care of all the details along the way. I'm glad to know that you enjoyed exploring Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Kanagawa, and Osaka, with each destination offering its own unique charm. The visit to Himeji Castle, south of Kobe, must have been a highlight as well. Overall, it sounds like you had a very... Read more

Dear ADRIAN,

Hope you have a great day.

It's fantastic to hear that you had a wonderful vacation in Japan! It's my great honor to have played a role in making your experience memorable by taking care of all the details along the way. I'm glad to know that you enjoyed exploring Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Kanagawa, and Osaka, with each destination offering its own unique charm. The visit to Himeji Castle, south of Kobe, must have been a highlight as well.

Overall, it sounds like you had a very positive experience. If you ever plan to visit Japan again,feel free to reach out. Thank you for sharing your feedback, ADRIAN.

Best wishes,
Fei

Overall, we had a memorable experience in Osa...
Japan | Feb 9 - Feb 13, 2024

Jaslyin
Jaslyin Q.
Singapore | Reviewed on Feb 18, 2024
Overall, we had a memorable experience in Osaka and Kyoto and we're glad we opted for the private tour and driver. The accomodations recommended were authentic and excellent in service, especially the Imperial Hotel Osaka. The Ryokan in Kyoto gave us a really good feel of the traditional way of living. The guides were all really polite, attentive and knowledgeable. The driver himself was good and acknowledged his minor technical hiccup and went out of the way to get it sorted. Overall we... Read more

Overall, we had a memorable experience in Osaka and Kyoto and we're glad we opted for the private tour and driver. The accomodations recommended were authentic and excellent in service, especially the Imperial Hotel Osaka. The Ryokan in Kyoto gave us a really good feel of the traditional way of living.

The guides were all really polite, attentive and knowledgeable. The driver himself was good and acknowledged his minor technical hiccup and went out of the way to get it sorted. Overall we had a great experience and impression of the places we went.

Hotel Reviews
Imperial Hotel Osaka
Osaka
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Momijiya Honkan Takaosansou
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Full Day Osaka City Tour
Full Day Osaka City Tour
Osaka
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Traditional Tea Ceremony KYOTO
Traditional Tea Ceremony KYOTO
Kyoto
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day Bamboo Grove and Monkey Park Tour
Half Day Bamboo Grove and Monkey Park Tour
Kyoto
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Kyoto Cooking Class
Kyoto Cooking Class
Kyoto
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day Kinkakuji and Nijo Castle Tour
Half Day Kinkakuji and Nijo Castle Tour
Kyoto
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day Nara Tour
Half Day Nara Tour
Nara
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Sandy Ren
Sandy
Sandy Ren
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Feb 19, 2024
Dear Jaslyin, Hope you are doing fantastic. I'm thrilled to hear that you had such a memorable experience in Osaka and Kyoto! It's great to know that the accommodations recommended are authentic and provide excellent service, particularly the Imperial Hotel Osaka. Experiencing the traditional way of living at the Ryokan in Kyoto must have been truly special. I'm glad to hear that the guides were polite, attentive, and knowledgeable, and that the driver handled any technical issues... Read more

Dear Jaslyin,

Hope you are doing fantastic.

I'm thrilled to hear that you had such a memorable experience in Osaka and Kyoto! It's great to know that the accommodations recommended are authentic and provide excellent service, particularly the Imperial Hotel Osaka. Experiencing the traditional way of living at the Ryokan in Kyoto must have been truly special.

I'm glad to hear that the guides were polite, attentive, and knowledgeable, and that the driver handled any technical issues professionally. It sounds like you had a wonderful overall experience and left with a great impression of the places you visited. If you ever plan to return or explore other destinations, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Wish you a happy life now and future.

Best regards as always,
Sandy