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active 4 hours ago

Angel Tang

I love exploring and have been traveling in Asian countries for more than fifteen years. As a Japan specialist, I have a deep affection for this country and I will use my knowledge and expertise to make your Japan trip an experience of a lifetime! Japan is a place where you can slow down your pace and heal your soul. It’s time for me to introduce this dream-like country to you.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"I specialize in crafting immersive cultural tours tailored for culturally-minded travelers who have a passion for exploring Japan. My goal is to help them create an experience that aligns with their interests and desires, allowing them to absorb the rich history and culture of each carefully selected destination. Some highlights include UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Shirakawago Village and Nara 8.

For those seeking adventure, I offer walking excursions along the ancient Nakasendo Trail and the Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Route nestled in picturesque mountains.

Families looking to introduce their children to the wonders of Japan can anticipate a blend of exciting activities. From engaging with samurai and ninjas to the rhythmic beats of Taiko drumming, and from scenic hikes and bike rides to hands-on sushi classes, there's a diverse range of experiences to cater to every member of the family.
"

How did you get involved in travel?

"I graduated from university in the late 90’s, a tourism booming time. Cultural exchanges were very frequent. My sister married a Japanese man who also helped me with a lot of easy visits to Japan, and I made lots of friends there. That was when I started to have true feelings for the nice people there. Then I learned they also needed someone to guide them around, so I started to work as a tour guide and have been in travel since."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"For me, the trip to a remote village in the Vietnamese countryside is the most unforgettable. I visited a local family there and lived with them for several days. By the end of the visit, I was literally a member of that family! Today, the little girl of that family whose tuition I used to finance has already graduated from university. Travel is not only for experiencing the culture and seeing the breathtaking landscape but also for giving back to the local community!"

Angel is part of the following groups: Japan Travel Agents
Top itineraries and travel advice
Japan Family Highlights Tour: Osaka, Kyoto & Tokyo - 10 Days
Discover the best of Japan with your family on this 10-day vacation that hits the country's natural wonders and cultural landmarks at a kid-friendly pace. Begin in Osaka, where...
Active Adventures in Japan: Mountains, Hot Springs & Temples - 14 Days
This exciting two-week tour of Japan starts in Tokyo, where you'll eat your way through local markets on a foodie tour and see some of the city's most iconic sights. Then, it's...
Japan Luxury Highlights: Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto & Osaka - 10 Days
See Japan's highlights in grand style with this 10-day luxury tour. You'll start in Tokyo, dining at Michelin-starred restaurants, learning to make nigiri sushi with a private...
Family itineraries
Family Adventure in Japan - 14 Days
Offering ancient traditions and futuristic fun, Japan is filled with one-of-a-kind attractions for the young—and the young at heart. This two-week family-friendly itinerary...
Classic Highlights of Japan - 14 Days
Welcome to Japan! On this two-week journey around the main island, Honshu, you'll enjoy a mix of cultural sightseeing and active adventures. Visit sacred temples and shrines,...
Family Adventure in Japan - 10 Days
This action-packed 10-day adventure around Japan is perfect for families! The itinerary leads you from the neon lights, futuristic interactive art, and whimsical character cafés...
Luxury itineraries
Classic Highlights of Japan - 14 Days
Welcome to Japan! On this two-week journey around the main island, Honshu, you'll enjoy a mix of cultural sightseeing and active adventures. Visit sacred temples and shrines,...
Japan Cherry Blossom Tour - 7 Days
The sakura, or cherry blossom, is the national flower of Japan and a symbol of renewal. If you're lucky enough to travel to Japan during the brief blooming season (spring),...

Recent trip reviews for Angel

Tokyo, Hakuba and Kyoto Family trip review.
Japan | Dec 27 - Jan 6, 2025

John
John J.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Jan 07, 2025
Hi - overall our experience with Kimkim and Angel was good. Im writing this more as feedback from kimkim as a service and less as a review of our trip, but there are definitely some learnings others could take from our experience. We are experienced travelers, but when we looked into Japan it was overwhelming without some local knowledge to narrow down where to stay and how to book tours. Trains were overwhelming and without your support we would not have made this trip. Hindsight being... Read more

Hi - overall our experience with Kimkim and Angel was good. Im writing this more as feedback from kimkim as a service and less as a review of our trip, but there are definitely some learnings others could take from our experience.

We are experienced travelers, but when we looked into Japan it was overwhelming without some local knowledge to narrow down where to stay and how to book tours. Trains were overwhelming and without your support we would not have made this trip.

Hindsight being 20/20 I would have done more research on accommodations up front, but was trusting the service too much. Trusting things for Tokyo and Kyoto (to some extent), but Hakuba was a total miss and i'd advise you against booking that property.

I feel like communication during the trip was OK - there was one time when we were trying to figure out a transit and a more immediate response was needed. I received phone calls from China (which i would never answer) and whatsapp messages (which I dont use). You should align on preferred communication during the trip (text messaging for me) ahead of time to avoid this confusion.

As we went through our trip it became clear that the knowledge and experience around Hakuba valley was very limited as there were some major gaps in the plan that we had to address in real time without guidance. Our accommodations in Tokyo were great, Kyoto was nice as well, but Hakuba was no where near what the other two were like. It was more like a youth hostile than a family hotel. Logistics in Hakuba were also very challenging and if we didnt figure out we needed to pre-book a bus to get out of Hakuba we could have had to spend $1000 USD on a car service (Kimkim's recommendation was to order one from Tokyo which was 5 hours away). Taxi's were not an option from Hakuba and it was impossible to travel around without a car. We received zero guidance about this and would have changed both where we stayed and how we moved around with some more local experience. I believe this all comes down to a lack of local experience and knowledge about the Hakuba valley and i would have much rather there have been transparency about this which would have caused us to plan more closely there then to rely upon the service or pull in support who had local knowledge.

Our tours in Tokyo and Kyoto were all great, we really enjoyed the guides we had on all tours and felt they did a great job. The food tour was a highlight for us.

I do feel like you could do a better job of advising on the differences between a ryokan style hotel and a regular hotel. Our Ryokan included japanese breakfast every day which we only went to once due to it being so foreign for our kids. I appreciated doing it once, but it is unfortunate we paid for it 3x. I also think I didnt fully appreciate the style difference in this type of hotel and you could likely do a little more expectation setting when people are evaluating these options.

I know there are a lot of reviews about price transparency concerns with Kimkim and I do agree this is a challenge with your platform that would likely prevent me from using it again (not an absolute statement but a feeling as of now). Seeing what the cost difference is locally vs expectations in the US I cant help but feel like we were overcharged and with no detailed breakdown how do you overcome this feeling? It could be unjustified but I have no way of knowing.

So overall this was a good experience, especially when you are traveling somewhere you have never been. If Hakuba went more smoothly our review would likely be even better.

Hotel Reviews
Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku

We loved this hotel and location. The breakfast was great as well as the hospitality suite at night.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Asakusa was a really cool area.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hakuba Sun Valley Hotel Annex
Hakuba

This hotel is more like a youth hostel vs a family hotel. It was OK overall and the location was great if you wanted ski out, but with the Hakuba valley this comes with some major consequences about not being able to easily get to restaurants or town. I would stay here again with a car and if expectations were more clearly set.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
the owner of the hotel was very nice and helped us get to places on 2 separate instances.
Cleanliness & Comfort
the rooms were clean and while extremely basic, they were functional
Gion Ryokan Karaku
kyoto

This was a traditional japanese style hotel - as an american it was a fun experience but definitely know what you are getting into with this style hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Comfort is more about the style of this hotel vs the actual hotel.
Activity Reviews
Kyoto Night Foodie Tour
Kyoto Night Foodie Tour
Kyoto

we loved this tour, a highlight of our trip and we wished we did one in Tokyo as well.

Quality of Experience
Food
great experience at all stops.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
was a walking tour
Tokyo Highlights Day Tour - East & West
Tokyo Highlights Day Tour - East & West
Tokyo

Great guide and tour, made getting around Tokyo easy and gave us a good layout of the city.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi & Oishi Park
Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi & Oishi Park
Tokyo

We had a good experience, but we didnt realize Mt Fuji was as far away as it was and that we were taking a bus there for 2.5 hours each way. We got really lucky that the weather was good but it would have been a bust if it was cloudy. We loved the temple we saw and Mt fuji was amazing but it is a lot of car time for what you do.

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

This was a really fun day, lots of walking but we had a great time across the board and really appreciated how much we learned from our guide.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Angel Tang
Angel
Angel Tang
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Jan 11, 2025
Dear John, Greetings from Angel.Thank you for taking the time to share such a detailed and thoughtful review. We truly appreciate your feedback, as it helps us improve our services and provide better experiences for future travelers. We are glad to hear that your overall experience with Kimkim and me was positive, particularly in Tokyo and Kyoto. It’s great to know that you enjoyed the tours and the guides. We also appreciate your insights on the ryokan experience and the communication... Read more

Dear John,

Greetings from Angel.Thank you for taking the time to share such a detailed and thoughtful review. We truly appreciate your feedback, as it helps us improve our services and provide better experiences for future travelers.

We are glad to hear that your overall experience with Kimkim and me was positive, particularly in Tokyo and Kyoto. It’s great to know that you enjoyed the tours and the guides. We also appreciate your insights on the ryokan experience and the communication preferences, and we will certainly take this into consideration for future travelers.

We are sorry to hear about your experience in Hakuba, and we completely understand your frustration. Hakuba is a smaller town located in Nagano, which is famous for the skiing. Our team has researched the area and we’ve successfully arranged trips for several groups to go skiing there. However, we don’t have a local office here and all private transportation must be arranged from Tokyo, which can drive up the cost. Thank you for your understanding and sorry for any inconvenience and unhappiness caused. We will be reviewing our Hakuba options and ensuring better guidance for travelers heading there in the future. In terms of communication, we will certainly take your suggestion to align on preferred contact methods ahead of time into account, to avoid any confusion during the trip.

Once again, thank you for using Kimkim with your travel plans to Japan. Kimkim is a company accredited by the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating. On top of that, the vast majority of your money will go straight to support and grow local economies. We would love to have the opportunity to assist you again in the future.

All the best,
Angel

Amazing trip to Japan thanks to Angel
Japan | Jan 14 - Jan 21, 2024

S
SARA F.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Jan 05, 2025

Thanks to Angel, my family had the most wonderful trip to Japan. It was a 10 day whirlwind tour from the US to Tokyo to Okinawa to Osaka to Kyoto to Hiroshima and back to Tokyo and a final return to the US. Angel arranged every step (hotels, tours, trains & drivers), listening to my concerns and fixing every detail. She offered tours for our consideration. When we were on the trip, she was very responsive & helpful which we truly appreciated as we had not been to Japan before. I highly recommend her for your travel plans!

Local specialist: Angel Tang
Angel
Angel Tang
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Jan 05, 2025

Dear SARA,

Hope you have a great day and thank you so much for your kind words. I'm thrilled to hear that you and your family had such an amazing trip to Japan. It was a pleasure to help plan your whirlwind adventure and ensure every detail was taken care of. I'm glad I could be there for you during your travels, and I appreciate your recommendation. If you ever need assistance with future trips, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Yours sincere,
Angel

Read all Japan reviews

This was a trip of a lifetime, allowing us to...
Japan | Dec 10 - Dec 22, 2024

Timothy
Timothy F.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Dec 29, 2024
This was a trip of a lifetime, allowing us to see the most we could in the time we had. Angel did a great job of getting everything in that we wanted to see and setting up the travel between all of the locations. Yumi was a great guide in Tokyo and adjusted our itinerary on the fly to make sure we saw all of the relevant attractions. Chizuko (Chi) was great for the 3 days we spent with her. She was very informative and had specific things she showed us as we went along. All of the hotels... Read more

This was a trip of a lifetime, allowing us to see the most we could in the time we had. Angel did a great job of getting everything in that we wanted to see and setting up the travel between all of the locations. Yumi was a great guide in Tokyo and adjusted our itinerary on the fly to make sure we saw all of the relevant attractions. Chizuko (Chi) was great for the 3 days we spent with her. She was very informative and had specific things she showed us as we went along. All of the hotels where excellent, and Angel piked well for us. We had an issue with a missed train connection, due to a blockage on the track, and Ms. Heidi was quick to help and even offered to pay the difference if we got charged for a change to the next train, which we did not. This is the 3rd time we have used KimKim and will absolutely use them again!

Activity Reviews
Katana Sword Making in Kyoto
Katana Sword Making in Kyoto
Kyoto

You get to learn about the history of swords as well as how they made. You end up with your own take home knife, that you helped craft, which really brings this home.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
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

The Samurai Museum will seem very touristy, BUT we found ourselves referencing the information we learned the rest of the trip. You really do learn about the Samurai and the history of them in Japan. The Tea Ceremony really got you the experience of seeing it in person and the opportunity to dress for it. Strongly suggest this tour, if this is your first trip to Japan.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Tokyo Highlights Day Tour - East & West
Tokyo Highlights Day Tour - East & West
Tokyo

Our guide did a great job of showing us all of the important things to see in Tokyo. Yumi was quick to adjust our itinerary to ensure we saw some of the historical aspects of Tokyo, which where close to our hotel.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day Fushimi Inari Taisha and Kinkakuji Temple
Half Day Fushimi Inari Taisha and Kinkakuji Temple
Kyoto

This was quit the experience, and would strongly recommend this and getting to see the culture aspects of Kyoto.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Angel Tang
Angel
Angel Tang
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Jan 02, 2025
Dear Timothy, Hope you are doing great.Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback. We're thrilled to hear that you had a trip of a lifetime and that our team, including Yumi, Chizuko, and Ms. Heidi, helped make your experience memorable. It's fantastic to know that the itinerary adjustments and attentive service contributed to your enjoyment. We're also pleased that you found the hotels to your liking and that we could assist you swiftly during the missed train connection. Your continued... Read more

Dear Timothy,

Hope you are doing great.Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback. We're thrilled to hear that you had a trip of a lifetime and that our team, including Yumi, Chizuko, and Ms. Heidi, helped make your experience memorable. It's fantastic to know that the itinerary adjustments and attentive service contributed to your enjoyment. We're also pleased that you found the hotels to your liking and that we could assist you swiftly during the missed train connection. Your continued trust in KimKim means the world to us, and we look forward to helping you plan your next adventure.

Warm regards,
Angel

Read all Japan reviews

Excellent! We shopped around for our recent v...
Japan | Nov 19 - Dec 4, 2024

Tony
Tony C.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Dec 08, 2024
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... Read more

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.

Local specialist: Angel Tang
Angel
Angel Tang
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Dec 10, 2024

Dear Tony,

Hope you are doing fantastic.Thank you so much for your detailed and thoughtful review. We're thrilled to hear that you had such a wonderful experience with Kimkim during your trip to Japan. It's great to know that I was able to tailor your itinerary to meet your needs and that you found the accommodations and excursions satisfactory. We're delighted that you felt supported throughout your journey, especially as first-time travelers. We look forward to assisting you with your next vacation and helping you create even more amazing memories.

Warm regards from Asia,
Angel

Read all Japan reviews

A wonderful holiday!
Japan | Oct 15 - Nov 3, 2024

Trevor
Trevor J.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Nov 07, 2024
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... Read more

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!

Hotel Reviews
Shibuya Tokyu REI Hotel
Tokyo

A comfortable hotel in an excellent location in Shibuya

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Matsumoto Hotel Kagetsu
matsumoto

A lovely hotel. We had a Japanese style room which was was very nice. Staff were very attentive. The onsen was very pleasant and not at all busy.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Very friendly and helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Nikko Kanazawa
Kanazawa
Daiwa Roynet Hotel Matsuyama
Matsuyama
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Kyoto Tokyu Hotel
kyoto
Authenticity & Character
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hakone Kowakien hotel
Hakone

A lovely hotel. The dinner was included and was excellent.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Within easy reach of the cablecar and ropeway with a free shuttle bus to the start
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Shimanami PRIMEHOTEL IMABARI
Imabari
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Angel Tang
Angel
Angel Tang
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Nov 17, 2024

Dear Trevor,

Hope you are doing great.Thank you so much for your wonderful review. We're thrilled to hear that you had such a fantastic experience planning your trip to Japan with Kimkim. It’s great to know that I was able to assist you every step of the way and that the accommodations and travel arrangements met your expectations. We're also glad to hear that our guides made your journey even more enjoyable. We look forward to helping you plan your next adventure.

Wish you happy all the time.

Best regards from Asia,
Angel

Read all Japan reviews

We had the unfortunate experience of having o...
Japan | Oct 29 - Nov 2, 2024

K
kim C.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Nov 04, 2024
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. Read more

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.

Hotel Reviews
Shinagawa Prince Hotel
Tokyo

Older hotel - a bit hard to find due to the tower comples

Authenticity & Character
Location
convenient to travel
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
bed uncomfortable
Oyado Onn Yuda Onsen

lovely place, enjoyed to public bath (after we gathered a little courage)

Authenticity & Character
We were the only Americans I think -
Location
Staff
very helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Angel Tang
Angel
Angel Tang
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Nov 16, 2024

Dear kim,

Thank you so much for your kindl review.We're glad to hear that all train tickets were as promised and that you loved your hotel accommodations at the Oyado Onn Yuda Onsen. Enjoying the public bath is a delightful experience, and we're happy you gathered the courage to try it.

We appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you on another trip in the future.

All the best,
Angel

Mizuho, our guide in Kyoto and Osaka was fabu...
Japan | Oct 20 - Oct 29, 2024

K
kim C.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Nov 05, 2024
Mizuho, our guide in Kyoto and Osaka was fabulous. She was so caring, and a true ambassador for Japan. Read more

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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
Local specialist: Angel Tang
Angel
Angel Tang
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Nov 17, 2024
Dear kim, Greetings from Angel,Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback. We're thrilled to hear that you had such a positive experience with Mizuho in Kyoto and Osaka—she truly embodies the spirit and hospitality of Japan. We appreciate your comments about Hotel Groove Shinjuku and are glad you enjoyed the fantastic location and breakfast buffet, despite the room size. It's great to know that Cross Hotel Kyoto and Osaka Excel Hotel Tokyu met your expectations for convenience and... Read more

Dear kim,

Greetings from Angel,Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback. We're thrilled to hear that you had such a positive experience with Mizuho in Kyoto and Osaka—she truly embodies the spirit and hospitality of Japan.

We appreciate your comments about Hotel Groove Shinjuku and are glad you enjoyed the fantastic location and breakfast buffet, despite the room size. It's great to know that Cross Hotel Kyoto and Osaka Excel Hotel Tokyu met your expectations for convenience and location.

Thank you for sharing your experiences, and we hope to welcome you back in the future.

Best regards as always,
Angel

Read all Japan reviews

Angel was great!She was very patient w/ us d...
Japan | Oct 16 - Oct 29, 2024

A
Anat G.
Cupertino, CA | Reviewed on Oct 30, 2024

Angel was great!
She was very patient w/ us during phase, since we made multiple changes. During the trip she kept checking in and providing assistance + changes (as a result of weather).
This is our second trip w/ KimKim and we highly recommend the service.

Local specialist: Angel Tang
Angel
Angel Tang
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Oct 30, 2024

Dear Anat,

Greetings from Angel.

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! I am so happy to hear that I provided you with exceptional support during your trip and was able to accommodate all your changes. It's fantastic to know you had a great experience with us for the second time! We truly appreciate your recommendation and look forward to helping you plan your next adventure.

Safe travels.

Best regards,
Angel

Read all Japan reviews

Wonderful trip to Japan
Japan | Oct 7 - Oct 24, 2024

C
Colleen M.
Granite Bay, CA | Reviewed on Oct 25, 2024
We just returned from a wonderful trip to Japan. Our local specialist, Angel, was amazing. The tour guides and activities she selected were perfect. We were also very appreciative of Angel's communication, both before and during our trip. She was always available for our questions with a quick response. When we decided on short notice to modify one of our last nights, she quickly helped us arrange a new hotel and transportation. I would highly recommend! Read more

We just returned from a wonderful trip to Japan. Our local specialist, Angel, was amazing. The tour guides and activities she selected were perfect. We were also very appreciative of Angel's communication, both before and during our trip. She was always available for our questions with a quick response. When we decided on short notice to modify one of our last nights, she quickly helped us arrange a new hotel and transportation. I would highly recommend!

Hotel Reviews
Shibuya Stream Excel Hotel Tokyu
Tokyo

Great breakfast. Staff was very friendly. Would definitely come here again!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cross Hotel Osaka
Osaka

Great breakfast. Staff was very friendly. Would definitely come here again!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Wood Takayama
Takayama
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cross Hotel Kyoto
Kyoto

Great breakfast. Staff was very friendly. Would definitely come here again!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
福智院（Koyasan Onsen Fukuchi-in）
Wakayama
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Full Day Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Kegon Falls & Lake Chuzenji Tour
Full Day Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Kegon Falls & Lake Chuzenji Tour
Tokyo

We loved getting out of the City and into the mountains! Beautiful scenery.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Day tour Shirakawa-go Village
Day tour Shirakawa-go Village
Takayama
Samurai and Ninja Museum with Experience
Samurai and Ninja Museum with Experience
Kyoto
Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Fushimi Inari-Taisha
Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Fushimi Inari-Taisha
Kyoto
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Full Day Tokyo City Tour
Full Day Tokyo City Tour
Tokyo
A Fun-Filled Cooking Class in Tokyo - Wagyu Beef and More
A Fun-Filled Cooking Class in Tokyo - Wagyu Beef and More
Tokyo

This was one of our favorite activities!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi with Oishi Park
Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi with Oishi Park
Tokyo
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day Rural Bike Tour
Half Day Rural Bike Tour
Takayama

Enjoyed seeing a town that was a little less touristy. Nice area for bike riding.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Full Day Tour of Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Sagano Scenic Railway
Full Day Tour of Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Sagano Scenic Railway
Kyoto
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Tokyo Night Foodie Tour in Shinjuku
Tokyo Night Foodie Tour in Shinjuku
Tokyo
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Traditional Tea Ceremony KYOTO
Traditional Tea Ceremony KYOTO
Kyoto
Local specialist: Angel Tang
Angel
Angel Tang
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Oct 30, 2024

Dear Colleen,

Hope you a great day.

Thank you for your fantastic review.I am so delighted to hear that your trip to Japan was wonderful and it's my great pleasure to play such a crucial role in making it special. It's wonderful to know that the tour guides and activities were to your liking, and that my prompt communication and support met your needs, especially with last-minute changes. Your recommendation is deeply appreciated, and we can't wait to help you plan your next adventure. Wishing you safe and exciting travels ahead.

Best regards as always,
Angel

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KimKim did an amazing job arranging our trip ...
Japan | Sep 26 - Oct 9, 2024

J
Jane D.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Oct 16, 2024
KimKim did an amazing job arranging our trip to Japan. From train tickets to guides to someone meeting us at the airport with a friendly face, everything was great. We had a last minute change to make, and Angel was able to re-book our Shinkensen tickets and get them to us in a timely way. All around, an excellent service. Read more

KimKim did an amazing job arranging our trip to Japan. From train tickets to guides to someone meeting us at the airport with a friendly face, everything was great. We had a last minute change to make, and Angel was able to re-book our Shinkensen tickets and get them to us in a timely way. All around, an excellent service.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Intergate Hiroshima
Hiroshima

There was really nothing I liked about this hotel. The staff at the reception weren't welcoming at all, nor helpful during checkout. The room had a tiny window with shades drawn so you felt a little like being in a cell- very claustrophobic. We spent as little time as possible in the room.

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

Hotel was very nice- nice sized rooms, great breakfast, great service. The rooftop bar is a must.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Helpful, friendly, enough english for us to get by with our limited Japanese
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Green Plaza Hakone
Hakone

We picked this hotel for the views- well, not their fault that it was overcast and we couldn't see anything. However, this place is dated and a little tacky. The store and cafe were never open. The place was overrun with children who screamed throughout dinner. The restuarant was lit up like hospital cafeteria, and while the food was ok, it was so noisy and bright that we couldn't wait to leave. I can imagine the onsen would be amazing if you could see Mt. Fuji. It's also not located near anything.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Kyoto Tokyu Hotel
kyoto

Room was pretty spacious so that was nice. It's gotten some fancy updates but seems like it might have been a Courtyard by Mariott at some point and got a face lift. The staff were great especially the congierge who gave us great sushi restaurant tips and directions. It seemed to be geared towards large tour groups. The restuarants were always empty (Except at free breakfast), probably because they were very overpriced. It was a good location, fairly close to the train station.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The Ritz-Carlton
Osaka

This place was beautiful and the staff was, without exception, outstanding. Would love to stay here again someday.

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

Yumi did a great job of putting together a tour catering to our preferences. We were a little jet lagged so probably didn't get all out of it that we could have. The fish market was super fun.

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

Yoshi was a great guide. We just didn't have great weather for viewing Fuji (never did see it). However, he did his best to keep us interested and entertained, including taking us to a flower garden that wasn't originally planned. The Whicky tour and tasting was really interesting.

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

Yoshi was a great guide- turns out she spent a year not too far from where we live in Oregon. Totally not her issue, but the sites in Kyoto are just overrun with tourists, which I realize we are also, It was really hard to enjoy the temples, tori gates, Gion district becuse there are just too many people at the same spots.

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

We didn't do this trip

One Day Hiroshima and Miyajima Island Tour
One Day Hiroshima and Miyajima Island Tour
Hiroshima

Yoko was an excellent guide. We went to Miyajima first, via ferry- it was lovely. Very limited crowds, although it was raining so that could be why. Had some yummy roasted oysters, some great little maple leaf cookies, and got some great views of the gate and temple. Then headed back and toured the Peace Memorial and the museum. Both were very moving and emotional. Highly recommend.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Nishiki Market Food Experience
Nishiki Market Food Experience
Kyoto

We did'nt do this tour

Local specialist: Angel Tang
Angel
Angel Tang
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Oct 21, 2024
Dear Jane, Hope you are doing great.Thank you for sharing your experiences for your trip to Japan. I'm so glad to hear that my team and I provided excellent service and took care of your travel needs seamlessly, especially with the last-minute changes to your Shinkansen tickets.
We sincerely regret to hear about your experiences at Hotel Intergate Hiroshima and Hotel Green Plaza Hakone. Your feedback will be forwarded to the hotel management, and we hope they will take it into consideration... Read more

Dear Jane,

Hope you are doing great.Thank you for sharing your experiences for your trip to Japan. I'm so glad to hear that my team and I provided excellent service and took care of your travel needs seamlessly, especially with the last-minute changes to your Shinkansen tickets.
We sincerely regret to hear about your experiences at Hotel Intergate Hiroshima and Hotel Green Plaza Hakone. Your feedback will be forwarded to the hotel management, and we hope they will take it into consideration for future improvements.
We appreciate your comments regarding the Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Yoshi. While it’s great to know that she connected with you personally, we understand how overwhelming the crowds at popular tourist sites can be. We hope it didn’t overshadow your overall experience in Japan.
Thank you again for your feedback, and I hope your future travels will be even more enjoyable.

Best regards,
Angel

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