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Asia Highlights

Asia Highlights began from China Highlights, Operating since 1998.

At Asia Highlights, we are committed to providing you an affordable, quality private tour, whether it's a milestone trip, family trip, or bucketlist trip — your planning will be made easy with just one specialist throughout.

To create your ideal trip, all of your ideas and requirements will be carefully considered. Your 1:1 travel advisor will listen to your needs, provide you comprehensive expert advice, and discuss with you the itinerary details.

Your will receive 24-7 support during your trip from your local tour guide, Asia Highlights' customer care manager, and your travel advisor. We'll work together to ensure you have a smooth and enjoyable trip.

Featured trips & expertise

Top itineraries and travel advice

Recent Trip Reviews for Asia Highlights

The Trip of a Lifetime!
Japan | Nov 23 - Nov 30, 2024

Amar
Amar P.
Downers Grove, IL | Reviewed on Dec 03, 2024

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

Local specialist: Simon Huang
Simon
Simon Huang
Local specialist in Ashburn | Replied on Dec 04, 2024
Hi Amar, Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! I’m thrilled to hear you had a lifetime trip to Japan. It’s fantastic to know that Alan's knowledge and engagement made such a positive impact on your experience. I appreciate your kind words about my planning and communication. It was a pleasure working with you to create this adventure, and I’m glad to hear that the hotels, activities, and recommendations met your expectations. Thank you for recommending our service! If you ever... Read more

Hi Amar,

Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! I’m thrilled to hear you had a lifetime trip to Japan. It’s fantastic to know that Alan's knowledge and engagement made such a positive impact on your experience. I appreciate your kind words about my planning and communication. It was a pleasure working with you to create this adventure, and I’m glad to hear that the hotels, activities, and recommendations met your expectations.

Thank you for recommending our service! If you ever decide to explore more destinations or need assistance in the future, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Best wishes,

Simon

Thank you for outstanding job...
Japan | Nov 6 - Nov 22, 2024

Adrian
Adrian D.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Nov 26, 2024
We were very impressed with the professionalism and enthusiasm displayed by all members of the KimKim team. The trip was truly an amazing experience from our first contact with Kate through Mr. Jeon’s drop off at the Seoul airport. I will not hesitate to recommend KimKim, and we will not hesitate to use your services in the future ( no need to send weekly emails). Sorry to be a broad brush stroke but everybody was good, proactive, attentive, polite, and would be rated highly. The hotels... Read more

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

Hotel Reviews
Mercure Hida Takayama
Takayama

Loved in in house private Owen!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Close to the train station
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Shibuya Excel Hotel Tokyu
Tokyo
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Kyoto Tokyu Hotel
kyoto
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Excellent concierge
Cleanliness & Comfort
Mitsui Garden Hotel Okayama
Okayama
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Courtyard by Marriott Seoul Namdaemun
Seoul
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Kate Long
Kate
Kate Long
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Dec 02, 2024
Dear Adrian,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We are thrilled to hear that you had such a positive experience with the KimKim team. Your kind words about the professionalism, enthusiasm, and attentiveness displayed by our team members mean a lot to us.
We are delighted that you found the trip to be truly amazing from start to finish, beginning with your interactions with kate and ending with Mr. Jeon's drop off at the Seoul airport. Knowing that you were... Read more

Dear Adrian,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We are thrilled to hear that you had such a positive experience with the KimKim team. Your kind words about the professionalism, enthusiasm, and attentiveness displayed by our team members mean a lot to us.

We are delighted that you found the trip to be truly amazing from start to finish, beginning with your interactions with kate and ending with Mr. Jeon's drop off at the Seoul airport. Knowing that you were impressed with the service provided by our staff fills us with pride and motivates us to continue delivering exceptional experiences to all our clients.

We are glad to hear that you enjoyed the accommodations we arranged for you, with the Mercure in Takayama standing out as a favorite. Your feedback regarding the driver in Takayama and transportation in Kyoto is duly noted, and we appreciate your suggestion. We will use your input to continuously improve our services and cater to our clients' needs more effectively.

Thank you for your recommendation and for expressing your willingness to use KimKim's services in the future. We are grateful for your trust and loyalty. Rest assured, we will take your preference about weekly emails into account moving forward.

We appreciate your support and look forward to helping you plan more unforgettable experiences in the future. Feel free to reach out to us whenever you're ready for your next adventure!

Disappointing
Japan | Nov 3 - Nov 17, 2024

P
Paul R.
Sun City West, AZ | Reviewed on Nov 19, 2024
We chose to use KimKim for our second time since we had an an amazing ttrip with KimKim in Italy last year, May 2023. All of our expectations were met and we thought we would have the same experience this year with our trip to Japan. Unfortunately, this was not the case. From the moment, we arrived in Tokyo, there were problems. They were as follows: 1. The room in our Tokyo hotel was small and totally outdated for a 4 star hotel. The bed was small and up against the wall which only... Read more

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

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

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

Local specialist: Alisa Liu
Alisa
Alisa Liu
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Dec 06, 2024
Thank you for taking the time to write and share your experience. We are deeply sorry that your recent visit to Japan with us did not match the high standards of your previous experience in Italy. Upon your arrival, we should have provided better representation, and unfortunately, we fell short, not only at the beginning of your trip but throughout various sections of it. What was meant to be a stress-free and exciting adventure for you turned out to be the opposite. We sincerely apologize... Read more

Thank you for taking the time to write and share your experience. We are deeply sorry that your recent visit to Japan with us did not match the high standards of your previous experience in Italy.

Upon your arrival, we should have provided better representation, and unfortunately, we fell short, not only at the beginning of your trip but throughout various sections of it. What was meant to be a stress-free and exciting adventure for you turned out to be the opposite. We sincerely apologize for the inadequate planning and communication that led to a misunderstanding of your needs, interests, and expectations.

The issues you highlighted, from the accommodation room arrangements to the guide and driver's abilities, should have been better verified by us. We greatly appreciate your feedback and will do our best to ensure that these areas are better managed in the future.

Our local guide was really good - kept us org...
Japan | Oct 15 - Nov 4, 2024

R
robin j.
Flagami, FL | Reviewed on Nov 15, 2024
Our local guide was really good - kept us organized, helped with restaurant planning, and good overview of places, e.g. shrines and traditional places. Read more

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

Hotel Reviews
Shibuya Stream Excel Hotel Tokyu
Tokyo
Hakone Kowakien Mikawaya Ryokan
Hakone

Lovely, traditional hotel with onsen but you have to be willing to cook your food - I think it's called Shabu shabu? Loved the onsen and wearing the traditional clothes for dinner.

karaksa hotel premier Tokyo Ginza
Minato-ku, Tokyo

Great location but didn't enjoy the breakfast delivered to your room. Sorry, but cold eggs are never good.

Local specialist: Kate Long
Kate
Kate Long
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Nov 19, 2024
Dear Robin,
We appreciate you taking the time to share your experiences with us, and we value the feedback on the hotels you have stayed at. Staying at the Hakone Kowakien Mikawaya Ryokan sounds like a unique experience, especially dressing in traditional clothing for dinner, even though you had to cook your own food.
We were surprised to hear that the breakfast delivered to your room at the Karaksa Hotel Premier Tokyo Ginza was cold; that certainly wouldn't be an ideal way to start the day....
Read more

Dear Robin,
We appreciate you taking the time to share your experiences with us, and we value the feedback on the hotels you have stayed at. Staying at the Hakone Kowakien Mikawaya Ryokan sounds like a unique experience, especially dressing in traditional clothing for dinner, even though you had to cook your own food.
We were surprised to hear that the breakfast delivered to your room at the Karaksa Hotel Premier Tokyo Ginza was cold; that certainly wouldn't be an ideal way to start the day. However, we are glad to know that you found the location to be excellent. Like all feedback regarding hotels, we will re-evaluate these aspects, as we understand that comfort and location are important to all our clients.
Thank you also for your comments about Gary, who was knowledgeable about the sites you visited and helped ensure you had a wonderful time.
Kate

Very Helpful
Japan | Oct 25 - Nov 1, 2024

Amy
Amy T.
Grand Junction, CO | Reviewed on Nov 08, 2024

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

Local specialist: Kate Long
Kate
Kate Long
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Nov 21, 2024

Hi Amy,
Absolutely fantastic to hear about your positive experience with our services! We are thrilled that our in-country support and assistance with language barriers proved helpful to you. Our goal is to ensure a seamless and enriched travel experience for every client. We understand the importance of blending touristy highlights with unique, off-the-beaten-path gems. Your continued trust in KimKim means the world to us, and we look forward to crafting many more unforgettable journeys for you in the future.
Kate

Planning a trip to a distant destination is n...
Japan | Oct 14 - Oct 26, 2024

Lisa
Lisa P.
Palo Alto, CA | Reviewed on Nov 02, 2024
Planning a trip to a distant destination is never easy, but the experience and guidance we received for Japan was perfect. Our guides Johnny & Lia had great knowledge and showed their love for the visitor experience in their home country. Travel within Japan was expertly handled, hotels were perfect and sites visited gave us a glimpse into the culture of the country. Read more

Planning a trip to a distant destination is never easy, but the experience and guidance we received for Japan was perfect. Our guides Johnny & Lia had great knowledge and showed their love for the visitor experience in their home country. Travel within Japan was expertly handled, hotels were perfect and sites visited gave us a glimpse into the culture of the country.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Century Southern Tower
Tokyo

Great location with perfect amenities

Authenticity & Character
Nicely Appointed rooms
Location
Right in the heart of the Shibuya area
Staff
Helpful and conscientious
Cleanliness & Comfort
Love the slippers and pajamas
Kyoto Tokyu Hotel
kyoto

Nestled in Kyoto, walkable to the aquarium. Beautiful and comfortable

Authenticity & Character
Perfectly appointed
Location
Easily accessible to parts of kyoto
Staff
Very helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel is spotlessly clean
Osaka Excel Hotel Tokyu

Perfectly located in the shopping district. Walkable to stores and great food

Authenticity & Character
Had a contemporary vibe
Location
Easily accessible to subway, JR train and shopping
Staff
Always willing to help the guests
Cleanliness & Comfort
Loved that their was laundry self service on our floor
Local specialist: Kate Long
Kate
Kate Long
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Nov 03, 2024
Dear Lisa, Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience in Japan with us! We are delighted to hear that your trip was a success and that our guides Johnny & Lia were able to provide you with a memorable and insightful journey through their home country. It brings us immense joy to know that you found the guidance and experience to be perfect during your visit to Japan. We take great pride in ensuring that our clients have a seamless travel experience, and we are thrilled to hear... Read more

Dear Lisa,

Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience in Japan with us! We are delighted to hear that your trip was a success and that our guides Johnny & Lia were able to provide you with a memorable and insightful journey through their home country.

It brings us immense joy to know that you found the guidance and experience to be perfect during your visit to Japan. We take great pride in ensuring that our clients have a seamless travel experience, and we are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the expertly handled travel arrangements, perfect accommodations, and culturally enriching sites visited.

We will be sure to pass along your kind words to Johnny & Lia, who will be thrilled to hear about the positive impact they had on your trip. It was a pleasure assisting you in planning your visit to this beautiful destination, and we look forward to creating more unforgettable experiences for you in the future.

Thank you once again for choosing us as your travel advisors!

Kindest regards,
Kate

Both William and Jenny were helpful, punctual...
Japan | Oct 9 - Oct 29, 2024

J
jenny a.
Livonia, MI | Reviewed on Oct 31, 2024

Both William and Jenny were helpful, punctual and enjoyable

Local specialist: Kate Long
Kate
Kate Long
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Oct 31, 2024

Hi Jenny,

Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! I'm delighted to hear that both William and Jenny were able to provide you with a great experience during your trip.

We truly appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts with us. Your satisfaction is what motivates us to keep striving for excellence.

If you're planning any future travels or have any further needs, please don't hesitate to reach out. We're here to help make your next adventure just as enjoyable!

Warm regards,
Katie

2 weeks in Japan
Japan | Oct 12 - Oct 24, 2024

Shirish
Shirish P.
Rochester, NY | Reviewed on Oct 27, 2024
First the positives:
1. Guides: Friendly, punctual, accommodating.
2. Vehicles: Clean and very comfortable (except in Kanazawa which had cigarette smoke).
Most interesting places/activities:
1. Miho Museum
2. Hiroshima - tear-jerker.
3. Ina
4. Mt Fuji panoramic ropeway
5. Bullet train rides (made better by travelling in Green Car).
Room for improvement:
1. Guides: Often difficult to understand (except Wesley). This was a major issue.
2. Hotel Higashiyama in Kyoto: Very small,...
Read more

First the positives:
1. Guides: Friendly, punctual, accommodating.
2. Vehicles: Clean and very comfortable (except in Kanazawa which had cigarette smoke).
Most interesting places/activities:
1. Miho Museum
2. Hiroshima - tear-jerker.
3. Ina
4. Mt Fuji panoramic ropeway
5. Bullet train rides (made better by travelling in Green Car).
Room for improvement:
1. Guides: Often difficult to understand (except Wesley). This was a major issue.
2. Hotel Higashiyama in Kyoto: Very small, uncomfortable esp. since we stayed there for 5 nights, probably equivalent to a 2/3 star hotel in USA. Would definitely not recommend it.
3. Ina: would have liked to spend more time there by getting there early. Advise visitors to carry own food and drinks as the few eating places there close early.
4. Explore purchasing tickets for cable car, Skytree, etc in advance, if possible, as it will save a lot of time.
5. Itinerary:
a. Share the final itinerary with ALL changes a few days before the tourist's departure.
b. Include addresses of hotels, train stations, etc in JAPANESE so that we can show these to the taxi driver. We ended up at the wrong hotel in Kyoto because the 2 hotels had identical names.

Local specialist: Heidi Li
Heidi
Heidi Li
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Oct 28, 2024
Dear Shirish,
Hope you had a great weekend.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences and insights from your recent trip. We truly value your feedback as it helps us enhance our services and ensure future travelers have an exceptional experience. I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed the friendly and accommodating nature of our guides, as well as the comfort of our vehicles. It’s wonderful that the Miho Museum, Hiroshima, and the scenic views from Mt. Fuji's panoramic ropeway... Read more

Dear Shirish,
Hope you had a great weekend.

Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences and insights from your recent trip. We truly value your feedback as it helps us enhance our services and ensure future travelers have an exceptional experience.

I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed the friendly and accommodating nature of our guides, as well as the comfort of our vehicles. It’s wonderful that the Miho Museum, Hiroshima, and the scenic views from Mt. Fuji's panoramic ropeway stood out to you.

Thank you once again for your valuable feedback. We hope to have the opportunity to assist you in your future travels and provide an even better experience!

Best regards,
Heidi

Highest Recommendation! ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Japan | Oct 13 - Oct 21, 2024

Colin
Colin M.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Oct 24, 2024

Sharon was an excellent organizer of our trip and was very responsive to our interests and time frame. Jennifer was a wonderful companion and guide as we cycled around Lake Kawaguchiko and had Hoto noodles for lunch. We visited Kyoto and Nara with Kuro and learned a lot about the history of the temples and shrines, as well as the country overall. Or last stop was Hiroshima and Slash was a marvelous guide as we visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, the Hiroshima Castle and the island of Miyajima. We highly recommended Sharon and all of our guides!

Local specialist: Sharon Huang
Sharon
Sharon Huang
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Oct 24, 2024
Hello Colin
Sincerely thanks for your compliments and recommendation! And it's been my great pleasure to assist you with your Japan trip!! :) And I will pass your recognition to our guides also, and they surely will be happy for this also!! :) Your support is the encouragement to us and we will keep maintaining and even improving our service so that we can fulfill the ideal trip of our customers no matter when! :) We also provide tours in Southeast Asia, China, India, South Korea, Africa,...
Read more

Hello Colin
Sincerely thanks for your compliments and recommendation! And it's been my great pleasure to assist you with your Japan trip!! :) And I will pass your recognition to our guides also, and they surely will be happy for this also!! :) Your support is the encouragement to us and we will keep maintaining and even improving our service so that we can fulfill the ideal trip of our customers no matter when! :) We also provide tours in Southeast Asia, China, India, South Korea, Africa, etc., so please feel free to contact me when you need any assistance to these places, and we are all looking forward to "meet" you again somewhere in the future!! :)

Superbly Done KimKim!!!!
Japan | Sep 25 - Sep 30, 2024

David
David M.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Oct 06, 2024
We had a fantastic time in Japan and we want to thank KimKim for making it so. From the first interaction with Kate to begin planning our trip back in April to being dropped off at Haneda Airport for our flight home, KimKim made sure that every detail and logistical need was covered and that we were well-informed about what to expect. Kate was our primary contact and she was superb! Every question we had was answered in a timely way before the trip and in real time during our visit to Japan.... Read more

We had a fantastic time in Japan and we want to thank KimKim for making it so. From the first interaction with Kate to begin planning our trip back in April to being dropped off at Haneda Airport for our flight home, KimKim made sure that every detail and logistical need was covered and that we were well-informed about what to expect. Kate was our primary contact and she was superb! Every question we had was answered in a timely way before the trip and in real time during our visit to Japan. The hotels and daily itineraries she recommended were excellent. We had two guides, Fiona in Kyoto and Jennifer in Yokohama and Tokyo. Both were top notch! We learned about history, culture, local customs and saw remarkable temples, shrines, landmarks and scenery. The guides made excellent refinements to the daily itineraries to reflect weather, transit and our interests. Drivers and vehicles were also excellent. All-in-all, I would recommend KimKim to anyone considering a trip abroad in a place where one does not wish to be entirely independent. The custom-made itinerary, the exceptional level of communication and the quality of the guides, drivers and service were all reasons that we will likely return to KimKim in the future!!

Thanks again Kate, Fiona and Jennifer!!!

Local specialist: Kate Long
Kate
Kate Long
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Oct 08, 2024
Dear David, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful experience from your trip to Japan. We're thrilled to hear that you had such a fantastic time in Japan and that our services met your expectations. It's our mission to ensure that every moment of your trip is filled with joy and surprises. Your recommendation means the world to us, and we can't wait to serve you again in the future for more amazing travel memories!!😀 Thanks again for your wonderful review and for... Read more

Dear David,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful experience from your trip to Japan. We're thrilled to hear that you had such a fantastic time in Japan and that our services met your expectations. It's our mission to ensure that every moment of your trip is filled with joy and surprises.

Your recommendation means the world to us, and we can't wait to serve you again in the future for more amazing travel memories!!😀

Thanks again for your wonderful review and for showing appreciation to me, Fiona, and Jennifer.

We look forward to seeing you again soon!

Wishing you a great day from Asia,
Kate