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Odynovo Tours Co., Ltd

We are a tour operator with a dedicated team of local specialists in Japan, South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, and China who are enthusiastic about delivering exceptional service. Using our solid local connections and extensive knowledge of the destinations, we will help you create your dream vacation. Every year, thousands of discerning travelers work with us to customize their trips. Over 90% of them rate their experience as excellent. It's easy to see why: they get the experience created based on their interests and needs, travel without hassle as every detail is well taken care of, and return with memories that will last for a lifetime.

Odynovo Tours Co., Ltd is part of the following groups: Japan Travel Agents, Cambodia Travel Agents, China Travel Agents

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Top itineraries and travel advice

Recent Trip Reviews for Odynovo Tours Co., Ltd

Great Malaysia Trip
Malaysia | Jan 13 - Jan 24, 2025

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Dennis N.
Belgium | Reviewed on Feb 18, 2025
We found the guides such as Indran and Nantha very helpful, personable and open to our questions and queries. Overall the trip met our expectations. The Oriental Village in Langkawi wasn't interesting though and some of the historical sites were only 100 years old which weren't that interesting. Kuala Lumpur was interesting, Penang was nice, the Cameron Highlands was good although our hotel could do with a revamp (the swimming pool was less than inviting). Langkawi was great especially the... Read more

We found the guides such as Indran and Nantha very helpful, personable and open to our questions and queries. Overall the trip met our expectations. The Oriental Village in Langkawi wasn't interesting though and some of the historical sites were only 100 years old which weren't that interesting. Kuala Lumpur was interesting, Penang was nice, the Cameron Highlands was good although our hotel could do with a revamp (the swimming pool was less than inviting). Langkawi was great especially the islands trip and cooking class, which was great fun. Pia, the chef from the cooking class, is a great character.

Local specialist: Kelly Lu
Kelly
Kelly Lu
Local specialist in Bangkok | Replied on Feb 20, 2025

Dear Dennis,

Hope you are doing great.Thank you so much for sharing your detailed feedback. We're thrilled to hear that Indran and Nantha were helpful and that the trip met your expectations overall. We appreciate your thoughts on the Oriental Village and the historical sites and will take them into consideration. It's great to know you enjoyed Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and the Cameron Highlands, although we’ll certainly note your feedback about the hotel. Thanks again for your valuable comments.

Best regards from Asia,
Kelly

The entire trip was fantastic! Our tour guid...
Hong Kong | Feb 1 - Feb 5, 2025

Kalyani
Kalyani G.
Kirkwood, MO | Reviewed on Feb 06, 2025
The entire trip was fantastic! Our tour guide, Anna, and her 2 drivers were knowledgeable and friendly! Read more

The entire trip was fantastic! Our tour guide, Anna, and her 2 drivers were knowledgeable and friendly!

Activity Reviews
Sightseeing in Hong Kong
Sightseeing in Hong Kong
Hong Kong

The viewpoints were lovely

Quality of Experience
P
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cultural and Nature Explore of the Kowloon Peninsula and   Lai Chi Kok Park
Cultural and Nature Explore of the Kowloon Peninsula and Lai Chi Kok Park
Hong Kong

The gardens and pagodas were beautiful! A must see for any nature lovers

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Driving to Tai Mo Shan and  Tai Po Waterfront Park  Visit
Driving to Tai Mo Shan and Tai Po Waterfront Park Visit
Hong Kong

This is a hidden gem and amazing views for those who hike.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Heidi Jiang
Heidi
Heidi Jiang
Local specialist in China,Thailand | Replied on Feb 06, 2025

Dear Kalyani,

Hope you are doing great.Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm thrilled to hear that you had an amazing time, especially with Anna and the drivers. We would love to welcome you back to China again in the future.

Best regards,
Heidi

Foodie tour of Thailand
Thailand | Jan 13 - Feb 1, 2025

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Carla P.
Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Feb 05, 2025
Our first guide in Thailand, Mike, was amazing. He quickly understood why we were in Thailand (for the food) and made sure we tried all the local dishes and market treats wherever we were! Read more

Our first guide in Thailand, Mike, was amazing. He quickly understood why we were in Thailand (for the food) and made sure we tried all the local dishes and market treats wherever we were!

Hotel Reviews
Sanctuary Pakbeng Lodge
Pakbeng
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
My Dream Boutique Resort
Luang Prabang
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Athena Cruise
Ha Long Bay

Wonderful room, terrible food

Authenticity & Character
Location
Overrun by other boats. A quiet bay would have been much nicer
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hoian Central Hotel
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Residence Wat Damnak
Siem Reap
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Flower Garden hotel
Authenticity & Character
Êmm Hotel Saigon
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cherish Hotel Hue
Hue
Activity Reviews
Full Day Lao Cooking Class (join in ) and Night Market Tour
Full Day Lao Cooking Class (join in ) and Night Market Tour
Luang Prabang
 Local Farm Visit, Waterfall & Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre
Local Farm Visit, Waterfall & Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre
Luang Prabang

The waterfall is gorgeous but would be best experienced early before the crowds. The bear center is just sad and disappointing

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Discover Mekong Delta: Boat Ride, Local Villages, and Cycling
Discover Mekong Delta: Boat Ride, Local Villages, and Cycling
Ho Chi Minh City
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
So much fun! We took many forms of transport
Transfer to Pakbeng by a boat ride along the Khong River (shared  boat/ Shompoo Cruise )
Transfer to Pakbeng by a boat ride along the Khong River (shared boat/ Shompoo Cruise )
Chiang Khong
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cooking Class at Red Bridge School & Walking Street Food Tour
Cooking Class at Red Bridge School & Walking Street Food Tour
Hoi An

Fantastic!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day Cu Chi Tunnels Tour
Half Day Cu Chi Tunnels Tour
Ho Chi Minh City

Too cowded

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Tour to Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat
Full Day Tour to Angkor Thom and Angkor Wat
Siem Reap
Take the Mekong River Cruise to Luang Prabang (Join-in)
Take the Mekong River Cruise to Luang Prabang (Join-in)
Thailand
Quality of Experience
Mi
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Hanoi City Tour with Museum of Ethnology
Full Day Hanoi City Tour with Museum of Ethnology
Hanoi

Not our thing.

Explore Angkor Temples: Banteay Srei, Ta Prohm Temple and Prasat Kravan
Explore Angkor Temples: Banteay Srei, Ta Prohm Temple and Prasat Kravan
Siem Reap
Late Afternoon Street Food Tour in Hanoi: Fermented Pork, Grilled Fish, and More
Late Afternoon Street Food Tour in Hanoi: Fermented Pork, Grilled Fish, and More
Hanoi
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Athena Luxury Cruise - Day 1
Athena Luxury Cruise - Day 1
Thailand

This was a bit of a circus. Too many boats and people all doing the same thing. It would be better to cruise longer among the islands on our own.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Hoi An - countryside and ancient town exploration, local food taste
Hoi An - countryside and ancient town exploration, local food taste
Hoi An
Quality of Experience
Athena Luxury Cruise-Day 2
Athena Luxury Cruise-Day 2
Ha Long Bay
Quality of Experience
Food
Full Day  Cooking Class & Dong Ba Market Tour
Full Day  Cooking Class & Dong Ba Market Tour
Hue

Not done because we didn’t get picked up

Half Day Ho Chi Minh City Tour with Dong Khoi Street
Half Day Ho Chi Minh City Tour with Dong Khoi Street
Ho Chi Minh City

Not our thing

Full Day Hoi An City Tour with Thanh Ha Pottery Village
Full Day Hoi An City Tour with Thanh Ha Pottery Village
Hoi An
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Ada Huang
Ada
Ada Huang
Local specialist in Thailand | Replied on Feb 07, 2025
Dear Carla,
Greetings from Ada.Thank you for sharing your feedback. We're so glad to hear that you enjoyed your time with Mike in Thailand and that he was able to show you the best local dishes and market treats. We also appreciate your thoughts on the Athena Cruise in Ha Long Bay and we’ll definitely take that into consideration. As for the waterfall and bear rescue center in Luang Prabang, we’re sorry to hear the bear center didn’t meet your expectations.We’ll pass on your feedback about...
Read more

Dear Carla,
Greetings from Ada.Thank you for sharing your feedback. We're so glad to hear that you enjoyed your time with Mike in Thailand and that he was able to show you the best local dishes and market treats. We also appreciate your thoughts on the Athena Cruise in Ha Long Bay and we’ll definitely take that into consideration. As for the waterfall and bear rescue center in Luang Prabang, we’re sorry to hear the bear center didn’t meet your expectations.We’ll pass on your feedback about the Hoi An countryside exploration and the Ho Chi Minh City tour as well. Thanks again for your insights.

Best regards as always,
Ada

Japan 2025
Japan | Jan 18 - Jan 26, 2025

Jack
Jack P.
Boston, MA | Reviewed on Jan 28, 2025
This trip was amazing! I personally like to research/plan my travels but life was hectic beforehand and having someone assist with our travel planning based off our preferences was amazing. The fact it was not much more expensive than doing it ourselves is always a plus. Also, the itinerary layout and portal for KimKim was very straightforward and was always helpful to look at when referring to travel events/timing. I loved how flexible your company is as well, accommodating to our “budget”... Read more

This trip was amazing! I personally like to research/plan my travels but life was hectic beforehand and having someone assist with our travel planning based off our preferences was amazing. The fact it was not much more expensive than doing it ourselves is always a plus. Also, the itinerary layout and portal for KimKim was very straightforward and was always helpful to look at when referring to travel events/timing. I loved how flexible your company is as well, accommodating to our “budget” travel style and self guided events so we could do what we wanted at each location without having to worry about booking timing/tour guides.

We really enjoyed the assistance Sandy provided, she booked domestic travel, checked us in, sent our boarding passes/tickets to us, and provided clear descriptions of where to meet our private transfers at each location! She was even helpful of providing information for where to meet family friends and websites that can help with reserving tables. Sandy was also very responsive the whole trip, helping us get our questions answered as well as being prompt with rescheduling/refunds as our trip changed.

A few points I think Kaelyn mentioned internally, but worth noting here:
-we had to ask Sandy for times of private transfers, reservation #’s, and timing of domestic travel. We didn’t have this info very close to our departure date, and it may have been provided around that time, but I’m sure other people would feel the same of wanting this info a bit beforehand.
-originally, when Sandy booked the Sapporo beer museum tour it said food was included, but the day that we booked it the food was closed all along, not sure how Sandy missed it, but we had to eat lunch somewhere else. Not a huge deal, our local guide Kana was very helpful with this and recommended a great soup curry restaurant that was probably our favorite meal of the trip. Also, Sandy/Kana figured out the refund for the Sapporo beer museum to be applied to our lunch which was great to not have to worry about.

Overall, I would recommend KimKim to most people. This was mine/my wife’s first experience with a travel agency as well, so there were some things that were confusing to us, but overall the trip ran very smoothly and a lot of stress was eliminated because of KimKim’s/Sandy’s assistance! I would definitely consider doing a trip through KimKim again. Thank you!

Hotel Reviews
Niseko Northern Resort Annupuri
niseko

You could tell it was an older building, but still a great vibe, good rooms, amazing that it had restaurants/breakfast on-site! It was a bit farther away from everything else in Niseko, almost an hour bus ride to the main village which we didn’t know. It would be nice if this place had a free shuttle to the village as the local bus took a while and was honestly expensive (so was the taxi service), which added up over the couple days. The fact that it was ski in/ski out was the highlight, also each room had their own ski locker which was amazing!!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Nothing, it is just far away from the main village/restaurants.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
They made our beds everyday and gave us fresh towels, awesome!
The TOURIST HOTEL AND CAFE AKIHABARA
Tokyo

Amazing breakfast, and delicious coffee. We would stay here again.

Authenticity & Character
Very modern and clean.
Location
Right near electric city, great central location.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Half-day Sapporo City Discovery with Genghis Khan BBQ and Sapporo Beer Tasting
Half-day Sapporo City Discovery with Genghis Khan BBQ and Sapporo Beer Tasting
Sapporo

We thought this was a brewery tour not museum tour. And the food was closed. This may have been our fault for not researching when booking, but was fun to learn the history nonetheless.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Sandy Ren
Sandy
Sandy Ren
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Jan 29, 2025
Dear Jack, Hope you are doing great.I'm so glad to hear that your trip was amazing, and I'm thrilled that our services helped make the planning process smoother for you, especially with your busy schedule! It's great to know that the itinerary and portal were easy to use, and that the flexibility to cater to your budget and self-guided style was appreciated. I’m glad I was able to provide the assistance you needed, from booking domestic travel to ensuring your transfers and tickets were in... Read more

Dear Jack,

Hope you are doing great.I'm so glad to hear that your trip was amazing, and I'm thrilled that our services helped make the planning process smoother for you, especially with your busy schedule! It's great to know that the itinerary and portal were easy to use, and that the flexibility to cater to your budget and self-guided style was appreciated. I’m glad I was able to provide the assistance you needed, from booking domestic travel to ensuring your transfers and tickets were in order.

Thank you for your valuable feedback regarding the timing of information and the situation with the Sapporo Beer Museum. I completely understand how important it is to have those details ahead of time, and I’ll be sure to pass along your comments for improvement. Japan was quite busy in 2024, so some tour arrangements took a bit longer than usual to finalize. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time.

I’m happy to hear that we could help reduce some of the stress. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and I’d love to help plan another trip for you in the future. Thank you again for sharing your experience.

All the best,
Sandy

The absolute best trip of our lives celebrati...
Thailand | Jan 7 - Jan 20, 2025

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Chantel Veronica C.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Jan 27, 2025

The absolute best trip of our lives celebrating our honeymoon. Kelly was so responsive and easy to work with. She planned the most memorable honeymooon along with our aunt. We saw the best of Thailand, from city, to jungle, to lake, to forest, to beaches!!! We felt so in touch with the culture and had spectacular food while staying at fabulous resorts. We would recommend this trip to anyone and everyone! 15/10!!

Local specialist: Kelly Lu
Kelly
Kelly Lu
Local specialist in Bangkok | Replied on Jan 29, 2025

Dear Chantel,

Greetings from Kelly and thanks a lot for your kind words.I'm so glad to hear that you had such a fantastic time in Thailand. It was truly my pleasure to make the planning process so smooth and easy, while offering you a chance to experience such a diverse range of landscapes, local culture, and delicious food. It’s great to know that you'd recommend the trip so highly. Thank you once again for sharing your experience.

Best regards from Asia,
Kelly

KimKim is fantastic for family travel!
Japan | Dec 30 - Jan 10, 2025

Anne
Anne B.
Dallas, TX | Reviewed on Jan 17, 2025
KimKim planned an incredible trip to Japan for my family. We (me, my spouse, my son (11) and daughter (8)) spent 12 days total in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hakone. KimKim took care of all the details for us, from planning the itinerary to arranging transportation to finding lots of fun activities for my kids. The real highlight of the trip was a last-minute food tour we threw on the itinerary in Osaka. The guide was incredible and so great with the kids. We went to phenomenal little holes in... Read more

KimKim planned an incredible trip to Japan for my family. We (me, my spouse, my son (11) and daughter (8)) spent 12 days total in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hakone. KimKim took care of all the details for us, from planning the itinerary to arranging transportation to finding lots of fun activities for my kids. The real highlight of the trip was a last-minute food tour we threw on the itinerary in Osaka. The guide was incredible and so great with the kids. We went to phenomenal little holes in the wall to try local foods, and visited interesting sites along the way. My kids, both of whom are fairly picky eaters, said the food tour was their favorite part of the trip.

Overall, just a fantastic experience. Everything worked perfectly, the KimKim team was responsive and helpful. I just can't recommend KimKim enough. I'm looking forward to the next trip I can book with them!

Hotel Reviews
karaksa hotel colors Tokyo Yaesu

Great service with fine amenities and a perfectly comfortable room. Close to Tokyo Station, the Ginza, and the Imperial Palace. Would definitely recommend, especially for family travellers on a budget.

Authenticity & Character
Fine, but nothing special
Location
Close to Tokyo Station, Ginza, etc.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Perfectly comfortable room, but almost no storage space. Definitely felt a bit cramped for 4.
MIMARU Kyoto Nishinotoin Takatsuji
Kyoto

Nice space for families, but lacked some of the fun amenities available at other Mimaru locations.

Authenticity & Character
Almost no common space, but nice enough rooms
Location
Kind of in the middle of no where. Not great dining or transportation options, but neighborhood was cute and safe.
Staff
Everyone was very friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
MIMARU OSAKA NAMBA NORTH
osaka

Favorite hotel the family stayed in. We let the Pokemon room, and it was so cute. The decor and amenities were great, the common space was so cute and had lots of fun games for the kids, And the location was spectacular-- right in the middle of the coolest neighborhood.

Authenticity & Character
Really special theme rooms. Kids loved them.
Location
Right in the middle of the action. Loved the neighborhood.
Staff
Everyone was so kind and helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Big rooms with plenty of space. Great experience.
Local specialist: Sandy Ren
Sandy
Sandy Ren
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Jan 17, 2025

Dear Anne,

Hope you are doing great.Thank you so much for your kind words. We're thrilled to hear that you and your family had such an incredible time in Japan. It sounds like the trip was full of amazing memories, especially with the food tour in Osaka being a big hit with your kids. We're so glad to hear that the itinerary, activities, and our team’s support helped make everything go smoothly. We look forward to helping you plan your next adventure whenever you're ready.

Thanks again for choosing KimKim.

Best regards from Asia,
Sandy

10 out of 10
Japan | Jan 2 - Jan 11, 2025

L
Leanne J.
Canada | Reviewed on Jan 14, 2025

I thought the trip was fantastic! We covered so many interesting places and activities and each location was special. I learned so much about Japanese culture. The hotels were beautiful and the food was awesome. And William and Allan were so informative and helpful. Allan treated my elderly mother like a queen! It was a once in a lifetime experience.

Local specialist: Shona Zhang
Shona
Shona Zhang
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Jan 16, 2025

Hi Leanne,
Thank you for your review and all the understanding and cooperation during the trip.
All the best wishes to you and your family. Hope see your next trip.
Best wihses
Shona

Our first trip to Japan was amazing!
Japan | Jan 2 - Jan 11, 2025

Cathy
Cathy B.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Jan 13, 2025
Our 9 day trip to Japan was incredible! We had 5 family members in our group ranging from 13 yrs old to 86 yrs old and Shona did an incredible job planning the trip for us. Our first guide, Allan, was just the best! We were in the middle of New Year's celebrations in Tokyo and he taught us so much about the traditions of going to the shrines. Allan took us to shopping districts, museums and other great tourist spots. We walked an average of 7 km per day and Allan always made sure that my... Read more

Our 9 day trip to Japan was incredible! We had 5 family members in our group ranging from 13 yrs old to 86 yrs old and Shona did an incredible job planning the trip for us. Our first guide, Allan, was just the best! We were in the middle of New Year's celebrations in Tokyo and he taught us so much about the traditions of going to the shrines. Allan took us to shopping districts, museums and other great tourist spots. We walked an average of 7 km per day and Allan always made sure that my mother was doing okay. It rained the day we went to Mt Fuji so Allan changed the itinerary so that we still had a wonderful day. We were sad to see him go but he would always answer our texts if we had a question even though he wasn't our guide anymore. William was our next guide when we went to Kyoto and Osaka. He was also great and was so knowledgeable about every place we went to. Nara was a special place - we had fun watching how mochi was made and feeding the deer in the park. The shrines, temples and gardens were beautiful (every one was different so you didn't get tired of seeing another one). We highly recommend taking the cooking class in Tokyo, dressing up in kimonos and learning about the tea ceremony in Kyoto, going to the Samurai museum in Kyoto, going to Nara and visiting the shrines and temples in Osaka. Shopping in Tokyo and Osaka is a must. Going with kimkim as our travel coordinator was the perfect choice for us. Shona was so helpful and answered our questions promptly if a problem arose during the trip. The guides and drivers were always on time and treated us exceptionally. We would definitely recommend kimkim if you are planning a trip!

Hotel Reviews
Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku

Very helpful staff. Rooms were nice. Breakfast from the menu was delicious and you could also get more from the buffet. Had dinner at the hotel once and it was also very good - they have different performers during dinner and we saw a music performance. There was a beautiful lounge on the 10th floor that was open from 7 - 10 at night where you could get a hot or cold drink and try some Japanese snacks. Loved the location of this hotel as it was right along the Asakusa strip - just down the way was Don Quijote (a store that had everything and was open 24/7) and lots of places to eat. Even Lawson's (like a 7-11) had great, fresh food. There was always a gentleman standing outside helping tourists with their suitcases when their ride showed up. We left Tokyo for 5 days and were coming back so the hotel let us leave our large suitcase and had it in our room when we came back. They also let us leave all our suitcases in a secure room when we had checked out and wanted to go shopping for a couple of hours before leaving for the airport.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu
Hakone

Beautiful resort hotel way up in the mountains. Staff were very helpful - girls in kimonos brought luggage up to your room. Rooms were large and beautiful with an onset tub on your balcony. You can't wear a bathing suit in the public onsen so having a private one was nice. Guests walked around in the kimonos and slippers provided in your room. Musicians were performing in the lobby, special juices, sparkling wine and ice cream were offered in the evening. There's a family pool, convenience store, bar, spa in the resort and other restaurants to go to nearby. The buffet breakfast was unbelievable! So much fantastic food to try. The grounds and view were picturesque. We only got to stay there one night - would've liked to have stayed at least 2 nights.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Vischio Kyoto by GRANVIA
Kyoto

This hotel was very nice. The rooms were nice and just big enough for 2 people and 2 carryons. We were too early to check in but were able to leave our suitcases in a secure room while we went to the Tea Ceremony and Samurai Museum. This hotel was located very near the train station. You could spend a whole day at the train station shopping and eating. The Samurai museum is located in a shopping district so we went back there to shop the next day. Taking a taxi or bus back to the hotel or Kyoto station was easy. The buffet breakfast was excellent with so many things to try. A robot went around for you to put dirty dishes on. The staff were very friendly, announcing your arrival at breakfast with the chef and serving staff welcoming you out loud. They had a lounge area where you could get hot or cold drinks whenever you'd like.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Candeo Hotels Osaka The Tower
Osaka

This was a beautiful hotel right in the city. The staff were very helpful as we needed their help getting our passports that we left in the Kyoto hotel - they did all the calling and arranging for us to pick them up. The rooms were beautiful (the shower/tub encased in glass weren't very private but you could make one wall opaque) and the view from the room overlooking the city was breathtaking. The breakfast buffet was good but not outstanding like some other hotels' buffets. The hotel held our suitcases after we checked out so we could shop for a couple of hours before catching the Shinkansen back to Tokyo. We took a taxi to the shopping district which cost around $15 - we thought having 5 people would make getting a taxi a problem but they let us cram 4 in the back.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Full Day  Meiji Shrine,the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace Akihabara,and Harajuku Tour
Full Day Meiji Shrine,the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace Akihabara,and Harajuku Tour
Tokyo

Having a guide take us to the Meiji Shrine was so advantageous because it was Jan 3rd and the shrine was filled with Japanese locals who were coming to celebrate New Years. Allan taught us all the traditions and reasons for doing what the locals were doing. It was so fun to be a part of it. The Imperial Palace was beautiful - it was open to the public the day before so all the barriers were being taken down (the palace is only open to the public two times a year). We missed it, but apparently it was crazy busy! Seeing the Harajuku district was very interesting. It was very busy and not a very wide street so it was slow going. Very interesting stores, very interesting fashion and lots of fun street food.

Quality of Experience
Allan our guide
Guides, Drivers and Staff
We had Allan for 2 days and were sad to see him go. The drivers were so patient and would take us anywhere we wanted.
Transport
The drivers would text us the day before to let us know the time of pick up. They were always on time and would help us if they could (not many of them could speak English).
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 a really fun morning! We got dropped off in a residential area and went into an apartment building. We were a bit early but the ladies let us come in, get ready, and wait in a large dining area (the apt was renovated so that there was one big room instead of a bedroom and a living room). Two other people joined us and we got started. The first instructor had us help make broth and miso soup. Then we made side dishes like rolled egg, cucumber salad, potato salad, and a pancake for dessert. The second instructor had us make a chicken/veg stuffed lotus root and the sauce for the shabu shabu. We also learned how to make the carrot and mushroom decorative for the meat dish. Once we cooked everything and had all of the food plated on nice dishes, we got to eat our lunch! It was delicious!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The three ladies were so organized and had the lesson down to a fine art. They kept us busy even though we didn't make everything. They would have things already prepared to keep the lesson going. The 3 hrs went by so quickly!
Transport
We had a driver and were surprised to find ourselves in a residential area. Don't know if it was easy to find if you were on your own.
Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi Cruise Tour
Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi Cruise Tour
Fujikawaguchiko

Unfortunately, this was the only rainy day of our trip and it was on our Mt Fuji day! We watched the video at the Mt Fuji information centre and got to use the virtual reality goggles to see what Mt Fuji looks like up close which was cool and informative. We still did the boat cruise but it wasn't much fun because it was so windy and rainy. Our guide Allan took us to a little village as plan B which turned out to be one of our favourite places in Japan! This village gets Mt Fuji water and as a result grows the best food around. They mill their own buckwheat and make their own soba and udon noodles - we had both for lunch and it was fantastic! We had grilled mochi and manju, hand made rice crackers and manju stuffed with a strawberry. The trout swimming in the ponds were huge and the village store had lots of local products to buy. I would ask to go to this village (don't remember the name) even if you do get to see Mt Fuji.

Quality of Experience
Mt Fuji was disappointing but going to the village made up for it
Guides, Drivers and Staff
We were so glad that Allan took us to the village - it was one of our favourite places
Transport
Our driver was happy to take us to the village. Driving up the mountain to the Hakone resort was quite the drive but Lin did a great job.
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

Didn't know we were going to be put in traditional kimonos and have our hair put up for the ceremony - the guys looked great in their traditional wear as well! The staff took pics for us in the garden. It wasn't easy sitting in a kimono on our knees for an hour but we were allowed to sit any way that was comfortable. The host was very informative and took pics for us. She let us try Japanese treats and taught us the proper technique on how to make the tea. Not many liked the matcha but you only had to take four sips to complete the ceremony. Our tour guide at the Samurai Ninja museum was really good. He was easy to understand, was very informative and there were lots of artifacts to look at. We also got to try throwing ninja stars which wasn't that easy. We didn't try on the costumes at the end.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The ladies that dressed you and did your hair were amazingly fast! You get to choose your kimono and the flowers that go in your hair.
Transport
We had a hard time finding the museum after the tea ceremony, but, just asked for help and locals were happy to send you in the right direction.
Fushimi Inari Taisha and  Kinkakuji Temple
Fushimi Inari Taisha and Kinkakuji Temple
Kyoto

Both temples were beautiful and both were completely different. The Fushimi Inari Taisha has the 10,000 red gates and the Kinkakuji Temple has the most beautiful gardens and grounds. Would recommend seeing both of them.

Quality of Experience
Beautiful, iconic spots
Guides, Drivers and Staff
William was so knowledgeable about Japanese history
Transport
Our driver knew the quickest way to get in and out of the busy streets
Half Day Sagano Bamboo Grove and Tenryuji Temple Tour
Half Day Sagano Bamboo Grove and Tenryuji Temple Tour
Kyoto

The bamboo forest was beautiful because we don't see bamboo in Canada. Don't have to spend too long here unless you want to see every shrine. It was funny how a local train would go barreling through the part of the forest every once in a while. The Tenryuji Temple had beautiful gardens even in January.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
William knew where to stop for good group photos. He was able to answer all of our questions and inform us of so much.
Transport
Full Day Nara City Tour, Overnight in Osaka
Full Day Nara City Tour, Overnight in Osaka
Kyoto

Loved Nara and seeing the bowing deer in the park. The shrine has beautiful lanterns all around. There's a store that makes the best mochi and if you're lucky you might get to see the men pounding the rice. The Temple in the park is huge but we didn't go in to see the big Buddha.

Quality of Experience
The deer were so cute - more like goats. The mochi was so tasty - should've bought more!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
William told us how to feed the deer properly so that they don't chase you.
Transport
Local specialist: Shona Zhang
Shona
Shona Zhang
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Jan 13, 2025
Dear Cathy, Hope you are doing fantastic.Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience. We’re thrilled to hear that your 9-day trip to Japan was incredible. It’s great to know that Allan and William were such knowledgeable and thoughtful guides, ensuring everyone in your group had a memorable time, from New Year’s celebrations in Tokyo to the special moments in Kyoto and Osaka. We’re glad you enjoyed the diverse experiences like the cooking class, kimono dressing, tea ceremony,... Read more

Dear Cathy,

Hope you are doing fantastic.Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience. We’re thrilled to hear that your 9-day trip to Japan was incredible. It’s great to know that Allan and William were such knowledgeable and thoughtful guides, ensuring everyone in your group had a memorable time, from New Year’s celebrations in Tokyo to the special moments in Kyoto and Osaka.

We’re glad you enjoyed the diverse experiences like the cooking class, kimono dressing, tea ceremony, and visiting the shrines and temples. It’s also wonderful to hear that the guides and drivers provided exceptional service. It's my great pleasure to be always there to help.

Thank you for recommending KimKim, and we’re so happy we could be a part of your unforgettable journey. We’d love to help you plan your next adventure!

Best regards,
Shona

Great trip but service concerns
Japan | Dec 26 - Jan 5, 2025

J
Joanna R.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Jan 10, 2025
Dear Shona
Thank you so much for eliciting our feedback of our trip to Japan.
There were many amazing parts of the trip that will make it memorable for a lifetime, including the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, the history of Kyoto and visiting the Snow Monkeys in Nagano. Despite this, there were several significant areas of concern.
- All reservation information was delivered late. This resulted in our family needing to review travel plans shortly before to ensure that we would be able to arrive...
Read more

Dear Shona
Thank you so much for eliciting our feedback of our trip to Japan.
There were many amazing parts of the trip that will make it memorable for a lifetime, including the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, the history of Kyoto and visiting the Snow Monkeys in Nagano. Despite this, there were several significant areas of concern.
- All reservation information was delivered late. This resulted in our family needing to review travel plans shortly before to ensure that we would be able to arrive at the correct time.
- The transfer between Tokyo and Nagano was too brief and created intense stress of navigating the station to find the train. Additional information to preview that this would be a difficult transfer would have supported our ability to plan a head.
- The trip summary plan indicated that we would leave from Kyoto, take a train to Nagano and a bus to Hakuba allowing for the 1/2 day afternoon to ski or participate in outdoor activities. The last minute change communicated to us resulted in a train from Kyoto to Tokyo, from Tokyo to Nagano, and then a bus to Hakuba. We arrived after 5pm and were not able to participate in any activities that day, which was not the original plan and resulted in a loss of a day.
Thank you,
Joanna.

Hotel Review
evo Hotel Hakuba
Local specialist: Shona Zhang
Shona
Shona Zhang
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Jan 17, 2025

Hi Joanna,
Thank you for your review,We will work on improving the areas you mentioned to enhance our service quality. We truly appreciate your trust and support for KK.
Best wishes
Shona

Sandy and Japan Were Terrific. KimKim Converts.
Japan | Dec 25 - Jan 7, 2025

E
Eric B.
Herndon, VA | Reviewed on Jan 08, 2025
This was our first KimKim experience. We were initially hesitant but in hindsight our concerns will unwarranted. We had a terrific nearly flawless 14-day trip to Japan, and Sandy was absolutely fantastic! The iterative process of developing an itinerary was effective and efficient. The organization and accessibility of the information, itinerary, travel, details, and logistical material was terrific. Sandy was respectful of our preferences and budget. We balanced a few private tours with... Read more

This was our first KimKim experience. We were initially hesitant but in hindsight our concerns will unwarranted. We had a terrific nearly flawless 14-day trip to Japan, and Sandy was absolutely fantastic! The iterative process of developing an itinerary was effective and efficient. The organization and accessibility of the information, itinerary, travel, details, and logistical material was terrific. Sandy was respectful of our preferences and budget. We balanced a few private tours with other days that were self guided on a couple of occasions where there was need for intervention with a hotel to straighten out something unexpected, Sandy was swift and effective. We typically plan trips ourselves, but hesitated to do so for this trip. Yes, there is a premium paid to get this type of assistance, but there was value in the additional cost and we would absolutely consider KimKim again for any travel that was beyond our comfort zone in self planning.

Activity Reviews
Ikebana, Flower Arrangement Workshop in YANAKA, Tokyo
Ikebana, Flower Arrangement Workshop in YANAKA, Tokyo
Tokyo

Terrific experience. Educational and fun! Great neighborhood for exploring as well.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Samurai Sword Experience for Adults in Kyoto
Samurai Sword Experience for Adults in Kyoto
Kyoto

Kitschy and not at the same level as other activities. Samurai instructor was great but museum and tour were subpar.

Quality of Experience
Shirakawago Day Trip from Kanazawa (With Hida Takayama)
Shirakawago Day Trip from Kanazawa (With Hida Takayama)
Kanazawa
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Sandy Ren
Sandy
Sandy Ren
Local specialist in Japan | Replied on Jan 13, 2025
Dear Eric, Hope you are doing great.Thank you so much for your kind words and detailed feedback. We’re thrilled to hear that your first KimKim experience was so positive. It's great to know that the iterative planning process worked well for you, and that the balance of private tours and self-guided days met your needs. I also appreciate you recognizing my quick and effective assistance with any unexpected situations. We’re delighted that you found value in the service, and we’d love to... Read more

Dear Eric,

Hope you are doing great.Thank you so much for your kind words and detailed feedback. We’re thrilled to hear that your first KimKim experience was so positive. It's great to know that the iterative planning process worked well for you, and that the balance of private tours and self-guided days met your needs. I also appreciate you recognizing my quick and effective assistance with any unexpected situations.

We’re delighted that you found value in the service, and we’d love to assist you again for any future travels beyond your comfort zone.

Thanks again for choosing KimKim, and we look forward to helping with your next adventure.

Best regards,
Sandy