Kimkim Trip Reviews for Japan

My only complaint about Kim Kim is that I will never travel another way. A trip of a lifetime.

Hotel Reviews

VIA INN Prime Kyotoeki Hachijoguchi JR-West Group

Kyoto

Great location by the station, a bit too big for my comfort.

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Miyako City Osaka Hommachi

Osaka

Fantastic property with great amenities

Authenticity & Character

Location

P

Staff

So accommodating

Cleanliness & Comfort

Asakusa Tobu Hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Went above and beyond when our luhhage did not make it from the previous hotel.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Great size room

the b asakusa

Tokyo

Fantastic coffee and treats.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful

Location

Great place to wonder around

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Master Tokyo's Must-Sees: 5-hour Tsukiji, Akihabara & Asakusa Highlights Tour

Tokyo

Great walk and explanations. Could have skipped the techy part.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ken was very knowledgeable

Transport

Metro

Tea Ceremony with Kimono Experience in Tokyo

Tokyo

Loved every minute of it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Nara with Fushimi Inari-Taisha

Kyoto

Long day with lots of walking! It was incredible to experience this

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

So accomodating

Transport

Public

One Day Miyajima Island and Hiroshima Tour (Kyoto Return Trip)

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Osaka Food Adventure Tour: Walking with a Local Guide

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This experience was somewhat disappointing. I felt that Ben did not read us well. The sumo and geisha experiences were in poor taste. They were enactments. We expected private personal experiences and did not get that. The hotel10 was also a bad choice. We all felt that Ben should have redirected us and maybe let us know our only choice was something less desirable. Instead we incurred the extra night at the Sheraton Hiroshima just to get out of that hotel. The entire trip could have been more rich in culture and it just wasn’t.

Hotel Reviews

The Royal Park Hotel Iconic Tokyo Shiodome

Tokyo

Hotel was fair. Language was a barrier. Room was fine.

Authenticity & Character

No character to this hotel at all. Geared for business travelers.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hyatt Centric Kanazawa

Kanazawa

Favorite hotel of the trip. Great design. Large and well appointed rooms. Great staff, service and restaurants. Highly recommend.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hyatt Place Kyoto

Authenticity & Character

Again, geared to business travelers, but better than Park hotel.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gym was dismal. Small, gloomy.

SETOUCHI KEIRIN HOTEL 10 by Onko Chishin

Tamano

Awful. Small. Dark. Poor offerings in restaurant and bar. Language barriers with staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

In the middle of no where.

Staff

The staff made a dinner reservation for us and when we were dropped off the restaurant was closed. We were left on a dark street without transportation.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sheraton Grand Hiroshima Hotel

Hiroshima

Modern, clean, good location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Candeo Hotels Osaka The Tower

Osaka

Hotel did not have our reservation upon check in creating large delays late in the day for us.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hakone Hotel Kowakien Tenyu

Hakone

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tokyo Full-Day Immersion with Public Transportation: TeamLab Magic + Harajuku & Sumo Dinner

Tokyo

Loved TeamLab.

Quality of Experience

Food

Lines were so long we could not get food at the end of an entire day inside.

Tokyo Culinary & Cultural Delights: Guided Tour with Public Transport – Tsukiji, Sushi, Imperial Palace & Golden Gai

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Food

There was no food tour.

Osaka Full Day Adventure: Explore Osaka Castle, Umeda Floating Garden & Shinsaibashi-Dotonbori Food Shopping (Private Guide, Public Transportation)

Osaka

Excellent day all around.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Discover Kyoto's Timeless Treasures: Fushimi Inari Shrine,Golden Pavilion,Nishiki Market,Gion District and Gei Sha Show

Kyoto

The geisha show was a huge disappointment. It was a total tourist attraction. We were very upset that we were placed in that audience.

Quality of Experience

Hiroshima's Legacy: Peace Memorial & Okonomiyaki（public transport）

Hiroshima

Impactful day. Excellent guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Between gardens, foods, tours, museums, people, animals, every part of the trip was exceptional. It was amazing to see how much people care about and respect each other. There were so many little things that were incorporated into the culture that made a big impact, such as baskets under the table, hot towels before meals, umbrella stands next to urinals, plenty of public bathrooms that were all clean and had bidets in the toilets, and countless more.

One of my favorite parts of the trip was walking through the markets. Ayumi took us through the Tsukiji Outer Fish Market and Nakamise Shopping Street, which each blew me away with how many shops, snacks, and gifts there were. It was only a few days since the trip, but I couldn't help buying gifts already! Nishiki Market, Omicho Market, and the others we found along the way were each unique and captivated me the entire time. I didn’t want to leave!

Another part of the trip that stuck out was the Nakasendo. It was a beautiful combination of small towns, greenery, paved paths, dirt paths, and a mix of all of those things. I enjoyed walking from town to town and wish I could have stayed even longer in some of the areas to explore. On the other hand, it was the perfect amount of time to walk around for a couple of hours, check out some temples, eat a great local dinner, and head to bed.

I took countless photos and videos of the beautiful architecture, food, and nature throughout my trip that I will look back on forever. I'd absolutely go back to several of the places that I went to and would also like to explore new places like Osaka and Okinawa. I would absolutely recommend KimKim to others who are traveling to Japan for the first time because it helped us a lot with transportation, when to buy tickets, and where to go in a strategic order.

Five stars are not enough! Kimkim had everything covered for us and Eleanor was available throughout the entire period. Having a driver available picking us up at the airport and also back to the airport was a huge plus. Eleanor had everything setup for us (hotel stays, train tickets, attraction tickets, everything!!!).
Guides Ken in Tokyo, Chiyoe in Osaka, Yasuko in Kyoto, and Akie in Hiroshima were all wonderful guides and fun to spend the day with. They were all very informative.
r/
Jay

Eleanor was absolutely stellar. She planned an amazing trip for us that surpassed our widest expectations. She was responsive, helpful, and generous with ideas and suggestions. She is a star.
Our accommodations were all fabulous, particularly the Ryokan in Naishima, the hotel in Kyoto and in Wakka.
All of the guides were great, but our Hiroshima guide was truly outstanding.

Hotel Reviews

Naoshima Ryokan Roka

Naoshima

This ryokan is outstanding! It is probably the most amazing place I have ever had the pleasure of staying. The location is perfect for accessing art on the island, and the tranquil 8 room setting, replete with private baths in the room, is wonderful. The meals are exquisite, with perfectly prepared Japanese delicacies in artful presentation. A nice in a lifetime experience.

Authenticity & Character

This is a serene and sophisticated ryokan in a tranquil setting. Every need will be catered to.

Location

The hotel is in walking and biking distance to The New Museum and to the art houses in town. Complimentary electric bicycles and shuttle service are available on site.

Staff

The staff is courteous and will meet your every need.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Stunning, spacious rooms with private baths overlooking beautiful outdoor areas.

Wakka

Ehime

The location of this beautiful hotel is perfect. Located on the water, the views are stunning and the food is amazing. We stayed in one of the 8 private large separate units that included a hibachi dinner on the porch of the unit. It was one of the best meals f our trip.

Authenticity & Character

The tranquility of the location and the meticulous service are outstanding.

Location

This hotel is in an exquisite location on the water. The views are beautiful.

Staff

Lovely, helpful staff who go above and beyond to provide the guest with a comfortable experience.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kyoto Umekoji Kadensho - Private Bath Facility

This hotel provides an upscale and authentic experience. Tatami mats throughout the facility ensure cleanliness and tranquility. The baths are large and lovely, and the food is excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Located across from a train station with a five minute ride to central Kyoto.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Full Day Miyajima Island and Memorial Park Tour

Hiroshima

This is a must-do experience for any visitor to Japan. The Peace Museum is a moving and profound experience. I will never forget it, and I believe every visitor should experience it in order to fully appreciate both history and human behavior.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was fantastic. She had a comprehensive understanding of Japanese history, culture, and Japan’s historical importance.

Transport

I normally don't use a tour company, but I was so grateful for Eleanor's help guiding me. She was very patient, flexible and knowledgeable. She was great working with us to get the trip within our price point and she had really good suggestions about where to stay, what to see and what to do. She guided us every step of the way and our trip turned out to be great. We want to give a huge shout out to our tour guide Seiya Maegawa. He was awesome and really made Kyoto come alive.

We spent 3 nights in Tokyo and found the city exciting and generally easy to navigate. Our tour guide Toru was knowledgeable and helpful. The 1/2 day group was fun also. 2 nights in Hakone with a stay at Hakone Hotel Kajikaso, a vey nice place with in room pool or public onsen baths. The are is mountainous and very quiet. Quite crowded at lake Ashi but fantastic stroll on the old Tokaido trail to mountain side tea house. 2 nights in Takayama, a cute old city area and very nice compact old village area Hida in sato that is walkable from the hotel. 2 nights in Kanazawa with village visits Asako on the way there then a city tour with Nicola. Both guides were excellent and full of knowledge. 4 nights in Kyoto with a great second day tour with Yasuko. The old Gion area and Arashiyama area were very crowded, go early in the morning. The train station has a light show in the evening between the 4th and 10th floor that is near the food courts and exceptional. The day to KIX airport we stopped at Osaka castle and found that well worth the visit. Overall the trip was a great learning experience, Suica cards, subways, trains, buses and a great deal of walking. Have fun

We had an incredible experience with the KimKim service. The personal touch, individual attention to our specific wants was much appreciated. Our tour guides were very experienced, friendly and very accommodating. We cannot thank you enough. Our trip to Hakone was exceptional, our Architectural Tour Guide in Gion was entertaining and filled us with a sense of awe. Our self-guided day that you planned for us in Arashiyama was the best experience.
I cannot thank you enough. I will not hesitate to use your services again on our next adventure.
I know you did not orchestrate our last impression of Mount Fuji as we flew away, but I kind of think you had a hand in it.

Activity Reviews

Kyoto’s Traditional Beauty & Samurai Heritage Experience

Japan

This was a great tour. We not only toured Kyoto and was awestruck with the temples and shrines but traveling via, trains and local buses was a lot of fun.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Day in Tokyo: Tradition, Culture, and City Views with Tsukiji Outer Market

Tokyo

This particular tour was exhausting. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable but was very tired and less enthusiastic as the day went on.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hakone Exploration with Mt. Fuji Views & Volcano

Japan

Chun was over the top awesome. This day goes down as one of our favorite days ever.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tokyo Night Foodie Tour in Shinjuku

Tokyo

Our tour guide was a college student who was very friendly and personable but the attractions that he took us to was not appreciated. Having said that the two sites we went for dinner were very good, where we had dessert- was a miss.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ginza Architecture Walking Tour

Tokyo

This tour was exceptional. The explanations and history behind these iconic buildings in Gion was incredible. Our tour guide was incredible, he had an iPad to provide visuals and extra reading material if we were interested.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We asked Greg to plan us a trip of a lifetime a boy, did he, and Cory, deliver. The itinerary was the perfect combination of site seeing, activities with locals, and relaxation. The pacing of each day was perfect and all the suggestions given for food and other things were phenomenal. Greg connected us with tour guides who made us feel like they wanted to spend the day with us and who we were genuinely sad to leave (shout out Karolina and Pam) and hotels that ticked every box. They gave specific instructions on transportation and we had zero problems navigating between cities. Overall, I would (and have) highly recommend this experience as well as KimKim and the Greg/Cory team. It was indeed the trip of a lifetime

Hotel Reviews

Hotel the Celestine Tokyo Shiba

Tokyo

Comfortable first place to get started but a bit removed

Authenticity & Character

Location

Just felt very far from everything. However close to the subways

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Kanazawa Zoushi

Kanazawa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Marufukuro

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu

Hakone

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Izakaya food tour in Shinjuku (14 small tastings)

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Food

The first spot was great, but I didn’t find myself feeling like anything else that we did was particularly something I needed a food tour for

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The tour guide was a lot of energy but not really in an endearing way

Transport

Lots of walking on already, tired feet

Fun ramen cooking class with gyoza

Tokyo

This was an amazing experience that set the tone for our trip. Really was super fun and the guides were phenomenal.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Greg gave us a picture of the building so we knew what we were looking for which was really helpful.

Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony with Kimono Wearing (Higashiyama)

Japan

Such a wonderful experience, and they let you keep the kimonos on until 6 o’clock. I wish I’d known that ahead of time because I definitely would’ve planned our day a little bit differently.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover the Art of Japanese Forging at a Historic Kyoto Smithy

Kyoto

This was such a fun experience! Plus, taking home your own knife that you foraged in Japan is pretty cool

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Greg and Cory gave very clear instructions on how to get to this place and it was super helpful

Discover the secret gems of Kanazawa - Omicho Market & Samurai District - Private Walking Tour

Kanazawa

Quality of Experience

It was a private tour with just the two of us and our guide and it made for really personalized experience which was great

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Karolina was really a wonderful guide.

Transport

Private Kyoto Temples & Gion Tour

Japan

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Pam! Plus, this is our first adventure into Kyoto and she made sure we saw everything even things we didn’t know we needed to see

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Pam is such a delight

Transport

Go-Kart Tour - Akihabara

Tokyo

This was super fun and a lot less anxiety producing than I thought it was gonna be. Only feedback here is I would’ve liked to have known a little bit more about what we were driving by

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Maki-e Experience: Lacquered Chopsticks or Japanese Bowls

Kanazawa

This was really cool and our host and the artist were really sweet. We had a great time talking to them and creating art.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kintsugi Experience at Shikata Urushi, A Centuries-Old Japanese-Urushi Shop in Kyoto

Kyoto

Highly recommend this experience. We really had a wonderful time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Judy helped us plan a 14 day Japan holiday for a family of 7 with ages 11 , 16, 26, 47, 50 , 57 yr old
It was a 4 centre holiday Tokyo , Hakone , Kyoto and Osaka
We booked our own hotels separately but Judy arranged transfers and guides and booked some events for us - e.g. Samurai stable , Gyoza cooking lesson , Shibuya Skytree, Samurai museum - that we had to make our own way to via public transport or walking but with the Suica card that was manageable . All the things she booked for us were excellent
Before the trip Judy was very quick with her responses to our many detailed questions and very quick to advise and adapt the itinerary when we changed from a 17 day trip to a 14 day trip . We felt very confident in her hands
When we got to Japan everything was seamless . Judy continued to be very quick to respond . The various guides and drivers she’d arranged WhatsApped us the day before we were meeting them with times and other details . We felt very well looked after .
The Kyoto guide (Yuki ) and driver ( Shu ) were particularly good . Yuki’s English was very good and she really enhanced our 3 days of Kyoto sightseeing . Shu San the driver was very very courteous - he was always dressed smartly and got out to open the door and shelter us with his umbrella every time we left the car!
It is difficult to pick a favourite moments from the trip as I I enjoyed every minute from start to end but the following I really enjoyed but didn’t expect to as much as I did
- Teamlab planets - so much more interactive than I expected
- Tsukiji food market - one of the best food markets I’ve ever been to . The sushi restaurant recommended to us by our guide Yoshi was fantastic .
- Hakone Kowakien Tenyu hotel with private bath , particularly good for those of us who weren’t comfortable with the hotels open onsen , which btw were excellent too .
- Hakone - open air art museum . Quite a few famous artists work there including Picasso , Anthony Gorman , Henry Moore
I would highly recommend using Judy at KimKim to plan a Japan trip . The service was provided was very tailored and flexible e.g. we were allowed to book our own hotels but I’m sure Kimkim would have booked those for us too if we’d asked

Our trip was amazing and we loved the people and all of the places we visited. We had some minor glitches with checking in, including the wrong hotel name and address on the Kim Kim platform and differences in the checking in names on the reservations. We would have like more transparency in the room size; especially for the 3 nights or more in some of the cities we stayed in. Couple of hotels in the big cities, Tokyo and Osaka, the rooms were really tiny and it was difficult to walk around in the room with our suitcases and no closets to hang our clothes or put away our suitcases. Perhaps this could have been discussed with the perspective clients. The locations of the hotels in the 3 big cities were great and we were close to the metro stations. It was a bit difficult getting around on our own and we were glad to have a guide from the first day who bought our ticket and helped us navigate. For any tourists who isn't use to mass transportation, it is definitely worth hiring an English speaking guide to help get around. Taxis are pretty expensive so if you have a lot of suitcases, it's worth pre arranging transfers from the airport, and train station to the hotel. We had a couple of outstanding guides. Anna in Hong Kong and Hiro our guide for Osaka. Both were excellent and really made the tour extra special. We loved our Hakone stay, wonderful Ryokan and Japanese Teppanki dinner as well as the Buddhist monastery. If your guests can afford it, one more night stay would be recommended for either place. The weather was lovely in Mt Koya so we really enjoyed easy walks throughout the area. There were some nice cafes and restaurants in case your guests don't like vegetarian meals. We loved the Osaka aquarium which we found out later is the largest aquarium in the world. I would recommend that as an alternative to Nara. I heard from some of my friends who have been to Nara that they weren't crazy about Nara. However, we had bad weather so Nara that day was not an option. Food was very reasonable in Japan and even in the big cities. The best breakfast was the one in Ten-yu and the hotel in Kyoto. The breakfast in Osaka and Tokyo were ok. If any of your guests are going to H.K, I would highly recommend the Langham at Tsimsha Tsui . The hotel is a 5 star hotel and very reasonable for what you get. The breakfast is very expensive...38.00 usd per day, but we went to a local coffee shop and had breakfast there. Do not recommend Macau if your guests aren't interested in gambling. It was disappointment and the lunch at the casino wasn't great. However Lantau island is very relaxing and well worth it.
In all it was a great trip and Shona did a great job!!

Hotel Reviews

Karaksa hotel grande Shin-Osaka Tower

Osaka

The rooms were a bit small. But location was about a 5 minute walk from the train station.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great location. Close to the train station and shopping

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

莲华定院 (Ren'gejo-in Temple (Pilgrim's Lodging))

Beautiful decor! Amazing room. Bedding very comfortable considering we slept on the floor.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Keisei Richmond Hotel Tokyo Oshiage

Great location, but rooms were small. We wish we had upgraded to a slightly bigger room. Having no closets made it difficult to maneuver in our rooms. Many of the staff did not speak English; however some had a portable translator. Across the street at their sister hotel, above was an amazing grocery store. We bought snacks and some Japanese Sake.

Authenticity & Character

The hotel staff were very nice and we loved the Onsen.

Location

We were across from the Sky tower metro. We went to the top one evening to see the night skyline.

Cleanliness & Comfort

All of the Japanese hotels were very clean. I think we had one problem with the Kyoto hotel only.

Hakone Kowakien TEN-YU

Hakone

Amazing 5 star hotel or Ryokan. Not sure which it was. But very authentic and wonderful Onsen. It was so relaxing. We didn't see much of the area since we didn't check in until 3pm and the weather was terrible, cold and rainy but perfect for the Onsen.

Location

Great location. Beautiful decor, excellent staff.

Staff

They were all nice and very professional.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and we only had one problem in that there was a stain on the sheets and they came right away and changed the bed.

Sakura Terrace -Adult Only

We loved their welcome cocktail. I had the best plum wine there. The room was very small only 19 sq. meters. We asked to upgrade and Shona did that right away at her expense. I highly recommend this hotel if you can upgrade to a larger room.

Authenticity & Character

Great location and wonderful amenities. Free cocktail welcome drink, nice Onsen.

Location

It's close to the train station. However it was difficult to find the hotel. Especially for an older couple, it would be worth hiring someone to meet them at the train station and helping them with their suitcase. It's worth the extra costs and probably a lot cheaper than a taxi.

Staff

The Japanese staff were so polite and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

We upgraded to a bigger room. Our bathroom had a bit of a musty smell but I think it just needed a room deodorant.

Mitsui Garden hotel Gotanda Tokyo

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

My least favorite of all the hotels. However it was close to the airport.

Staff

Activity Reviews

Hong Kong Island Half-Day Classic Tour by Public Transportation

Hong Kong

We enjoyed Anna. She was great and very easy going and informative.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kowloon Classic Half-Day Tour by MTR

Hong Kong

It was very enjoyable seeing the shrine and how the Buddhist worshiped.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Anna our guide for both the half day tour of Hong Kong and Kowloon was wonderful.

Transport

We loved the size and quality of the vans for our pick up.

Review notes from Karen (other travelers may add opinions and/or have different feedback):
Let me first say that having the pre-trip planning support from Marii was extremely helpful and the 'real-time' availability of support from the KimKim team was invaluable at critical points in our travels! Many Thanks!

It was frustrating at times when the itinerary in the KimKim app was not updated with changes. Also, trying to find specific information between the app and WhatsApp was often confusing for me. It would be optimal if there was one platform to access for updated information as we travel.

We had some spectacular guides! In particular, we appreciated Mario on our first full day in Tokyo as he helped navigate the first full day of getting around the big city. How quickly I forget the names of other guides - but in Tokyo, they were very good. Sumo Stables and Wagyu Beef tasting were fun!

My favorite guide was in the Mt. Fuji area, Lewis, who was quite knowledgeable of the area and very relatable. Both accommodations in the area were wonderful; especially with the private onsens.

On the other hand, we found the Geisha District Walk tour disappointing and the guide ineffective in sharing any information of interest. For the Nara & Kyoto tours, Kazu was attentive and knowledgeable.

I was a bit disappointed with the Miyako Hotel in Kyoto. Although in a good location, it was really busy, crowded and not so comfortable for four nights.

A highlight for all of us was the Kimono Tea Ceremony. Despite a very rainy day, we enjoyed dressing in kimonos and learning about the traditional tea ceremony.

Yuka, our guide in Osaka, was efficient - perhaps walking a bit fast for our pace.
The bullet train to Hiroshima was a great experience!
My time touring the war memorials was a bit difficult for me due to personal reasons but I'm glad to have visited there.
The guide, Hasshi, was pleasant and helpful with train tickets but less effective in relating about the history of the area.

And finally, we would not recommend repeating the Cooking Class - at least, not with the person leading ours. We enjoyed seeing the market but it went downhill from there. The young man was clearly not a chef nor had much cooking experience.

Overall, we had a terrific and memorable visit to the wonderful Japanese culture. We could not have organized and experienced it without the much-appreciated assistance of KimKim. Arigato gozaimasu

This is our 4th trip with kimkim, and you have always been our first choice whenever we plan a holiday. We genuinely love the service you provide, especially the quality of hotels and the excellent network of local tour guides you have.

Regarding our Japan trip, Winnie was very patient and supportive throughout the planning process. It took a little time for her to fully understand our requirements and for us to get familiar with her working style, but overall, it was a really good experience.

One area where I feel there could have been improvement is in suggesting more experiences and activities proactively. We were hoping for more unique and exciting options beyond the usual sightseeing, rather than having to research and request additional experiences ourselves. A few more personalised recommendations and suggestions from Winnie would have made the trip even more memorable. Nevertheless, I would still give her a 5-star rating for her patience, dedication and willingness to accommodate our requests.

A special thanks to Winnie and kimkim team for arranging the complimentary Sagano Romantic Train ride as a birthday treat. That was a lovely gesture and much appreciated!

The hotels provided were good, and the tour guides were knowledgeable, energetic and dedicated.

Overall, it was a wonderful trip, and we truly appreciate the efforts of the entire kimkim team. Thank you for continuing to make our holidays memorable. We look forward to choosing kimkim for our future travels as well!

Hotel Reviews

Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza Premier

Tokyo

The hotel was peaceful and comfortable, with a lovely city-view room. The staff were very friendly and supportive. The only drawback was the limited halal, vegan and vegetarian options at breakfast. Even the omelettes were prepared using the same pan as ham and other ingredients, making it difficult for Muslim and vegetarian travellers. A separate pan and a few more dietary-friendly options would have made the stay even better.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walkable distance to ginza shopping streets.

Staff

Very decent and helpful staff ,listened patiently to our queries.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bed liner are changed after 3 days

La Vista Fuji Kawaguchiko

Hakone

We loved the vegetarian dinner, the beautiful views and the convenient location. The staff were polite and well-behaved, and the rooms were clean. However, we did find a cockroach on the balcony. It would also be helpful to clearly label vegan, vegetarian and halal food options, as most dishes contained pork or beef. Better dietary labelling and more suitable options would greatly improve the experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Rooms with Fuji views are amazing

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mitsui Garden Hotel Nagoya Premier

Nagoya

Felt the rooms n bathroom very too tiny n the breakfast spread was not that great.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Vischio Kyoto by GRANVIA

Kyoto

Loved the breakfast spread, with plenty of options! It would be even better if halal and Muslim-friendly food items were clearly labelled and available . The room was comfortable, although the toilet was a little too small. The location was excellent, close to malls and the train station. Taxi travel can be slightly expensive due to the distance, but public transport is very convenient. Overall, a great stay, especially for the breakfast and location!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cross Hotel Osaka

Osaka

The location was perfect, just next to Dotonbori, and the ambience was lovely. However, the room was quite small and noisy due to its location on the main street. Breakfast had very limited options, especially for halal, vegan and vegetarian preferences. While the location and ambience were excellent, the noise and limited breakfast choices affected the overall experience.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Asakusa, Harajuku & Shinjuku Highlights

Tokyo

Though this trip was helpful coz it helped us know about the train system in Japan it was a tiring journey as a lot of walking is required and we felt we could have added Shibuya also to it but time was not sufficient which was a little disappointing.

Quality of Experience

Felt we should have taken private tour rather than train as too much of walking on the first day itself of the tour.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was very patient, kind, and helpful. He assisted us with the train details and was very decent and supportive throughout.

Transport

Confusing n tiring

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi, Oishi Park and Shiraito Falls

Japan

Our guide n the driver were very good..especially the driver she drove so smooth n nice we were very comfortable guide also was very helpful n did help us with buying local farmer grapes

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

1-Day Tour from Nagoya: Kamikochi Guided Hike in the Japanese Alps

Japan

This was our dream destination,again we wish we would have got some more time here though it was tiring we enjoyed it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Fushimi Inari & Arashiyama

Kyoto

This day had a lot of activities packed in enjoyed all of it

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Special thanks to the driver he was very proactive with helping us with umbrellas while entering and leaving the car as it was raining and even the guide even though he was very old he was so energetic and kind

Transport

Special thanks and appreciation to the driver very decent and helpful.

Private Transfer from Kyoto to Osaka via Nara with Osaka Castle

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ada did an absolutely amazing job with planning our 12 day Japan trip. We loved all the activities - sumo wresting match, sake tasting (although could use less time learning the history), TeamLabs, food tours, and all the small group and private tours. Kimiko was absolutely amazing - we had her as our guide for both Tokyo and Hakone - she was thoughtful, informative, and truly felt like we were with a friend taking us on tours in their home country. We had a great time exploring Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, and Osaka - all of the food was delicious, we did not have a bad meal. We did more private tours, which allowed us to customize how much time we wanted to spend at different areas ex. we loved Nara and were able to spend more time there and less time at Osaka Castle, which we enjoyed simply taking pictures of. We loved our hotel in Tokyo, away from the touristy areas. Kyoto and Osaka were in the tourist areas, which made it easier to walk everywhere, but felt more chaotic. Overall, would recommend KimKim (second trip with them) to plan and coordinate the trips - we didn't have to worry about anything before, during, or after the trip.

Activity Reviews

Lake Ashinoko Tour with Mt. Fuji Views

Japan

This was the highlight of our trip - we loved the ropeways to the top of the mountain, amazing views of Mt Fuji and the pirate ship across the waterway.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Kimiko was absolutely amazing! Our driver was great as well.

Transport

Loved the Alfard - comfortable car and drive into the mountains.

Asakusa Sumo Club: Sumo Show Admission with Chankonabe in Tokyo

Tokyo

This was surprisingly a great addition to our trip. We had a fun time learning and watching the match. It was very entertaining.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Bella was amazing! She planned a detailed itinerary for us in less than two weeks. We added complexity with a lot of changes to the plan, and she adjusted the itinerary quickly, usually within 24 hours. Communication with her via the portal was easy, and she got back to us quickly on changes and questions we had. The trip gave us a varied view of Japan. She filled our days with a variety of tours including cultural, historical, and market visits. We would highly recommend Bella and Kimkim to anyone planning a trip to Japan. The knowledge she provided in terms of locations, hotel selection, and places to visit was invaluable.

Activity Reviews

Guided Tour in Tokyo: Temple, Sumo Show and Anime Adventure

Tokyo

Sky Tree and Temple were amazing. Sumo show was hit or miss - half the group loved it, other half felt it was a little cheesy. Electronics market was cool, but most in the group had no interest in Anime.

Explore Tokyo's Rich Heritage: Tsukiji Outer Market,Imperial palace,Sushi Making Class, Shibuya crossing & Michelin Tempura by public transport

Tokyo

Great day. Sushi making was better than expected and enjoyed by all.

Discover Kyoto's Timeless Treasures by public transport: A Guided Tour of Culture, Cuisine, and Charm

Kyoto

Amanda was a great guide. Sake tour was interesting, but a long travel for a relatively short visit. Great opportunity to taste a variety of Sakes. Temples were fantastic and lunch was great. Group was very tired by the time we hit Gion, so didn't enjoy it as much as we should have - but beautiful.

Hakone Adventure: Exploring Mt. Owakudani and Majestic Landscapes in Public Transportation

Hakone

Great tour. Enjoyed all parts of this - train, boat, gondola, and eating our egg.

Refined Kanazawa & Shirakawa-go Day Tour: Market Flavors & Iconic Thatched Farmhouses (Private Guide & Public Transportation)

Japan

Kenji was great, best guide of the trip. Views from Shirakawa were amazing, and the thatched farmhouses were interesting to learn about. Shirakawa was a quite a bit more commercial than we expected but we had a great lunch at one of the restaurants

Afternoon Culinary Adventure at Nishiki Market and Tea ceremony

Kyoto

Tea ceremony was really cool. We all really enjoyed dressing up in Kimono's and the presentation was great.

A memorable, perfectly planned trip to Japan!
We were so impressed with everyone we interacted with during our trip. Every part of it was well organized and personalized to our interests. A special shout-out to Oshinobi Travel and the wonderful guides we had throughout our stay. Each one was delightful, engaging, and knowledgeable. They made our visit to Japan really exceptional. Thank you!

Activity Reviews

*Private Guided Tour in Tokyo: Highlights and Hidden Gems

Tokyo

This tour gave us a great introduction to Tokyo.

Quality of Experience

Aya was wonderful!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very courteous and knowledgeable

Transport

Very efficient

★Tsukiji and Toyosu Fish Market Walking Tour

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

*Private Guided Tour in Hakone: Nature and Art Escape

Hakone

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

*Group Hike into the Hidden Route of Fushimi Inari Taisha with a Local Lunch

Kyoto

We really felt we got an "insider" tour. It was very special.

Quality of Experience

Food

Great restaurant off the beaten path

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We didn't actually have transport; we took the subway.

*Relax in a hot spring

Japan

This was a very special hotel; I wish we could have stayed longer!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

★Private tea ceremony experience with a tea master

Kyoto

Very unique and interesting

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

★Bar Hopping Izakaya Tour in the Lively Nightlife of Shinjuku

Japan

A fun way to see other aspects of Tokyo. Our guide was great!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

*Private Guided Tour in Hiroshima: A Journey Through History

Hiroshima

This was a very memorable stop. We're grateful for Peco for treating it with such sensitivity.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

*Private Guided Tour in Kamakura: Temple, Seaside & Local charm

Japan

Naomi was a terrific guide! We felt as if we had a chance to really explore Kamakura and take in the local seaside. She made the day very special for us by remembering our wedding anniversary.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Japan was amazing and we owe it all to Jonathan at kimkim and our local specialist Ellen and operator Mako at Oshinobi Travel. Kimkim's vast array of sample itineraries gave my wife and I a great start for figuring out what we wanted to visit and do in Japan. kimkim then handed it off to Ellen to work with us to create our final itinerary after several emails and phone calls. What I really appreciated was Ellen's patience toin listening to us to find the kind of travel experiences that would fit our personalities and to be flexible with our own needs to go off the Oshinobi itinerary for a few days to visit old friends on our own. The guides Oshinobi Travel hired for us in Tokyo, Kamakura, Hakone, Kyoto, and Hiroshima -- Ayako, Yuichi, Naomi, Peco, and Ryoma -- were amazing! They were very knowledgeable, pleasant to spend the day with, and included visits to their favorite, less and not touristy, hidden gem sites and restaurants. And most importantly, the guides were very attentive to our preferences and interests, exchanging that information with the other guides, and very flexible with the itinerary to adjust it to meet our interests and weather conditions. For example, Ayako took us to a baseball glove repair shop in Tokyo that was featured in a documentary I saw on the flight to Japan, Yuichi took us to a karaoke place after the his bar hopping tour, Peco had the cab driver take us to the roof of a Costco to peek inside a pro Japanese baseball stadium to see the field, Naomi had a cafe send a happy anniversary dessert to our table, and Ryoma introduced us to the 84-year old carpenter who builds the torii gates at a shrine and to his 81-year old brother who runs a shop. We could have planned and taken the trip completely on our own, but kimkim and Oshinobi Travel gave us the the experiences that we would have never known for been able to do on our own.

The pre trip calls were unorganized and although we were requested to answer questions of most wanted to see the entire list of options was reviewed. More communication could have been completed via messages prior to travel.

The Sake tasting was disappointing. The tasting was in a small gift store/eatery. There was no real description on how sake was made and only a very quick description of what the color dots meant when given our 30 min (with a timer) to self serve for tasting. Taking us to a place that was a sit down and the host served you while giving a description of the process and what/why we should take or smell the certain aroma base on processing or area of the country it was made.

During the trip there we to many forms of communication and groups made. Karen touched on this during the trip, messages would get lost. Maybe make a WhatsAPP group for each day or tour guide - there would be information about Hiroshima in the HIroshima group but the tickets were sent to the main Karen group. Then you couldn't remember where everything was.

If Google maps is the recommended way to get around as it was then please automatically include a pin for the location.

We were very descriptive on the amount of luggage we would be carrying. We each had a roll carry on and one soft shell carry on. The driver to Mt Fuji was very surprised by this. He was very kind and informative

When scheduling tours please take better consideration of you group traveling and the distance between stops. For Tokyo and Kyoto I feel as these city's could have been better grouped to see things in closer proximity to each other vs trekking back and forth across the city.

10-22-26 A better understanding of the hotel and what we paid for. Breakfast was included. We felt rushed to complete breakfast and not miss/delay the driver. Meals at this location took 45-60 minutes.

Arriving in Nara - I was surprised the temple tickets were not included in out tour.

The cooking class with Majical tours was a flop. The host appears flustered and as if he had not done this prior. Items that were needed were not on location. The recipe for octopus balls was entirely too salty to eat.

The driver to the airport was falling asleep driving. This gave me very high anxiety and was very unsafe.

Hotel Reviews

Almont Hotel Nippori

Tokyo

Friendly, great location, and clean.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hakone Hoshi no Akari

Hakone

Staff was great and friendly. Enjoyed the traditional room. The bathroom was not clean, recommend removing the carpet from the toilet area to remove some of the urine smell.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fujisan Onsen Bessho SASA

Fujiyoshida

This place is absolutely amazing. Wish we had more time to spend here.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Miyako Hotel Kyoto Hachijo

Kyoto

Location was the best feature. The rooms are outdated and dingy. We left without paying for our laundry service (yes our fault) and it was hard to communicate to get this paid for. A hotel this large and upto date technologically a payment link is recommended to send invoices to customers vs having to give the credit card number over the phone. With a language barrier many it removes the concerns and reduces risks of fraud.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

update rooms, dingy feel

Osaka Excel Hotel Tokyu

Osaka

A little far from the station to jump on the bullet train but shopping was right next door!! Enjoyed the bar area and room was very clean.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Watch Morning Practice at a Sumo Stable (Small Group Tour)

Tokyo

Wished it was an actual event vs training session but still loved it. Would have been great to get pictures with wrestlers at the end

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walking. we struggled to find meeting place

PRIVATE Kimono Tea Ceremony Gion Kiyomizu – at the Registered Cultural Property

Kyoto

This is a MUST do. I was expecting a little longer ceremony but that was my own preconceived notion.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Taxi

Best of Mt. Fuji Private Tour: Highlights & Hidden Gems (English)

Japan

I don't have enough great things to say about Lewis!!. His knowledge of the area, culture, and honestly all things was enjoyable. His waterfall surprise was a highlight for the waterfall chaser I am. Lunch was fantastic. Having an actual local give this tour was such a delight.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Osaka Cooking Class and Sake Tasting with Local Supermarket Visit

Osaka

This was very disorganized and being in a group with ladies that can and do cook often I was expected more of professional CHEF demonstration.

Quality of Experience

Food

to much salt

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Taxi

Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide

Tokyo

Our guide did great. He is so very kind and patient.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

Japan

The guide was great once we got him talking!! Had lots of fun events lined up for us around Mt. Fuji.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Relax in Your Private Onsen and Savor the Dinner at the Hotel

Fujikawaguchiko

This place is heaven. The staff was kind and welcoming. The gardens - you need a half day to explore and soak up the amount of peacefulness that is around you. The beauty. The foot soak. I would return 100% and having the private onsen was delightful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Absolutely phenomenal trip from start to
Finish. Everything was thought of and well planned out. The choices were on point. I appreciate the local considerations in planning the trip and Cannon was fantastic throughout the planning and trip itself.

Hotel Reviews

Tokyo Dome Hotel

Tokyo

Great location and amenities. Really good area of Tokyo and hotel was spacious. Great morning breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Accommodating to all visitors

Location

Lots around it so made a lot within walking distance

Staff

Very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Well maintained hotel

SAKURA TERRACE THE GALLERY

Kyoto

Loved this hotel - great location to many things and the amenities are great. The breakfast was awesome and loved the vibe of the lobby area around the fire pits.

Authenticity & Character

Felt a part of the area; loved the onsen

Location

Close to train station and two malls

Staff

Super friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Amenities like onsen, bar area, and gym are great

Hotel Hankyu RESPIRE OSAKA

Osaka

Hotel was well situated and very modern. Close to the train station.

Authenticity & Character

Didn’t feel like a big hotel but had relaxing vibe

Location

By trains

Staff

Very helpful and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Excellent common areas and room

Activity Reviews

Osaka: Guided Walking Tour with a Native Expert – Top Sights

Osaka

Quality of Experience

Liked it was a group tour

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was super knowledgeable

Transport

Meiji Jingu Cultural Walk with Tsukiji Market

Tokyo

Excellent day seeing sights and hearing all the history. It was very comprehensive in nature. The guide really infused history and culture in the whole walk and we carried that thru our whole trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

She was excellent and gave us many other recommendations for the city

Transport

Helpful to learn the transportation with guide there

Mount Fuji Day Trip: Adventure around Lake Kawaguchiko

Tokyo

Really nice to spend the day out and about the area. Guide was very informative.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Excellent

Transport

Kyoto’s Cultural Treasures: Fushimi Inari-Taisha, Kiyomizu-dera & Gion District

Japan

An entire day learning the history and seeing many sights. Really enjoyed the time with the guide as we went thru the city. It was good to learn to navigate the buses. Guide is flexible to time and interests too. We packed in a lot in a day!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Excellent

Transport

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

This was super fun to dress up and learn the history of the team ceremony. We really enjoyed this cultural immersion.

Quality of Experience

Fantastic

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Nara City Tour, Overnight in Osaka

Japan

We really enjoyed the day in Nara both for the sites, the deer and the restaurant we stopped at. It was a great place to spend time.

Quality of Experience

lol

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great driver and comfortable ride

Transport

Excellent

We had an amazing trip to Japan! We visited Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. Our guides Eric, Eiichi and Hiroshi were all knowledgeable, passionate, and highly accommodating to all of our needs. The sites we saw, activities we did, and food we ate, were all fantastic....it's hard to pick out the highlights.

The best part of working with kimkim was our specialist, Ben. If we could give him 6 stars, we would. Ben started with a great itinerary, gracefully answered our many, many questions and changes, and was incredibly responsive. We'd never been to Japan before, so we had tons of questions and details we wanted to understand. Ben answered them quickly, and thoroughly. We felt very assured prior to, and during our trip, that everything was covered, and we were hitting all the highlights we were most interested in. We can’t say enough good things about Ben. He was fantastic to work with.

We will definitely use kimkim again, and when we do, we’ll ask for Ben.