Kimkim Trip Reviews for Japan

WE just returned from an INCREDIBLE Japan trip
Sandy customized all as I asked her and understood my needs
We mostly did all our tours organized by her or her suggestions
It was VERY useful and convenient having an agent on the ground in Tokyo-all her tips were amazing -I messaged her often in the day and being on the same time zone was amazing.She even helped me on packing items -We took carry on only so I had space to shop.She educated us on cabs and trains and tipping.
I LOVED all the hotels she picked out-we reached a stage where we had seen enough temples and shrines and she pivoted and we were so happy with her choice.
Friends of ours were there at the same time and I think ours was better organized -we did 2 nights Tokyo-then drove to Fuji and the lakes on our way to Hakone-we spent 2 nights there-then bullet train to Kyoto for 3 nights and then bullet train to Uno to get ferry to Naoshima for 2 nights-art island -then bullet train back to Tokyo for 5 nights-you dont need to go to the other mountain or another big city-Japan is so frenetic and busy that its good to do CITY_COUNTRY_CITY_COUNTRY _CITY
We loved it-the country is the best country I have traveled to and I have traveled a lot-the people are so polite and kind and humble-the food is outstanding and everything about it -bar a cab driver on the last day trying to rip us off was perfect

Leny did a great job helping us plan our trip to Japan. She was very helpful in answering our questions along the way and being available while we were in Japan as well. Thanks for a great trip!

There not enough words to convey the absolutely phenomenal job Leny and her team did for our first trip to Japan. From the hotels to the tours and tour guides Mitsu Kumiko, Rio Suzuki, Claire, and all the rest whom I wish i had written their names down as well were amazing, so friendly and knowledgeable. The level of care each tour guide gave was unmatched in any other tours I've taken in my travels. Our itinerary was seamless and Lenys team went above and beyond with little extras that were so appreciated! The ability to be able to contact a team if we were running late or if a situation arises made for such a secure feeling. The hotels picked were stellar. Simply put i will now need Leny and her team to assist with every future international trip I take in the future as well as a 2nd trip back to Japan.

Hotel Reviews

Kinnotake Tonosawa

Hakone

The location, food, room and amenities experienced were unmatched.

Authenticity & Character

The hotels attention to detail, the robes and slippers for comfortability

Location

Surrounded by nature yet accessibility to the village below was perfect

Staff

Our welcome to the hotel was incredible and assistance with our luggage to our next hotel

Cleanliness & Comfort

The robes and rooms made us never want to leave

Shiba Park Hotel

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

The library

Location

So central to so many great areas to visit in walking distance

Staff

All the staff was amazing

Cleanliness & Comfort

All the room amenities

Hotel Resol Kyoto Shijo Muromachi

kyoto

Loved the accesible washers

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mitsui Garden Hotel Ginza gochome

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

This was one of the most western style hotels we stated in but it still kept so much of what I love about japan hotels I stayed in. The public bath, the amazing staff

Location

So close to so many stores, restaurants

Staff

So helpful with our bags as we arrived well before check in and left after check out but we're able to enjoy our days knowing our bags were safe and waiting

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room and downstairs

SOKI KANAZAWA

Kanazawa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Literally right across from the market and so close to the

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

HOTEL AMANEK HidaTakayama

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Experience Old and Nostalgic Tokyo: Yanaka Walking Tour

Tokyo

Amazing attention to our interest in the route, knowledge of the subject matter

Quality of Experience

The level of attention to how we were and what we wanted to see

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was so kind and genuinely wanted to ensure we had a wonderful time

Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo forest & Garden Half-Day Walking Tour

Kyoto

This was a great tour we were able to see some of the area without crowds and those that were we were able to have the guide navigate us through quickly and efficiently

Quality of Experience

Wonderful locations to explore

Food

This was the only place we were taking to eat in the entirety of our 14 days that was not enjoyed. Unfortunately not as delicious as all the other places we ate

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was so sympathetic to the needs of the people on the tour

Vegetarian Best of Shibuya Food Tour

Tokyo

Absolutely phenomenal food, the tour guide was so great

Quality of Experience

So many great places to try all of the best foods

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Claire was amazing she had so many wonderful stories and was incredibly knowledgeable about the restaurants and the food

Matcha Kyoto Green Tea Tour – Daytime

Kyoto

The quality of the places we visited for this tour were amazing

Quality of Experience

Food

Honestly made me enjoy matcha when I never had before

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Takayama Full-Day Tour with English-Speaking Guide

Takayama

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mitsubishi Kumiko was honestly a shingles star among all the other equally wonderful guides we had, but her enthusiasm and lovely little touches such as a personalized little booklet with our pictures done was so outstanding!

Transfer from Takayama to Kanazawa, including a visit to Shirakawa-go

Japan

A personal driver and luxury car, the amazingly lovely history of the village while being able to enjoy it with as little other people as we were there early was amazing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The driver was incredibly gracious

Transport

The driver and car were both just spectacular

Relaxing Evening: Private Onsen and Kaiseki Dinner

Hakone

The private onsen made me a new person, so relaxing. The food was delectable and divine out of this world

Quality of Experience

The bath surrounded by nature, the food - each course outdid itself

Oboro | Mindful Tea Ceremony in a 100-Year-Old Kyoto Teahouse

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

The solemnity and reverence that the tea master showed and explained was so spiritual

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The tea master made this experience so much more. You could feel the reverence in every movement

Judy and her team did an awesome job working with my sister and me. Kimkim took the budget and time schedule my sister and I had and was able to put together a memorable trip that took us from Tokyo to Hakone to Kyoto.

The tour guide who took us from Tokyo to Hakone was very knowledgeable in history and gave us a rundown of the history of Japan from the warring states period (and the moving of the capital from Kyoto to Tokyo) up to the end of the Meiji restoration. I enjoy learning about history; listening to his explanations was a fun way to fill the silence during our travel time between Tokyo and Hakone.

While our tour in Hakone was mainly riding vehicles (we took a car, a cable car, and later a boat), our trip in Kyoto was a lot more walking (especially uphill). Our tour guide in Kyoto I felt was very considerate on maintaining a pace that wasn't too strenuous with all the inclines. She would make sure to suggest a short break if anyone seemed winded, which I appreciated. The last place she took us to was the 1000 torii gate shrine, which we arrived around 4PM (I'll explain why I included this later). We all walked up probably about 20% up the mountain, past most of the notable gates and the shrine that sells charms/personal sized gates. By this point, the tour guide mentioned that the rest of the mountain is pretty much just more stairs and gates and not much more to see. She asked if we wanted to keep going or if we had seen enough and wanted to turn back around. My sister asked to go a little farther, and the tour guide took us another 5 minutes before my sister and I agreed that we were good with turning back and ending our tour. While we were walking back to the car, I asked our tour guide how long it takes to get to the top and if any groups ever ask her to go all the way to the top with them. She replied that it takes about 2 hours round trip and that earlier this year she had gone to the top with 2 separate groups. I honestly feel like if my sister and I wanted to climb all the way to the top, our guide would have accompanied us, which I appreciate because she never mentioned anything about the time and how it would be at least 6PM if we did the whole mountain. (Side note: the guide told us that the shrine doesn't have a closing time and my sister and I could come back later in the evening if we really wanted to get to the summit. We did.)

Overall, I really enjoyed our trip to Japan and would like to thank Judy and her team once again for the wonderful time they planned for me and my sister. Besides the wonderful guides I mentioned above, the logistics behind the trip were equally well thought out. The hotels they picked for us were fantastic and the transportation between each city were seamless.

Thank you again Kimkim for an awesome trip!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Keihan Tsukiji Ginza Grande

Tokyo

The hotel is very clean and provide complimentary toiletries at the front desk. The staff were very friendly. The breakfast (which I'm not sure if is normally included or was paid through our tour guide) was always well laid out with a good selection to choose from.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tokinoyu Setsugetsuka

Hakone-machi

The hotel is very clean and provide complimentary pajamas you can wear during your stay. They also give you the option to borrow yukatas (free of charge) if you want instead of using their pajamas. The staff were very friendly (although our server during dinner did seem very stressed). The highlight of this hotel/inn is that you can try out their onsen.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Sanjo

Kyoto

The hotel is very clean. The staff were very friendly. The breakfast (which I'm not sure if is normally included or was paid through our tour guide) was always well laid out with a good selection to choose from. The location of the hotel is very good. Once you leave the main entrance, if you go one way, you're a minute walk from the main street with lots of different stores/restaurants to choose from. (There's also a great currency exchange place at the corner of the street for foreigners.) If you go the other way, you're 5 minutes walk away from the metro station. There's also a river you can walk alongside, giving you an alternate path if you don't want to have to walk next to noisy streets.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half Day Bamboo Grove and Monkey Park Tour

Kyoto

The monkeys were very cute. I can tell the staff there really care about the wellbeing of the monkeys because they make sure to sell only 1 bag of snacks to feed the monkeys per group (to ensure no overfeeding).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi Tour

Hakone

My sister and I were very lucky to be able to see the top of Mt Fuji. Our tour guide said normally (unless you go during the winter) the mountain is often hidden behind clouds/fog. Going to the top of Mt. Hakone using the cable car and getting to see the Hakone shrine at the summit of the mountain was very cool. Although it wasn't as flashy as some other shrines we saw later in the trip, it was the most memorable shrine for me since it was the first one on our trip/my first Shinto shrine I've been to. The lake tour was nice, but without our tour guide pointing out the historical checkpoint between Kyoto/Tokyo and explaining the significance of it, I would have probably missed it. Did enjoy sailing past the floating torii gate and seeing the many couples trying to take a picture (apparently if you take a picture with your partner at that gate it will bring good luck to your relationship).

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fushimi Inari Taisha and Kinkakuji Temple

Kyoto

Kinkakuji Temple is very pretty. Sad to hear that the original burned down due to arson. Fushimi Inari Taisha was good cardio.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a varied and busy 10 days. Our favorite hotel was the Ace hotel in Kyoto. We loved the Sumo wrestling academy, a highlight was dinner and spending the evening with the Maiko in Kyoto, and feeding the deer in Nara. I would recommend the “Happy Cow” app to find vegetarian restaurants. We had good guides although I feel we scheduled too many excursions and had more time driving than ideal. One guide Yasuko Nagai was really a gem. She was so knowledgeable and flexible about our itinerary. I like the personalized approach that we get with KimKim. Thank you for your service Ada. The had a great trip.

Thank you, Shona.

Shona did a wonderful job crafting a personalized itinerary for our family. She was patient through multiple revisions to ensure everything was just right, and the result was the trip of a lifetime, filled with memories we will cherish forever!

Tokyo: We loved the Keio Plaza Hotel’s convenient location, helpful staff, and exceptional breakfast buffet. Highlights included the mesmerizing TeamLab Borderless, an outstanding hands-on sushi-making class led by Yummy and Rinako, and a full-day tour with Bea Hirata. Bea was professional, friendly, and attentive, seamlessly guiding us through Asakusa, Sensoji Temple, Tsukiji Market, Meiji Shrine, and Harajuku. Exploring Tsukiji with her was especially memorable, with incredible fresh food and local specialties.

Hakone: This was where Shona and her team truly demonstrated their value. With a typhoon approaching, they quickly adjusted our plans, ensuring Bea and our driver got us safely to Hakone before the storm. Although some activities were canceled, we enjoyed a longer, relaxing onsen experience at the spectacular Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu. The private in-room onsen, mountain views, and outstanding crab and wagyu beef shabu-shabu dinner made this a trip highlight. Without the team’s quick thinking, we might have missed Hakone altogether.

Kyoto and Nara: The Cross Kyoto Hotel was comfortable, well located, and offered an excellent breakfast. Our guide, Hideki (Hal) was good-natured and thorough. He showed us Kyoto’s highlights, including Arashiyama’s bamboo grove, Tenryuji Temple, and Nijo Castle. In Nara, our daughter loved the deer, and Todaiji Temple’s Great Buddha was among the most impressive sights of our trip. Fushimi Inari’s iconic torii gates were unforgettable. We also enjoyed a wonderful calligraphy class with Aya and a magical evening walking tour of Gion with Sophia, whose insights into geisha culture made the experience especially memorable.

Kanazawa and the Countryside: The Hyatt Centric Kanazawa was convenient, comfortable, and close to the station. Nozomi introduced us to a talented ceramic artist and guided us through the samurai and geisha districts, enthusiastically sharing her extensive knowledge of Japanese history. Our final excursion to the UNESCO-listed villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama with Ian was a wonderful way to experience Japan’s beautiful countryside. Ian was attentive, conscientious, and gave us a unique western perspective of life in Japan. He further enriched our cultural immersion by taking us to a well-preserved Gassho-zukuri house, where the owners brought history to life through storytelling and a traditional folk-art dance.

Seamless Logistics and Exceptional Support: Shona arranged excellent private transfers and Shinkansen tickets, making travel between destinations effortless. Our drivers were punctual, professional, and reliable, and the vehicles were immaculate. Shona’s team checked in daily, and our guides and drivers communicated clearly throughout the trip. Most importantly, when unexpected challenges arose, we knew we had knowledgeable, dependable support on the ground.

Overall, we cannot recommend Shona and Kimkim highly enough. From thoughtful planning to flawless execution, their expertise made our family’s Japan adventure truly exceptional. Japan is fascinating, and with the right team, it is an unforgettable destination. Good luck with your trip!

I cannot explain how grateful we are for all of your help planning our trip to Japan.

We had the most magical time and wish we could have stayed longer. From Ellen helping me plan the perfect itinerary to our guides- Yuki, Tammy, Meri and Nao, and all of our drivers, we are so thankful for your knowledge and help and expertise in making sure that all of us enjoyed the tours- from my kids (ages 6 and up) to my mom. You all really helped to craft the trip of our dreams. I cannot thank you enough. Your country is filled with peace and culture that can only be truly appreciated when you walk the streets and meet the wonderfully kind people that Japan is filled with.

Thank you doesn’t really convey the appreciation that I have for you all. We will be back one day and would be honored to use your services again! We loved every moment.

Hotel Reviews

Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku

Tokyo

The location was PERFECTION! The staff was kind and accommodating. The rooms were comfortable and so clean! We loved the breakfast. This was perfect for our family. Arigatō gozaimasu

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easily walkable to amazing restaurants and sites

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms were spotless. Beds were comfortable.

Cross Hotel Kyoto

Kyoto

Beautiful hotel in a perfect location. Close to many things. Super comfortable and clean. Has a wonderful breakfast!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Easily walkable to amazing things! Close to many restaurants.

Staff

Super nice and accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfortable beds. Rooms were spotless and comfortable.

Activity Reviews

*Private Samurai Swordsmanship and Katana Experience in Tokyo

Tokyo

What an amazing experience and a top highlight for my boys! Everyone was so helpful and knowledgeable and kind. We learned a lot about katanas and respect and fighting. My kids won’t stop talking about it! It was also so fun for adults. We loved every second! Thank you so much for this recommendation.

Quality of Experience

The expertise was unmatched and the passion behind it was contagious! Amazing!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Everyone was so passionate and patient.

Transport

We took a taxi here and it was easy to find.

*Private Guided Tour in Kyoto: Heritage and Timeless Paths

Kyoto

Tammy made this trip for us! She is a wealth of knowledge and expertise. We could not be more thankful for her and her time spent with us. We learned so much and visited life changing locations. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! We want to come back so badly!

Quality of Experience

Tammy was the absolute best! We love her and the locations she helped choose to take us. Thank you!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tammy was like part of our family and knew exactly how to keep my 3 boys interested in everything we were doing.

Transport

Our driver was so nice and accommodating. Transport was easy and efficient.

*Group Exciting Sumo Live Performance with Traditional Hot Pot Meal

Tokyo

From Genki and Kao to the MC, this experience was so fun and entertaining. The Chanko Hot Pot prepared for us by Kao (one of the wrestlers) was delicious! We learned so much about sumo and had a blast!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Everyone was so kind and fun!

*Private Experience a Classic Japanese Game an Apprentice Geisha

Kyoto

This experience was really special. What a beautiful form of art and culture. We really enjoyed our time with the Maiko! She was eloquent, super sweet and knowledgeable. The fan tossing game was so fun and my kids want to buy a version of it now! :) We love our hand painted fans we got from the shop and feel very fortunate to have had this experience.

Quality of Experience

A beautiful experience and fun for all!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Maiko was a beautiful soul inside and out. We learned so much from everyone there. Thank you!

Transport

We walked with Tammy to the location and it was great!

*Private Guided Tour in Tokyo: Highlights and Hidden Gems

Tokyo

Yuki was amazing! She took us to great locations in Tokyo and we learned so much! We loved it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Everyone was so nice and patient!

Transport

We had so much help navigating the trains. The drivers were awesome too!

*Private Guided Tour in Hakone: Nature and Art Escape

Hakone

Although we didn’t get to see Mount Fuji due to the clouds, we had the best time riding the pirate ship, climbing up the mountain in a gondola and adding seven years to our lives by eating the infamous black eggs! We entered the day by going to the Hakone Open Air Art Museum, which was incredible for adults and children! The kids could run around and they were interactive art installations where they could climb and play.

Quality of Experience

Beautiful scenery and great food and tour

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yuki was great and we had a blast. The drivers were so nice and even bought my children some snacks!

Transport

Amazing drivers! They were super sweet!!!

*Private Guided Tour in Nara: Temples, Deer and Sacred Traditions

Japan

Nara is quite the experience! The bowing deer are definitely a highlight of the trip. My children loved petting them and feeding them. We had no problems with them being aggressive, like some other reviews I read, and we had the best time. The temple was incredible. We went to an animal café afterwards, and held some amazing animals. Meri was super sweet and fun as a guide! Thank you so much!!!

Quality of Experience

Fun from the time you exit the train!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The train ride was pretty special! Meri was awesome and so sweet! She knows so much about the area too. :)

Transport

Beautiful train and train ride up to Nara!

*Private Hiking tour around a Hidden Route of Fushimi Inari Taisha with a Local Lunch

Kyoto

Nao was an amazing guide! We had the best hike up to the top of the mountain passing bamboo forests and shrines. What an incredible place and has to be my favorite shrine of the trip! It is beautiful there and we even had the opportunity to meet a wonderful and kind man who makes the torii gates by hand. He’s done this for 50 years. He even let my boys try his special tools! It was a special experience that we will never forget!

Quality of Experience

The hike, the special woodworking experience and the overall beauty of the shrines.

Food

Our soba lunch was excellent!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nao was great and energetic and knowledgable!

Transport

We went by train and it was super easy.

*Group Postcard making with Washi traditional paper and pressed flowers

Kyoto

I never in my life imagined how much goes into making washi paper from start to finish. Wow! We learned a lot and had such a great time! Everyone there was super nice and talented. We all enjoyed making our paper and decorating it with the dried plants and flowers. We would love to come back and make other things one day!!!! Thank you so much for helping us and this experience! We loved it!

Quality of Experience

A unique and amazing experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The staff was the best! Everyone was so helpful and kind!

Transport

We walked there with no issues.

The Guides, who assisted us in each city were absolutely outstanding. The kimkim logistics of arranging hotels and notifying us who and where we would be met and transferred was terrible. We had to reach out to KimKim multiple times to receive answers. Our local agent was unresponsive during the trip... we had to reach out repeatedly. This was my 4th KimKim trip. We reserved western style rooms in hotels twice and received futon bedding laid directly on the floor and were told western beds would cost several hundred dollars per night additional. We deliberately arranged several nights of ryokan experience. Kimkim was unresponsive. Please understand we LOVED our Japan experience. Kim Kim was terrible! There will not be another KimKim experience.

Adeline went above and beyond to help with out complex group of 11 trying to book a Ryokan in Japan. Without her help we would have never been able to accomplish this. I greatly appreciated all her help and will definitely reach out to her as needed for future trips and will recommend her to others. Our booking with her was went off flawlessly and was everything we were hoping for. Extremely satisfied!

We really enjoyed Uni, our guide for the food tour. He spoke fluent English and was very personable. Cannon was very responsive and helpful. The employees at the Ryokan Gyokutei were wonderful the entire stay, serving us dinner even though we were late because of traffic. We loved the facility. Unfortunately alot of our drivers didn't speak English so it was difficult to communicate with them. The drop off at airport on the last day was disappointing. We were very confused about where to meet our driver at the train station. He seemed to be rushed and dropped us off far from the doors of the airport. We would have liked more guidance on how much time to allot to each activity so that we wouldn't fall behind on our itinerary.

We loved our trip to Japan with Kimkim. Bella was wonderful - very detailed oriented, always available when we needed her both prior and during the trip and very thoughtful and generous. We also thought the guides, Peter and Hiroshi were wonderful and great photographers too! Thank you so much for making our trip so memorable and we love the video present at the end of the trip, a wonderful memory! Thank you Bella for all your hard work and professionalism. We will definitely book another trip with you.

Hotel Reviews

Shiba Park Hotel

Tokyo

Hotel Vischio Kyoto by GRANVIA

Kyoto

Hakone Hotel Kajikaso

Hakone

Cleanliness & Comfort

Oni No Sumika

Shuzenji Onsen

Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel Ginza

Tokyo

Activity Review

Arashiyama Hidden Gems, Autumn Garden & Traditional Ikebana Experience （Private Guide &Public Transportation）

Kyoto

This was our first “vacation” trip to Japan and we wanted to blend a traditional travel trip with a cruise that also covered Japan. Angel was able to make this happen very well, adding some hiking elements that were perhaps not on your typical US travelers wish list.

Hotel Reviews

Asakusa Tobu Hotel

Great location to many sites, restaurants, and the subway

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hakone Hotel Kajikaso

Hakone

It appears to be a nice hotel. Unfortunately the arrival time ( 5 pm ) and an early morning departure time ( 7 am) didn’t allow us to enjoy the facility. I think the travel TO the hotel was way too long ( not the hotel’s fault but a travel planning fault )

Authenticity & Character

full traditional experience

Location

Train station error. The trip plan did not specify that the local station was 30 minutes from the station we needed to be at for our travel

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Taoya Kisoji

Tsumago

Following the experience in Hakone, this hotel seems large and not comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Felt like a Disney land hotel

Location

Probably our worst KimKim moment when after a tough hike we realized the hotel was 2 miles away from the end of the hike with no easy way to get to the hotel. We ended up with a taxi, but were very frustrated

Staff

Really didn’t see much of the staff. Cafeteria style dining was just too much

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kiso Mikawaya

Kiso-Fukushima

While the property doesn’t look very good, the river front option for the room and dining area was great

Authenticity & Character

Again the look of the hotel is not appealing to the eye

Location

convenient to the hike

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

BYAKU Narai

Narai

My wife and I are “split” on this hotel. It’s nicely restored in a beautiful town along the trail. But the windowless room was a real problem for me.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful restored property

Location

Right on the trail.

Staff

nice and helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Window less room was a problem

Onyado Nono Matsumoto Natural Hot Spring

Nice blend of modern and traditional Japanese hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kanazawa-Eki Nishiguchi

Kanazawa

Really liked this hotel - near good shopping and the train station

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walkable from the train station

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Richmond Hotel Premier Kyoto Ekimae

Kyoto

Nice location near the train station, which is amazing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi & Oishi Park

Japan

Driver was on time. But the activities were boring. The restaurant recommended by the guide was very overpriced ( our most expensive meal on a 40 day trip )

Quality of Experience

Not much to see

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Again, I felt the driver was only focused on the dining experience. And we kindly paid for his lunch at an expensive tourist trap

Transport

He was on time,, and had a nice van

Tokyo Highlights Day Tour with Tsukiji Outer Fish Market

Tokyo

Our guide, Ayumi, was excellent! She helped us navigate the practicalities of the Japanese train system and Tokyo subway (use of the Suica Card)…as well as provided an overall overview of Japanese history, culture and religion. In addition, she made wonderful recommendations for dining and activities for us for the remaining days in which we were on our own. Her English was also excellent. She refused accepting a tip from us saying it was not the Japanese custom.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Good to experience subway in Tokyo. (Angel, you might disclose up front that Tokyo uses subway extensively …and that while crowding is common, the trains run on time AND are easy to navigate since they have English)

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

This was a highlight of our trip: it felt authentic and gracious, showcasing an important Japanese custom without cheapening the experience. This Tea Ceremony experience is a MUST!

Quality of Experience

5:00 PM time was perfect! Need to disclose that one should arrive at 30 minutes before to ensure enough time to change clothes and take pictures.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Need to disclose that the location of the ceremony required a cab drive since it was somewhat removed from our hotel (though we walked back using Google Maps)

Kanazawa Full Day Walking Tour

Kanazawa

Great mix of sites and places, Nice use of bus and taxi to help out

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Saya was very knowledgeable and we enjoyed spending the day with her.

Transport

Full Day Gokayama and Shirakawago Tour from Kanazawa

Japan

There was still more to do in Kanazawa versus going by car to Gokayama. And both sites we visited seemed to be the same

Quality of Experience

Boring

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Driver was nice but seemed to be in a hurry

Transport

Didn’t like being in a taxi versus a car

Kyoto's Cultural Treasures: Fushimi Inari-Taisha, Nijo Castle and Kinkaku-ji

Japan

Yuki was an exceptional guide and with so much to see in Kyoto was able to give us a quality experience. Many sites in Kyoto were very crowded, however

Quality of Experience

good pace. Detailed explanations of Japanese culture

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Good use of public transporation

Transport

Full Day Tour of Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Sagano Scenic Railway

Kyoto

The second day in Kyoto was a good shift from the first. Nice to see the landscape around the city

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half day with Osaka Castle

Japan

Our driver/guide was on time and very knowledgeable. He spoke very good English, too

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I appreciate that we made sure we were at the cruise port before departing

Transport

Lenny and the entire team made this trip a memorable experience.

Bella did an amazing job of coordinating an unforgettable trip to Japan for my mother, sister and me. She was extraordinarily proactive during the trip, providing detailed overviews of the upcoming itinerary each day during the trip with tips on how to best enjoy our time. We had one day with some minor issues (a venue we were supposed to visit was closed for the day) and when we mentioned this disappointment she immediately responded by booking (and paying for) an unforgettable traditional Japanese lunch the next day to make up for the inconvenience. Our local guides (Peter in Tokyo and Hakone and Hiroshi in Kyoto) were wonderful - and both took many, many photos which was much appreciated as it’s rare to have so many photos of your whole group since someone in the group is usually the primary photographer. Overall a wonderful experience!

I was planning a two-week trip to Japan as a surprise for my partner. We didn't want to be part of a tour group, and wanted it to be a couple's trip fir the two of us. We had never been to Japan, and I started by looking at guide books but it was so overwhelming. I foudn kimkim online, and the reviews were good. I reached out through kimkim about a year and a half before our trip, and the local expert, Olivia, was so patient with me. She asked me our interests, and suggested an amazing itinerary, to introduce us to history, art and culture in Japan. She listened and helped me tweak certain parts of itinerary. She set us up with English-speaking guides in Tokyo, Kanazawa, Shirakawa-go, Kyoto, Nara and Osaka, and suggested other places in each town that we could explore on our own. Once we arrived at the airport, there was a driver there to meet us, and we had specific information (in my kimkim app!) for every tour guide who would meet us, every hotel, all transportation, and our itinerary was fool proof. There was also flexibility so we could explore on our own, as we wanted. Every stop was seamless, and we felt so well taken care of everywhere we went. I recommend kimkim and Olivia very highly and have already recommended them to friends who are planning a trip to Japan. We loved our trip and plan to come back, and will contact kimkim again. Arigato!

Hotel Reviews

Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku

Tokyo

Fantastic location in Asakusa! Plenty of things to walk to from this hotel, and easy to get to other venues (like Meiji shrine and Imperial Palace Gardens). Excellent breakfast. Will go back when we visit Tokyo again.

Authenticity & Character

Modern and clean, great breakfast with Japanese and western selections

Location

Great walkability

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora by IHG

Hakone-machi Ashigarashimo gun

The hotel was elegant and the in-room onsen bath was AMAZING. What holds it back from 5 stars was that ours came with a pre-selected dinner that wasn't great, and the hotel felt more corporate than authentic. The breakfast was much better than the dinner.

Authenticity & Character

Onsen bath was great. The hotel and staff felt corporate

Location

We arrived by taxi -- nowhere to go but the hotel for dinner

Staff

Nice and attentive, but corporate

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was great and the bed was really comfortable

Mitsui Garden Hotel Kanazawa

Kanazawa

Onsen on the roof made this a great experience. We could walk everywhere we wanted to go from this hotel. And the obansai breakfast buffet was the best we had in Japan.

Authenticity & Character

Try the Onsen! Having this truly Japanese experience was great. And the Obansai buffet was incredible for breakfast!

Location

Central Kanazawa near the Omicho market

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

FAV LUX HIDATAKAYAMA

Even though the hotel was built recently, it felt dated and tired. If you are a family traveling and need a room with lots of beds, it might make sense, but we were a couple traveling without kids and we could hear the kids in the room next door late into the night.

Authenticity & Character

The breakfast was really limited.

Location

It was near the train station, like a lot of other hotels, but the neighborhood at night felt deserted

Staff

Staff was friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

The carpet was dated, and the bathroom had a window into it from the bedroom. It was odd.

Mercure Kyoto Station

Kyoto

The hotel had a terrific staff and an excellent restaurant. The breakfasts were great -- lots of Japanese and western options. Our room was very comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Modern and clean, but we definitely felt like we were in Japan with the great meals and decor

Location

Easy to get to with our bags from the Kyoto Station

Staff

Friendly and helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mercure Tokyu Stay Osaka Namba

Osaka

Good location and comfortable room

Authenticity & Character

Good breakfast options -- lots of Japanese selections as well as westerno options

Location

We were located near the prime shopping area of Osaka

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bathtub in our room was great!

Activity Reviews

Half Day Artisan Tour in Kanazawa

Kanazawa

Our English speaking guide took us to the outskirts of Kanazawa where we met a kimono maker. He told us (through our translator) about his artistic process, how kimonos are made (hand-painted and dyed), and showed us some of his work and techniques. One of the most memorable experiences of our trip!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Shirakawa-go, Hida Furukawa, and Takayama Tour from Kanazawa

Kanazawa

Our driver and guide, Junpei, was very knowledgable and so courteous. He was able to give us a lot of history about the towns. The house tour in Shirakawa-go was incredible.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Junpei was amazing! We learned so much from him!

Transport

Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Nijo Castle, Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Fushimi Inari-Taisha

Kyoto

Our tour guide, Yvonne, was terrific. She explained the history (which we were really interested in) and showed us so many things that make Kyoto such a special place.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yvonne was amazing. She was extremely knowledgable about Kyoto! And so friendly and patient! She took us by train and taxi around the city, in ways we couldn't have navigated alone.

Transport

Sightseeing in Arashiyama - Boat Ride and Bamboo Grove

Kyoto

I didn't know what to expect but this peaceful day and beautiful day was a highlight of our trip.

Quality of Experience

It was so peaceful and serene, it was immersive for us

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yvonne was great guiding us to the boat, to visit a temple and into the bamboo grove (and insearch of matcha ice cream!)

Transport

We took a very comfortable train, with our guide's help

Tokyo: Sumo Tournament with Guide & Assigned Reserved Seat

Tokyo

If I had to choose ONE favorite thing about the trip, it would be the Sumo tournament. The pageantry was incredible. We loved the experience of watching sumo with 11,000 people. And the explanatory guide before hand was terrific.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Before the tournament we had an English-speaking tour guide (from a Latin country) who loved sumo. He was so enthusiastic that we got very excited for the tournament before we went in to see it.

Transfer from Kyoto to Osaka via Nara

Japan

Nara was beautiful, and the bowing deer have to be seen to be appreciated. I had read about the deer, but didn't understand how different they were to all the deer I'd ever seen. Really amazing and a highlight of our trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yvonne told us a lot about the temple, "Buddha's nose" and how to feed the deer.

Transport

kimkim arranged a private car.

Half Day Imperial Palace East Gardens and Senso-ji Tour

Tokyo

Sarah, our tour guide, was great. It was our first day in Tokyo and she took us on the subway (quite the experience) to the Imperial Palace garden and then to Senso-ji. She told us about the history, the traditions at the temple (handwashing, for example) and we felt like we got a grasp the first day. Both of these sites are really worth seeing in Tokyo.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sarah was terrific

Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Japan

Masa was a great guide to food and Osaka culture. We had a small group, and he listened to what we were interested in (and we got to do some cooking at our last stop!)

Quality of Experience

We went to a part of Osaka we would not have found on our own!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Masa was amazing!

Transport

Went by subway which was fun!

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

Dressing in a kimono and learning about the tea ceremony was a highlight of the trip.

Quality of Experience

The ladies who helped us dress in kimono and do our hair added to a great experience. We learned a lot about japanese culture and courtesy.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Samurai and Ninja Museum with Experience

Kyoto

This turned out to be even more interesting than we expected. There was so much excellent history about the samurai and Shogunate that we were able to get a lot more context for the history of Japan as a whole.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Leny was great! She planned a great trip for me to Hakone. The hotel was so good and very traditional with a private onsen in it which was brilliant. I also loved being on Lake Ashi, the tea house and just walking around Hakone. Hakone is truly a place to escape and the surroundings are tranquil. Definitely highly recommended if you want to relax and get away to a quiet place. Leny also provided me with a good local guide Mitsuri-san and he was excellent. Made my trip very special by taking me to some non touristy spots

Hotel Reviews

Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu

Hakone

Loved the traditional ryokan style hotel. It was very clean and spacious. Having a balcony looking out to the greenery, the forest was breathtaking. The balcony also had a superb private onsen and it was truly a nice traditional Japanese experience. The breakfast and dinner was excellent!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hyatt Tokyo

tokyo

Outstanding hotel. The location was perfect to go around to nearby places. Loved going to some quiet local areas recommended by the hotel. Location in Mimato and the Roponngi area made it special. The staff at the hotel know how to curate trips and experiences for you. The food and restaurants are of very high quality. Breakfast was excellent. The traditional Japanese food and the European breakfast was of very high quality The room was very spacious. Loved the pool and the workout area. The workout area can be improved. It was tight and claustrophobic. But on the whole the pool and gym was good. Staff are very polite and lovely

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hidden Hakone: Scenic Views, Local Traditions & Quiet Nature

Hakone

Had a great tour guide Mitsuri san. He did a fantastic job.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Hakone!

Hakone

Welcome (Yokoso) to Tokyo!

Japan

Cannon was amazing. He helped plan the trip making revisions as we discovered places we wanted to see. A few days before we left he reviewed the itinerary with us, answering our last minute questions, which was super helpful. His suggestion for Kim Kim to provide private transportation for us from and to the airport made the trip so much easier. We took one suitcase that was larger than carry on, and he arranged our train tickets to provide space in the oversize luggage area of the train car, making managing our luggage as we moved from town to town easy. He really "listened" to our description of the kind of trip we wanted. We ended up with the perfect mix of group tours, a private tour for one day and lots of time on our own. The hotels were great, and he helped in the planning so we only stayed in 4 cities ( I did not want to move too often) but the helped us get some day trips to other cities/sites we wanted to see. He listed in our itinerary directions for using public transportation and times of day to visit certain sites. Once we were in Japan, he responded to our questions with suggestions for transportation (IE when a train or taxi was the best option) and restaurants. His restaurant suggestions provided us with a wide variety of various types of Japanese dishes. Cannon responded quickly to our questions. He often offered options for site seeing with the pro and cons of each. We had a great time and are thankful to Cannon,

Hotel Review

The Hotel Sanraku Kanazawa

Kanazawa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Hidden Fushimi Inari Hiking Adventure: Discover Kyoto Beyond the Crowds

Japan

The hike was great. We saw and learned so much on the way to Fushimi Inari. Our guide was very knowledgeable. It was fairly strenuous; my knees are weak and I used a hiking stick. There were lots of stairs, some without rails. I am so glad I did this hike and would do it again.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

1 Day Tour from Kanazawa: Shirakawa-go, Gokayama and Wood Carving Village

Kanazawa

The day was great. I appreciated the stops especially seeing Ainokura and being able to make paper! The transportation was good, group size large enough to enjoy others insights and small enough to be able to ask questions.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All were courteous, helpful and considerate. Guide very knowledgeable.

Transport

The tour was very very good overall. The hotels were probably two star hotel, very small rooms, OK breakfast, except the one in Hakone ( very interesting hotel). The most interesting part of our tour was our visit to Biovortex (Kyoto). Origami in Tokyo was fun and appreciated. Shirakawa-goh and Gokayama trips were very interesting too. All the shrine/temple visit recommendations were good, Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine and Daisho-in Temple were our favorite and we learned a lot. Visit to Hakone and cable car and rope car rides were excellent. As for guides and drivers, Mr Ko was ok, could have been more helpful with luggage. Mr. Motoki Watanabe and Mr. Masahiko Joguchi were excellent guides. Ms. Tomo was very good and tried her best. The guide from Snow Monkey (Justin) was good, he was disturbed by other tour participants, they were trying to do their own thing and getting separated from the group. And finally Mr. Yuan (driver to Tokyo) was extremely helpful A++.
The trip transportation arrangement was very good and timely, seat selections were appreciated. Thank you Cannon. We are experts in Japan’s transport system now.
We also visited YUSAI-TEI House in Kyoto, on our own( friend’s recommendation), we recommend that it should be recommended to others who are planning this tour. Restaurant recommendations will be helpful too. Our most favorite parts were Biovortex (unexpectedly excellent) and YUSAI-TEI and navigating the transport system. All was great.

I am so appreciative of all of the helpful advice, support and arrangements made by Olivia! This was our first trip to Japan, and she patiently provided options and advice to build an itinerary around our interests and budget. With Olivia, we were able to build a good mix of planned activities and unplanned free time, and set a relaxed pace that best suited us. Once we were in Japan, she was also extremely helpful in making some last minute changes when an excursions and or hotel accommodation did not go as planned. We had a wonderful trip. Thank you, KimKim!