Kimkim Trip Reviews for Japan

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.

Ben was exceptional every step of the way. Communication before, during, and after the trip has amazing. He was available for the family every day and made adjustments as needed. Not to mention planning a dream itinerary for a family of 5. I highly recommend him and will definately book with him again. Thank you Ben!!

Kimkim and our local specialist, Bella, made our trip to Japan an unforgettable experience. Every arrangement went smoothly, and Bella was able to create an itinerary that fully met our needs. Our local guides got us off to a good start in Tokyo and Kyoto, enabling us to navigate public transportation for our own adventures. Bella was available to us for any questions throughout the trip. This is our second Kimkim trip and we are sold on their service!

Hotel Reviews

Millennium Mitsui Garden Hotel Tokyo / Ginza

Luxury experience with excellent breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Centrally located in Tokyo

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kayotei Ryokan

This is Japanese hospitality at its finest. Tomo was our gracious hostess. Beautiful setting and gorgeous appointments within the ryokan.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Yamanaka is a walkable small town with artists and a local lacquerware factory that is very interesting. The nearby gorge is stunning.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mitsui garden Hotel Kyoto Station

Kyoyo

Lovely hotel with gracious staff and a delicious breakfast. The room was small, but completely adequate.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Day tour by public transport in Kyoto: Fushimi Inari Shrine, Nishiki Market , Artisan Experience and Gion

Kyoto

We thoroughly enjoyed our guide, who was personable and very responsive to our needs for the tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kyoto Gardens, Philosopher’s Path & Tea Ceremony Experience (Private Guide & Public Transportation)

Kyoto

One of our favorite days, visiting the Botanical Gardens and the gorgeous scenery around the Philosopher's path, and the nearby Silver Temple.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tokyo Cultural Icons & Evening Food Experience (Private Guide & Public Transportation)

Tokyo

We enjoyed the history that our guide, Hal, shared with us. We covered both old and new parts of Tokyo.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

All of the guides were excellent and everything was well planned and coordinated. Great hotels.

Hotel Reviews

Shiba Park Hotel

Tokyo

Good location. Great buffet. But rooms are rather small.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu

Hakone

A great experience! Nice amenities and balcony view with hot spring water was amazing. Loved the free ice cream and beverages!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Kanra Kyoto

Kyoto

Very cool rooms with ab excellent buffet.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

One Day Miyajima Island and Hiroshima Tour

Japan

Very moving museum experience. Wish we could spend more time on island.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tokyo Highlights: A Day of Tradional & Modern Culture with Local Life

Tokyo

Nice tour of Tokyo.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi Tour with Hakone Tozan Railway

Japan

Very scenic. Couldn't see Mt Fuji but I hear that is fairly typical. Interesting ride up the mountain and nice boat tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Osaka Castle, Shitennoji Temple, Umeda Sky Building and Shinsaibashi Tour

Osaka

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Tour of Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Sagano Scenic Railway

Kyoto

Great tour. Wish we could have spent more time in certain places but we packed a lot in.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

Very nice but didn't find it all that compelling.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Official Street Go-Kart Tour - Osaka Shop

Osaka

A lot of fun!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Nara Kofuku-ji, Todai-ji, and Isuien Garden Tour

Kyoto

Interesting tour but a bit repetitive from what we've done elsewhere.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Overall, our 24 day trip with our two adult children (4 people all together) to Japan was outstanding. Ada with Kimkim was exceptionally responsive in our trip preparation and spared us numerous booking details, transportation logistics, ticket purchasing and itinerary planning, while still allowing lots of flexibility for us to modify most of our days. The private tours we signed up for were all worthwhile— only 6 in 24 days, and most guides managed with fair English but were very thoughtful, attentive and responsive. JJ, Jo, Kei, Kay, Ayumi and especially David in Kanazawa were excellent. There were only a couple minor glitches; once with using the odd double ticket needed for the Shinkansen, and once when a museum on our itinerary was closed the day we were supposed to go. But we shuffled the itinerary to make it work. Kimkim took note and even reimbursed one transfer for our unused tickets.
Kimkim is a great service. Professional, exacting, customizable, responsible. Paying a bit more if any in booking fees is totally worth having an organized trip, especially in a country like Japan, spread out over a large area, with mobs of people, many travel connections, almost no English speakers, and trekking off the beaten path. We highly recommend Kimkim for any travel, long or short, comfort driven or off the beaten path.

M

Hotel Reviews

Sotetsu Fresa Inn Kyoto-Kiyomizu Gojo

kyoto

Great breakfast, service, location and accommodations

Authenticity & Character

Location

Convenient to train and walking to sites

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The beds were excellent and attention to detail was superb all around

Taoya Kisoji

Tsumago

Luxurious! Very generous free snacks room and especially good complementary massage chairs. Memorable stay

Authenticity & Character

Location

Off the beaten path in small town but outstanding service and everything you could want coming off the Nakasendo trail.

Staff

Activity Reviews

Full Day Gokayama and Shirakawago Tour from Kanazawa

Japan

Great slice of a very different side of Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

“K” Katsuhiko was so friendly, kind and helpful

Tokyo Highlights: A Day of Tradional & Modern Culture with Local Life

Tokyo

Ayumi was wonderful. The pace, sites, explanations of culture, shrines and temples were very good and thorough. She also had inside knowledge of a food place to buy Japanese knives away from some overpriced options.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Got to where we wanted to go efficiently

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi with Oishi Park

Japan

Gorgeous setting but quite a long drive to see Mt Fugi from a distance. Fugiyoshida is a lovely setting with a beautiful park. But it was the most touristy of our excursions. Especially the boat ride.

Quality of Experience

JJ was great. Would probably select a different king of excursion

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Kyoto City Tour (Kinkaku-ji Temple, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Nijo Castle and Fushimi-Inari Taisha)

Kyoto

The heart and soul of Japanese castles and shrines to immerse you in the Shinto / Buddhist cultural icons

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Helped explain so many symbols and rituals

Full Day Miyajima Island and Memorial Park Tour

Hiroshima

Must see if you have any interest in Hiroshima history and environs, past and present.

1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys, Zenkoji Temple & Sake in Nagano (Join-in)

Japan

On the surface it can feel touristy, but this is not a zoo. More like a National Geographic excursion to the truly phenomenal evolution of a troop of unique Macaque monkeys.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Night Tour of Kanawaza With Dinner

Kanazawa

One of the most detailed and entertaining tours we did. David was outstanding. Focused on stories more than just interesting history. Interacted with the group exceptionally and added his own fun trivia game at the end to help reinforce what we learned.

Quality of Experience

Food

Out of the way restaurant that felt like the home of a local

Guides, Drivers and Staff

See above.

Transport

What a wonderful experience in Japan. Thank you, Kimkim for making all the arrangements and being there so quickly to respond when we had a question. We visited Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyoto, and Tokyo. All of our guides were very informative, and helpful with all the transportation. I absolutely love the culture in Japan. I do recommend visiting there. I love how respectful, clean, and spiritual the Japanese are. Thank you for a wonderful vacation!😎🥰😊

Activity Reviews

Day Trip to Miyajima Island: Floating Torii Gate & Kayaking &Hiking

Hiroshima

Osaka Exploration: Castle, Cuisine, and Sky-high Views (full day tour by public transport)

Osaka

Yummy

Guided tour with public transfer from Osaka: World Heritage Himeji Castle Visiting & Kobe Beef Sampling

Osaka

Beautiful

Hozugawa River Boat Ride and Arashiyama Exploration and Japanese tea ceremony (Private Guide &Public Transportation)

Kyoto

Loved this

Mt. Fuji Scenic Tour with Whisky Tasting by private transfer

Tokyo

Breathtaking 😍

Guided Tokyo City Highlights & Transfer to Disney Area (Private Guide & Private Vehicle)

Tokyo

Wow!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Tokyo Highlights: Imperial Palace, Tsukiji & Trendy Neighborhoods（Private Guide & Public Transportation）

Tokyo

Day tour by public transport in Kyoto: Fushimi Inari Shrine, Nikishi Market , Samurai and Ninja Museum and Traditional Art Performance

Kyoto

Enjoy walking around the local market

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

Hiroshima

Definitely educational and surreal

We had the best trip with KimKim to Japan! I loved working with Eleanor, she communicated quickly and throughout the entire process of planning, updating things along the way that we asked for, as well as updated us throughout the trip! Having the help planning and scheduling our Japan trip was so nice and easy! And it was easy to tailor the trip to what we wanted to do etc. I highly recommend this company and Eleanor! Thank you so much! Worth every penny!

Activity Reviews

Enjoy a Guided Tour of Tokyo with teamLab Planets

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Miyajima Half-day Trip Historical Walking Tour

Japan

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kyoto Historical Highlights Bike Tour with UNESCO Zen Temples

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Onsen, Ryokan, and Mt. Fuji Experience in Hakone

Hakone

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cannon and our drivers did an amazing job helping us navigate through Japan! We couldn't have done it with without them! It put us at ease knowing we had accommodations, transportation and itinerary planned out.

Hotel Reviews

the b asakusa

Tokyo

Clean, comfy, great location and good breakfast!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Next to subway stations and tourists attractions

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Park Hotel Kyoto

Kyoto

Clean, comfy, safe and great location!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Near train station!

Staff

Kind, friendly and accommodating!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Fresh bedding and towels daily

Activity Review

Osaka & Nara Day Trip with Osaka Castle and Minoh Park

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A huge thank you to Shona for keeping up with the last minute changes and odd requests. Our last day of travel wasn't clear and a bit confusing, which almost made us miss our train. Thankfully, I Googled how to get to our final destination and saw that we had to travel to a different train station with barely enough time to get on the Shinkansen.

I think we had the best guides ever! Moto, Yasuko, and Fuji. We had so much packed in on the first day, Moto didn't miss a beat and we were able to do everything on our list and then some. We were especially thankful to Fuji for allowing extra time wherever there was water to allow my son to hang out with the fish for a bit.

All-in-all, it was a great trip and so much less stressful than if I had tried to plan it myself. We had no issues, great communication with everyone, fantastic hotels, lovely breakfasts, and a trip we will never forget.

Hotel Reviews

KOKO HOTEL Tsukiji Ginza

Tokyo

We were so busy that we didn't have time to use the amenities that the hotel offers except breakfast and the laundry. The breakfast wasn't as luxurious as some of our other hotels we stayed at, but again, this hotel isn't as big and for the size, the breakfast was perfect. There was enough "western" type foods that we could eat and the Japanese type foods were really good. The laundry was cheap and unlike bigger hotels, not as crowded, so we had no issues using 1 of the 2 machines. I would definitely stay here again.

Authenticity & Character

Location

A quick walk to the subway and the river.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Vischio Kyoto by GRANVIA

Kyoto

This was a great place to stay. The rooms were modern and nice. The breakfast was amazing. So many yummy options. They get extra points for having massage chairs (paid) especially after a long day of walking around. Located so close to the train station, you don't have to go far to find anything you need.

Authenticity & Character

I thought this hotel was extremely modern and besides the toilet, you wouldn't know you were in Japan. I didn't have any issues with that though because it was extremely comfortable and nice, which is what you want on a long trip.

Location

Right across from the train station!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Monterey Le Frere Osaka

Osaka

I enjoyed the location of this hotel. It is a bit of a walk to the train station, but if you get on the street side, you can look over the city a bit which was a lot of fun for us. It was a tad loud when sirens or loud cars went down the road, but honestly, I thought that was all part of the experience. Ear plugs helped too. The breakfast buffet was absolutely amazing. We weren't here long enough to use any of the amenities, but what we did use, we enjoyed.

Authenticity & Character

It was your typical modern hotel. I didn't have any issues with it because it was comfortable.

Location

A bit of a walk from the train station and noisy, depending on what side you're on.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Nara City Tour: Nara Park, Todai-Ji Temple and More

Kyoto

Feeding the deer is one thing, but just being able to be next to them and pet them like it's no big deal is another. Such an amazing experience to get so close to those magical creatures.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yasuko knew exactly what to do when we get to Nara to make sure our experience was a good one.

Transport

Japan has their public transportation figured out!

Half Day Bamboo Grove and Monkey Park Tour

Kyoto

The bamboo is gorgeous, the hike up the mountain was pretty, and the monkeys were amazing. Getting to feed the younger monkeys was my favorite.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fuji was great!

Transport

Public transportation for the win!

Full Day Tokyo City Tour with Akihabara district 1.

Tokyo

This was a looong day. We basically had to speed walk everywhere to fit everything in. I would recommend if this is on your itinerary, to do it the first day you are there because you won't have the steam to this much stuff later on in your trip. We even had our guide take us on a side quest to the Shibuya Scramble Crossing, which he graciously did.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Moto was fantastic!

Transport

Public transportation for the win!

Samurai and Ninja Museum with Experience

Kyoto

I like this museum because it was just enough. I didn't realize we got a tour guide once we were in there, so that was a bonus.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide in the museum was funny and spoke decent English.

Transport

We walked there, which was such a great walk. We found some great stuff on the way that we would've missed had we drove.

Half day: Gion Kagai Art Museum and Nijo Castle

Japan

The only reason I'm not giving this 5 stars is because I think the Art Museum wasn't all that great. The museum itself is really small, but being able to see the geiko perform was worth going! What an amazing experience. Nijo Castle was really cool. Some stuff on TV was shot there, so it was neat to see it in person, but also, just being in there thinking how they used to live and operate, was cool.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Fuji was amazing!

Transport

Public transportation for the win!

An adventure to remember with memories, people and activity. Ben and KIMKIM went beyond with solutions that will always be cherished. In our original discussion with Ben we asked for our adventure of Japan to be our adventure of Japan 2026. He made that come to be and even more.
The route from Osaka to Hiroshima to Miyajima Island to Kyoto to Nara to Toyko and full immersion with Toyko Disneyland and Disney Sea made our excursion exciting, historical and exhausting. It all came together with planning and coordination with Ben and his beautiful excursions added into the itenerary. I cannot fail to mention, the local guides at each major stop:
Eiicgu Shirakawa aka 'Mr. H'; Hideo Uematsu and Ryuji Kanie where fantastic with local color, culture and great coaching keeping our journey on schedule. Everyone at KimKim was extremely helpful in making any adjustments to the travel on the spot. The travel associates where ready to make adaptations and Ben was there to check on us every day with additional choices when necessary.
Our adventure had many highlights to name a few. World Heritage Himeji Castle, Kobe feast, Peace Memorial, Okonomiyaki, Kayaking under the Floating Torii Gate, Samurai and Ninga Museum, Todaiji Temple, Mount Fuji and the Panoramic Ropeway, Japanese Tea Ceremony, Harajuku, Shinjuku, Shibuya crossing and sky, Akihabara, Senso-ji and Disney Sea and Disneyland. All of the above, with local train, bus, ferry Shinkansin (bullet train) and private vehicles. We all had perhaps favorites but how can you immerse in many more areas and come out totally fulfilled.
We challenge our fellow tour groups to match this event. Please do not forget Japenese yen, Suica card, Pasamo and great hiking footwear along with your appetite!!
Thanks from the bottom of our hearts to KimKim and our favorite Ben Tanaka.
Theo, Kyle, Linda and Natalie

Winnie listened to us and helped build a very special itinerary.

Hotel Reviews

The Royal Park Hotel Iconic Tokyo Shiodome

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

It's conveniently close to the Shiodome train station and a short hike to Ginza shopping

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mercure Kyoto Station

Kyoto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Most staff didn't seem customer oroented. Except Joe at the front desk. He went above and beyond with customer service

Cleanliness & Comfort

Courtyard by Marriott Shin-Osaka Station

Osaka

Authenticity & Character

Location

Located at the Shin Osaka station. Helpful for day trip to Hiroshima. Not near shopping or restaurants

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchi with Oishi Park

Japan

This was really a trip to get three different photographs of Mt Fuji: from the water, the garden and the hill.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Samurai Sword Experience for Adults in Kyoto

Kyoto

We enjoyed this experience a great deal. The museum tour added a strong historical component.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Osaka Local Foodie Tour in Dotonbori and Shinsekai

Japan

Tour guide was new to the job and didn't know the area well. No discussion of why Osaka is food capital of Japan. First stop was heavy food. The order of the tastes impacts the enjoyment of the tasting experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tokyo City Tour: Imperial Palace East Gardens, Senso-ji Tour & Meiji Shrine

Tokyo

The order of the trip was disjointed. We spent too much time walking to and from train stations.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide had a very quiet speaking voice. It was difficult to hear her.

Transport

Clearer explanation of transportation system and the amount of walking involved. Opting for taxis in some circumstances would have been better use of time and energy.

One Day Miyajima Island and Hiroshima Tour

Japan

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Excellent guide

Transport

Good mix of transportation

Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo forest & Hidden Garden Half-Day Walking Tour with Michelin Lunch

Kyoto

Well paced, well narrated walking tour. Guide had a strong voice and good presence

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sushi Making Tokyo Roll and Authentic Japanese Sushi Class

Tokyo

Very well run class. Enjoyable and interactive

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very well trained staff. Friendly and engaging

Transport

Self transport

Asakusa Sumo Club: Sumo Show Admission with Chankonabe in Tokyo

Tokyo

The show was oversold and we were squeezed into a back table with no room to eat our dinner.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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

Kyoto

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

H or Eiichi. Was a welcome site after our battle to get to Japan due to our plane break down. Each took us to our first castle boy would thrill and climb after several days in Osaka we went to Hiroshima and H even came with us. How nice that made it even better. H made sure we knew how to find the Shinkansen the day.
Hidio now join us what I’m gonna call my favorite city you so easy to get around and find food shop. I loved it and if it wasn’t for Heidi, we would not have had the spectacular Buddhist temple at Nora due to some rain that day we had to change things up and he was very happy to help us out thanks Hideo for all you did

Now it’s time for the big city Tokyo here we were joined by Ryuggi he took us to this cute little town where we were able to see Mount Fuji and all its glory. He also showed us all the big tourist areas in Tokyo even the ones that you maybe don’t want to go into which I appreciate it since I was aware of them.

And finally, we ended our trip at Disneyland. I loved it the rides the people the merchandise it was fantastic thanks Ben for all you did to make this an unforgettable trip.
Oh, I almost forgot Ben. Thank you so much for that video. That was very cool. You’re the best.

It’s been a great experience booking our trip through KimKim.
The guides were exceptional, fun and made our travel an amazing experience.
Rob did a fabulous job putting our trip together.
He checked in with us on a daily bases, gave us a heads up with what was happening on a daily bases. He made sure we got everything we need.
The drivers did a great job getting us where we needed to be.
The transportation from the airport to the hotel was flawless.
This was our first time in Japan. What a great country.
We highly recommend KimKim.
It’s worth spending the money.

Hotel Reviews

Imperial Hotel

Tokyo

This hotel is located in a wonderful spot next to little local alleys and restaurants. Old world and modern, right next to Ginza. The service is amazing, the staff is super friendly. This hotel is very luxurious with art deco design. We loved the breakfast in the 17th floor with amazing views. Best breakfast buffet we have ever seen. Again the service is amazing! It has several different restaurants. The champagne bar is fabulous.

Authenticity & Character

Art Decco design - Frank Loyd Right

Location

In the heart of everything Old world with little alleys and restaurants. Located right next to Ginza - short walk

Staff

Best service ever

Cleanliness & Comfort

Couldn’t be better

Hakone Hotel Kajikaso

Hakone

If you are looking for authentic Japanese charm this is the hotel for you! What an amazing experience. We had our own hot spring in our room. The breakfast was authentic Japanese. Located in the heart of Hakone. Very charming little town. We had Mountain View’s with a large window. Waking up in the morning having tea and a great view of the mountains.

Authenticity & Character

Old charm Japanese

Location

Authentic Japanese experience

Staff

Great service very friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Yes

The Thousand Kyoto

Kyoto

This hotel is very modern. Great service! It’s located right next to the train station. We loved the hotel caffe/ bar. Breakfast was good. There are so many restaurant located around this hotel that made it very convenient. This hotel is hosting a lot of travel groups mainly from the US. We loved our room very modern Japanese style. It’s in the heart of everything either walking distance or just a few train stops away.

Authenticity & Character

Very modern Japanese

Location

Very convenient location

Staff

Super friendly service

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very minimalistic Japanese design

Activity Reviews

Guided Tokyo City Highlights, Imperial Palace, Sushi Making & TeamLab Planets（Guided Tour；Public Transport）

Tokyo

Quality of Experience

Food

Everything

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great overall Tokyo experience

Transport

Our guide

Tokyo’s Historic Temple and Glittering Skyline Moments（Guided Tour；Public Transportation）

Tokyo

Amazing experience Our tour guide Roy was amazing

Quality of Experience

Our tour guide

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Super friendly and knowledgeable

Transport

On time and great drivers

Private transfer from Tokyo to Hakone via Mt. Fuji

Japan

Great experience! Guide and driver

Quality of Experience

Driver and guide - Views - Hotel

Food

Everything

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very knowledgeable

Transport

On time very efficient

Guided tour to Nara by private transfer: Temples, Shrines, and Tame Deer Adventure; Return to Kyoto

Kyoto

This was an amazing experience - One the it’s kind

Quality of Experience

Best guide - with local experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide shared local favorites that I didn’t want to miss - we had the best sushi lunch as well as home made mochis - vintage finds at local places

Transport

Great driver

Day tour by public transport in Kyoto: Fushimi Inari Shrine, Nishiki Market , Samurai and Ninja Museum; Authentic Tea Ceremony（Guided Tour；Public Transportation）

Kyoto

Great experience - our guide Yvonne was amazing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Yvonne customized our experience by adding personal favorites

Transport

Our guide

Hozugawa River Boat Ride and Arashiyama Exploration. (Private Guide &Public Transportation)

Kyoto

Great place! Go early Very crowded place

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our guide

We (2 couples) began planning our Japan adventure about 10 months before travel began. There is so much information on the internet about cities to visit, hotels to stay in and sites to see that it can become overwhelming. Ben answered my many, many questions in a timely and concise manner. He helped us to choose which places to see and which might not be our priority. Once we arrived in Japan Ben remained in contact with us, offering help when we needed it and flexibility when we wanted to make some changes to our well planned itinerary. Ben worked with local agents when we had to replace a guide and to make tweaks when the weather did not cooperate for a tower visit.
We spent 15 days in Japan, travelled by trains, tramways, cars and buses to 5+ cities and had the most amazing experience. We would highly recommend Ben and KimKim when booking a trip to Japan!

Activity Reviews

Tokyo's Culinary Heritage: Tsukiji Market, Aritsugu Knives & Sushi Making (by Public Transportation)

Tokyo

Be prepared for a street food market like you’ve never seen before. The knife store is one of the oldest in Japan and is still used by chefs to make their knives. This is not a tourist attraction like some other knife shops.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ryuji is an amazing guide.

Miyajima’s World Heritage & Serene Temples: Guided Full-Day Tour with Public Transfer & Ferry

Hiroshima

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Site seeing boat there. Fast boat back

Tokyo Highlights: teamLab Planets & Ginza Shopping (by Public Transportation)

Tokyo

Team Lab Planets is such an amazing experience. It can’t really be categorized as a museum but it has interactive museum like qualities.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ryuji is incredible at getting you through and around all of Tokyo on public transportation

Transport

What a memorable trip all around Japan! We honestly couldn’t have done it without Cannon. He went above and beyond from start to finish, helping us plan our trip, answering any questions we had while we were there, and making sure we had great recommendations for places to visit, eat, and explore.

Tokyo was an absolute highlight, especially getting to experience Akihabara and all the amazing things to see and do in Asakusa. Having Cannon’s guidance made the entire trip so much easier and allowed us to enjoy our time without worrying about all the little details.

We had an incredible experience exploring Japan and made memories we’ll never forget. We’re already talking about going back, and we would absolutely recommend Cannon to anyone planning a trip to Japan. His help and dedication truly made a difference in our experience!

Hotel Reviews

the b asakusa

Tokyo

Authenticity & Character

Location

So close to a train station and being a easy place to get into festivities

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Park Hotel Kyoto

Kyoto

Authenticity & Character

Location

A great little coffee shop beside it and also close to a train station

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Osaka & Nara Day Trip with Osaka Castle and Minoh Park

Japan

The highlight of this trip was definitely getting to check out Osaka Castle. You really need a full day to see everything there but it was still a great time. Nara was great too just have to be careful with the deer because they will check every pocket to see if you have snacks.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful trip to Japan and enjoyed all the hotels and restaurants that were selected by our kimkim travel agent, Ben. All the train arrangements, which were many, were seamless. Communication both during the planning process and during the trip was excellent. We felt well supported. We particularly enjoyed our guide in Kanazawa "Guchi". We originally planned for full day guides because we felt intimidated by the language barrier. In retrospect, we would go with a less arduous 1/2 day guides for a better and more relaxed pacing. The two places in Japan we enjoyed the most were off the beaten track of most Japan tours. Also, exploring "less" touristy areas is where the kimkim services are the most useful. We loved Kanazawa as a mellow and smaller introduction to Japan and we very much enjoyed Naoshima (stay at "the Lodge") and we managed very well without a guide. We were very happy that we decided to travel solo rather than going with a group and feel that kim kim generally, and Ben specifically, made this possible for us.

Hotel Reviews

Mitsui Garden Hotel Kanazawa

Kanazawa

The hotel is centrally located . You can walk from the train station and it is on a main street that has good bus service. The breakfast was five stars.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

You can't walk through the lobby without someone asking you if they can help!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Shiraume

If you are going to Kyoto, you must stay at this Ryokan located in a former Geisha house in the Gion district of Kyoto. The accomodations, meals, and level of service was like anything you would experience in a top tier hotel. The experience is unforgettable, worth the cost. and gives great insights into the Japanese culture. Okuda-san, proprietor and host, was very gracious and spoke excellent english. Oh, and there is a couples hot tub to die for.

Authenticity & Character

This is a great way to get introducted to why Japan is so special.

Location

Right in the Geisha district.

Staff

Everyone spoke excellent english, were very attentive, and were able to provide good context about the Japanese culture

Cleanliness & Comfort

Japan is super focused on cleanliness. You will not be disappointed with any place in Japan when it comes to cleanliness. Shiraume provided chairs etc so we didn't have to sit on the floor.

Dhawa Yura Kyoto

Kyoto

This hotel caters to western tastes. They were very accomodating but you are not getting the full Japanese experience. Very good location- right on the river and a five minute walk to Gion.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Onyado Nono Namba Natural Hot Spring

Osaka

Very traditional Japanese experience with a Japanese Onsen in an urban setting. For Osaka, this is a good pick as it right near the main shopping areas. If you are not familiar with the Japanese Onsen bath experience, this is a good place to be initiated. It will be worth it. The breakfast was 5 star.

Authenticity & Character

For a westerner, you first few moments might be a little shocking. Hang in there and enjoy the Japanese experience.

Location

Close to food markets and covered shopping promenade.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

MY LODGE Naoshima

This place is a gem. Get to breakfast and dinner plan because there are few easily accessible locations for dinner. Its a short walk to town but not ideal at night time. Super service, food and nice outdoor areas. Rooms are simple but most have if not all have a small seating area. Naoshima is a pretty island with great vistas. We saw the Benessee house, which is where most people like to stay, but we think this is a bette option.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mandarin Oriental

Tokyo

This is a five star bucket list hotel. You pay the prices but you get an astounding level of service in a hotel that caters to westerners. Tokyo is a big place but this hotel was well located for our purposes and near some main subway lines. Good wind down for us at the end of our trip to Japan.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Quiet neighborhood close to two Japanese department stores and a handful of neighborhood restaurants.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

One-Day Classic Tokyo Public Transport Itinerary: Sensoji · Kappabashi · Harajuku Meiji Shrine · Japanese Tasting Dinner

Tokyo

Dinner at Otari was a highlight of our trip.

Tokyo Culinary Journey with Private transportation– Sake Brewery Experience

Tokyo

The Sake tour was not in English and they discouraged translating by our guide. The tasting seemed brief and seemed like an after thought. The day did include a lunch at a Tofu focused Japanese restaurant which was one of the highlights of our trip and located on the side of a beautiful rural setting. Consider this if you can do it by public transportation.

Full Day Guided Kanazawa Cultural Tour by Public Transport – Gardens, Historic Districts & Local Market

Kanazawa

It is possible to see the major historical sites in Kanazawa in one long day. Our excellent guide, "Guchi" was well versed in in the history and culture of the area. In addition, she took us to some unique artisan shops. Definately ask for her.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had a excellent experience with KimKim and our local specialist Eleanor.
Eleanor listened carefully to our ideas and interests. She was also very considerate of our medical needs. Our local guides Yumi, Yasuko, Mayumi, and Natsu were all experts! They were extremely kind, knowledgeable, considerate and time sensitive. They expertly showed us the history and beauty of each location, and kept us on schedule without rushing us.
Eleanor provided excellent suggestions for activities and locations for us to visit on our days without guides
Our whole experience was seamless and well managed. Thank you!

Thank you Winnie for the organization of our nice tour of Seoul and Japan. We had a marvelous time especially that the weather was so perfect all through the trip. a special mention - the hotel in Kyoto- the Yugen Kyoto Shijo, beautiful. and the Hakone Gora Karaku, very special. Our guides were ok , some difficult to understand. worth mentioning a nice lady in Tokyo -Yoshi.
thank you again, Anat

Hotel Reviews

Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel, A Pan Pacific Partner Hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Aoyama Grand Hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hakone Gora KARAKU

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

yugen kyoto shijo

Kyoto

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

have windows that open

Lotte Hotel Seoul

Seoul

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Activity Reviews

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

Kyoto

Full Day Nara Tour from Kyoto

Kyoto

Tokyo City Tour with Culture & Life

Tokyo

Feel the Charm of Old Town Tokyo: Nezu Shrine and Yanaka Disctrict Walking Tour

Tokyo

Explore the Old and New Capital with Insadong

Seoul