Discovery DMC

Nice hotel on the river. Staff were welcoming and friendly. Rooms were clean. Location was close to restaurants but a distance from the Peace Memorial. Breakfast was included and plentiful.

We immediately encountered a problem when checking in. We reserved 2 rooms with 2 beds. We were given 2 rooms with one queen size bed in VERY tiny rooms. I was sharing a room with my adult son. A queen size bed was not going to cut it. We asked for them to accommodate us and they told us they had nothing available. My son went on an online hotel site and it said they did have a room with 2 beds available. After MUCH back and forth from 3 staff members, they finally gave us the room with 2 beds. The rooms with one bed were extremely small. Two people could not pass each other in the room and one person had to climb into bed from the foot of the bed as the bed was up against the wall. Breakfast which was included was very good and plentiful. They rooms were clean and the location was great, within walking distance to shopping and the train station.

I cannot say enough wonderful things about this hotel. The hotel itself is Gorgeous! Rooms are huge and beautifully decorated. The bathroom is a dream! The staff went out of their way to make our stay more enjoyable including walking us to a restaurant for lunch that was several blocks away to make sure we found it. They took great care of our luggage when we had to send it on to the next hotel. Breakfast was outstanding and plentiful. The location was within steps of everything! We were even able to make use of the spa which was incredible!! I highly recommend the fabulous hotel and its staff.

Stunning hotel and grounds with beautiful spacious rooms. Bathrooms were a bit sparse compared to the rest of the room which was amazing. We did not realize the restaurant would not have any western style foods and there would be a set menu. Unfortunately we are picky eaters and were unable to use the restaurant for breakfast or dinner. Time did not allow for us to use the onsen as we were only there for one night and we got in late. Hopefully next time. It was lovely to watch the sunrise from our room and see the deer roaming the grounds in the early morning hours.

Beautiful hotel, amazing staff, clean spacious rooms and fabulous breakfast. Location was very close to the train station. Only reason it did not receive 5 stars is the noise level coming from the street. There must be a hospital close by because you could here sirens from emergency vehicles all night long along with the trains coming and going. We were on the 18th floor and the noise still could be heard.

Wasake – Sake Experience with Instructor Anh was outstanding. We had so much fun tasting 13-15 different Sakes while learning about the sake-making process and what makes each one unique. Anh was knowledgeable, engaging, and made the experience so entertaining. We highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Japan.

Geiko/Maiko Tea Ceremony in Kyoto – This was an outstanding cultural experience! We learned how to prepare traditional matcha tea and gained fascinating insight into the dedication, discipline, and demanding life of a Geiko/Maiko. It was a wonderful opportunity to experience an important part of Japanese culture firsthand. A memorable and enriching experience that we highly recommend to anyone visiting Kyoto!

Hiroshima with guide Wais. Wais was equally exceptional. His depth of historical knowledge and ability to convey Hiroshima’s past with clarity and compassion made our visit truly meaningful. His approach and engaging explanations left a lasting impression. We then went on a food tasting tour and we had a fun time sampling Hiroshima’s local specialties, including okonomiyaki, onigiri, mochi, momiji manju, and ice cream with mochi. Even with some picky eaters in our group, everyone enjoyed trying new things and experiencing the local food culture.

Hakone with guide Mochi. Mochi was an EXCEPTIONAL guide who went above and beyond to make our Hakone experience unforgettable! From exploring the Hakone volcano, visiting Hakone Shrine and its famous Peace Gate on Lake Ashi, to touring the historic Hakone Checkpoint and sailing across the lake, every stop was memorable. Mochi truly went the extra mile when dinner plans became complicated, ensuring we found a suitable dining option. The following morning, he made a special stop so we could witness Mt. Fuji in all its majestic glory! His thoughtfulness, flexibility, and dedication made this an outstanding experience. We highly recommend Mochi to anyone visiting Hakone!

Odaiba District Tour with Guide Zain. The Futuristic Odaiba District tour was disappointing. Although the guide tried to accommodate us, he had been misinformed about who he would be meeting and expected to conduct the tour in Taiwanese. He was not knowledgeable about the area, leaving us to Google buildings and landmarks ourselves. This guide should not be assigned to American travelers and Zain should be more knowledgeable of the areas he is exploring with travelers.

Bamboo Forest Guide with guide Akira. Our day with Akira was another memorable adventure exploring Kyoto’s beautiful temples, peaceful Zen gardens, and the magnificent Bamboo Forest and Okochi Sanso Garden. One of the highlights was lunch at Shigetsu, the traditional Zen vegetarian restaurant, where we sampled an array of dishes we could barely identify! It was a fun and unique culinary experience that gave us a taste of Japanese Buddhist cuisine. Akira made the day special as we continued discovering Japan’s rich culture, history, and beautiful scenery. Highly recommended!

Himeji and Kobe tour with guide Aki. Aki gave us a fantastic day exploring Himeji and Kobe! We began with a visit to the magnificent Himeji Castle, an impressive Japanese landmark. We then headed to Kobe, where we enjoyed a delicious sampling lunch featuring the famous Kobe beef. Our day ended at the beautiful Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens, where we took in the stunning scenery and peaceful surroundings. Aki made the experience enjoyable and memorable, combining Japanese history, incredible food, and beautiful landscapes. Highly recommended!

We spent three wonderful days exploring Kyoto and Nara with Naoko, who was truly exceptional! She consistently anticipated our needs before we even had to ask, making every day seamless and enjoyable. In Kyoto, we visited the iconic Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, beautiful Nanzen-ji Temple, the stunning Golden Pavilion, historic Nijojo Castle, and Kennin-ji Temple. We explored the charming Gion district, admired Yasaka No Tou, and enjoyed browsing the shops and sampling local specialties at Nishiki Market. In Nara, we visited the famous Deer Park and the impressive Great Buddha Hall. Our days were filled with walking, exploring, and discovering Japan’s rich history, culture, and beauty. Naoko’s knowledge, thoughtfulness, and incredible attention to detail made these three days truly unforgettable. We highly recommend her to anyone visiting Japan!

We spent three wonderful days exploring Kyoto and Nara with Naoko, who was truly exceptional! She consistently anticipated our needs before we even had to ask, making every day seamless and enjoyable. In Kyoto, we visited the iconic Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, beautiful Nanzen-ji Temple, the stunning Golden Pavilion, historic Nijojo Castle, and Kennin-ji Temple. We explored the charming Gion district, admired Yasaka No Tou, and enjoyed browsing the shops and sampling local specialties at Nishiki Market. In Nara, we visited the famous Deer Park and the impressive Great Buddha Hall. Our days were filled with walking, exploring, and discovering Japan’s rich history, culture, and beauty. Naoko’s knowledge, thoughtfulness, and incredible attention to detail made these three days truly unforgettable. We highly recommend her to anyone visiting Japan!

We spent three wonderful days exploring Kyoto and Nara with Naoko, who was truly exceptional! She consistently anticipated our needs before we even had to ask, making every day seamless and enjoyable. In Kyoto, we visited the iconic Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, beautiful Nanzen-ji Temple, the stunning Golden Pavilion, historic Nijojo Castle, and Kennin-ji Temple. We explored the charming Gion district, admired Yasaka No Tou, and enjoyed browsing the shops and sampling local specialties at Nishiki Market. In Nara, we visited the famous Deer Park and the impressive Great Buddha Hall. Our days were filled with walking, exploring, and discovering Japan’s rich history, culture, and beauty. Naoko’s knowledge, thoughtfulness, and incredible attention to detail made these three days truly unforgettable. We highly recommend her to anyone visiting Japan!

Our day with Toshi was another excellent experience! He was flexible, attentive, and genuinely committed to making sure we had a meaningful visit. We spent ample time at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, which was especially important to us, before exploring more of Peace Memorial Park as Toshi thoughtfully explained the significance of each area. We then visited beautiful Miyajima Island to see Itsukushima Shrine and its iconic floating torii gate. Toshi made our day both memorable and meaningful, and we highly recommend him as a guide!

Anime Lovers Tour with guide Nori- Nori was a great guide, but unfortunately, the tour itself fell short of our expectations. Rather than focusing on the history and culture of anime, much of the experience centered on shopping along Takeshita Street for souvenirs and tchotchkes. The Samsung Galaxy and TeamLab virtual experience was a fun and enjoyable highlight. Overall, I would recommend this tour primarily for kids who enjoy shopping and anime-themed merchandise, rather than those looking for a deeper understanding of anime culture.

Tokyo Sumo Tour with guide Key. This was an unforgettable experience! Key met us at the train station in Kawasaki and took us to a sumo stable, where we learned about the demanding life of a sumo wrestler and watched an impressive demonstration by two wrestlers. When volunteers were invited to participate, we got to learn some of the stretching and movements ourselves—it was so much fun! The experience ended with a traditional sumo hot pot lunch shared with the wrestlers, making it even more special. Key was a wonderful guide, and this was a unique cultural experience we highly recommend!

Kyoko was an exceptional guide who gave us an unforgettable day exploring Tokyo! We visited the beautiful Imperial Palace Gardens, the incredible Senso-ji Temple, the peaceful Meiji Shrine, and the famous Shibuya Crossing. We walked 9 miles throughout the day, taking in the sights, culture, and energy of this amazing city. Kyoko did a wonderful job guiding us through Tokyo and making the experience both memorable and enjoyable. We also enjoyed a fantastic lunch, with a great vegan restaurant for the girls and a delicious pork restaurant for the guys! We were exhausted by the end, but in the best possible way! We highly recommend Kyoko to anyone looking to experience the best of Tokyo.

The Osaka Excel Hotel Tokyu was also fine for our one night stay in Osaka. It was a standard hotel experience, suitable for a short stay without needing anything special.

We loved Kanazawa Sainoniwa Hotel!!! Our room was great, the food was top notch (I will dream about that breakfast forever!), the staff was so kind and helpful, and you can't beat the access to the public onsen.

We had a quick overnight in Tokyo and chose this hotel based mostly on location. It has all the standard amenities you might need, including a fantastic breakfast, but it's real value is in the location. I'd stay here again if we needed a home base in Tokyo near Tokyo Station.

The Osaka Foodie Walking Tour at Night was good but quite different from the other food tours we did in Kanazawa and Kyoto. Instead of walking through a market, this tour took us to different restaurants in neighborhoods where we sat for longer periods. While it was still enjoyable, I preferred the vibe of the market tours because they felt more dynamic and immersive. I probably wouldn't recommend this one as highly as the others.

We ended up splitting the activities so we did kyudo one afternoon and iaido the next day. Both were absolute privileges to be part of and I can not recommend them enough. It was a really special way to feel immersed in the history and culture of Japan as our teachers walked us through the steps that have been practiced for hundreds of years. I honestly was moved to tears at both experiences and am so grateful of the time and energy given by our teachers. These were very special experiences.

It is very hard to write this review because it's hard to really explain how special this dinner was. We ended up having dinner with a geiko (the Kyoto term for geisha) and it was an experience I will treasure forever. Few get the opportunity to dine with a maiko or geiko so I would encourage anyone who can do so to make sure to prioritize this as they plan their trip to Japan. It was such an interesting way to immerse ourselves in the history and culture of the area - plus the food was delicious! I cannot recommend this enough.

Selda was an incredible guide on this trip! She encouraged us to try foods we were initially hesitant about and I am so glad she was with us as we explored the market. I discovered many foods that I wouldn't have without her, and I loved learning more about the history of Kanazawa and how it's fish market has impacted the history there. From the freshest fruit, to the juiciest steak, to the largest oysters and freshest sushi.....what an amazing way to spend an afternoon in Japan!

We absolutely loved our food tour at the Nishiki market! Without Leandra's tour, I doubt we would have tried half of the food that we did - she encouraged us to try foods that looked different than something I might chose myself (and I loved them!), and she did a great job explaining how each food fits into the culinary life of a Kyoto resident. I also appreciated that the food included all sorts of things like sweet, savory, meat, pastries, seafood, tempura, etc. She did a great job introducing to foods that looked a bit intimidating and she also gave us some great recommendations for the rest of our time in Kyoto!

Time changed wasn’t advised. No one showed. P not did I receive a refund

We loved this traditional hotel and onsen. We highly recommend it.

Our final tour was to Himeji Castle with the cherry blossoms in full bloom. The castle tour and gardens were amazing. We finished up with the ropeway to Mount Shosha, another of my must see destinations. It was amazing.

On Day 7 we were met by our guide Naoko who was wonderful. We enjoyed her very much. We spent the day in Nara, so fascinating.

We went to the Kinkakuji and Nijo Castle Tour which was fascinating. We had a very full day visiting shrines and ending up at Fushiminari. Fascinating!

We took the Shinkansen to Kyoto. Our first excursion was to the Tea Ceremony Experience. We dressed in Kimonos and were shown the intricacies of the tea ceremony. it was fantastic. After that we went to the Samurai and Ninja Musem. This was one of my special choices and it did not disappoint.

Yasuhiro, called Moshi. He is an English professor and spoke perfect English and also Spanish, as does my wife Norma. He took us to Hakone, and unfortunately it rained all day so we did not get to see Mt. Fuji. He took us up the Hakone Ropeway to the top where we had lunch and toured the shop. When we came down we took a tour boat around the lake. He dropped us at our Honten for the evening. We really enjoyed the traditional accommodations, including the private natural hot spring onsen.

Our guide for the first excursion in Tokyo was Haiyan. She was very helpful and knowledgeable. We saw the Imperial Palace, as close as we could get, since entry was not allowed. The we went to the Senso-ji temple, very impressive. She also helped us get to a location that I wanted to see, The Samurai Store. We never would have found it if it was not for Haiyan.

I was not in the best of spirits when I arrived. The staff graciously introduced me to the comforts of my room and the resort, and I soon relaxed and enjoyed the rest of my stay.

I arrived earlier than anticipated. The staff were very accommodating and help me feel welcomed and supported. I think this is a great hotel in a great location in a great city. They are steps away from parks, walks, markets, restaurants and entertainment. I would be happy to spend more time in Silom district, and I would be very happy to use Furama Silom as my base.

This adventture gets high marks for the quality of the snorkeling and the staff. We saw many fish at each of the snorkeling stops, and a turtle at the last stop. When it came time to don the life preservers, I was struggling to put on one of the smaller l.ps. The group leader started chiding me about my age and my girth, and it became a point for both of us to make sure that the cajoling was all done with love. In fact, we kept up the act throughout the experince. Another traveler said that our interaction helped bring smiles to other passengers.

The wildlife was right there. Herons and other birds were comfortable with us floating by. And there was a group of monkeys within 10 feet of us at times, and they were carrying on chasing each other, flying through the trees and falling over each other in the water. It was delightful to see how their families were interacting.

The views of the cliffs are spectacular, making this a trip wiell worth taking. the ride was smooth and soothing.

My guide Asol does a great job of introducing the sites and what to expect when visiting them. We had a little extra time in front of the Grand Palace, which gave opportunities to feel the rhythm of this marvelous city. I especially enjoyed the tour of the China Town district, and the flower marker was amazing both on the variety of the flowers and the scale of the market. The second time that we went by the river to see the palaces at night was inspiring to me. I really enjoyed the entire Tuk Tuk tour, and I highly recommend you hire Asol to guide you through its features.

The hotel in Kyoto was great for our four-night stay. Both Tokyo and Kyoto hotels had fantastic breakfast buffets offering both continental and Japanese options.

The room was fine with a little garden. Initially, the front entrance was hard to find due to a lack of signage. Once inside, the hotel was nice. Louise prefers bathtubs and this hotel lacked one, but it was manageable for two nights.

We selected this hotel on recommendation s from a friend and it did not disappoint. The rooms were spacious and clean the private outdoor and indoor bathing areas were wonderful and made for a special experience.

Great hotel with comfortable rooms. The breakfast buffet is excellent with western as well as Japanese food available. All fresh. On a clear morning we could even see Mt Fuji from our table. It is an easy walk to catch a local train or the subway

We did enjoy the Hidden Gardens experience. Our guide, we called him Kay, was great, and we enjoyed the interaction with him.

This was our first temple visit in Japan. Very interesting!

I loved this tour. Osaka Castle is beautiful and has a lot of history. Well set up to see

This was fun but a little hairy riding through traffic for part of it. Going to see the monkeys (macaques) was a bit of a hike up.

We did the half day tour and it was not even that long, maybe 2 hours, not including the wait.

I wish I was a better artist, not having done this before but the class was fun anyway. You have a choice between an ink painting on a board or coasters

The gardens are beautiful especially with the fall colors.

As Mt Fuji was covered in clouds, our guide for the two days suggested we wait until the next day do the Ropeway and boat cruise the next day and we were rewarded with beautiful sunny skies. Instead the guide took use to the Itchiku Kubota Art Museum and it was amazing

This was not part of KimKim’s original plan but they provided a driver and a great guide which made it extra special