Best Japan Honeymoon Itinerary: Romantic Trip Ideas

Are you looking to plan a Japan honeymoon? 

What a truly magical choice and unique experience awaits you and your partner! 

The Land of the Rising Sun presents endless possibilities for you and your partner to share a fantastic time!

Your experiences of modern and traditional Japanese culture will forge cherished memories throughout your days there. 

Quiet moments in temples, lively times in old hot spring towns with private Onsen , tasty dishes such as Okonomiyaki, or sampling sushi to your heart's content at the world-famous Tsukiji Market. 

In this guide, we bring you what we think are the most magical moments in Japan  for a freshly married couple on your Japan honeymoon.

Love Japan content? Also check out Best Japan Hotel for 2024: Ryokan Hotels In Tokyo and Unique Japanese Wedding Traditions Gifts and Best Japanese Sunscreens Brands For Your Skin!

What Not To Miss On Your Japan Honeymoon

There are many things you can enjoy in Japan, but my personal recommendation to you looks something like this:

1. Stay at a traditional Japanese inn (ryokan) for a unique and authentic experience. You can book here: Rakuten Travel：預訂優質日本飯店與旅館
2. Indulge in luxury at a luxury hotel with stunning views.
3. Visit the majestic Imperial Palace in Tokyo for a glimpse of Japan’s rich history.
4. Relax on beautiful beaches like those on Miyako Island.
5. Explore the spiritual side of Japan at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo.
6. Take a scenic trip through the Japanese Alps for breathtaking views and outdoor adventures.
7. Book a room with a view in charming guest rooms (ryokan with private Onsen is best!) across Japan’s traditional towns.
8. Visit Japan during the most popular time for cherry blossoms—late March to early April.
9. Experience traditional tea ceremonies to learn about Japanese culture and mindfulness.
10. Savor a romantic meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant for an unforgettable culinary experience.

Tokyo: The Perfect Start

Exploring Traditional Asakusa

Visiting old Asakusa is a marvelous way to start your honeymoon in Tokyo - and certainly a cultural adventure. 

You should begin your trip by exploring historic temples like Senso-ji, founded in 645 and the most famous and revered Buddhist temple in the country. 

Upon entering through Kaminarimon (the "Thunder Gate"), you can't help but notice the luscious red lantern hanging from its ceiling, which welcomes a record of visitors each year. 

Just beyond this point, the Nakamise Shopping Street offers a feast of sights, sounds, and flavors. 

Sprawling over 250 meters, it's lined on both sides with little stalls selling traditional goods and delicious food and snacks. 

The street slopes downward a bit, and just before it flattens out onto Sumida Park, it passes through two more gates—Hōzōmon (offering plenty of photo ops from within or from outside) and Nitenmon (reconstructed in 1973 after it suffered a direct hit during World War II). 

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10/11/2024 02:23 am GMT

Modern Shibuya and Shinjuku

Asakusa's traditional charm contrasts sharply with the buzz and modern city that embody Shibuya and Shinjuku. 

Start your exploration of this youthful district at Shibuya Crossing, an intersection where hundreds of people converge at once and an absolute must-see when you visit Tokyo. 

Adjacent to the intersection you will find one of Tokyo's most popular meeting places, as well as one of its most heartwarming stories: the Hachikō Statue and the Hachikō Exit of the Shibuya Station are named after the dog that waited faithfully here for nine years after his master died. 

For a superb view of the cityscape as it transitions from day to night, head to the brand-new Shibuya Sky observation deck atop the Shibuya Scramble Square complex.

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Shopping for Unique Souvenirs

Tokyo offers countless opportunities for picking up unique souvenirs. 

Nakamise-dori, a shopping street in the Asakusa neighborhood, is a prime spot for finding traditional Japanese goods like kimonos, fans, and beautiful little handmade crafts. 

Big-name shopping districts like Shibuya and Harajuku have their own unique flavor, too.

In Shibuya, for instance, the big Shibuya 109 building is a local icon; it’s a fashion mecca where millions go to scoop up trendy clothes. 

Harajuku’s Takeshita Street, on the other hand, is where some of Tokyo’s most uniquely styled inhabitants shop and gawk. 

The main drag is a treat for the senses, with funky shops selling everything from colorful accessories to new and exciting street food snacks. 

And any trip to Tokyo would be incomplete without a stop at the "electric town" of Akihabara. 

Here, you can find animated figurines and other collectibles alongside the latest electronic gadgets. 

Finally, for fans of Japanese cutlery, the wonderfully named Kappabashi Street is the address to remember.

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Romantic Escapes in Kyoto

Temples and Shrines Tour

In Kyoto, a tour of temples and shrines and beautiful garden locations offers a peaceful and worth seeing experience.

At the start of the trip, you can make your way to Kiyomizu-dera, a World Heritage site known for the spectacular views it gives of the city. 

This is followed by a visit to Fushimi Inari Taisha, famous for its vermillion torii gates. 

You're also likely to make a stop at the Golden Pavilion, Kinkaku-ji, which shimmers and reflects brilliantly off the surface of the pond in front of it. 

Consider next the more intimate and not-so-touristy Ryoan-ji, home of one of Japan's most famous traditional gardens. 

Before saying sayonara to the tour, check out the bamboo forests in Arashiyama and Tenryu-ji Temple. 

Each sight possesses a unique spiritual charm and is an ideal way to share good vibes and good memories with your significant other.

Arashiyama bamboo forests

Couples looking for a romantic escapade should consider visiting the Arashiyama bamboo forests in Kyoto. 

Wanderlust-stricken pairs will find themselves enchanted by the way the towering bamboo stalks form a natural, peaceful world of their own. 

For travelers seeking a more Zen-like atmosphere, peace and calm can hardly be found at a more reasonable price. 

And what a worthy price it is to pay, when one considers that nearby Togetsukyo Bridge has been the site of countless painterly and poetic scenes. 

The bridge itself and the banks of the basilica-like bamboo stands form fertile ground for lovers of all types: the lovers of total sensory experience, the lovers of nature, and, most rewarding of all, organically grown lovers.

Kimono Dress-Up Experience

Experience the tranquility of Japan with the Kimono dress-up immersive travel experiences in Kyoto. 

Walk through the historic streets dressed in a beautiful, traditional kimono, and feel a deep connection to the country’s rich cultural heritage. 

Whether you're strolling past the ancient temples, visiting the iconic Kiyomizu-dera, or simply enjoying the serenity of Kyoto's gardens, wearing a kimono adds a special layer of elegance and authenticity to your journey. 

Don't forget to capture the moment with stunning photos, as you blend into the timeless beauty of Japan.

Relaxing in Hakone

Onsen Hot Springs

Hakone is the perfect place for having a good time, the volcanic hot springs known as onsen are an amazing place for a couple to retreat and truly unwind. 

Known for their theurapeutic benefits as well as their nearly unrivaled levels of quiet relaxation, these hot springs have for centuries formed the basis of a unique, incredibly local but widely shared almost passport-like Japanese experience. 

Quieter and more secluded than almost anywhere else in Japan, Hakone is best experienced when staying at a traditional Japanese ryokan with private hot spring baths. 

Curing your jet lag is best achieved in a local onsen—open-air baths that draw their waters from coiling, piping-hot, and possibly ancient veins of rock.

Hakone Open-Air Museum

The Hakone Open-Air Museum is a place where you can unwind and appreciate the fusion of art and nature. 

It is the perfect destination in the beautiful Hakone mountains in Japan. 

This museum is a host to around 120 modern and contemporary sculptures spread out over its whopping 19 acres of land. 

The vastness of the environment and the sheer number of well-placed artworks will really give you a rush if you're an art enthusiast—even if you aren't, really seeing this many works of art in a single day is bound to cultivate some kind of affection for the unique project that is the Hakone Open-Air Museum.

It's hard to feel angsty, on edge, or anything but peppy, really, when you're strolling through these open and closed landscapes only 2-3 hours from Tokyo station.

Scenic Lake Ashi Cruise

The Ashi Lake Scenic Cruise grants passage into an area of unrivaled beauty in and around Hakone historic sites. 

Lake Ashi, the largest in this part of the region, is a body of water formed by volcanic activity millennia ago. 

It offers a source of stunning visuals, especially on a clear day (an unlucky tourist may find Mount Fuji shrouded in mist at almost any time of year). 

Boarding one of the lake's iconic pirate-themed ships that look like they've sailed straight out of Space World, tourists can tour the circumference of this lake to take in a variety of landmarks. 

These include the Hakone Shrine with its famous floating kite, the small neighborhood of moto-Hakone with its picturesque Western-style villa and terra-cotta warriors, and the Hakone Checkpoint, a piece of history harkening back to the Edo Period (1603-1868).

Serenity in Nara

Feeding Friendly Deer

Nara is one of Japan's many world heritage sites, you can partake in a truly unique activity: feeding a group of much-loved deer. 

Considered the messengers of the gods, the thousand-plus deer of Nara Park have been delighting visitors for a long time. 

And like any good tourist attraction, you can buy a snack to better ingratiate yourself with the animals. 

The fact that the snack can only be eaten by the deer (they digest it in less than 24 hours) is an added bonus; no litter to speak of. 

The deer have learned to bow slightly when they approach a human—where do they get this stuff?—and the bigger the group of deer, the more of a square dance you can have with these beguiling creatures.

Strolling Through Nara Park

Strolling through Nara Park ( national parks ) offers a serene and picturesque escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. 

This expansive park, covering over 500 hectares, is not only home to the famous free-roaming deer but also a plethora of historical and cultural landmarks. 

As you meander along the tree-lined paths, you’ll encounter beautiful ponds, traditional lanterns, and ancient temples (it is a unesco world heritage site!). 

The park is particularly stunning during cherry blossom season in spring and the vibrant foliage of autumn. 

A visit to Kasuga Taisha Shrine, with its hundreds of bronze and stone lanterns, adds a mystical atmosphere to your walk. 

For a peaceful respite, take a moment to relax by Sarusawa Pond or explore the tranquil Isuien Garden. 

The harmonious blend of nature and history makes a leisurely stroll through Nara Park a perfect way to experience the serene beauty and cultural richness of this ancient city.

Enchanting Hokkaido

Sapporo Snow Festival

Hokkaido's capital city experiences an enchantment in winter that outshines many other attractions.

Winter is the best time to visit Sapporo to enjoy the festival of snow.

We are talking luminous, all-hours magic here, and we are talking real transformation. 

By day Sapporo's central park teems with people, mostly locals, many of whom trudge through the heavy snows to get a closer look at the giant sculptures—many of which are ice-based—while, if we are lucky, the winter sun glimmers above in an azure sky. 

By night, things become sublime as the festival takes the reins and lights up the intimate wintery streets of the city with an array of ethereal ice- and snow-based sculptures and LED brilliance. 

The magic of the Sapporo Snow Festival transforms the city and leaves visitors in awe.

Romantic Otaru Canal

Must-see enchanting Otaru Canal is found in charming Otaru, Hokkaido. 

You just have to go there! Couples will definitely want to visit because, visually, the unforgettably Romantic canal is nothing short of stunning. 

Originally built between 1887 and 1897 during the days when shipping and coal mining were massive industries for this part of Japan, the canal represented Otaru's means of prosperity and growth. 

Since 1986, when most of the historic warehouses and the canal itself were restored, Otaru Canal has served as a delightful location for tourists who want to enjoy the sights and the ambiance.

Discovering Local Cuisine

Exploring Hokkaido's local cuisine is a must-do on any romantic adventure to the island.

The province is known for the quality and freshness of the ingredients that go into its dishes; diversifying the palate is never an issue. 

The top of almost any must-try list is Sapporo’s ramen, which gets a special puff of smoke in its name because the locals say, "Ra-men!" with such gusto. 

It's a simple bowl that seems small, but after partaking, you'll feel as if you ingested about 10,000 words' worth of miso broth. 

And in the spirit of eating not just what's local but also authentically Hokkaido, do note that Sapporo's home-grown (farmed?) mutton is another "yen-for-yen" champ.

Book Your Japan Honeymoon Today

As you wrap up the details of your dream Japan honeymoon, remember that this isn’t just a trip—it’s the beginning of a new chapter, one that will be filled with shared moments and memories that will last a lifetime. 

Whether you're soaking in the serene beauty of Kyoto's temples, dining on fresh sushi in Tokyo, or simply walking hand in hand through the cherry blossoms, Japan offers an enchanting backdrop for your love story. 

Do it like the locals, and find your perfect stays at Rakuten Travel.

So, pack your bags, hold onto each other, and get ready to write the first page of your forever together in one of the most magical places on earth. 

Happy travels!