Honeymoon in Japan Japan for two, without rushing it.
Ryokans, hot springs, Kyoto in the early morning: I design honeymoons in Japan made for enjoying, not for ticking boxes. An itinerary built with you, then a quote, and a detailed travel book.
- Recommended length
- 12 to 15 days
- Best time to go
- October-November, spring
- Book first
- The ryokan
Why Japan for a honeymoon
A honeymoon in Japan: a change of scene, refined, and more demanding than it looks.
Japan is one of the honeymoon destinations I am asked about most. Couples go there for a complete change of scene, a culture unlike any other, the food, and those very special moments that are a night in a ryokan or a soak in a hot spring.
It is also a country that tires you out more than you might imagine. The jet lag, the distances on foot in the big cities, the sheer number of sights: a programme designed as a list of visits soon turns the honeymoon into a marathon. And you are often setting off at the end of a busy year.
My rule for a honeymoon in Japan is simple: two or three bases rather than five, day trips, and a real break in the middle of the stay, in a ryokan where you do nothing but enjoy yourselves.
The calendar
When to go on honeymoon to Japan?
For the Tokyo-Kyoto route, October and November are often the most pleasant months: settled weather, autumn colours, clear light. Spring, when the cherry trees are in blossom, is magnificent but very busy, and Golden Week, between late April and early May, is best avoided.
June is the rainy season across most of the country, and summer is hot and humid. If your wedding is in June or July, moving your honeymoon to the autumn is often the best decision you can make.
The month-by-month detail (climate, crowds, price level) is on my tailor-made Japan trip page.
A sample route
A honeymoon itinerary in Japan, in three stages.
Twelve to fifteen days, three bases
The most balanced route for a first trip to Japan as a couple.
- Tokyo — three to four nights for arriving and getting over the jet lag, discovering the city neighbourhood by neighbourhood rather than from a list of sights.
- One or two nights in a ryokan — in the mountains or by a lake, with a traditional dinner and a soak in the hot springs. It is often the strongest memory of the trip, and the stage that gets booked first.
- Kyoto — four to five nights, with days out to Nara or the surrounding area. Kyoto is best experienced early in the morning and late in the day, when the sites empty out.
- A quiet end to the trip — depending on the season and what you feel like: an extra stop away from the main routes, or a few more days wherever you felt at home.
These stages are a working basis, not a package. I always build the itinerary with you, have you approve it, and then draw up the quote.
What I take care of
The details that make a honeymoon in Japan a success.
The ryokan, booked first
The most sought-after ryokans, and especially the rooms with a private bath, go very early. It is the first booking I secure once the itinerary has been approved.
Getting the journeys right
Rail pass or individual tickets: I do the maths on your actual itinerary. I also arrange for your luggage to be sent on between two cities when it helps, so you can travel light.
A pace that leaves room to breathe
Free half-days, evenings with nothing planned, and no more than one change of accommodation every three or four days.
Entry rules checked
Formalities, online procedures and taxes have changed in recent months. I check them for every trip and summarise them in my guide to preparing a trip to Japan.
Frequently asked questions
Your questions about a honeymoon in Japan.
How many days do you need for a honeymoon in Japan?
I recommend twelve to fifteen days. With fewer than ten days, the jet lag and the flight time weigh too heavily on a trip that ought to be restful.
Is Japan a romantic destination?
Yes, but in its own way: fewer beaches and sunsets, more rare moments, such as a night in a ryokan, a traditional dinner served in your room or a walk through Kyoto before the visitors arrive. If you are also dreaming of a beach, we can talk about it, but I would rather be honest about what Japan does and does not offer.
Can Japan be combined with a beach destination?
It is possible, but it adds flights and lengthens the trip. I only suggest this option if the length of your trip allows it without turning the honeymoon into a string of airports.
Do you need to speak English or Japanese?
No. Signage is widely translated in the big cities and on the main lines. My travel book gives you everything you need to find your way around, with the addresses and the journeys step by step.
Are tattoos a problem in the baths?
Some public baths still refuse entry to people with tattoos. If that applies to you, I choose accommodation with a private bath, which settles the question.
Two ways to begin
A clear project, or just a wish?
Both can be worked on. The only difference is the starting point.
Tell me about your project
The form takes three minutes. Dates are not required: if you do not have any yet, an approximate period is enough.
Describe my projectBook a call
Thirty minutes by video or phone, free and with no commitment, to clarify an idea that is still taking shape and see whether I am the right person for you.
Choose a time slotFurther reading