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A Honeymoon in Japan
Japan is a dream honeymoon destination. Where else could you experience ancient traditions, impeccable hospitality, world-class cuisine and fantastic accommodation in romantic locations - ranging from exquisite ryokan with private hot spring baths to super-deluxe hotels at the top of towering city skyscrapers? And that's not to mention the serene scenery from quaint rural villages to impeccable gardens filled with cherry blossom.
Whether your ideal honeymoon includes visiting a Zen-inspired spa at an exclusive mountain retreat, taking a sunset helicopter cruise over Tokyo's dramatic skyline, or relaxing with a cocktail on a subtropical island - our expertly planned packages and on-the-ground support ensure that no hiccup can get in the way of your experience. Some of our staff have even honeymooned in Japan themselves, so you can rest assured that we know how to make your trip extra-special.
Recommended Honeymoons Experiences
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Wedding kimono
Perfect for honeymooners: get dressed up in layers of the finest wedding kimono for a very special photo session
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Evening with a sake expert
Got a taste for Japanese sake? Learn to distinguish the best from the not-so-good varieties with a sake expert.
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Oysters and Chablis on Miyajima
Watch the sun go down on Miyajima Island with some of the freshest locally farmed oysters washed down with a glass of fine wine
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Kaiseki cooking with a Michelin star chef
Become a kaiseki haute cuisine pro under the instruction of a top Tokyo chef.
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Sumida River fireworks
Japan's most historic fireworks display illuminates the Sumida River in Tokyo.
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Tokyo Skytree
The magnificent, fully accessible 634 metre tower in the Asakusa area of Tokyo.
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Honeymoons itineraries
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Shikoku Art & Culture
An exclusive journey through rural Shikoku that will introduce you to Japan's best architects, artists, writers and landscape designers.
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Magnificent Tokyo
Explore Tokyo in the finest possible style, with an expert guide, world-class accommodation, and a range of exclusive encounters and experiences.
Honeymoons accommodation across Japan
Nishimuraya Honkan (Kinosaki Onsen)
Feel as though you've been transported to the world of a 300-year-old woodcut print at the Nishimuraya Honkan, where the rooms look out over intricately landscaped gardens filled with stone lanterns, white gravel, trickling water and delicately shaped topiary.
Sankara Hotel & Spa (Yakushima)
By far the most luxurious accommodation on Yakushima Island, the Sankara Hotel & Spa is a beautiful resort in a gorgeous location, sandwiched between mist-covered mountains and breathtaking views of the East China Sea.
Yamanochaya (Hakone)
The Yamanochaya (literally “mountain teahouse”) is a gorgeous secluded ryokan with just 15 guestrooms. The property perches on a steep mountainside camouflaged among bamboo, cryptomeria and pine trees.
Daikichi Minshuku (Tsumago)
This authentic, old-style inn has appeared on TV Tokyo's "Top Ten Minshuku" programme and been patronised by many celebrities.
Yoshimizu Ryokan (Kyoto)
At the cheaper end of Kyoto's selection of ryokan, the Yoshimizu is a charming, traditional inn in beautiful Maruyama Park, surrounded by maple trees and bamboo.
Ritz-Carlton Kyoto (Kyoto)
The Ritz-Carlton is an excellent luxury hotel overlooking the Kamo River.
Nishimuraya Honkan (Kinosaki Onsen)
Feel as though you've been transported to the world of a 300-year-old woodcut print at the Nishimuraya Honkan, where the rooms look out over intricately landscaped gardens filled with stone lanterns, white gravel, trickling water and delicately shaped topiary.
The wooden building was designed 150 years ago by the eminent architect Masaya Hirata, mimicking the sukiya style in which many teahouses are built. As much attention was given to the exterior of the building as the interior – all guest rooms overlook an exquisite Japanese garden of pine trees, moss-covered rocks and ponds of koi carp.
The guest rooms are gorgeous; tatami-mat floors, sliding paper screens, wooden terraces, calligraphy scrolls and ikebana flower arrangements. The ryokan is not without mod-cons either; all rooms have air conditioning and free Wi-Fi. There are also spacious indoor and outdoor baths set in a bamboo grove.
Meals are glorious kaiseki banquets, very authentic in style. The food is plentiful, so don't worry if not all the dishes are to your taste! Breakfast and dinner are served in the privacy of your guestroom by your attentive hosts. Guests of the Nishimuraya Honkan also have access to the private spa facilities of the inn's sister property, just a short walk away. Massage treatment and aromatherapy are available here.Sankara Hotel & Spa (Yakushima)
By far the most luxurious accommodation on Yakushima Island, the Sankara Hotel & Spa is a beautiful resort in a gorgeous location, sandwiched between mist-covered mountains and breathtaking views of the East China Sea.
While the hotel is very Japanese in terms of hospitality, the Sankara's appearance is distinctly Balinese – making use of teak wood, natural materials and earthy tones to create a tranquil ambience in keeping with Yakushima's natural beauty.
The total resort measures some 30,000 sqm yet houses just 29 secluded guest villas, each looking out towards the ocean. The resort offers a butler service, so if there is anything you need, your personally assigned member of staff will hop in a golf buggy and be at your service within minutes. Your butler will also meet you at Yakushima Airport or ferry port to drive you to the hotel when you arrive.
A real highlight of a stay here is the Sankara's top-class French restaurant, run by a head chef who has worked at various Michelin-starred restaurants around the world. All meals include locally sourced seafood, and vegetables are either grown on the island or on the Kyushu mainland. The Sankara also has an exclusive library lounge, an outdoor swimming pool and a spa that provides traditional Thai herbal treatments.Yamanochaya (Hakone)
The Yamanochaya (literally “mountain teahouse”) is a gorgeous secluded ryokan with just 15 guestrooms. The property perches on a steep mountainside camouflaged among bamboo, cryptomeria and pine trees.
As guests to the Yamanochaya ascend the wooden steps to the lounge and bar area, they are greeted with beautiful views over the Hayakawa River below. After a welcome cup of green tea, the kimono-clad hostess will appear and show you to your rooms. She will be personally at your service throughout the stay, serving your meals in your room and setting out your futon bedding at bedtime.
Guest rooms are almost Zen-like in their simplicity, with natural wood, soft tatami-mat flooring, calligraphy scrolls and flower arrangements. Most rooms have a private outdoor hot spring bath and balcony to complete the sense of seclusion.
There are also five communal hot spring baths dotted around the ryokan, most of which are outdoors where you can feel the mountain breeze. Dinner is a kaiseki banquet of seemingly endless exquisitely presented courses, including local specialties such as mackerel sashimi, yuzu citrus and matsutake mushrooms. All that's left is to gaze at the moon and enjoy a cup of sake at the ryokan bar.Daikichi Minshuku (Tsumago)
This authentic, old-style inn has appeared on TV Tokyo's "Top Ten Minshuku" programme and been patronised by many celebrities.
Known for its warm welcome and local cuisine, the Daikichi has just five guest rooms and is one of our absolute favourite Japanese-style inns. Just watch out for the fried grasshoppers in the set dinner course! Rooms are small, simple and not en suite, but there is a shared bath that can be reserved for private use.
The minshuku is located in Tsumago, a former post town on the Nakasendo Highway that once linked old Edo (modern-day Tokyo) with Kyoto. The residents of this area have made a huge effort to preserve the historical buildings and traditional atmosphere of their area, meaning that walking into Tsumago from the hills of the Kiso Valley really is like walking back in time.Yoshimizu Ryokan (Kyoto)
At the cheaper end of Kyoto's selection of ryokan, the Yoshimizu is a charming, traditional inn in beautiful Maruyama Park, surrounded by maple trees and bamboo.
Kodai-ji Temple, Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Yasaka Shrine and the Gion geisha district are all within easy walking distance, as are the shops and restaurants of Kyoto's downtown area.
Guest rooms are Japanese-style and some have attached toilets. There are two shared bath and shower rooms, which can be used privately by locking the door behind you. The hospitable hosts serve a Western-style breakfast at the inn's organic café, which includes excellent coffee as well as homemade bread and marmalade.
Like most ryokan in Kyoto, the Yoshimizu has a curfew (at around 11pm) and you'll need to negotiate with the owner to leave the front door unlocked if you want to stay out later! This is a shame as Kyoto does have great nightlife, but then again – why not take advantage of an early night and head out first thing to explore Kyoto's temples and shrines before the tour buses arrive?Ritz-Carlton Kyoto (Kyoto)
The Ritz-Carlton is an excellent luxury hotel overlooking the Kamo River.
The hotel is walking distance from the downtown shops, the restaurants of Kawaramachi, and the Gion and Pontocho geisha districts.
The 134 guest rooms are 50 square metres on average, making these some of the largest rooms in Kyoto. All are elegantly decorated and include the Ritz-Carlton's signature 600-thread-count bed linen. Other amenities include Nespresso coffee machines and spacious bathrooms with walk-in rain showers, separate bathtubs and double washbasins complete with luxury toiletries.
The hotel has two restaurants: a Japanese and an Italian. The health club includes a 20-metre indoor swimming pool, steam room, dry sauna, gym, relaxation room and seven spa treatment rooms.
Honeymoons destinations across Japan
Kurokawa Onsen
Kurokawa Onsen offers dramatic volcanic landscapes, great hiking and fantastic landscapes.
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