From Tokyo to Kyoto: A Honeymoon Steeped in Flavor & Romance

• Noon: Arrive into Tokyo around early afternoon and make your way into town. Check into ANA Intercontinental in the Roppongi neighborhood.

• Night: Walk around the neighborhood to shake off the jetlag cobwebs. Make sure to pop into Don Quijote to pick up some provisions, especially a pack of the best rice face mask! Opt for an early dinner at Afuri Ramen or a nearby ramen spot. Nothing better than a nice big bowl of broth and ramen after a long-haul flight!

• Morning: Tuna and strawberries for breakfast? Why not? Wake up and make your way to Tsujiki Outer Market for a smorgasbord and introduction to Tokyo. Afterwards, take the rail to head to Kappabashi Street for some kitchen, knife and tchotchke shopping.

• Noon: Maguro to Shari for the best donburi. Highly recommend getting the salmon. For your cultural visit of the day, make your way to Sensō-ji, an ancient Buddhist temple. Be sure to pick your fortune!

• Night: If you’re a meat eater, book your first proper dinner in Tokyo at Coco Nemaru for the most buttery tasting wagyu. You get to pick your own cuts and cook it at your table yourself.

  • Hot Tip: Order the garlic oil and the rice with egg yolk. Mix it all together when it's hot and you've got yourself something deeelicious! To round off your first proper day in Tokyo, visit Akihabara for a night of arcade games and pure magic. Challenge your partner to a round or two of DDR!

• Morning: Whether you fancy breakfast at your hotel or want a 7-11 coffee and sando, you’re spoiled for choice. If you're staying at the ANA Intercon, II II II Coffee is a great spot to pick up some caffeine.

• Morning activity: You'll feel inspired and zen after a visit TeamLab Borderless, located in Tokyo’s Asabudai Hills.

• Noon: I'll be honest, Shibuya Crossing is quite underwhelming. However, it's kind of a right of passage on your first trip to Tokyo. Cross the street once and then make your way to Shodai for soba noodles where you can practice your slurping.

• Night: Take your first omakase meal in the land of sushi at Sushi Miura, a Michelin-recommended spot. Fancy a night out? Go grab a cocktail or two at Tokyo Confidential.

Now that you’ve got your bearings, Tokyo is your oyster. There’s a neighborhood for every kind of traveler or couple. Depending on the kind of traveler you are, make this day about shopping, culture or even relaxation.

• Noon: Fancy window shopping and vintage shopping? Hit the streets of Harujuku. Fancy culture and shopping? Roam the streets of Ginza as you make your way to Meiji Jingu Temple. Fancy shopping, culture and relaxation? Stick to Ginza and book a couples' 100-minute Thai massage an Ruentip Ginza Premier. There are many ways to mix up your itinerary. Sometimes no plans are the best plans, too!

• Night: Japanese pizza is all the rage and there are quite a few spots fighting for the top. Give Pizza Studio Tamaki a try. Yes, you might wait on an hour-long line, but I promise, it’s worth it. Order three different pizzas and share with your love, or don’t. This is your honeymoon!

• Morning: Check out of your Tokyo hotel as you’re about to embark on your first Shinkansen trip to Kyoto! Highly suggest taking an early train so you can maximize your time in Kyoto. Pick up your breakfast provisions at one of the many markets like 7-11, Family Mart or Lawsons. The tuna fish and egg sando are obviously a must.

• Noon: Check into the Ace Hotel Kyoto and hit the streets of this beautiful city, drenched in heritage and culture! You’re probably hungry again so go try your very first conveyor belt sushi at MoriMori Sushi in the Shijo Kawaramachi Branch.

• Night: You may have filled up on over 20 plates of sushi, but you’re hungry again for a picky-snack dinner. Visit Nishiki Market if you’re up for weaving in and out of crowds to get a proper taste of Kyoto. Make sure to visit the nearby boutique shops and vintage stores of Kyoto, which are home to many American university sweatshirts. If that’s your thing, of course!

• Morning: Rise and shine for your early morning visit to Inari Shrine! Before you take the train over, pick up a smoothie and sando at 7-11. The Inari Shrine is best visited at 7 am, just before the crowds make their way over. Wear comfortable shoes to hike your way to the top. It’s a religious experience, regardless of whatever god you pray to. By the time you make your way down, you’ll be feeling hungry. You can skip the food stalls here and head back into town. Pick up bikes from the Ace Hotel and cycle to Here Coffee for a caffeine and pastry fix.

• Noon: Is it time for lunch already? Your legs are still a little shaky after the morning hike, so bike your way over to Kuon for some of the best udon curry you’ll ever eat! Make sure to ask to sit upstairs for a trip back in time.

• Night: Bear with me on this one. Book a reservation at Michelin-starred restaurant Bini. It’s where Japanese and Italian cuisine fuse together in what feels like someone’s home. It’s intimate and special, the right place during your honeymoon. The 18-course meal will have your tastebuds begging for more.

• Morning: The last few mornings have consisted of early wake-up calls. You’re on your honeymoon so enjoy a slow morning. The Ace Hotel offers a fantastic breakfast in a beautiful setting. Before you head out for the day, grab a coffee at Stumptown in the lobby. The pastries are a must, too!

• Noon: Today is all about traveling back in time while visiting Gion. Roam the streets and pop into the many home tchotchke stores. For lunch, witness the beautiful art of preparing ramen and enjoy it at Ramen Nishiki. Afterwards, book a VIP kimono tea ceremony by Maikoya. The tea ceremony celebrates the storied history of matcha making and the four concepts of a ceremony, which include harmony, respect, purity and tranquility.

• Night: While you’re on this side of town, enjoy some of the best tempura omakase at Tempura Endo Yasaka. Think tempura toast with caviar, tempura wagyu and tempura carrot and carrot leaf. Just as your course is about to end, you’re asked if you want one more piece to savor.

• Morning: While you may be so sad to leave Kyoto, know that you’re leaving one amazing place to visit another oasis, Hakone. Hakone is known for its natural onsens just at the base of Mount Fuji. It’s a bit of a journey from the Shinkansen to a local train to another little engine that could, but most properties in Hakone can pick you up if you arrange in advance.

• Noon: When you’re in Japan, make sure to book a stay at a traditional ryokan. Hakone Gora Byakudan is a luxury boutique ryokan. The property has 16 rooms, each equipped with a private onsen. As you arrive, you are invited to leave your shoes at the front so you can slip your feet into the slippers provided. From there, you are transformed into the most tranquil setting for the entirety of your stay. The property is fully immersed into the forest, making this the most relaxing portion of your honeymoon.

• Night: All the way up until dinner time, you can enjoy your own onsen or even the hotel’s public onsen. There are two dinner seating options to choose from. Either way, you are eating at the same table for both of your meals each day. This makes it feel like you’re in your own home being waited on hand and foot. The dinner is a full kaiseki meal that changes every single night. After a few courses of a very adventurous and delicious dinner, you are left feeling nice and full. However, there is a always room for a second dessert, right? In the lobby, there is a wine and beer bar where you can help yourself to a beverage and a full buffet of Japanese candies and sweets!

• Morning: Awaken as the birds chirp and the sun peaks through the trees. Your room includes yoga mats, so why not start the day with a little sun salutation? Once your body is warmed up, hop into your onsen. Make your way up to breakfast, where you can choose between a Western-style meal or a traditional Japanese breakfast.

• Noon: After a slow morning, walk into town or hop on the train for a caffeine fix at Coffee Camp. Just a 15-minute walk away is the beautiful Hakone Open-Air Museum, a must-visit! The museum is a host to over 1,000 pieces of art and sculptures, including an entire indoor exhibition celebrating Pablo Picasso. You can spend hours just walking around the beautiful gardens as you take in stunning art. When you’re ready for lunch, head over to Gyoza Center for some of the best gyoza of your time in Japan!

• Night: Byakudan is home to Spa Koudan, which offers a host of spa treatments. So treat yourself to a 100-minute massage with your partner. Soak in your onsen before it’s time for dinner again! One of the best things is that you have your very own kimonos that you can wear to dinner so you don’t have to think of picking out an outfit.

• Morning: Soak one last time in your onsen before enjoying breakfast. By the time you finish breakfast, your bags and shoes will be waiting for you in the lobby entryway. The hotel’s shuttle is available to not only pick you up from the station but also to drop you off at the station. Byakudan offers unparalleled hospitality!

• Noon: Journey back to Tokyo for one last day. A tip here is to use this day to visit a neighborhood you may have missed or re-visit a neighborhood you loved from the start of your trip. Once you check into your hotel for the night, hit the town to maximize your day. The Conrad Tokyo is in the Shinbashi neighborhood, which is bit far out from the hustle and bustle but conveniently located to multiple stations. It’s even more conveniently located if you won the Tuna Auction lottery at the Toyosu Fish Market.

• Night: After you’ve done a day of shopping or visiting museums, hit the bars of Golden Gai in buzzing Shinjuku. Golden Gai is known for its narrow alleys lined with teeny tiny bars. Each bar has its own theme or unique charm. Ring in the final night of your honeymoon at a Michelin-recommended omakase like Hakkoku.

• Early morning: Make the most of your last day in Japan at the Tuna Auction at Toyosu Market with a 4 am wake-up call. The market is at the helm of tuna wholesale every day. It’s a buzzing (and cold) environment where you can witness live bidding of some of the best tuna. Direct buyers and wholesalers are not just representing local restaurants, they’re coming from around the world as well. Afterwards, you can enjoy some sushi in some of the market’s stalls or you can head back into the city for breakfast.

• Noon: Your flight isn’t until the early evening, so you still have the day to do one last activity and have one more meal. So why not make it Gyukatsu Motomura for beef katsu?! It’s the best send-off meal.

• Night: Hot tip: There’s a 7-11 and a Uniqlo in the airport!! Have a safe flight and arigatō gozaimasu!