After a festive, high-energy wedding weekend, newlyweds often look forward to a honeymoon when they can slow down, relax and enjoy a captivating destination far from home. Japan offers brides and grooms just that — and more. Read on for four reasons why you should consider a trip to Japan for your honeymoon.
1. Hospitality unlimited
Japanese hospitality is unsurpassed. We often splurge on our honeymoons to ensure the most special experience, and in Japan, that expectation is not only met in high-end hotels and restaurants — it is ingrained in every facet of culture. From being greeted at your hotel with a warm hand towel to small details, like a fresh orchid placed at your bedside table, Japanese hotel stays are an experience like none other.
If you are planning to splurge and relax in a luxury hotel, check out the Aman Tokyo or the Hoshinoya Hotel while in Japan’s capital. Both located in eastern part of the city near Tokyo Bay, the former is a sleek six-story high rise complete with a state-of-the-art spa, hot baths and a rooftop pool with views of the city. The latter is designed to feel like an over-the-top, luxurious ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn that is normally found in smaller cities, like Kyoto.
For a more traditional yet elevated ryokan stay, visit Kyoto’s famous Tawaraya, a favorite of celebrities and politicians worldwide. Here, you can spend precious downtime in a comfortable kimono in your own private garden while sipping tea and relaxing in an onsen. The property does not have a website so it’s necessary to book via fax — and well in advance of your travel dates.
2. A total escape
When you travel to Japan, you enter a different world (this magical vibe is brought to life in the 2003 film Lost in Translation). Chalk it up to the distance travelled and a dramatic language difference, but also the novel cuisine and beautiful customs that equally value antiquity and innovation. Unlike a trip to Europe, for example, Japan offers westerners a sense of dreamlike reprieve.
3. A mix of culture and relaxation
Culture vultures can plan a few days in a city (Tokyo, Kyoto, Kanazawa, to name a few) and also schedule some lazy days tucked away in the countryside enjoying Japanese hot springs (onsen) which number in the thousands. One famous onsen town is Hakone, a small mountain town in West Tokyo’s Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Another is Beppu, located on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu. Here, you can relax together and bathe in nutrient-rich water, mud and sand. Tip the scales toward more city time than country, or vice versa, depending on your mood.
4. Culinary heaven
If you are considering a trip to Japan, you’ve perhaps eaten your fair share of sushi rolls in your home country. But once you are in Japan, the cuisine is next level. Wandering through beautiful places — in the city or countryside — and stopping for unforgettable meals along the way is a recipe for honeymoon bliss. From the most amazing street foods to Michelin-star restaurants, it’s possible to let your taste buds lead you throughout Japan from one culinary adventure to the next.
As you go, don’t forget to raise a glass to toast a future filled with love and adventure — kanpai means “cheers” in Japanese.