Planning an Itinerary For a Japan Honeymoon

If you’d like to celebrate your marriage with the trip of a lifetime, plan a Japan honeymoon. In this sample, two week itinerary, you’ll visit the major cities of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka for the best temples, shrines and museums. It also includes Nara Deer Park, hot springs and a view of Mount Fuji. Plus spare time for shopping, sushi and sake!

Please note: this article contains affiliate links. That means that I may earn a commission if you decide to buy something.

How Much Does a Japan Honeymoon Cost?

The costs will vary, depending on where you’re flying from and the time of year you want to travel. You’ll need to budget for flights, accommodations, transportation, food and activities.

Average Budget For a Honeymoon in Japan

$2,400 Flights ($1,200 x 2 people)
$1,400 Hotels, Ryokans and Guesthouses ($100 x 14 nights)
$900 Transportation (Trains, subway, domestic flights)
$1,400 Food ($50 per day x 2 people)
$900 Activities and Excursions
Grand Total: $7,000

How to Save Money On a Japan Honeymoon

Save on food by visiting markets and street food stalls instead of restaurants.

Book the honeymoon suite for one or two nights, then stick with standard or budget rooms.
Look for less expensive accommodations, like guesthouses, capsule hotels or even hostels to save a lot of money.
Travel for a shorter time. Instead of two weeks, travel for only 8 or 10 days, instead.
Consider traveling in the off season. Popular times like spring or summer will be more expensive. If you can book your trip for a different time, you’ll be able to save.
If you’ve already got most of the things you need for your house, set up a honeymoon fund instead of registering for wedding gifts.

Should You Buy a Japan Rail Pass?

Trains are the best way to get around Japan. When you’re looking for tickets, you’ll see that Japan Rail Passes are popular for travelers on a budget. But you should do the math before you decide to buy one. Depending on the length of your trip, you might not be saving money with the pass.

On this example itinerary, buying one way tickets for each leg is cheaper than buying the JR Pass. If you’re planning a different itinerary, you can check the prices on the Japan Rail Fare Calculator.

Itinerary For a Japan Honeymoon

This itinerary for a honeymoon in Japan starts in Tokyo, with traditional shrines and museums, plus a visit to Harajuku. Travel to Hakone to enjoy the hot springs and a view of Mount Fuji.

Next, you’ll visit Kyoto, the former capital, where you can see historical palaces and castles. Feed the deer in Nara Park. Then choose from stops in Hiroshima, Osaka, Yakushima or Okinawa.

Day 1 - Arrive in Tokyo

If you arrive in Tokyo in the morning, you’ll have lots of time for sightseeing on your first day. Once you’ve checked into your hotel, you can head over to Yoyogi Park for a stroll around the ponds.

If it’s spring, you might see cherry blossoms, and in the fall the gingko trees will change color. A walk up a forest path will lead you to the Meiji Shrine where you can make offerings, or buy charms and amulets.

Harajuku is close by, so you can walk up to Takeshita Street. It’s the perfect place to get some cute snacks at a crepe shop or a cat cafe.

When you’re finished with Harajuku, visit Shibuya Crossing for a look at the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world. There can be as many as 3,000 people crossing the street at once.

Getting Around Tokyo With an IC Card

Taxis and Ubers can be expensive in most cities in Japan. Luckily, the public transportation system is clean, affordable and easy to use. You can buy single tickets for each time you want to ride.

Or you can buy a Suica IC card to make it super easy to get around. You can preload it with cash, then swipe it each time you get on and off the subways or buses.

You can also use the IC card the same as a debit card at spots like Starbucks and Family Mart. Hang on to your card, because you’ll be able to keep on using it in Kyoto, Hiroshima and Osaka.

Day 2 - In Tokyo

Start your day with a visit to Sensoji Temple. Built in 645, this is the oldest temple in Tokyo. You’ll find a pagoda and main hall, built in honor of Kannon, a goddess of compassion.

Between the main gate and the temple is the Nakamise shopping street. You’ll find lots of handicrafts and souvenirs. Plus street stalls and cafes where you can eat lunch.

Collecting Goshuin in Japan

If you’d like a unique and beautiful souvenir from your honeymoon, you can collect Goshuin when you visit temples in Japan. Goshuin is a decorative stamp that temples and shrines give, as a token of your visit. Collecting them is a popular hobby in Japan, and it’s easy to get started.

To collect a Goshuin, you’ll need a blank book that’s the right size. Most temples sell them on site. Once you have a Goshuin book, you can have it stamped at each temple.

Every temple has their own special stamp, and they’ll add calligraphy to it. You’ll have a unique piece of art to commemorate your visit.

For more about getting started, check out the Complete Guide to the Goshuin Trend: Collect Japan's Gorgeous Temple Stamps

Visit Ueno Park Museums

After lunch, head to Ueno Park. The park has lovely trees and ponds to stroll around. Plus some of the best museums in Tokyo. Pay a visit to your favorites:

Tokyo National Museum
National Museum for Western Art
Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
National Museum of Nature and Science
Ueno Royal Museum
Shitamachi Museum

Collecting Commemorative Stamps in Japan

When you’re visiting museums, you’ll see sets of rubber stamps that you can use. These are usually themed to the spot you’re at, as a cute souvenir. These are different from the temple stamps - these ones are just for fun. If you’d like to collect them, you can get a plain notebook and use the stamps at each spot.

The tourist stamps shouldn’t be put in the same book as your Goshuin. The temple stamps are sacred, and to mix in tourist stamps is considered disrespectful. Find a cute and fun booklet to collect your museum stamps. You can find stamps for your book at train stations, museums and most tourist spots.

Goshuin from a Japan Temple

Souvenir Stamp from Okinawa

Souvenir Stamp from Japan

Day 3 - In Tokyo

Start your day early to join a morning tour. Tsukiji Fish Market is one of the worlds biggest seafood markets. Take a guided tour, then learn sushi making from a sushi master. After the sushi workshop, you’ll be able to eat all your creations for a delicious lunch. See all the details: Tsukiji Fish Market Visit with Sushi Making Experience from Viator

Choose How to Spend the Afternoon

There’s so much to do in Tokyo, you’ll never manage to see it all in one trip. For your last afternoon, choose one last spot to visit:

Join a tour of the Imperial Palace and visit the gardens.
See a traditional Japanese landscape garden, with ponds, islands and pavilions at Shinjuku Goyen.
If you’re in the mood for some high end shopping, visit the Ginza district, where you’ll find the best boutiques and shopping malls.
If you’re a fun loving couple, sign up for an iconic go-kart tour. You get to dress up as your favorite character and drive your own go-kart through Tokyo as part of this guided tour: Go-kart tour Shinjuku drive.
As well as art and science, Tokyo has museums for nearly every special interest. If you’re a fan of origami, sumo or anime, you can find a museum for it. Consider visiting:
- Yayoi Kusama Museum
- Ghibli Museum
- Doraemon Museum
- Origami Museum
- Bonsai Museum
- Sumo Museum
- Samurai Museum

Day 4 - Travel to Hakone

Take the bullet train from Tokyo to Hakone. Hakone is known for it’s hot springs, and an amazing view of Mount Fuji. If your hotel or ryokan doesn’t have their own hot spring, you can visit public hot springs for a fee.

For a honeymoon worthy hotel, stay at the Green Plaza Hakone. The hotel has their own open air hot springs with a view of Mount Fuji.

If you’d like to stay at a traditional Ryokan, the Hakone Kowakien Mikawaya Ryokan offers rooms with private spring baths on their own balconies.

Day 5 - In Hakone

As well as the hot springs, Hakone is a great place to soak up the natural beauty and the view of Mount Fuji. Spend the day visiting the Hakone Ropeway, a cable car that travels across the valley.

Make time to join a boat cruise on Lake Ashinoko. You’ll find ships that sail around the lake, offering scenic views of Mount Fuji.

More sights in Hakone include the Odawara Castle, the Open Air Museum, Hakone Shrine and Gora Park.

Day 6 - Travel to Kyoto

After one last dip in the hot springs, hop on the train to Kyoto. When you’re choosing your hotel, look for one that’s close to the sights or close to a subway stop. The subway and buses in Kyoto are clean and easy to navigate. You can get to all the major sights using public transport.

Affordable Hotel in Kyoto

The Cross Hotel Kyoto is a great choice - it’s walking distance to Nishiki Market and Nijo Castle. Plus there’s two subway stations nearby, so it’ll be easy to get around the city.

Nishiki Market

Spend the afternoon at Nishiki Market. The market is nicknamed The Kitchen of Kyoto. If you visit, you’ll see why. You’ll find countless stalls, stocked with fresh food. Plus kitchenware, like knives, chopsticks and pots and pans.

And my favorite part: all the vendors cooking fresh food for you to try. Eat as many of the delicious snacks as you can! This is the perfect place to try traditional foods, like dumplings, sushi and Japanese omelets. For more exotic tastes, try the fish cake on a stick. Or tako-tamago, a baby octopus with a quail egg inside.

Photography Session in Kyoto

For a romantic and memorable souvenir of your Japan honeymoon, book a photography session in Kyoto. You can book a small group tour, or a private session with a photographer.

This photographer will bring you to the most photogenic spots, including pagodas, shrines and gardens in the Gion District. You’ll receive 50 professionally edited, digital photos from your shoot within 24 hours. See the details: Private Kyoto Tour from locals on Expedia.

Day 7 - In Kyoto

Fushimi Inari is one of the most popular sights in Kyoto, so try to get there early, and beat the crowds. Follow the trail through the bright orange tori gates. It takes about 3 hours, if you’re hiking all the way to the summit. If you’d like to do the hike, check out this complete guide from Inside Kyoto: Fushimi-Inari Hike

Once you finish the hike, you can find lots of restaurants nearby. After you’ve had lunch, you can visit a few more nearby sights:

Nijō Castle
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Sanjusangendo Temple
Ginkakuji Temple

Altar made of stone tablets and small orange tori gates, with two kitsune guarding it. — *Kitsune guarding an altar of mini tori gates at Fushimi Inari in Kyoto, Japan.*

Day 8 - In Kyoto

The Bamboo Forest is another popular spot. Get there as early as you can for a peaceful walk through the towering green stalks. The sound of the rustling wind is included on a list of 100 Soundscapes of Japan. If you get there before the crowds, you’ll have time to enjoy the sounds of nature.

The Tenriyuji Temple is right next door to the Bamboo Forest. It’s one of the great five Zen temples. As well as the main temple, you’ll see a landscaped garden and mountain scenery.

Sagano Romantic Train and Hozugawa River Boat

After exploring the temple, go for a ride on the Sagano Romantic Train. You’ll travel in open air cars, pulled by a steam engine. The train travels through the Hozukyo Ravine, where you’ll see cherry blossoms in the spring, lush green in the summer and bright leaves in the fall.

You can take a regular train back to the city, or you can hop on the Hozugawa River Boat Ride for a leisurely 2 hour cruise, back to where you started.

Check the websites for current schedules and ticket information:

Temple of the Golden Pavilion

In late afternoon, you can visit Kinkakuji, or the Temple of the Golden Pavilion. This is a Zen temple with the top two floors completely covered in gold leaf. You’ll also have the chance to visit the temple gardens and a traditional tea house.

Kyoto Food Tours

If you still have the energy to go out and about, book a night food tour in Gion, where you can learn more about the culture while enjoying traditional food and drinks: Kyoto Night Foodie Tour

Or join this tour for an insight into Kyoto nightlife, including the geisha and hostess culture. Includes food and drinks, plus a guided tour of popular nightlife districts: Nighttime All-Inclusive Local Eats and Streets.

Day 9 - Travel to Nara

Next, catch a train to Nara. Spend the afternoon visiting Nara Park, where you can feed the free roaming deer. You’ll also find temples and museums to visit in the park:

Todaiji Temple
Kasugataisha Shrine
Kofukuji National Treasure Hall
Nara National Museum
Himuro Jinja Shrine
Isuien Traditional Garden

Day 10 and 11 - Travel to Hiroshima or Osaka

Feed the deer one last time before you set off for your next destination. Depending on your interests, decide if you’d like to visit Hiroshima or Osaka for your next stop.

Visiting Hiroshima

Hiroshima is great for couples interested in learning more about the history, and events. You can visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.

As well as peace monuments, you’ll also find museums and gardens to visit. Or you can take a ferry to Miyajima Island to see temples, forests and the famous floating tori gate.

Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art
Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum
Shukkeien Garden
Hiroshima Castle
Mitaki-Dera Temple

Visiting Osaka

Osaka is a great city for a foodie couple to visit. It’s the second largest city, after Tokyo, and you’ll find one of the best food scenes in the country. For a fun introduction to Osaka, join this bicycle tour. You’ll get to cycle around the city, seeing the sights and tasting the best local food Eat, Drink, Cycle: Osaka Food and Bike Tour.

Once you’ve eaten your fill, there’s lots more things to do in Osaka:

Universal Studios Japan
Sumiyoshi Shrine
Hoshino Resorts
Shitennoji Temple
O-hatsu Tenjin
Osaka Castle
Osaka Museum of History
Kamigata Ukiyoe Museum
Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum
Tenjinbashisuji Shotengai, the longest shopping street in Japan

Day 12 and 13 - Choose Yakushima Island or Okinawa

For a romantic end to your honeymoon, choose either Yakushima or Okinawa for your last destination.

Visiting Yakushima Island

Yakushima Island is perfect for hikers and nature loving couples. The island has dreamy forests where you can hike through the landscape that inspired the Princess Monoke film. Start with easy trails and boardwalks through the Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine.

The island is covered by a cedar forest with some of Japan’s oldest trees. If you’re experience hikers, you can hike the Tsuji Toge Pass, that leads to the giant cedar tree called Jomonsugi. The tree is estimated to be 7,200 years old.

Visiting Okinawa

Okinawa is a group of tropical islands with gorgeous beaches, diving and snorkeling sites. Stay on the main island of Naha, where you can visit busy shopping streets and enjoy restaurants and nightlife.

Book scuba lessons, or dive trips if you’re already experienced. For the perfect beach day, book a tour to Kerama Islands National Park. This tour includes stops at Tokashiki Island, Zamami Island and Aka Island. Plus all equipment, towels and lunch.

Day 14 - Travel Home

A trip always goes by so fast - it seems too soon to go home! But you’ll have lots of memories to look back on. From busy Tokyo to the relaxing southern islands of Japan.

You visited hot springs, temples, shrines and gardens. After all the incredible sights of a Japan honeymoon, you can be sure you started your marriage in style!