WHEN IT COMES TO THINGS TO DO IN JAPAN FOR COUPLES, HERE IS YOUR GUIDE FOR A COUPLES’ VACATION IN JAPAN.

When you think of going on a vacation with your significant other, your mind might stray to the conventional destinations, i.e., Hawaii, the Maldives, Paris, Rome, etc. However, a couples’ vacation in Japan offers more than just a romantic getaway. It gives you a chance to explore the country’s rich culture and heritage while you enjoy intimate and exciting moments with your beloved.

If you’re wondering about the things to do in Japan, for couples, this usually means spending time together and experiencing new things. So, we have compiled a list of the things to do in Japan for couples, all of which are bound to give you an all-rounded vacation getaway.

Friendly rickshaw drivers can be found in Tokyo’s old Asakusa neighborhood, where they provide an unusual and distinctive experience. Unless you plan on taking a long ride, a rickshaw usually does not require a booking.

Companies such as Kosugiya, Kurumaya, and Ebisuya do offer tours, in which you can learn about the neighborhood and visit its landmarks as you ride in the carriage.

Fushimi Inari Taisha is unquestionably one of Kyoto’s most popular attractions, appearing on most visitors’ touring wish lists. The main hall and offerings hall is stunning, with ornate sculptures and vibrant colors. To honor Inari, the deity of foxes, the shrine is encircled with fox-shaped statues and fountains.

Visitors walk out to the grounds to observe the vermilion torii gates after making an offering and praying to the kami. One of the things that distinguish this shrine is the reddish-orange torii walkway. Two columns of hundreds of vermillion torii gates border a trail that snakes up the mountain behind the shrine. A 45-minute hike leads to an incredible view of Kyoto City.

In the heart of Tokyo, the Chidorigafuchi Moat is located northwest of the Imperial Palace. It is lined with cherry blossom trees that flower in the spring and are typically illuminated, making for a captivating walk or boat ride down the moat.

The 30-minute boat ride is an exciting experience to include in your couples’ vacation in Japan. Every year, almost a million people attend the event at Chidorigafuchi Moat. However, owing to COVID-19, the nighttime light-up and boats were canceled this year. Nevertheless, you can walk down the moat, admiring the ancient scenery and view of the city.

Experiencing different modes of transport is one of the most exciting things to do in Japan for couples. Whether you take a rickshaw ride, ride a boat, or get on board a bullet train, you are not going to regret it.

With a JR Pass, you can explore numerous destinations in Japan in a time-efficient manner. The Shinkansen Bullet Train goes up to 320 kilometers per hour, helping you save precious time on your couples’ vacation in Japan. Moreover, you can purchase your pass online for better rates.

More than 2000 natural Japanese hot springs, known as onsens, can be discovered all over Japan. The ambiance at these hot springs is similar to that of a spa. Loud noises are discouraged, and the sound of soothing music is widespread throughout the facilities, providing a pleasant experience for weary vacationers while they bathe in the restorative waters.

These baths are mostly communal, but for couples, there are private onsens in Ryokans. These guest rooms offer breathtaking views of nature, letting you relax while you have some privacy with your significant other.

The Sagano Bamboo Forest in Arashiyama is well-known both locally and internationally. Walking trails bordered by infinite rows of majestic bamboo create an otherworldly, tranquil, and dreamlike experience. In addition to being a visual beauty, the rustling bamboo trees create a sound that mesmerizes visitors.

Something about the sky at night makes anything and everything appear a little more intimate and romantic. During your couples’ vacation in Japan, seeing the skyline is a must. Against the evening sky, rising skyscrapers and vivid city lights form a beautiful scene.

The Tokyo Skytree is 634 meters tall and offers a breathtaking panoramic view of Tokyo. It’s one of the few places in Tokyo from where you can catch a glimpse of Mt. Fuji on a clear day.

Trekking Mount Fuji is among the most notable things to do in Japan for couples. The hike offers breathtaking views of the country’s vistas and everlasting bragging rights for reaching the peak. You have the option of hiking one of four trails up the mountain, each of which takes a different route to the mountaintop. Then, you can take a break at one of the mountain cottages to get to the summit just as the sun is rising for a romantic, unforgettable view.

These elegant traditional figures are a famous aspect of Japanese culture, and the greatest place to see them is in Kyoto. You may see them perform or roam about in their traditional attire in the lovely cobblestone streets.

If you’re searching for a more casual geisha sighting, you can frequently find them in full makeup on the streets of Gion. Alternatively, you can dress up as them yourselves!

Vacation photos are essential, and donning these icons is a great way to take pictures that capture the essence of the country. You can even find a beautiful Japanese garden as a backdrop to complete the image.

Ancient Japanese gardens commonly include tea houses, ponds, green hills, and decorative stones, which come together to create visual harmony, undisturbed by any non-natural enclosure. You can be immersed in magical, gorgeous, natural settings. Some of the best gardens in Japan to visit are:

• Ritsurin Koen (Takamatsu)
• Koraku-en (Okayama)
• Isuien Garden
• Ryoan-ji Temple (Kyoto)
• Kairaku-en (Mito)
• Kenroku-en (Kanazawa)
• Shinjuku Gyoen (Tokyo)

Seasonal festivals are one-of-a-kind in Japan, and if you’re planning a couples’ vacation in Japan, you’re bound to come across at least one of these. These events are themed celebrations that feature food, games, and other kinds of entertainment. They can be found in a number of places across the country, such as parks, shrines, as well as temples. Here are some festivals that create a host of fun-filled things to do in Japan for couples:

• Hanami in January to May
• Yuki Matsuri in January and February
• Omizutori in March
• Kanamara Matsuri in April
• Gion Matsuri in July
• Aomori Nebuta Matsuri in August
• Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri in September

In Tokyo’s Shinjuku district, Robot Restaurant is a spectacular performance with dancing, bright lighting, dinosaurs, monsters, tribal drums, robots, and more. Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, Robot Restaurant has been closed for more than a year. However, once it re-opens, it is a must-see place on your couples’ vacation in Japan. The lavish performance is the highlight of the location, ensuring a bizarre but entertaining night.

The famous cherry blossoms bloom at different periods as they move north. As a result, the perfect time to see them in Tokyo differs from the ideal time to see them in Hokkaido. Late April is usually the best time to bet on the cherry blossoms. You should monitor blossom forecasts to ensure that your vacation coincides with their blooming, which varies slightly each year as per weather trends.

Many people plan their trip just to be able to experience hanami, the cherry blossom festival, during which cities are lined with flowers and lit up to create a magical scene. For a couples’ vacation in Japan, this creates the perfect romantic setting.

From as early as 5:00 am, you can find people at the Tsukiji Fish Market, starting their day with a fresh sushi breakfast. The infamous open-air market gives you the opportunity to buy footwear, ornaments, baskets, crockery, and pottery, in addition to seafood and produce. You can find numerous eateries such as tiny cafes, noodle shops, and cooking-supply shops, all serving delicious meals at reasonable costs.

Udon, tempura, onigiri, soba, yakitori, sashimi, miso soup, and unagi are some of the other popular delicacies you’ll come across during your couples’ vacation in Japan.

The Way of Tea is a Japanese cultural ritual that involves the ceremonial preparation and service of matcha, a powdered green tea. It is known as chanoyu or chado in Japanese and is typically done by Geishas at the start of their 5-year apprenticeships.

You can find numerous tea houses and ryokans in the Gion district to participate in a traditional Japanese ceremony. For assistance, you can even contact a tour guide or booking service.

Okinawa offers some of Japan’s loveliest, pristine, white-sand beaches, with pure blue water and clear skies. It’s also a great place to go on a honeymoon. You can take a romantic cruise at sunset out on the water with your beloved and simply live in the idyllic moment.

The beaches offer more than just relaxing views, however. Water sports are popular at many resorts in Okinawa, including surfing. You can plan your vacation between mid-June and April to catch the greatest waves, but the winter and typhoon season are the ideal times to surf in Okinawa.

teamLab Borderless is a collection of artworks that come together to make a single borderless digital landscape. Artworks migrate out of their rooms and into neighboring spaces, occasionally intermingling with other works for an inspiring juxtaposition of color, light, and sound.

It is a truly mesmerizing place to lose yourself in kaleidoscopic artworks. You and your significant other can step into another dimension in this magical, colossal, 10000 square-meter space.

As a couple, cooking together is one of the most fun and exciting activities you can do together. Learning to cook a new cuisine makes it all the more thrilling. Japanese food is sophisticated and dynamic, and preparing it necessitates mastering true, traditional techniques as well as understanding the significance of each component used.

Whether you choose obanazai or kyaraben style cooking, there are numerous hosts in Tokyo to help you, such as Buddha Bellies Cooking School, The Traveling Spoon, or Mayuko’s Little Kitchen.

When it comes to things to do in Japan, for couples, it’s all about romantic evenings and intimate dinners. Keeping this in mind, why not dine out at a Michelin Star Restaurant?

In the recent decade, Japan has overtaken France as the country with the most three-star Michelin restaurants worldwide. The majority of these restaurants, such as Makimura, Kadowaki, and Sazenka, are located in Tokyo, the country’s capital.

Some of the most well-known fine dining options include Kagurazaka Ishikawa, Narisawa, and RyuGin, which serve Japanese food. If you’re looking to take a detour and explore other cuisines, Quintessence and Joel Robuchon serve modern French cuisine.

Although, small, family-run establishments across the region are the greatest option if you’re looking for more authentic and traditional Japanese cuisine.

Many enchanting Japanese villages can be found in the Japanese Alps, hidden away in undeveloped valleys. Almost all of the residents from these villages have left, and they have become popular tourist destinations as they showcase monuments and memories of rural Japan. Some of the villages you can visit are:

• Ine (Kyoto Prefecture)
• Takayama (Gifu Prefecture)
• Taketomi (Okinawa Prefecture)
• Tsumago (Nagano Prefecture)
• Shirakawa-Go (Gifu Prefecture)

In a country whose sceneries range from high-tech, modern metropolises to beautiful landscapes and mountains surrounded by natural hot springs and lush forests, there is no shortage of things to do in Japan for couples.

Join one of our pre-designed escorted group tours, visiting must-see sights in Japan and including unique cultural activities. Or contact us to plan a fully customized itinerary based on your interests.