Wisely Honeymoon

Day 1 (6/9): Tokyo

As this is an arrival day, we typically don't plan anything on these days. Spend the evening relaxing after a long flight as you prep to hit the ground running tomorrow.

Activities:

• n/a

Day 2 (6/10): Tokyo

The first activity I want to plan is a guided trip to Akihabara. Akihabara is kind of the anime and manga mecca of Japan. It is full of arcades, manga/comic book stores, anime toy shops, and video game stores. It's also kind of a hub for anything electronic. There's even a shrine here where you can have an electronic device "blessed" by a shinto priest. There are pro-gamers that go there to bless their computers or consoles before a competition. It is heaven and home to many different forms of otaku culture, a guide showing you a few of the highlights is a great introduction.

The guide we use for the Akihabara tour is probably the most knowledgeable person in Japan on anime. He's seen over a 1,000 different series so he definitely knows his stuff. He could also take you guys to a maid cafe as well during the tour, and perhaps some of the other strange themed cafes that they have in Akihabara.

A novel way to see the city is by go-kart, and there are a number of go-kart tours on offer where you can dress up as your favourite anime or videogame character. I definitely recommend a night tour as all the city lights making it an amazing experience. Please remember to bring your international driving permits.

Activities (guided):

• Akihabara Tour
• Mario Kart / Street Kart

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/experiences/386416

As for the “Mario Kart” experience, the original company to do it has since switched their name (not by choice, Nintendo was threatening a lawsuit), but their operation can be found here: 

https://kart.st/en/tokyobay.html

Day 3 (6/11): Tokyo

I would like to use this day to plan a fish market tour and sushi making lesson. We typically combine these two activities together, so usually your guide for the fish market is a sushi chef, or the same person who will also be teaching you how to make sushi. The fish that you choose at the market is the fish that you will be using to make sushi with. Your guide/chef should tell you about how to choose a good fish, and what makes a good fish... good. Toyosu is the currently used area for the fisherman who sell fish wholesale, and is the biggest fish market in Japan. The market used to be housed in Tsukiji, but that area has been shut down, and the land was repurposed for the Olympics. The outer market area is still a very nice place to visit for food though. It is possible to see both places in a single day.

For this day, I thought that it would also be a good idea to learn about sake as well, since you are learning about fish. A lot of our guides like to pair these activities, because you can learn about which type of sake pairs best with which type of fish. The place that I would like to send you is technically a learning center. They have sake from all over the country. Close to 100 or so different types of sake from nihonshu, to shochu and kijoshu and everything in between. It is absolutely one of my favorite places to visit in Tokyo.

In the evening I’d recommend a visit to Golden Gai along with the Robot Restaurant (if it has been re-opened by the time you arrive). This historic area in the middle of the city is filled with tiny bars, many of which have been there for decades after their owners refused to sell their land for development.

Activities (partially guided):

• Toyosu Fish Market
• Sushi-making lesson
• Sake Taste testing (can be on this day, or Day 4)
• Robot Restaurant
• Golden Gai tour

Day 4 (6/11): Tokyo

TeamLab's Borderless exhibit, unfortunately, will most likely be closed by the time you guys arrive in Japan. However, their Planets exhibit (which really doesn't actually have much to do with with solar system at all), currently has no plans for closure. I've included a picture in the gallery to give you an idea of what it's like. TeamLab has become really well-known in the last few years for their amazing art installations, and I personally prefer the Planets experience over the Borderless one. It includes more tactile experiences and the room that 'spins' still feels like sorcery.

After this a food tour of Ueno is a great addition. Because it's a neighborhood that is rarely visited by tourists, the places are relatively unknown. Also, the person who hosts this tour is one of the best authorities on ramen in Japan, as he has been to all of the Michelin-star restaurants in Tokyo, and hundreds of the ramen spots. He is also a sake sommelier!

Activities (partially guided):

• TeamLab Planets
• Sake Taste Testing center (can be on this day or Day 3)
• Ueno Izakaya Food Tour

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/experiences/183804

For the Sake Taste testing experience, there really isn’t a better place that I can think of in the entire country than the JSS Center in Tokyo. They have every kind of sake from all over the country and can tell you about the different processes that go into making them, how each is best served, and even what types of food they pair best with. Their website can be found here: 

https://japansake.or.jp/JSScenter/

Day 5 (6/12): Tokyo

I wanted to start this day with a visit to a sumo stable. Sumo matches are an amazing thing to witness as it really gives you an understanding of how much strength is required to compete in that sport. Visiting a stable is a chance to see them practice and hold private matches for their morning keiko sessions up close, and as there won't be an actual tournament at the time, it should be a good chance to see them.

This could also be a date night day for you and your wife. My suggestion is a place called Locale. It is operated by a chef from California, and she specializes in farm-to-table style cuisine, and only works with farmers in Japan. It is very small and intimate, but with very good food. 

Here is their website: https://www.locale.tokyo/

Activities:

• Sumo Stable visit
• Dinner at Locale

Day 6 (6/13): Mt. Fuji

No trip to Japan is complete without a visit to Mt Fuji or soaking in an onsen, and I wanted to plan for you guys to experience both of these at one of the best ryokan in the country. Bessho Sasa is a traditional ryokan inn with rooms that come with their own en-suite onsen. This would end up being a day for just travel to Mt Fuji (by train) and relaxation to enjoy your time together as a new married couple.

Activities:

• Stay at Bessho Sasa with en-suite onsen

https://bessho-sasa.com

Day 7 (6/14): Mt. Fuji

The only activity I wanted to plan for today is a visit to the Mt Ide Sake Brewery. Rice and sake are sacred products in Japan, and the sake here is even more special as it’s made with the waters that flow from Mt Fuji. There is a whole religious system surrounding Mt Fuji centering around worship of the spirit of the mountain, which makes this sake important. You would go on a tour of the brewery, learn about its history and how sake is made, and also enjoy a sake tasting during the tour.

Activities (guided):

• Ide sake brewery tour

https://www.kainokaiun.jp/en-index.html

Day 8 (6/15): Kyoto

Today you guys would travel by bullet train to the Kansai region. One of my favorite things to do here is a street food tour of Osaka. Your guide would be an Osaka native. The menu will typically include Osaka favorites like oden, takoyaki, kushikatsu, ramen and sweets, amongst other things, however the guide can also customize the menu to include things that you want to add in.

An amazing way to memorialize any trip is with a photoshoot, and even more so for a honeymoon trip. There are so many beautiful backdrops in Japan, but I think a photoshoot in a Japanese zen garden would be perfect. You could potentially rent traditional outfits (yukata and kimono) for the shoot too, although standard clothing would also be perfectly fine.

Activities (guided):

• Osaka Street Food tour
• Photo shoot in zen garden

I thought that the photo session might be a great way to commemorate your honeymoon time in Japan, and I also thought that the more “traditional” backdrop of Kyoto would be the best location for doing this. I do know a photographer who specializes in these types of photo shoots, but to be honest there are so many talented photographers online that you can easily find on pretty much any tour experience website. As for the Osaka food tour, I think that this group is one of the best in the city to host them:

https://osakafoodtours.com/

Day 9 (6/16): Kyoto

I'd like to dedicate this day to the more traditional sides of Kyoto. There are some places in Kyoto that are touristy, but you'd be missing out if you came here and didn't see them during your visit. In particular, the major two are Kiyomizudera and Fushimi Inari. I'll include a picture of both of them in the gallery below. Fushimi Inari is the shrine with thousands (literally) of red torii gates going up Mt. Inari. Kiyomizudera is the famous temple that was built without using a single nail. Both are amazing visits, but both are also usually quite packed. Visiting these sites is best done with a guide who can give you more historical and cultural background. It really makes a difference to the experience.

When you're visiting temples and shrines, you'll undoubtedly notice the "monsters" that are on the corners of the roofs of the buildings you visit. These are called onigawara, and they are the oni that protect the buildings from calamity. I thought that it may be a nice activity to create your own oni to protect your homes back stateside. So I'd like to pair you guys with a ceramic artist hat will help you create your very own oni to protect your homes. It's a lovely souvenir too!

Activities (guided):

• Onigawara crafting experience
• Kiyomizudera Temple viist
• Fushimi Inari Shrine visit

The onigawara experience is something that I thought would be a good addition, as you guys are now married, and it could be something that symbolizes the start of a family. The experience can also be found on Airbnb, here: 

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/experiences/270061

Day 10 (6/17): Kyoto

One of the best ways to take in Japan’s nature is through hiking, but not everyone wants to do a multi-day trek on one of its trails. Kurama is a mountain just north of Kyoto, and its short hike from Kurama to Kibune will give you an opportunity to see all of this beauty in a manageable dose. Dining over the river is a popular activity in Kibune. Restaurants literally erect platforms over the river so guests can enjoy dining surrounded by the sites and sounds of nature. Alternatively, dinner at a place called Soujiki might make an amazing addition to your itinerary. Japan is packed with Michelin star restaurants and this establishment has two of them. All of their produce is also locally sourced.

Activities (guided):

• Short hike of Kibune and Kurama Onsen area
• Lunch over the river in Kibune
• Dinner at Soujiki

https://www.chrisrowthorn.com/tours/kyoto-walks/kyoto-walk-6-mountain-hikes/

For dinner, if you do decide to go to Soujiki, please book as far in advance as possible, as it will be nearly impossible to book once you are there. The link to the restaurant’s website is here:

https://www.soujiki-nakahigashi.co.jp/

Day 11 (6/18): Kyoto

Today is mostly about exploring the Arashiyama district. The day will start with a boat ride down the Hozugawa river. This ride however is a traditional 3-manned wooden boat, and is a portion of the route that used to be used in the past to transport cargo between Osaka and Kyoto. The ride is beautiful, and a lovely way to take in the natural surroundings of Kyoto. It ends in the Arashiyama district, where you will have the chance to visit one of Japan's most beautiful zen gardens (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). The garden is somehow beautiful and different in every season. It was masterfully designed, and kind of 'ticks' every box on what you would expect from a beautiful zen garden. There is a path behind Tenryuji that is famous for being lined with extremely tall bamboo. I'm going to include a picture of it in the small gallery below.

The Arashiyama area also has a small mountain called Iwata that also serves as a sanctuary for monkeys. It is a really nice hike (albeit, very short), and the top of the mountain gives you a view of the entire city of Kyoto. The view is unbeatable.

There is an open air steam-engine train that is an excellent way to get to the meeting spot for taking the boat down the river. It is a beautiful way to get to the boat, however it will add a small amount of time to your overall journey. I do believe that it is worth it though.

I haven't added it to the list of activities below, however there is a really nice temple in Arashiyama that is rarely visited. It has hundreds of statues, and each of them was made by a completely different person. One of the former head monks decided that he would teach sculpting to anyone that visited the temple and wanted to learn (this was in the 80's, I believe). All of the sculptures are spread around the temple grounds, and because he gave his students carte blanche with their designs, you'll see some of the ojizou statues wearing headphones, and holding a walkman or other contemporary paraphernalia. It is a site that is unlike thing else in Japan.

Activities (guided):

• Hozugawa traditional boat ride
• Iwatayama Monkey park hike (very short, good view)
• Tenryuji Zen garden visit
• Torokko Romance Car Steam Engine Train
• Otagi-Nenbutsuji Temple
• Dinner Suggestion: Zauo

Day 12 (6/19): Kyoto

Today will be all about visiting Himeiji Castle in Himeiji. Himeiji is special in that it is one of the only castles that is mostly original, and has survived wars, fires, and earthquakes. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site, and is by far the most beautiful castle in all of Japan (in my opinion, it isn't even a close competition). This is another day where the guide you have is very important, as they can make the day a much more special one, by imparting knowledge the history of the castle. The area is surrounded by decent food options for lunch, so spending the day here will good.

Activities (guided):

• Himeji Day trip
• Kobe sake tour

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/experiences/153658

I’m not trying to get you guys drunk, but please keep in mind that doing these relatively inexpensive tours is also a great way to meet people along the way, and also a great chance to ask about good places to eat, and things to do. The second option is to go to Himeji, and then catch a short flight to Okinawa, so that you have the entire day there the next day. 

Day 13 (6/20): Okinawa

Japan is surrounded by hundreds of small islands, but I wanted to plan a trip to one of the largest – Okinawa. Although it’s still Japan, is really does feel like a different country. Previously the Ryukyu Kingdom, it was taken over by Japan in the 1700s, but you can still see the small differences in culture and even in phenotype of the local islanders.

It’s a short flight from Kansai to Okinawa. After you check-in I thought it would be nice to enjoy a spa-day together. This can be designed according to your preference e.g. massages, facials, onsen etc. and of course lounging around enjoying the beautiful island scenery.

Activities (guided):

• Spa day

Day 14 (6/21): Okinawa

Cliché as it may seem for a honeymoon, a horseback ride on the beach is not only romantic, but it’s also a great way to enjoy Okinawa’s sun, beaches, blue water and green grasslands. The ranch provides guidance and horses for all levels of experience, from beginner to advanced, so you’d be in safe hands for your tour.

I always enjoy celebrating the end of a good trip with a delicious meal. The restaurant I had in mind is called Shiroux and its 2-michelin starred chef creates the most amazing Okinawan inspired dishes.

Activities:

• Horseback riding
• Dinner at Shiroux

Day 15 (6/22): Tokyo

Today brings your trip to a close. It’s another short flight from Okinawa back to Tokyo, from where you can board your final flight home.

Activities (guided):

• n/a