7 Days in Japan — Honeymoon Couple (Tokyo, Fuji, Kyoto, Hiroshima)

Arrive & Check In

Check into your Shinjuku hotel and resist the urge to nap — get outside in daylight. Drop bags, freshen up, and walk the neighborhood.

Shinjuku Stroll & Kabukicho Wander

Walk through Kabukicho — Tokyo's neon-lit entertainment district — and pop into the new Toho Cinema Godzilla plaza for a photo. It's weird and wonderful.

Omoide Yokocho (Memory Lane)

Squeeze into one of these tiny yakitori alleys just west of Shinjuku Station. Order skewers, cold Sapporo, and let jet lag melt away. Smoky, atmospheric, and unapologetically old Tokyo.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observation Deck

Free night views of the Tokyo skyline from the 45th floor — and it's genuinely stunning on a clear May night. No crowds compared to Skytree.

Shibuya Scramble & Crossing

Walk the famous crossing at a slightly off-peak hour — it's busier mid-afternoon. Head up to the free Shibuya Scramble Square observation floor or grab a window seat at the Starbucks opposite for the best view.

Takeshita Street, Harajuku

This is peak quirky Japan — rainbow candy floss, lolita fashion shops, and crepe stalls every 10 meters. Kitsch but genuinely fun for a honeymoon couple.

Omotesando Avenue Browse

Walk from Harajuku down Omotesando — Tokyo's answer to the Champs-Élysées. Great window shopping, Japanese designer stores, and the Omotesando Hills mall for higher-end Japanese fashion.

Shibuya 109 or Don Quijote

Don Quijote in Shibuya is a multi-floor sensory overload of snacks, cosmetics, souvenirs, and random gear — great for honeymoon novelty shopping. Budget an hour minimum.

Golden Gai Evening Pre-Drinks

Six tiny alleys in Shinjuku with over 200 micro-bars, each holding maybe 8 people. Find one that feels right and stay for a drink — incredibly intimate and very Tokyo.

Early Entry to Tokyo DisneySea

Buy tickets in advance online — they sell out, especially in May. Arrive right at opening (typically 9 AM) to hit Soaring: Fantastic Flight and Journey to the Center of the Earth before queues explode.

Indiana Jones & Raging Spirits

Make your way to Lost River Delta for the two big thrill rides. Use the Disney Premier Access app-based system to reserve one slot early if queues build.

Lunch at Magellan's Restaurant

DisneySea's most romantic restaurant — inside a gorgeous galleon. Book ahead via the app. A proper sit-down meal in the park is very on-theme for a honeymoon.

Fantasy Springs Area (New 2024)

The brand new Frozen, Tangled, and Peter Pan-themed area — enormous, immersive, and worth the extra queue time. Frozen Ever After ride is a must.

DisneySea Nighttime Spectacular

Stay for the evening show on Mediterranean Harbor — the water, fire, and projection mapping show is spectacular and far more romantic than daytime. Find a spot 20 minutes early.

Asakusa & Senso-ji Temple

Tokyo's oldest temple and honestly still worth a visit — but go early before tour groups arrive. Walk Nakamise shopping street for traditional snacks and crafts. Skip if temples aren't your thing.

Tokyo Skytree (optional)

If clear skies, the views from 350m are excellent and worth the price for a honeymoon splurge. Skip if it's cloudy — you'll see nothing and feel robbed.

Akihabara Electric Town

Even if you're not into anime or gaming, Akihabara is fascinating — multi-floor arcades, capsule toy machines (gashapon), and electronics. The Yodobashi Camera store is a spectacle in itself.

Kappabashi Kitchen Street

The street where Tokyo chefs buy their equipment — fake food displays, knives, ramen bowls, Japanese ceramics. Amazing for edible-looking souvenirs and high-quality kitchen goods.

Slow Evening — Cocktails in Ginza or Shinjuku

Your last Tokyo evening before heading to Fuji tomorrow — keep it relaxed. Bar High Five in Ginza is one of the best cocktail bars in Asia; intimate, world-class, and deeply romantic.

Train to Kawaguchiko

Take the Fujikyuko Limited Express from Shinjuku or a direct highway bus — both take about 2 hours. The bus is cheaper and drops you closer to the lake.

Chureito Pagoda View

The classic five-story pagoda with Fuji behind it — 398 steps up but absolutely worth it. May means no cherry blossoms but clear skies and less crowds. Go in the morning for the best light.

Lake Kawaguchi Stroll

Walk the northern shore of Lake Kawaguchi for reflected Fuji views — on a clear May day this is postcard-perfect. Rent bikes if you're feeling active (¥500/hour).

Ryokan Check-In & Yukata

Check into your ryokan — put on your yukata immediately, it's part of the experience. Settle in, explore the property, and do absolutely nothing for an hour. This is the point.

Private or Shared Onsen Soak

Most Fuji ryokans have outdoor rotenburo baths with Fuji views — the evening soak before dinner is one of the best things you'll do on the trip. Book a private bath if available for a honeymoon.

Kaiseki Dinner at the Ryokan

Most ryokans include a multi-course kaiseki dinner — an elaborate, beautiful procession of small seasonal dishes. Eat slowly, say yes to everything, and let the courses come.

Dawn Fuji View & Morning Onsen

Wake up early — the light on Fuji at sunrise is extraordinary and May mornings are often crystal clear. Do one last onsen soak before checkout. This is what you came for.

Ryokan Breakfast

Traditional Japanese breakfast — grilled fish, miso soup, rice, pickles, tamagoyaki. Eat every bit of it. This is the meal that converts people.

Check Out & Travel to Shin-Fuji/Mishima Station

Take the ryokan shuttle or bus to the nearest Shinkansen station — Mishima is typically the connection point for the Tokaido Shinkansen westbound.

Shinkansen to Kyoto

The Hikari or Nozomi Shinkansen from Mishima to Kyoto takes about 1.5–2 hours. Book seats in advance — window seats on the right side (northbound) give fleeting Fuji views on the way out.

Check In & Nishiki Market Wander

Drop bags at your Kyoto hotel and walk Nishiki Market — a narrow covered food market nicknamed 'Kyoto's kitchen.' Try pickled vegetables, fresh tofu, grilled skewers, and matcha everything.

Gion Evening Walk

Stroll Hanamikoji Street in Gion at dusk — the lanterns come on, the wooden machiya townhouses glow, and if you're lucky you'll spot a geiko or maiko heading to an appointment. Don't photograph them intrusively.

Early Shinkansen to Hiroshima

The Hiroshima day trip works if you leave early — Kyoto to Hiroshima is about 1 hour 15 minutes on the Nozomi. Buy tickets the night before. Leave bags at the hotel.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

One of the most important museums in the world — moving, sobering, and essential. Allow 1.5–2 hours. Don't rush it. The A-Bomb Dome outside is free and deeply powerful.

Peace Memorial Park

Walk through the park, see the Children's Peace Monument and the Flame of Peace. The space is quiet and meaningful — let it breathe.

Ferry to Miyajima Island

Take the JR Ferry from Hiroshima Pier to Miyajima (covered by your JR Pass if you have one). The floating Torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine appears as you approach — genuinely one of Japan's most photogenic moments.

Itsukushima Shrine & Floating Torii

Walk the shrine boardwalk, visit the main hall, and get close to the Torii at high tide (check tide charts in advance — high tide = floating effect, low tide = walkable to the gate, both are great).

Momijidani Park & Ropeway (optional)

If energy allows, the Miyajima Ropeway gives panoramic views of the Seto Inland Sea. Otherwise, wander Miyajima's shopping street for maple-leaf shaped momiji manju cakes and oysters on the shell.

Return to Kyoto

Ferry back to Hiroshima, Shinkansen back to Kyoto. Arrive by 7:30–8 PM. You've earned a slow evening.

Pontocho Alley — Final Kyoto Dinner

Pontocho is a narrow alley of restaurants running parallel to the Kamo River — atmospheric, romantic, and the best concentration of quality dining in Kyoto. In May, restaurants open river platforms (kawayuka) for outdoor dining above the water.