Top 5 Most Romantic Places to Honeymoon in Japan

Hakone: Kijitei Hoeiso

The jewel that is Kijitei Hoeiso was discovered in a somewhat original way. While looking for a traditional ryokan that would accommodate someone with coeliac disease, internet research led us to Kijitei Hoeiso in Hakone. And it was the most wonderful discovery.

Hakone is popular for its splendid view of Mount Fuji, but also thanks to numerous hot springs distributed all over town. The city is more on the traditional side, with many old-style ryokans – Japanese-style hotels - with high-end and luxury rooms to offer. Hoeiso Kijitei is specialized in pheasant cuisine, something you don’t see a lot in Japan. Their dinner and breakfast offers are exquisite, and the rooms are perfectly decorated but the real treat is their outdoor bath. Located at the end of a cute path in their garden you will find a private bath that you can enjoy with your loved one. Accessible day and night, it’s close enough to the river for you to see and hear it. At night, surrounded by lanterns, the moment is purely magical. The bath is free of charge but you have to book in advance.

You can’t access the hotel on foot from the train station but a shuttle bus leaves twice per hour, or you could take the city bus.

Keyword: traditional ryokan

Highlight: private outdoor bath with a view on the river

Kinugawa: Kinugawa Kanaya

North of Tokyo, you can find Nikko, a city well-known for its complex of sanctuaries and temples from the UNESCO world heritage. They have just been renovated so now is the perfect time to book a trip to Nikko! Need a place to stay? We got you covered with Kinugawa Kanaya. Kinugawa Onsen is a hot spring resort belonging to Nikko, it is named after the Kinugawa River, flowing through the city.

Kinugawa Kanaya offers you a place to retreat, and enjoy the silence of Nature while gazing at its magnificence, without even moving from your room. All rooms offer a mix of traditional and modern Japanese designs to accommodate all your staying needs. Of course, kaiseki cuisine – traditional Japanese cuisine that follows the natural course of the seasons – is served at their restaurant, with, again, a twist of modern and western influences as well. During your stay, each step will be carefully crafted to make you enjoy the surroundings and the building to the fullest extent possible. You can trust the staff with your eyes closed.

Keyword: traditional ryokan with a modern twist

Highlight: scenic view of the Kinugawa valley from the rooms

Lake Kawaguchi: Hoshinoya Resort

As a famous artwork suggests, there are 36 different views of the Mount Fuji. If Hakone is not to your taste, try Kawaguchi! These last years, glamping options just kept rising in Japan but this one tops them off in the blink of an eye. The luxury hotel complex Hoshinoya resorts opened Hoshinoya Fuji right by the Kawaguchi Lake in Yamanashi prefecture.

You won’t stay in a tent but in a private condominium with a terrace giving you a direct view of Mount Fuji. The really modern and Nordic design of the rooms is surprising at first but fits perfectly with the trees circling the complex. Hoshinoya Fuji encourages you to stop and listen, to bathe yourself with the ambiance of the forest while gazing at the everchanging scenery. French-inspired cuisine is served on the terrace with heathers under the table during the cold seasons, or you can get your meal cooked in a Dutch oven by a Glamping Master.

Keyword: luxury glamping escape

Highlight: scenic view of the ever-changing Mount Fuji

Hokkaido: Zaborin

Zaborin embodies Japanese luxury at its best. Enjoy private villas equipped with an indoor and an outdoor bath, offering a view of snowy mountains during the winter. Hokkaido is famous for its ski resorts but the snow there is unique thanks to the Siberian winds. Zaborin chose to pay a tribute to these snow types by naming each villa with a name referring to it. This is a reflection of how much attention the staff will pay to you during your stay.

With only 15 rooms, the ryokan is dedicated to making each stay the perfect one. All of them are offering a view of the neighbouring mountains, offering both Japanese and Western-style beddings, and a sense of privacy for you to fully enjoy your retreat. The cuisine is a modern interpretation of old Kyoto kaiseki with a paired breakfast (Japanese or Western style). The ski resort Niseko is only a 20-min ride from Zaborin, ski lovers should consider the option.

Keyword: private villas

Highlight: outdoor hot springs in snowy scenery

Ishikawa: Lamp No Yado

Lamp no Yado is a high-end, secluded, sustainable, and exquisite ryokan. Right by the sea, in Ishikawa Prefecture, Lamp no yado is a 3-star Michelin resort offering private lodgings by the sea. There is a lot to say about Lamp no yado but nothing would do justice to the incredible scenery, lantern-lighted rooms, pool and baths with a sea view, and divine cuisine the resort has to offer.

Staying at Lamp no yado is also an opportunity to taste fugu, the deadly but so unique fish from Japan. The hotel is seated at the very end of the Noto Peninsula, far from everything with what some would call a rustic charm. The secluded location makes it hard to reach it by train or bus but it is worth the trip.

Keyword: private ryokan

Highlight: private baths with a sea view