The more intimate version of that has been a whole lot of word of mouth, expanding exponentially as more travelers follow the trend. Japan-for-your-honeymoon is going through a major game of telephone, which was part of what inspired Ashley Phillips Aghajanian, an attorney in Los Angeles (whom I went to college with). “My sister and her husband also did their honeymoon in Japan, so our decision was slightly influenced by how much they enjoyed their trip,” says Phillips Aghajanian.
She and her husband Mark ultimately chose Japan over other contenders like an African safari, Italy, and France. They spent four days in Tokyo and three in Kyoto last November, with a hit of beach time in Hawaii en route from the West Coast. They bedded down at the Hoshinoya in Tokyo, then the Kanamean Nishitomiya Ryokan in Kyoto. Glitzy bars in Ginza, lunch at Gyukatsa Motomura, and the Hunter X Hunter exhibit at the Mori Art Museum (the manga series is the couples’ favorite TV show) convinced Phillips Aghajanian. “More people should look into Japan as a honeymoon destination,” she says.
Doing it right
With so much to offer, pinning down the exact route and flavor of a Japan honeymoon is an art—but travel specialists like Zuleta and deBell have learned a thing or two from the diversity of clients they’ve worked with.
“Mainstay destinations are going to be Tokyo and Kyoto, and the things that will make them more honeymoon-ish will be hotel choices and splurging on some really cool, private experiences,” says Zuleta. For food-loving people that would be really special meals, private culinary experiences. If they have enough time, then go out and stay at a really amazing ryokan, like Asaba in the Izu Peninsula, or Takefue in Kyushu, or Zaburin in Hokkaido.” Another popular spot with Zuleta’s clients: Naoshima Art Island, in the Seto Island Sea. Seasonality is big in Japan, flags deBell, especially with experiences like cherry blossom season (late-March to April), or fall foliage.
Unsurprisingly, planning ahead is more important than ever thanks to this rising interest. “We are turning people away now, because demand is so high and we’re not the only ones,” says Zuleta. “I have a lot of other friends who run small travel companies who I was surprised to hear are doing the same. Plan further in advance than you think you need to.”
With more couples than ever delaying their honeymoons—according to Brides’ Duffy, many are taking theirs months or even a year later—you’ll need extra time to book ahead, nab the reservations you want, and dig deep on research. The cushion will allow extra time to save up, too.
“Compared to a lot of other places in the world, it’s an expensive destination, and prices have gone up since Japan reopened last year,” says Zuleta. But don’t let it scare you off completely. “We still have a pretty favorable exchange rate, coming from dollars, and it’s arguably not even the most expensive place in Asia; Scandinavia is more expensive for sure. The reality is that you’re probably going to spend as much in Tokyo as you would in New York, so it’s not exactly cheap, but it’s not as exorbitant as people think.”
Perhaps that’s why Japan has become the honeymoon darling of 2023. Nothing gives you an excuse to splurge on a memorable experience quite like the words, “Well, it is our honeymoon.”
