Tokyo doesn't do grand romance. It does small, perfect moments at a rate no other city matches.
Three days for two#
Day one. Meiji Jingu's forest at opening, Omotesando's back streets, lunch at a counter, Shibuya Sky at sunset (booked a week ahead), dinner in Ebisu, a nightcap at a bar with eight seats.
Day two. Tsukiji outer market breakfast, Hamarikyu Garden with the towers behind, a boat up the Sumida to Asakusa, Senso-ji at dusk when the crowds have gone, dinner on a yakatabune dinner boat or in Kagurazaka's lanes.
Day three. Rikugien or Shinjuku Gyoen in the morning, Nakameguro's canal and cafés, a couples' spa afternoon, dinner at the one restaurant you booked, Golden Gai's quieter bars or a Shinjuku jazz club. The 7-day version for a longer trip.
Views#
Shibuya Sky at sunset (book), the free deck at the Metropolitan Government Building, the Mori Art Museum's Tokyo City View, a Sumida night cruise, Odaiba's waterfront looking back at the Rainbow Bridge. Skip the Skytree queue unless it's clear and early.
Onsen and spas for two#
Public baths separate the sexes. For a bath together: a kashikiri private bath by the hour in Hakone, a ryokan with an in-room open-air bath, or a Tokyo spa with couples' rooms. Tattoos: the guide.
Dinners#
Book one serious counter (sushi, tempura, kaiseki) a month ahead and let everything else be izakaya, ramen and yakitori. Where locals eat. Tipping in Japan: don't.
Nightlife for two#
Jazz in Shinjuku, a standing bar in Yurakucho, Golden Gai's calmer bars, a cocktail bar in Ginza, Nakameguro's canal at night, a late ramen. Tokyo nightlife has the map; Roppongi isn't on it for couples.
Where to stay#
Shibuya or Ebisu, Nakameguro, Ginza, or Asakusa for old Tokyo. Where to stay in Tokyo. Best months for two: April after the blossoms, October, November, December for the illuminations.
One evening with locals#
Post your dates on Roavi Community and spend one evening with a Local Friend, or a local couple: their izakaya, their bar, their neighbourhood. It's the night you'll talk about.
Tokyo as a couple? Spend one evening with people who live there.
Meet a Local FriendFrequently Asked Questions
Is Tokyo good for couples?
Very, in a quiet way: gardens, views, counter dinners, tiny bars, day trips to onsen towns. It isn't a beach-and-cocktail romance; it's a city you explore together with a lot of good food.Where can couples use an onsen together in Tokyo?
Public onsen and sento separate men and women. For a bath together, book a private kashikiri bath by the hour at a Hakone or Tokyo-area onsen, or a hotel with in-room open-air baths. Some Tokyo spas have couples' treatment rooms.What are the most romantic things to do in Tokyo?
Shinjuku Gyoen or Rikugien at opening, the Meguro River by night in cherry blossom season or December illuminations, Shibuya Sky at sunset, a yakatabune dinner boat on the bay, a jazz bar in Shinjuku, a counter dinner, a Hakone ryokan overnight.Where should couples stay in Tokyo?
Shibuya or Ebisu for restaurants and bars on foot, Nakameguro for a quieter, cooler base, Ginza for elegance and the department stores, Asakusa for old Tokyo. A small design hotel beats both a capsule and a chain.
