I am looking around for honeymoon locations. I've never been to Japan but have always wanted to go. My fiancee has been to Tokyo twice.

Any ideas on how appropriate Japan would be for a honeymoon? We're thinking either late July next year or late September next year. I know Japan is very hot and humid in the summers.

We'll have about 10 days. I'd like for this to be as relaxing as possible - I don't want to come back more tired than before the trip.

I know this is a realy broad inquiry, but any tips would be most welcome. THanks.

My husband and I honeymooned in Japan in April 2005 for 9 nights. Like you, we were concerned about moving around too much, so we decided to just split our time between Kyoto and Tokyo. I would suggest you do the same, maybe adding in an overnight in Hakone for an onsen experience. There are many daytrips you can take if you feel like it, such as Nara, Himeji, Hiroshima, Nikko, and Kamakura.

Keep in mind, though, that I wouldn't really consider a honeymoon in Japan to be very relaxing. You won't be sitting around doing nothing all day. My husband and I did a lot of walking and sightseeing-but that's what we like to do. I would go crazy sitting around not doing much. I figure I can do that at home! At the same time, as long as you limit what you do each day and don't try to do too much you should be fine.

We went in early April specifically for the cherry blossoms and it was rather cool and rainy. September will probably be slightly cooler than July, but I believe that's when typhoon season gets going. Is there no way to make your trip a little earlier or later?

I hope this helps!

Kelley

If you want a trip that is "as relaxing as possible" then Japan might not be for you. When I and 30 million other people were in Tokyo I didn't find it relaxing and from what I could tell neither did they.

For relaxing, at those times of year, you ought to look north to Tohoku or Hokkaido. In Tohoku (northern Honshu), you can find several onsen to visit. A stay at Nyuto Onsen at a nice ryokan for a night or two would be relaxing and romantic. Also, you could look for a place to stay near Lake Towada (Towadako).

In Hokkaido you can get the great outdoors. Or Noboribetsu Onsen, Toyako, and the national park area around Sapporo.

Closer to Tokyo there are some resort areas in/near Nagano, I believe. Or a visit elsewhere in the Japan Alps, like Takayama or Shirakawago.

Or the resort areas of Ibusuki or Miyazaki on Kyushu island. Definitely take a look in this area. I believe that Miyazaki has some claim to golfing fame.

Or further south is Okinawa, but your timing might not be right for that.

So, first I said you might skip Japan then gave you a few areas to investigate. BUT if you really want a relaxing Japanese beach vacation then go to WAIKIKI and stay at the Royal Hawaiian.

ttt for KimJapan: Welcome back! IIRC you had some good info for honeymooners in Japan.

ttt

There are lots of lovely places in Japan...mrwnrfl mentions many. Late September might be better...personally I'd choose it over July. You could stay at a nice onsen hotel/ryokan in a spa town and relax for a day or two between bursts of sightseeing. Whether Japan is appropriate or not for a honeymoon is highly subjective...depends entirely on what you want and expect.

You say you want your honeymoon to be "relaxing" and, while I love Japan, I associate tropical beaches, etc more with relaxing honeymoons than Japan. But there are good options for this around Tokyo. A must would be at least one night at an onsen at Hakone.

You can also relax astthe beach too if you want. Two years ago we went to the Izu Peninsula for 2 nights at Shimoda (left Tokyo by train in the morning and arrived bylunchtime) where we took one day trip to Shirahama beach (need to take a local bus to get there). Good sand and waves (quite a few surfers on hand). Tokyo Disneyland and especially DisneySea are other good options for a honeymoon in my opinion. These activities should still leave plenty of time to visit temples, etc.

Kevinsu, my first question would be
what you and your fiancee would like to see/experience--would the focus be on natural beauty (then go to the mountains in Nagano), culture/history (possibly skip Tokyo, spend more time in Kyoto), or relaxing beach (Izu or Okinawa, but then again why not Thailand or Malaysia)?
Agree with KimJapan that late Sept is preferable to late July, because of hot & humid summer and school holiday. Sept can be somewhat of a hit & miss with typhoons but the temperature can be quite pleasant.