A Luxury 10-Day Honeymoon in Tokyo & Kyoto

My husband and I decided to spend our honeymoon in Tokyo and Kyoto, two destinations far-flung from our home base in Brooklyn. The allure of Japan’s life-changing gastronomy and spirit of otomenashi (a level of customer service and care that’s hard to find in the US) was enough to get us to book the trip. The free-flowing champagne in a lay-flat seat and hotel accommodations that made us feel like truly distinguished guests were what made the trip the embodiment of all my decadent dreams.

Getting There

A luxury vacation always starts in the sky. Flying nonstop from New York to Tokyo was set to be our longest flight yet (clocking in at 14 hours!) so it was very important to us to have lay-flat seats. Luckily, we were able to book business class seats on ANA, a five-star Japanese airline. Their business class product, “The Room,” is widely regarded as one of the best available, and after comparing it to the other business class cabins I’ve flown in, I have to agree. Beyond the impeccable service and seemingly never-ending courses of delicious food, my favorite part was how wide the seats were. My husband and I had no problem both fitting into one seat together, making one of the best parts of being on a plane with someone–watching movies together–all the more pleasurable. The only aspect of the flight that didn’t exceed my expectations was the amenity kit, but that’s me being super picky. 

Where We Stayed

When it comes to beautiful hotels to luxuriate in, Tokyo and Kyoto will each have you spoiled for choice. Some people look at hotels as just a space to store their bags and sleep in at night. But for my husband and I, there are few things we take more seriously than hotel selections. Here are our favorite five-star properties we stayed at:

• The Conrad Tokyo's skyscraper looms over a business-centered neighborhood of Shiodome. Its location left something to be desired; despite being a short walk away from the stunning Hamarikyu Gardens and the must-visit Tsukiji Market, you have to navigate an annoying maze of elevated walkways to get there on foot. We did, however, enjoy our spacious room, an airy double bathroom, and their top-tier breakfast buffet.
• You might recognize the legendary Park Hyatt Tokyo from the movie Lost in Translation, most of which took place within the property. We were so impressed by our room’s panoramic views of the Tokyo skyline, the attentiveness of the hotel staff, and the location, which was in the heart of bustling Shinjuku. Later this year, the hotel will be undergoing a property-wide revitalization set to be completed in spring 2025, coinciding with its 30th anniversary. I’m super excited for this next chapter and to see a more modern iteration of this iconic property!
• In Kyoto, we checked into our favorite hotel of the entire trip: Park Hyatt Kyoto. It’s impossible to describe the beauty of this property and the serenity it instills. Somehow, the hotel evokes the feeling of seclusion, like you’re tucked away in some distant locale. In reality, we were situated in the heart of one of the most popular streets in Kyoto’s Higashiyama district, right down the street from the famous tatami-floored Starbucks.

Our Favorite Meals

One of the main attractions of traveling to Japan is, of course, the culinary adventures to be had. My husband and I are self-proclaimed bon vivants, so we prioritized a well-fed food budget and took great care in researching where to eat to maximize our gastronomic experience. Here were the highlights:

• As meat lovers, tracking down the best yakiniku (meaning “grilled meat”) was an absolute must for us. At Yakiniku Miyabi in Tokyo, we enjoyed a feast of premium wagyu cuts in a private dining room for less than $100. 
• You can’t leave Japan without at least one standout sushi omakase experience. We had ours at Sushi Kappo-Nakaichi in Kyoto. When you make a reservation, you tell them how much you want to pay and they build a menu around it. We paid $400 and would have gladly done it again had we not been leaving the next day. 
• Uni and Wagyu beef? Sounds like the pinnacle of luxury to me. At Tsukiji Market, make sure to grab some uni-topped Wagyu beef skewers. Several stalls sell them; pick whichever has the shortest line.

Itinerary Highlights‍

I think people often assume that luxury means you have to spend a lot of money. And while this can certainly be the case, sometimes luxury can be the luxury of choice. Or convenience. Or spending ten days on the other side of the world with the love of your life with no obligations other than to do exactly what you want to do. Here were some of our favorite experiences:

• Perched atop the 52nd floor of the aforementioned Park Hyatt Tokyo, New York Bar is a jazz lounge that’s as equally iconic as the property it resides in. They don’t take reservations even if you’re a guest of the hotel, so we tried our luck as walk-ins. To our surprise, they sat us at the best table in the house–right next to the band with unobstructed views of the Tokyo skyline. We drank our favorite champagne paired with a burger and lobster mac while we listened to the stylings of Stan Getz. I couldn’t imagine a more perfect evening.
• Given how exceptional the Park Hyatt Tokyo’s bar was, we knew we’d have to make time to experience Kohaku, the bar at Park Hyatt Kyoto. The vibe here was totally different, but just as memorable. Kohaku’s space was much more intimate, featuring dark woods and leather textures that warmed the soul almost as much as their curated collection of rare whiskeys. We stopped here for drinks before heading out to Downtown Kyoto’s Pontocho Alley and were mesmerized by the dramatic floor-to-ceiling views of the Yasaka Pagoda.
• Taking Japan’s Shinkansen bullet train between cities is an absolute must-do, even just for the novelty of traveling at almost 200 mph. One of my top recommendations is to splurge on the train’s “green class” cabin, one step up from economy. These seats can be reserved in advance and offer more comfort, and the cabin tends to be more spacious and quiet. If you want even more luxury, there’s an ultra-premium option called “gran class” that includes amenity kits and even more space.

‍Long-Haul Travel Essentials

‍Our honeymoon in Japan was the trip of a lifetime. We stayed in beautiful hotels, ate incredible food, and had unforgettable experiences, but the unsung heroes of the trip were the tried-and-true travel essentials–ranging from $25 to just under $200– that made getting there a breeze. I don’t ever fly without my Away travel tote that fits perfectly on top of my favorite Calpak carry-on suitcase, and my go-to travel uniform always includes a pair of flare leggings and comfortable sneakers. My other travel essentials are Loop earplugs (necessary for sleeping on the plane) and a set of Cadence capsules that store all of my personal care products.