Ultimate Japan Honeymoon (Private Tailored) by Odynovo – 13-Day Tour

Japan’s best honeymoon moments here come in contrasting pairs: a quiet soak in a private hot spring, then the red gates and city energy of Tokyo and Kyoto. I like the route’s mix of guided cultural stops and free time, and the unusual final stretch on subtropical Izu Oshima, where you can trade temple paths for beaches and a volcano hike.

I also like that this is a private trip rather than a fixed group tour, with private transport for listed transfers and English-speaking guides on scheduled sightseeing. One consideration: the advertised price starts at $6,199, but international flights, insurance, gratuities and optional activities are extra, and peak-season pricing can change.

Key points to know

• Tokyo to Izu Oshima: The route begins with major city sights and ends with three nights on a volcanic island.
• A private hot spring bath: The Hakone ryokan stay includes a private bath, a welcome pause after the Mount Fuji day.
• Hands-on Japanese food: A three-hour Tokyo cooking class includes sukiyaki, cucumber salad and matcha-syrup rice dumplings.
• Kyoto with a special evening: The schedule combines famous shrines and temples with sake tasting and a private maiko dinner show.
• Independent time is part of the design: Hakone and Izu Oshima have open days, so you can set your own pace, but you will need to choose activities and manage some local exploring yourself.

Tokyo begins with shrines, shopping streets and a cooking class

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Your first day is deliberately gentle. A private driver meets you at Tokyo’s airport and takes you to your hotel, leaving the rest of the day open for a meal and a chance to adjust to the city. Flights are not included, so plan your arrival time separately and allow enough breathing room before the sightseeing day begins.

Day two brings an English-speaking guide to Meiji Jingu, a forest shrine with broad grounds, a museum and an Inner Garden. The contrast with Senso-ji is part of the appeal: at Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple, you pass beneath Kaminarimon, the Thunder Gate, then walk Nakamise shopping street, where traditional-style goods share space with the crowds heading to the temple.

Tokyo Skytree appears as a landmark stop, but the plan says to view it, not necessarily go up. Later, your guide takes you along Shinjuku’s illuminated food street for a look at Tokyo’s evening food scene. Dinner is described as a culinary outing, but the included meals are listed as breakfast and lunch only, so confirm what is covered before you budget for the evening.

Day three is a welcome change from sightseeing on foot. In a three-hour class with an expert chef, you make Accordion Cucumber Salad, Shiratamadango with matcha syrup and sukiyaki hot pot. The class includes lunch, and it gives you a practical taste of Japanese cooking rather than another meal at a restaurant.

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Mount Fuji views lead into Hakone’s hot springs

On day four, a private drive takes you about 1.5 hours from Tokyo to the Kawaguchiko area. You can choose a lake cruise or the Mount Fuji Panoramic Ropeway for views across the lake toward the mountain. The itinerary also includes Oshino Hakkai, a group of ponds fed by Mount Fuji snowmelt, and Arakurayama Sengen Shrine.

Fuji is famously shy behind clouds, so treat the views as a possibility, not a promise. The day’s appeal is broader than a single photograph: you get a lake, a shrine and a village stop before continuing about 1.5 hours to Hakone.

At your ryokan, you can unwind in a private hot spring bath. That privacy matters for a honeymoon, especially if you prefer not to use a shared bath. The tour describes a local onsen ryokan and private bathing, but it does not name the property or specify the room type, so ask what the cheapest-room price includes.

Day five is free for your own Hakone plans, with a Hakone Free Pass described as part of the tour. It covers unlimited use of Odakyu-affiliated transport and discounts at major attractions. Options include the Hakone Open-Air Museum, a ropeway over Owakudani’s sulfur fields and a cruise on Lake Ashi.

This open day is useful, but it is not a guided sightseeing day. Pick your priorities in advance and check how the pass works for the places you want to visit. Owakudani’s volcanic features and Lake Ashi’s scenery offer very different outings, while the museum makes a good choice if you would rather stay on the ground.

Kyoto’s temples come with sake and a river journey

Day six gives you more time in Hakone before a roughly two-hour Shinkansen ride to Kyoto. The train is a highlight in its own right, and the shift from mountain resort to former capital gives the trip a clear change of mood. Once in Kyoto, the evening is yours.

The next day covers Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, Nijo Castle and Fushimi Inari-Taisha. Kinkaku-ji is known for its gold-covered exterior; Nijo Castle links the city to the Tokugawa shoguns; and Fushimi Inari is famous for its long paths lined with red torii gates. A guide helps connect the sites, though this is a substantial day of temple and castle visits.

The schedule ends at the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum, where you learn about sake brewing and sample different varieties. This is a useful way to understand a drink that can otherwise seem like a simple menu choice. If you do not drink alcohol, ask Odynovo about alternatives before booking.

Day eight takes you to Arashiyama for a 25-minute ride on the Sagano Romantic Train to Kameoka, followed by a two-hour traditional boat trip on the Hozugawa River back toward Arashiyama. The train and river route make the day less temple-focused and more about the scenery along the way.

That evening, a private maiko dinner show is arranged at an exclusive restaurant. It is one of the itinerary’s most distinctive honeymoon touches, but meal details are not listed among the included food, which is described as 12 breakfasts and one lunch. Confirm whether the dinner itself is covered, as well as the exact format of the show.

Izu Oshima trades city sights for a volcanic island

On day nine, take the Shinkansen about three hours from Kyoto to Atami, then a ferry listed at roughly 45 minutes to Izu Oshima. The island stay is a striking change of pace after several days of temples, trains and planned sightseeing. You have three nights there, enough time to rest and still explore.

Day ten is left open for hot spring baths, beach time, snorkeling or scuba outings along the northern or western coast. The itinerary does not specify which activities are included, so treat these as optional and ask about local arrangements and costs. This is the trip’s most flexible section, but it also asks you to make your own plans.

The next day offers a fishing town, the Museum of Volcanoes and an optional hike up 758-meter Mount Mihara. The hike adds a more active outing to a tour otherwise rated low intensity. If you want to climb, check the expected route and conditions with the operator; if not, the museum and town offer gentler alternatives.

On day twelve, a high-speed ferry takes you back to Tokyo in about two hours. The rest of the day is free for shopping or a final city wander, followed by departure after breakfast on day thirteen. Because the return trip is by sea, keep your flight plans separate from the ferry schedule and confirm how much time you need between arrival in Tokyo and any onward travel.

Private transfers help, but some days are self-guided

Odynovo describes this as a private, tailored tour, with private in-destination transport where listed and English-speaking guides for scheduled sightseeing. That is a useful blend: a guide can explain major sites, while private transfers reduce the hassle of moving between Tokyo, the Fuji area and Hakone. Trains and ferries remain part of the route, so the trip is not door-to-door by car.

The phrase fully guided needs a little context. The detailed schedule includes guided sightseeing in Tokyo and Kyoto, but Hakone and Izu Oshima have substantial independent time. If you want a guide beside you every day, ask whether the itinerary can be adjusted and what that would cost.

The pace is moderate overall, with a low physical rating, but days vary. City sightseeing means walking, and the optional Mount Mihara hike is a more demanding choice. Most days include breakfast, but only one lunch is specified, so set aside money for meals beyond that.

What the $6,199 starting price covers

The starting price is based on the cheapest room category and includes four-star accommodation, 12 breakfasts, one lunch, listed sightseeing entrance fees, bottled water each day and transport described in the program. The cooking class includes lunch, and the Hakone Free Pass is listed as included. The exact room choice and what is covered in special evening experiences are worth confirming before you pay.

At $6,199 per person, the value depends on what you want from a honeymoon. Private transport, hotel arrangements across several stops, guided sightseeing and the unusual island extension would take time to arrange independently. On the other hand, flights, insurance, gratuities, personal expenses and optional activities are not included, so the final cost will be higher.

Pricing may change for cherry blossom, autumn color and skiing periods, as well as for last-minute bookings. The listed departure months are January, February, March, May, June, October, November and December. If your dates are fixed, ask Odynovo to confirm availability and the total price before booking.

Odynovo has more than 20 years of experience with private and customized tours and offers 24-hour support until the trip ends. Its stated response time is within one day, with a 100 percent response rate. Those details matter on a multi-stop trip involving trains, ferries and private transfers, though they do not replace checking the specifics of your own arrangements.

Who should choose this honeymoon

This itinerary suits couples who want a private trip with a mix of major sights, food activities and downtime. It is particularly appealing if you value a private hot spring bath, want an English-speaking guide for key sightseeing days and like the idea of ending on a quieter island rather than spending all 13 days in large cities.

It is less suited to anyone who wants every hour planned or every meal included. Hakone and Izu Oshima leave room for personal choices, which can be relaxing if you enjoy setting your own pace, but less convenient if you want a guide to handle every detail. The island portion also means relying on ferry connections and arranging optional activities separately.

Should you book this tour?

I would shortlist this tour if the private format, the Hakone bath and the Izu Oshima finish matter more to you than a packed schedule of famous cities. Its best feature is the variety: Tokyo and Kyoto provide the cultural core, while Fuji, hot springs and the island give the trip space to breathe.

Before committing, confirm the room category, the maiko evening’s meal details, which Hakone pass and transfers are included, and the cost of island activities. If those answers fit your budget, this is a thoughtful honeymoon route with a memorable balance of guided highlights and time together.

FAQ

What is the starting price?

The tour starts at $6,199, based on the cheapest room category. Peak-season and last-minute bookings may cost more.

Are international flights included?

No. Flights before and after the tour are not included and must be arranged separately.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. It is described as a private, tailored tour for you and your own party.

Is an English-speaking guide included?

Yes. English-speaking guides are included for sightseeing listed in the program. Some days, including time in Hakone and Izu Oshima, are independent.

Which meals are included?

The tour includes 12 breakfasts and one lunch. The cooking class includes lunch; confirm whether the maiko dinner is included.

Does the tour include a private hot spring bath?

Yes. The Hakone ryokan stay includes a private hot spring bath.

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts 13 days, starting and ending in Tokyo.

How do you travel between Kyoto and Izu Oshima?

You take a Shinkansen train from Kyoto to Atami, then a ferry to Izu Oshima. The listed travel times are about three hours by train and 45 minutes by ferry.

Are island activities included?

Activities such as hot spring bathing, beach time, snorkeling, scuba outings and the Mount Mihara hike are presented as optional. They may cost extra.

What is not included in the tour price?

Flights, insurance, gratuities, visa fees, personal expenses, optional activities and pre- or post-tour accommodation not listed in the program are excluded.