The Cost of a Japan Honeymoon
Ten Days for Two, Line by Line

A ten-day luxury honeymoon in Japan, with three nights in Tokyo, two at a ryokan and four in Kyoto, came to about ¥2.07 million (about US$13,100) for two at the published rates for January 26, 2027, and about ¥3.78 million (about US$23,920) at the rates for April 1, 2027, in cherry blossom season. Both figures cover the rooms and the taxes on them, three dinners at well-known restaurants, Green Car seats on the Shinkansen, a car for the arrival and one day in Tokyo, and two suitcases sent ahead. They leave out international flights and the other meals. Most of the difference is Kyoto: the same room at HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO was ¥151,800 a night on the first date and ¥493,350 on the second.

Below, line by line, are the hotels and ryokan we priced on both dates, dinner, trains and cars, two private evenings, and the taxes and service charges that sit on top of a headline rate. We read every rate on the property's or operator's own booking page, and every tax on the official government page, on October 18, 2026; the sources are listed at the end. For the same route day by day, see the luxury Japan honeymoon itinerary.

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A TEN DAY BUDGET FOR TWO

This is the ten-day shape of a honeymoon planned from Tokyo: three nights in Tokyo, two at a ryokan with dinner and breakfast, four in Kyoto, and home from Kansai. Each column prices every night at the lowest published rate for one date, as if the whole stay cost what that night did, and the trains at the fares of that date's season.

A ten-day honeymoon for two at published rates for January 26 and April 1, 2027

Item	January 26 rates	April 1 rates	What it covers
Tokyo, 3 nights, Palace Hotel Tokyo	¥394,680	¥705,870	Deluxe King, room only, tax and service included
Tokyo accommodation tax	¥1,200	about ¥19,250	¥200 per person a night now, 3% of the room charge from April 1, 2027
Ryokan, 2 nights, Asaba in Shuzenji	¥572,600	¥535,200	Dinner and breakfast in the room, tax, service and bathing tax included
Kyoto, 4 nights, HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO	¥607,200	¥1,973,400	Deluxe Room, room only, tax and service included
Kyoto accommodation tax	¥32,000	¥80,000	¥4,000 or ¥10,000 per person a night
Shinkansen, Green Car	¥42,880	¥43,680	Tokyo to Mishima for Izu, then Mishima to Kyoto, for two
Car with driver, Tokyo MK	¥91,000	¥91,000	Haneda arrival and one 8-hour day in an Alphard-class car, before tolls
Two suitcases sent ahead	¥6,320	¥6,320	Yamato, Tokyo to Kyoto, 160 size
Three dinners for two	¥322,850	¥322,850	Sushi Kanesaka, Kikunoi Honten and Kyoto Kitcho Arashiyama, with service, before drinks
Total	about ¥2.07 million (about US$13,100)	about ¥3.78 million (about US$23,920)	Before flights, other meals and STAYGO's fee
Two private evenings	¥474,400	¥474,400	A boat on Tokyo Bay and the garden of Murin-an after dark
Total with the evenings	about ¥2.55 million (about US$16,140)	about ¥4.25 million (about US$26,900)	Before flights, other meals and STAYGO's fee

The rooms are about three quarters of the January total and more than four fifths of the April one. The totals leave out four of the seven dinners away from the ryokan, lunches and drinks, admissions and tolls, the local train to Shuzenji and the transfer to Kansai Airport. Japan's departure tax of ¥3,000 per person is usually added to the air ticket. STAYGO's planning fee is separate: the Signature plan is USD 3,500 for the two of you, for a trip of 7 to 14 days.

HOTELS IN TOKYO

Tokyo hotels, lowest published rate for two adults and one night

Hotel and room	January 26, 2027	April 1, 2027	Terms
Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, Deluxe Room, 50 m²	¥90,000, or ¥114,250 with tax and service	¥260,100, or ¥329,427 with tax and service	Plan Ahead rate, paid in full when booked, no refund or changes
Palace Hotel Tokyo, Deluxe King, 45 m²	¥131,560	¥235,290	Room only, tax and service included, free cancellation until 14:59 the day before
The Okura Tokyo, Prestige King, 48 m²	¥101,200	¥164,450	Room only, tax and service included, free cancellation until 14:59 the day before

Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo shows its rates before tax. At checkout it adds a 15% service charge, 10% consumption tax on the room and the service, and Tokyo's accommodation tax of ¥200 per person. Its lowest rate, Plan Ahead, is booked at least seven days ahead and paid at once, with no refund or changes. The flexible Best Available Rate for the same room came to ¥142,713 (about US$900) on January 26, free to cancel until 15:00 the day before.

Palace Hotel Tokyo quotes with tax and service included and adds Tokyo's accommodation tax at the hotel. Its lowest room-only rate was ¥131,560 (about US$830) on January 26 and ¥235,290 (about US$1,490) on April 1; breakfast for two added ¥17,250.

The Okura Tokyo also quotes with tax and service. Its flexible room-only rate was ¥101,200 (about US$640) on January 26 and ¥164,450 (about US$1,040) on April 1, and its prepaid rate with breakfast, with no refund or changes, was lower: ¥91,080 and ¥141,680. Neighbourhoods are compared in where to stay in Tokyo.

A RYOKAN FOR TWO NIGHTS

A ryokan rate usually includes dinner and breakfast, so it looks high beside a city hotel's room-only rate. Asaba, in Shuzenji in Izu, prices its seasonal dinner plan per person for two sharing a room.

Ryokan for two adults, one night with dinner and breakfast, lowest published rate

Ryokan	January 26, 2027	April 1, 2027	Terms
Asaba, Shuzenji	¥286,300, or ¥143,150 each, in an 85 m² room with a hot spring bath	¥267,600, or ¥133,800 each, in a 52 m² room facing the pond and the Noh stage	Tax, service and bathing tax included; 30% charged from 14 days before
Beniya Mukayu, Yamashiro Onsen	¥193,900 in a 60 m² Western-style room with an open-air bath	¥206,000 in the same room	Tax and service included; free cancellation until 22 days before

At Asaba the April night cost less because a smaller room was free on April 1 and not on January 26. Cancelling costs 30% from 14 days before, 50% from seven days and the full rate from three days. Dinner and breakfast are served in the room, and the inn does not collect guests from Shuzenji station.

Beniya Mukayu, in Yamashiro Onsen in Ishikawa, lists an open-air hot spring bath in hinoki cypress with every room on its booking page. Its lowest room, reached by 18 steps from the entrance, was ¥193,900 (about US$1,230) on January 26 and ¥206,000 (about US$1,300) on April 1.

Rates for two in Hakone are in the honeymoon itinerary, and more inns with a private bath in ryokan with a private onsen near Tokyo. In winter, check the calendar before fixing flights: Gora Kadan's showed no rooms at all between January 24 and 29, 2027.

HOTELS IN KYOTO

Kyoto hotels, lowest published rate for two adults and one night

Hotel and room	January 26, 2027	April 1, 2027	Terms
HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO, Deluxe Room with twin beds, 47 m²	¥151,800	¥493,350	Room only, tax and service included, Kyoto tax added; full charge from 30 days before
The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto, Deluxe Guest Room, king bed	¥165,475	¥652,500	Flexible rate, taxes and fees included, Kyoto tax included

HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO quotes totals with tax and service and adds Kyoto's accommodation tax at the hotel. Its April 1 rate, ¥493,350 (about US$3,120), was three and a quarter times the January rate of ¥151,800 (about US$960), and on this rate the whole stay is charged from 30 days before arrival. Its private hot spring bath costs ¥24,500 for 60 minutes.

The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto shows its rates on Marriott's booking page with taxes and fees included, and its own page says Kyoto's accommodation tax is part of the room rate. Its Deluxe Guest Room was ¥165,475 (about US$1,050) on January 26 and ¥652,500 (about US$4,130) on April 1, almost four times as much.

For four nights at HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO, the two dates were ¥1,366,200 (about US$8,650) apart before the city's tax. How the months compare is in the best time for a honeymoon in Japan, and the neighbourhoods in where to stay in Kyoto.

DINNER

Prices shown to consumers in Japan must include consumption tax, so a menu gives the tax-inclusive figure, sometimes beside a price before tax, as Kitcho's does. A service charge can still be added: Kikunoi Honten and Sushi Kanesaka add 15%, while Hyotei and Kitcho quote totals.

Dinner per person at four restaurants, published prices on October 18, 2026

Restaurant	Dinner per person	Tax and service	For two
Kikunoi Honten, Kyoto	¥33,000, ¥55,000, ¥77,000 or ¥110,000; a lighter course at ¥22,000	Tax included, 15% service added	¥75,900 for the ¥33,000 course
Hyotei, Kyoto	¥50,600 from November 1, 2026 (¥37,950 until then)	Both included	¥101,200
Kyoto Kitcho Arashiyama	¥79,200 for the ¥60,000 course	Both included in ¥79,200	¥158,400
Sushi Kanesaka, Palace Hotel Tokyo	¥38,500 omakase; ¥22,000 for 15 pieces of sushi	Tax included, 15% service added	¥88,550 for the omakase

Kitcho's price covers its special period, October 1, 2026 to May 5, 2027, and for bookings it accepts from January 1, 2027 dinner starts at ¥79,200 all year; it closes on Wednesdays, December 20 to 31 and January 4 to 10. Hyotei takes its last dinner order at 19:00, and Kikunoi Honten asks diners to arrive between 17:00 and 19:30. Ten days with two ryokan nights leave seven dinners to book elsewhere. What to expect at the table is in our kaiseki guide, and how Tokyo's harder tables are booked in how Tokyo reservations work.

TRAINS CARS AND LUGGAGE

The Shinkansen

The Nozomi takes about 2 hours 15 minutes between Tokyo and Kyoto. One way per person in the normal season, a reserved seat costs ¥14,170 (about US$90) and a Green Car seat ¥19,040 (about US$120). JR Central takes ¥200 off on off-peak days, which include January 26, 2027, and adds ¥200 at peak times and ¥400 at the busiest; April 1, 2027 is a normal day. For Shuzenji you change at Mishima: a Green Car seat was ¥6,870 for Tokyo to Mishima and ¥14,970 for Mishima to Kyoto, and the Izuhakone Railway to Shuzenji is extra.

Fares rise in 2027. For tickets bought from July 1, 2027, the Nozomi's reserved express fee between Tokyo and Kyoto goes up by ¥700, and for travel from December 15, 2027 the Green fee goes up by ¥3,000, which would make a Green Car seat ¥22,740.

Supreme Class

Since October 1, 2026, some Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen trains carry Supreme Class, a private cabin for up to two people in car 7. The railways' June 2026 announcement planned about 12 such trains a day, both directions together. The cabin ticket between Tokyo and Kyoto costs ¥60,240 (about US$380) one way in the normal season, and the second person needs a ticket of their own for the same train, so with an ordinary reserved ticket the two of you pay ¥74,410 (about US$470). Welcome drinks and sweets are included, and the cabin takes suitcases of up to 55 by 40 by 25 cm.

A car and driver

Tokyo MK publishes its rates with consumption tax included. In a Toyota Alphard or Mercedes V-Class, a transfer from Haneda starts at ¥17,000 (about US$110) and from Narita at ¥45,000 (about US$280), and eight hours within Tokyo, up to 120 km, start at ¥74,000 (about US$470). Tolls, parking and admissions are extra, and cancelling after 9:00 the day before costs the full fare. Other operators are compared in what a private driver in Japan costs, and Kyoto's chartered cars in what a private guide in Japan costs.

Sending the suitcases ahead

The ryokan nights are easier with an overnight bag. Yamato's basic fare for a suitcase of its 160 size, up to 25 kg, is ¥3,160 (about US$20) with tax for Kanto to Kansai, the regions that take in Tokyo and Kyoto.

TWO PRIVATE EVENINGS

A boat on Tokyo Bay. Anniversary Cruise's plan for two charters one of its smaller boats for 60 minutes at ¥99,000 (about US$630), tax included, with a half bottle of Moët & Chandon, soft drinks and a framed photograph sent afterwards. Cruises run between 11:00 and 22:00. See a private evening cruise on Tokyo Bay.

Murin-an after dark. This Kyoto garden can be yours alone after closing until 22:00. The base fee is ¥300,000 (about US$1,900) including tax; a tea ceremony for two adds ¥35,400 and English support ¥40,000, ¥375,400 (about US$2,380) in all. Requests open 180 days ahead, and the fee cannot be refunded from 10 days before. See a private evening at Murin-an.

TAXES SERVICE CHARGES AND TIPS

Consumption tax. The standard rate is 10%, on rooms and on meals in restaurants. A booking page in English may still show a rate before tax, as Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo's does, and add it at checkout.

Service charges. Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo adds 15% to the room, and Kikunoi Honten and Sushi Kanesaka 15% to dinner. Palace Hotel Tokyo, The Okura Tokyo, HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO, Asaba, Beniya Mukayu, Hyotei and Kitcho include service in the price they quote.

Tokyo's accommodation tax. Today it is ¥100 per person per night on rooms of ¥10,000 to ¥14,999 per person and ¥200 from ¥15,000. From April 1, 2027 it becomes 3% of the room charge per person per night, before consumption tax and including the service charge, with nothing to pay below ¥13,000. At Palace Hotel Tokyo's April 1 rate that is about ¥6,400 a night for two. Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo's checkout for April 1 still added the current ¥200 per person.

Kyoto's accommodation tax. Since March 1, 2026, Kyoto City has charged per person per night on the room and service charge, before meals and consumption tax: ¥200 below ¥6,000, ¥400 from ¥6,000, ¥1,000 from ¥20,000, ¥4,000 from ¥50,000 and ¥10,000 from ¥100,000. Some hotels add it and some include it, so ask which applies before comparing two.

Bathing tax. Izu City, where Asaba is, charges ¥150 per person per night at hot spring baths costing ¥5,000 or more, and Asaba's rate includes it.

Departure tax. Since July 1, 2026, Japan's international tourist tax has been ¥3,000 per person for each departure. Children under 2 are exempt, and tickets issued by June 30, 2026 keep the old ¥1,000.

Tax-free shopping. From November 1, 2026, tax-free shops charge consumption tax at the till, customs checks the goods when you leave Japan within 90 days of the purchase, and the shop then refunds the tax. The minimum purchase is ¥5,000 before tax, and the goods must be with you when you leave.

Tips. Japan's national tourism organisation says it is not common to tip in restaurants, taxis or hotels, and Hoshinoya's booking page states that its hotels decline tips.

WHAT MOVES THE TOTAL

The month in Kyoto. Four nights at HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO cost ¥607,200 at January 26 rates and ¥1,973,400 at April 1 rates. On these figures the season moved the Kyoto bill more than the choice between the two Kyoto hotels did.

What the rate includes. A rate shown before tax and service grew by more than a quarter at checkout, so compare totals with tax, service and the city's tax.

Flexibility. At Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo the flexible rate came to about a quarter more than the non-refundable one, and at The Okura Tokyo the prepaid rate with breakfast cost less than the flexible rate without it.

The ryokan. Asaba and Beniya Mukayu barely moved between the two dates. On April 1 a night at Asaba with two meals cost a little over half of a room-only night at HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO.

WHERE STAYGO COMES IN

STAYGO plans private trips across Japan from Tokyo. For a honeymoon we price the rooms on each property's own booking page for your dates, show you which rates include tax and service and which taxes are added on top, and send the requests once you have chosen. We arrange everything in your names, and you pay the hotels, ryokan, restaurants and hosts directly at their own rates, with no commission or markup from us. The Signature plan is USD 3,500 for the two of you, for a trip of 7 to 14 days; longer or more complex trips are quoted as Bespoke.

SOURCES AND HOW WE CHECKED

We read each hotel's, ryokan's and restaurant's own website and booking page, the operators' fare pages, and the pages of the National Tax Agency, the Japan Tourism Agency, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Kyoto City and Izu City on October 18, 2026. Room rates are the lowest shown for two adults in one room for one night on January 26 or April 1, 2027; where a page showed a rate before tax, we went as far as the checkout summary without booking. We did not contact the hotels, restaurants or operators, and we did not use figures from booking sites, guidebooks or press coverage. Prices and conditions are those shown on October 18, 2026, and can change. Dollar amounts are a guide only, at ¥158 to US$1 (October 2026); every hotel, ryokan and restaurant charges in yen.

• Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, booking: rates, tax and service, cancellation
• Palace Hotel Tokyo, booking: rates, inclusions, cancellation
• The Okura Tokyo, booking: rates, cancellation, Tokyo's tax
• Asaba, booking (Japanese): rooms, rates, inclusions, cancellation
• Beniya Mukayu, booking (Japanese): rooms, baths, rates, cancellation
• Gora Kadan, booking calendar (Japanese): availability in January 2027
• HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO, booking (Japanese): room, rates, inclusions, cancellation, spa
• HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO, accommodation tax notice (Japanese): tax charged separately
• The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto, booking: rates with taxes and fees
• The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto, overview: Kyoto's tax in the rate
• Kikunoi Honten (Japanese): dinner prices, service, arrival times
• Hyotei (Japanese): dinner prices, last order
• Kyoto Kitcho Arashiyama, dishes (Japanese): course prices by period
• Kyoto Kitcho Arashiyama (Japanese): closing days
• Palace Hotel Tokyo, Sushi Kanesaka (Japanese): service charge
• Sushi Kanesaka, dinner menu: course prices
• JR Central, access search (Japanese): times and fares
• JR Central, express fees by season (Japanese): seasons and calendar
• JR Central and JR West, release, October 16, 2026 (Japanese): 2027 fare changes
• JR Central and JR West, release, June 17, 2026 (Japanese): Supreme Class
• smart EX, Supreme Class fares: the Tokyo to Kyoto fare
• Izuhakone Railway (Japanese): the line between Mishima and Shuzenji
• Tokyo MK, private hire rates: rates and cancellation
• Yamato Transport, basic fares (Japanese): Kanto to Kansai
• Yamato Transport, fare list (Japanese): prefectures by region
• Anniversary Cruise, plan for two (Japanese): price, inclusions, hours
• Murin-an, night private plan (Japanese): fees, application, cancellation
• National Tax Agency, consumption tax rates (Japanese): the standard rate
• National Tax Agency, total price display (Japanese): tax-inclusive prices
• Tokyo Metropolitan Government, accommodation tax (Japanese): rates and the 2027 change
• Kyoto City, accommodation tax (Japanese): rates and what is taxed
• Izu City, bathing tax (Japanese): the rate
• Japan Tourism Agency, international tourist tax: rate, old rate, children
• National Tax Agency, international tourist tax (Japanese): how it is collected
• National Tax Agency, tax-free refund method: the system from November 1, 2026
• Japan National Tourism Organization, tipping in Japan: tipping
• Hoshinoya Okinawa, booking (Japanese): tips declined

QUESTIONS COUPLES ASK

How much does a luxury honeymoon in Japan cost for two?

For ten days in Tokyo, a ryokan and Kyoto, the published rates we checked came to about ¥2.07 million (about US$13,100) for two at January 26, 2027 rates and about ¥3.78 million (about US$23,920) at April 1, 2027 rates. That covers the rooms and their taxes, three dinners, Green Car seats, a car in Tokyo and two suitcases sent ahead, and leaves out flights and other meals.

Is a Japan honeymoon cheaper in winter?

In Kyoto it was much cheaper on the dates we checked: HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO was ¥151,800 a night for two on January 26, 2027 and ¥493,350 on April 1. The ryokan barely changed.

Do hotel prices in Japan include tax and service?

It depends on the hotel. Palace Hotel Tokyo, The Okura Tokyo, HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO and Asaba quote totals with tax and service, while Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo adds a 15% service charge, 10% tax and ¥200 per person at checkout.

Do you tip in Japan?

No. Japan's national tourism organisation says tipping is not common in restaurants, taxis or hotels, and Hoshinoya states that its hotels decline tips.

What taxes do visitors pay in Japan?

Consumption tax of 10% on rooms and meals, accommodation tax in Tokyo and Kyoto, a bathing tax at hot spring inns such as ¥150 a night in Izu City, and a departure tax of ¥3,000 per person since July 1, 2026.