At a glanceA long two-part honeymoon that pairs the precision of Japan with the warmth of Bali: three nights in Tokyo, four in Kyoto, then a flight south for four nights among Ubud's rice terraces and four on the Uluwatu cliffs. It suits couples who love food, culture and design and want a beach finish. Go in April and May or in October.
Japan and Bali sit at opposite ends of the honeymoon spectrum, which is exactly why they work together. The first week is all detail: Tokyo's counter restaurants and late bars, then Kyoto's temples, gardens and kaiseki dinners. The second week is about heat, green and water, with a private pool never far away.
This route keeps it to four hotels. Tokyo gets three nights, enough for a few neighborhoods and one great dinner. The bullet train takes you to Kyoto in a little over two hours for four nights, the slowest and most romantic part of the Japan half. Then you fly to Bali's Ngurah Rai airport (DPS).
Ubud is the green heart of Bali, with rice terraces, river gorges and temple ceremonies. Uluwatu, on the Bukit Peninsula in the south, is the finale: limestone cliffs, surf beaches and sunset Kecak dances above the ocean. The second half costs much less per night than the first, so it is easy to book a villa with its own pool.
The route
- TokyoJapan · 3 nights
- KyotoJapan · 4 nights
- UbudIndonesia · 4 nights
- UluwatuIndonesia · 4 nights
- Best months
- April to May and October
- Trip length
- 16 days
- Budget
- About $500–1,600 a night for two in Japan and $400–1,500 in Bali (approximate)
Day by day
Days 1–4: Tokyo
Land at Haneda (HND), about 30 minutes from central Tokyo, or Narita (NRT), an hour on the Narita Express. Aman Tokyo sits high above Otemachi with views toward Mount Fuji on clear days. Stay central so you can walk or take short train rides everywhere.
On day 2, go to Senso-ji in Asakusa at dawn before the crowds, then take tea in the Hama-rikyu gardens by the bay. In the evening, book a counter dinner in Ginza, whether sushi, tempura or yakitori, where the chef cooks in front of you. Reserve weeks ahead.
Use day 3 for Shibuya and Harajuku or a day trip to Kamakura for its big Buddha and seaside temples, about an hour away. End with drinks in the tiny bars of Golden Gai. The romantic moment is sunset from Shibuya Sky, when the city spreads to the horizon and the lights come on all at once.
Days 4–8: Kyoto
Take the Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto in about two hours and 15 minutes. Send your big bags ahead with a luggage forwarding service so you travel light. Aman Kyoto is hidden in a forest garden in the north near Kinkaku-ji; Hoshinoya Kyoto sits on the river in Arashiyama and is reached by its own boat.
Plan one early start each day, when Kyoto is quiet. Walk the Arashiyama bamboo grove at dawn. Climb through the torii gates of Fushimi Inari before 8 a.m. Stroll the Philosopher's Path and the lanes of Higashiyama in the late afternoon.
Book a private tea ceremony and a kaiseki dinner in Gion, the seasonal multi-course meal that is the finest dinner of the trip. Leave one afternoon completely free. The romantic moment is the Hozu River boat ride through the gorge into Arashiyama, especially when the maples turn in autumn or the cherry trees bloom in spring.
Days 8–12: Ubud, Bali
Fly from Osaka's Kansai (KIX) or Tokyo to Denpasar (DPS). Nonstop flights take about seven hours when they are running; otherwise, connect through Singapore, Taipei or Hong Kong. Ubud is about an hour to an hour and a half from the airport.
Stay in the hills outside the town center. Capella Ubud has tented villas above a river valley in Keliki. Mandapa (a Ritz-Carlton Reserve) and Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan both sit along the Ayung River gorge, a short drive from town.
Spend day 9 recovering by your pool. On day 10, visit the Tegallalang or Jatiluwih rice terraces early, then take a Balinese cooking class. On day 11, join a water blessing at a temple with a local guide, raft the Ayung River or watch an evening dance performance in town. The romantic moment is the Campuhan Ridge walk at sunset, along a grassy spine between two river valleys.
Days 12–16: Uluwatu
Drive south to the Bukit Peninsula, about an hour and a half to two hours depending on traffic. Alila Villas Uluwatu has pool villas on the cliffs above the Indian Ocean; Bulgari Resort Bali sits on a clifftop with a lift down to a private beach.
This is the slow stretch. Spend mornings at your pool and afternoons beach hopping: Padang Padang, Bingin and Melasti are each reached by steps or a short drive. Take a surf lesson for two at a beginner beach if the swell is gentle.
The romantic moment is the Kecak fire dance at Uluwatu Temple, performed at sunset on a cliff above the sea. Arrive early and watch for the temple monkeys, who steal sunglasses. On another evening, eat grilled seafood on the sand at Jimbaran Bay. Book a Balinese flower bath at your spa on the last day. On day 16, transfer to DPS, about 30 to 45 minutes, for flights home through Asia.
Getting Between Stops
In Japan, trains do everything. The Tokaido Shinkansen links Tokyo and Kyoto in about two hours and 15 minutes with frequent departures. Use a luggage forwarding service, called takkyubin, to send bags between hotels for a modest fee; they usually arrive the next day.
To reach Bali, fly from Kansai (KIX), about 75 minutes from Kyoto by the Haruka express, or from Tokyo. Nonstops take about seven hours when they run. Otherwise, connect through Singapore, Taipei or Hong Kong for a total of nine to twelve hours.
In Bali, hire a car and driver for each transfer and for day trips. Rates are modest and the roads are busy and narrow, which makes self-driving stressful. Ubud to Uluwatu takes one and a half to two hours. Leave plenty of time for the drive to the airport on departure day.
Where to Stay
Tokyo: Aman Tokyo, with its huge spa and views over the Imperial Palace gardens. Hotels in Marunouchi and Ginza keep you close to the trains.
Kyoto: Aman Kyoto, set in a hidden garden near Kinkaku-ji, or Hoshinoya Kyoto in Arashiyama, reached by boat along the river. A night in a traditional ryokan with a private bath is worth adding if your budget allows.
Ubud: Capella Ubud for tented villas in the jungle, Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, for river-valley villas and private dining, or Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan for its striking entrance bridge over the gorge.
Uluwatu: Alila Villas Uluwatu for clean modern design on the cliffs, or Bulgari Resort Bali for Italian polish and its own beach. Pick a villa with a private pool; the price gap is smaller than in most places.
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When to Go
The two halves line up best in spring and autumn. Japan's cherry blossoms usually peak in late March and early April, with mild weather through May. Autumn leaves turn in Kyoto from about mid-November, with comfortable temperatures from October. June brings the rainy season and July and August are hot and humid.
Bali's dry season runs from about April to October, with lower humidity and calmer seas in the south. The wet season from November to March brings heavy afternoon showers, though mornings are often fine.
April and May are the strongest window: late spring in Japan and the start of the dry season in Bali. October is also excellent, with early autumn in Japan and dry weather in Bali. Avoid Japan's Golden Week, from about April 29 to May 5, when trains and hotels fill with domestic travelers.
Budget and Booking
Japan is the expensive half. Top hotels in Tokyo and Kyoto run roughly $1,000–1,600 a night for two, with good boutique hotels from about $500. Counter dinners and kaiseki can cost $200–500 for two. Bali is lower: good villa resorts run about $400–900 a night for two, with Bulgari and the top villas higher. These figures are approximate.
Book the Japan hotels and your best dinners first. Kyoto in spring and autumn fills months ahead. The top counters open reservations about a month out, often through your hotel's concierge.
In Bali, many villas include breakfast, airport transfers or a spa treatment for honeymooners, so ask when you book. Trains in Japan are easy to book a few days out, though a reserved seat is worth it in peak weeks.
Make It Shorter or Longer
For 12 or 13 days, cut Tokyo to two nights and Kyoto to three, then spend six nights in Bali split between Ubud and Uluwatu. Or skip Tokyo entirely by flying into Osaka and heading straight to Kyoto.
With 18 to 20 days, add two nights in Hakone between Tokyo and Kyoto for a ryokan with a private hot spring bath and views of Mount Fuji. In Bali, add three nights in Sidemen in the east for quieter rice terraces, or a few days on Nusa Lembongan for snorkeling and manta rays.
Couples who want more beach can trade Uluwatu for Sumba, a short flight from Bali with very few resorts, though it adds an extra flight and a longer travel day.
Honeymoon Tips
- In Japan, tipping is not expected and can cause confusion; excellent service is included.
- Carry cash in Japan for small restaurants and shrines, though cards are more widely accepted than before.
- Pack shoes that slip on and off easily for temples and ryokans.
- In Bali, cover shoulders and knees at temples for both of you; a sarong and sash are often provided.
- Watch for rip currents on the Bukit beaches and swim where lifeguards or locals swim.
- Dengue occurs in Bali. If you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC travel health notices.
- Read the State Department advisories for Japan and Indonesia before you go.
FAQPlanning this trip
How do we fly from Japan to Bali?
Fly from Osaka's Kansai (KIX) or Tokyo to Denpasar (DPS). Nonstops take about seven hours when they are running. Otherwise, connect through Singapore, Taipei or Hong Kong for a total of nine to twelve hours. Kansai is about 75 minutes from Kyoto by train.
Is 16 days enough for Japan and Bali?
Yes. Seven nights in Japan covers Tokyo and Kyoto at a relaxed pace. Eight in Bali gives you two very different bases with time to rest. Shorter trips usually cut Tokyo. Longer ones add Hakone in Japan or quieter parts of Bali such as Sidemen.
Should we stay in Ubud or the beach in Bali?
Do both. Ubud has rice terraces, temples and jungle villas but no beach. Uluwatu has cliffs, surf beaches and sunset temple dances. Four nights in each makes the Bali half feel like two separate trips, with only a short drive between them.
When is the best time for a Japan and Bali honeymoon?
April and May are the best balance, with spring in Japan and dry weather in Bali. October is also excellent. Avoid Golden Week in early May, the hot Japanese summer and Bali's wettest months from December to February if you want the most reliable weather.
How much does a Japan and Bali honeymoon cost?
For about two weeks at good hotels, many couples spend roughly $12,000 to $25,000 for two including trains, transfers and the regional flight, before international airfare. These are approximate figures. Japan's top hotels and dinners drive the cost, while Bali offers private pool villas for much less.
