SECRETS OF THE PEARL DIVERS

Your honeymoon will start with three nights in this immediately compelling capital where you can visit the ancient shrines and temples dotted throughout and go on a gastronomic tour of Tokyo’s many Michelin starred restaurants.

The Meiji-Jingu, a Shinto shrine located near the heart of the city, is one of the most incredible in the whole country - well worth a visit for those wanting to get to know Tokyo beyond the technicolour surface. Go for a pleasant morning stroll through the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden and in the evening take in Japan’s expressive culture with a performance at the Kabukiza Theatre.

During your stay, you’ll be taken on a guided walking tour of the Imperial Palace, where you can explore the massive stone walls, peaceful moat and beautiful gardens. Your home for three nights will be Hoshinoya Tokyo, a beautiful ryokan-style hotel. 

The next stop on your Japanese honeymoon is Hakone National Park, a beautiful region of mountains, rivers and hot springs a stone’s throw from Tokyo. Home to the iconic Mount Fuji and the beautiful Fuji Five Lakes, you can explore this stunning park by cable car and train, stopping at the top of Mount Owakudani to sample a particularly unusual local delicacy - a black egg, cooked in the area’s hot springs, which is said to add seven years to your life.

You can also sweep across the volcanic Lake Ashi in a replica pirate ship, and take some time to explore the many shrines, museums and shops which are dotted around the place.

You’ll spend two nights in the traditional ryokan Gora Kadan, sleeping on futons laid out on tatami mats and making the most of the region’s volcanism with a dip in the piping hot onsen baths.

Boarding the world famous bullet train, you will travel to Japan’s former Imperial capital, Kyoto, for three nights of culture and tradition, staying at Hoshinoya Kyoto, a tranquil retreat nestled in the hills surrounding the city. Having preserved the spirit of old Japan remarkably well while continuing to thrive as a modern city, Kyoto is the perfect place to explore on foot and on bike. You’ll go on a Kyoto sightseeing tour by bike, where you’ll weave between some of the 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the glistening Golden Pavilion and the Samurai castle, Nijo.

If your tastes run towards food, Nishiki Market is just around the corner, and provides a fantastic afternoon of weird and wonderful treats, with anything from bright red octopus with quail egg heads to scrumptious Japanese plum wines. You’ll then get to experience a private tea ceremony, watching as a master of the ceremony brews the perfect green matcha. 

Taking the bullet train to Nagoya, you’ll then climb into a helicopter and be transported across Ise Bay to your hotel, the stunning Amanemu. Set on a quiet hilltop in Ise-Shima National Park, you can enjoy the stunning views from your serene room, which has a wall of glass that leads out to private decking. Relax in the outdoor infinity pool or visit the 22,000sq ft spa to have your feet scrubbed in wasabi and crushed pearls and your body massaged with tangerine oils, a treatment inspired by the nearby shrines.

Located just under an hour from Amanemu, the Ise Jingu shrine is considered the most sacred shrine in Japan and believed to have been established over 2,000 years ago - we recommend taking the morning to visit the collection of 125 shrines, which are spread across 5,500 hectares of gorgeous, ancient forest.

You can follow the UNESCO-protected pilgrimage route of Kumano Kodo or visit the Nemu Golf Club, an 18-hole championship course overlooking Ago Bay, where you can practice your swing.

Ise-Shima is the homeland of Japan’s pearl industry and you’ll be taken on a romantic cruise of the nearby bays at sunset to hear about the century-old traditions of pearl collection, before being flown out via helicopter at the end of your three nights here.