I’m planning on proposing to my GF during our trip to Japan. We’re spending 25 days in total and visiting a bunch of cities but I would like to do it in the first week of our trip and I’m looking for spots recommendations. I want it to be in a somewhat private area instead of in a place filled with people.
We’re arriving next Wednesday. Our current itinerary is:
**Tokyo**
Day 1 – Sleeping and recovering from jet lag
Day 2 – Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo Tower, Shibuya Crossing, walking around the city
Day 3 – Hakone in the morning, nothing planned for the rest of the day, maybe Enoshima?
**Osaka**
Day 4 – Tsutenkaku tower, Kuromon Market , Dontobori
Day 5 – Osaka Castle, Kema Sakuranomiya Park, Teamlab Osaka
Day 6 – Universal Studios Osaka
**Nara**
Day 7 – Todaji Temple , Isuien Garden, Ryokan onsen
Day 8 – Nara’s deer park, Kasuga-Taisha
**Hiroshima**
Day 9 – Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, bomb dome, Hiroshima Memorial Park
We are then going to Nagoya, Kyoto, Fuji and then back to Tokyo, but I don’t think I can wait that much to propose to her! All help is appreciated.
13 comments
Having just been there for 3 weeks, but not from there, I would say Hakone could be your best bet. It is very beautiful and romantic and by far the quietest area from your first few days. Could look into the Hakone loop and doing it somewhere there? Either views of Mt Fuji or the lake, both are very pretty.
You are arriving Japan in a beautiful season – please take into consideration this forecast for full bloom of cherry blossoms 🌸 . Best wishes!
https://livejapan.com/en/article-a0001033/
I was at Hakone Shrine just a few days ago. Definitely a romantic spot. You could also pray to the baby wishing tree while you’re there!
I’m in Osaka now just at the tail end of pretty much the same trip, a few spots that could be cool:
– Tokyo: can’t say we saw any quiet spots. At the top of Tokyo tower or shibuya sky might be good but will be people everywhere of course. I can only speak for shibuya sky but I think you could find a less crowded spot, it wasn’t too busy when we went and it’s quite a big area. Have a nice meal booked for afterwards for you both to calm down.
– Hakone loop: Great views of Fuji from Owakundani (on a clear day of course). You could find a quieter spot to ‘take some pics of Fuji’ and do it then, she’ll be in awe of Fuji and double shocked at proposal. However the whole places stinks of sulphur due to the volcanic activity. OR just anywhere you see Fuji in Hakone, will make for a great memory.
– Kyoto – full of beautiful spots but also swarming with tourists. Arashiyama, walk to the end of the. Bamboo forest (too many people) and turn left then walk through Kameyama Park following signs to the Togetsu-Kyo bridge, you should be able to find plenty of quiet spots in park which has a mountain backdrop and there should be some nice cherry blossom around too. After the park there are also nice river side walk ways as you walk towards Togetsu-Kyo bridge which could make for a great spot, it won’t be that quiet but you’ll have a fantastic view in the background.
Kiyomizu-dera around 17:30 when the sun is setting over the mountains and it’s closing, we had a clear day and the view was spectacular. Again, people everywhere but honestly they will cheer you on and it will be a special memory. Everyone loves to see that shit.
– Nara: swarming with people, however maybe you could do something nice in your ryokan when it’s just the two of you chilling in your Kimonos.
– Hiroshima – peace park etc definitely not a good place to propose as the tone is very sombre. However if you have time I suggest a day trip to Miyajima island, it is so beautiful. You could do it in front of the Itsukushima jinja shrine ( lots of people) or get the cable car to the summit of Mt Misen, (less people), incredible panoramic views.
Teamlab’s garden exhibit where the flowers are hanging upside down and the light shines through. I’m against marriage, but that spot made me reconsider it. The only drawback is that you’re in a room with like 50 other people lol.
This is not Japan specific advice, but make sure that you’re confident that she’ll say yes. Will make for a very awkward trip if your GF says no or isn’t ready to commit yet.
Oh, I have personal experience with this! As I proposed to my now wife there! I waited till the tail end of the trip when we went to Tokyo tower,it was crowded as it was at the very end of April, but they did have a higher up spot that probably has less people. Amd yeah she was totally taking in the views when I asked so it kinda was a good spot imo. I would highly recommend against the Hiroshima memorial. It’s still a very sobering experience that was insightful but did not bring joy. However, it was amazing to see.
I have commented this before, and didn’t want to type it all out again, so here’s my copy+paste:
My now-husband proposed to me (Jan 1st 2020) beside the Dotonbori canal in Osaka. We were just wandering down, strolling in the night air, and suddenly he stopped and did it. I knew he was going to but didn’t know when or where.
When we had calmed down from the excitement of the moment and we looked around us, we realised we were directly beneath a neon sign (for a bank) that said, PROMISE. We looked up and both pointed at it, and we both said, “It’s a sign!!” We’re silly like that. We have always loved that detail, every time we look at a picture of Dotonbori we try to see if we can see it, and on our next trip we’re staying right near the sign, so we can relive the moment.
The point of my story is, wherever you decide to do it, you can always find something to make it special (assuming it’s not, you know, in a basement carpark or something). The bridge in Nikko! This gorgeous flowering tree! That neon sign! On the shinkansen as you pass Mt Fuji! Anywhere would be romantic, if you pick out something that feels romantic.
Oh, also: he did get down on one knee in a public place. Not a single person stopped or commented. It was great, we would have been so embarrassed if they had. Public places can be awkward and attract attention if they’re enclosed, but I think they don’t have to be. Good luck!!
Edit: I just thought of something. Shibuya Sky!! How amazing would that be! 🙂
Proposed to my wife at the waterfall in Nara. It’s a nice hike and while the falls aren’t super impressive, it was secluded and romantic.
Be aware, there’s a long-route to the falls and a short route. Make sure you take the short route!
EDIT: In retrospect, I proposed to her on March 15th, 2020. The whole city was dead because of COVID. I also timed the waterfall thing to be around sunset. (Hiking down from the mountain in the dark is not recommended, so don’t do this, or bring a flashlight.) So there were no people *at all* while we were there, but that was maybe COVID and not because it was a secluded waterfall off the beaten path. Maybe it is normally packed.
Congrats dude!! From what I’ve heard from people who’ve proposed while traveling, propose early in the trip. Not only will you be stressing (and her as well wondering when you’ll pop the question), but for the rest of the trip you’ll both be ecstatic. Good luck:))
I proposed on Miyajimi Island, off the coast of Hiroshima, a few years ago. Wanted to do Hakone but unfortunately it was a terrible weather. Happy to share photos/video if you want, pm me.
If you go to Hakone Shrine (across from it), there’s a big gate ⛩️ facing a lake that looks very scenic. Downside is that depending on the time of day there’s huge lines for a photo op. But it is very pretty.
Hey OP I did the same for my wife.
She said yes!
I asked her on the beautiful Fushimi Inari Shrine on the Senbon Torii (thousands of Torii), go as up as you can. Tourists stay and linger aroun. The bottom section, but it gets prettier, les crowded if you keep walking up!