Tokyo #LikeNeverBefore – 10 Unique & New Couples Experiences

With tourism in Japan at an all-time high, it’s easy to find the country’s most popular destinations flooded with visitors at all times of the year. But for those curious enough to break away from the crowds, there are always new hidden experiences to look out for. In Tokyo, for instance, you can go beyond the trite sushi joints and street shopping to try one-of-a-kind coffee omakase, immersive illusions that’ll blow your mind, and a lot more.

Here are 10 extraordinary experiences in Tokyo that’ll let you #DuetDifferently.

1. Get Lost in the Lights

TeamLab Planets, originally scheduled to run till 2023, has been extended for another four years till 2027. This means that you can embark on a barefoot immersive journey on your next visit to Tokyo. The interactive gallery is a digital art wonderland. Here, boundaries dissolve as you’re surrounded by captivating light and colour installations. The sensory space is unlike any other and includes experiences like walking through shallow koi pools, immersing in floral aromas, and losing oneself in dome spaces.

2. Pair Gelato with Local Wine

You’ve had wine with savoury delicacies around the world. But in Tokyo, an artisanal ice cream parlour pairs reds and whites with gelato flavors like never before. The unique experience involves soft scoops of flavours from Japanese pepper to rhubarb and Earl Grey, paired with local wines and hot soups and broths for an unusual sensory experience. The monthly menu features bowls with pairings like minty sambuca with a tarty kiwi syrup.

3. Trip Over Jazz at Local Joints

Japanese kissas or jazz bars are hole-in-the-wall haunts that hide behind unassuming doors in the streets of Tokyo. Here, you can find everything from first-hand paraphernalia from jazz icons to age-old vinyl records hand-labeled by the bar’s owner. Find a stool and make a request for an old-school jazz experience, coupled with a warm conversation about music with enthusiastic owners.

4. Learn the Art of Hospitality

 For a truly immersive experience, spend a night at Trunk House, a boutique property that redefines hospitality. Here, you’ll learn the essence of Japanese omotenashi (hospitality) through curated experiences, from private dining to Japanese tea ceremonies. It’s a taste of Japanese culture beyond what you know: think Tokyo’s smallest disco in a back room with Shamisen (traditional Japanese guitar) and dancing, a typical Japanese cypress bathtub surrounded by a landscape of Kagurazaka, and intriguing shibari performances by artists.

5. Experience a Unique Coffee Omakase

Tokyo is home to a one-of-a-kind coffee experience: a coffee omakase full-course as offered nowhere else in the world. Here, skilled baristas craft personalized brews just for you. This intimate setting, with only four guests at a time, allows couples to savour unique coffee profiles while learning about the art of Japanese coffee-making. During the course, time is spent sipping on exclusive handpicked blends paired with natural ingredients local to Japan. A sensory treat, this is perfect for slow mornings in the city.

6. Revitalise Your Spirit with a Fire Ritual

At a Buddhist family temple in Tokyo, experience the goma fire ritual as well as zazen meditation for ascetic self-knowledge under the careful guidance of a local monk. The experience brings serenity through practices like a fountain cleansing, fire rituals, and the chief priest blessing mediators with his wooden keisaku stick. While at the temple, visitors can even experience the ascetic practice of written sutra-copying and

7. Make and Wield Your Own Sword

Why pass on an opportunity to craft – and take home – a handmade sword? Dive into the world of samurai by participating in a Japanese sword-making workshop in Tokyo. Hammer Japanese steel, and polish it as you learn tales of belief about every step of the crafting process. Guided by skilled artisans, you’ll learn the intricate process of forging a blade while gaining insight into its cultural significance. The experience ends with a glimpse at swords crafted by one of the finest masters in the city, and the chance to take your custom-made sword home.

8. Brave the Rowdy Crowds at a Summer Festival

If you’re visiting in May, don’t miss Sanja Matsuri, Tokyo’s most boisterous summer festival. This lively festival celebrates the spirit of the city with energetic parades, mikoshi or portable shrines, and traditional dance and taiko drum performances. While it’s bustling and chaotic, the vibrant atmosphere and cultural richness make it a thrilling experience to share with your partner. Best explored on foot, the festival covers all of Tokyo’s Asakusa district and is best explored on foot.

9. Get Behind the Scenes at a Stable

Skip the crowds of Tokyo’s sumo tournaments, and instead start your day training with the masters themselves. Take an intimate peek at the fascinating world of sumo wrestling as the wrestlers start at their stable as early as 6am, and finish training by 8am. Sit right behind the trainer, and soak in the hardcore atmosphere filled with disciplining and shouting to get the best out of the wrestlers. This behind-the-scenes glimpse offers a deeper appreciation of Japan’s national sport and a memorable cultural encounter.

10. Go Beyond Sushi Rolls 

Beyond the sashimi rolls we all know and love, Japanese home cooking opens a world of local techniques and delicacies known to few. Spend a day with a tofu master to make your own frozen tofu, and witness Shimi (natural freeze-drying) at a rural retreat near Tokyo. This is where you get to spend time with locals, learning what they know, eating what they eat, and immersing in Japanese culture beyond the obvious.