Artbar in Daikanyama was one of my most fun date nights yet.
I went with my date – my beautiful friend Kelly – and we chose a session with an extra large abstract piece of art.
I love all things creative so, to be honest, I was a bit worried about not being able to do things my own way – but you are welcome to follow the instructor to the ‘letter’ (stroke?) or completely go your own way.
Included in the price are wine and crackers – it was heaven!
Highly, highly, highly recommend!
The studio is in Daikanyama.
A Team Lab date in Tokyo is a must. For an evening date, I recommend choosing an evening time slot at Team Lab DMM Planets in Toyosu.
My favourite room is the space where you walk into water with projected, interactive images.
See all of the details (including what to wear and what to bring along) to Team Lab Planets.
Disneyland is the happiest place in the world for children …blah blah blah…. but man, when you’re keen for the serious rides – kids just slow. you. down!! Disneyland/Sea for grownups is just a completely different kind of fun. I bought night passes with girlfriends recently and we headed straight for Disneyland and did all of the big-kid rides in quick succession (even took advantage of less people during fireworks and parades.)
See my Disneyland with Kids post for help with crowd prediction ahead of date night.
There are two kinds of night passes : one called Starlight Passport which allows entry for after 3pm on Weekends and National Holidays and another called an After 6 Passport for (surprisingly) after 6pm on the other days. See the Tokyo Resort Website for more ticket info and which days allows for which ticket type. Unfortunately there isn’t a pass that allows you to skip back and forth between DisneySea and DisneyLand on the same day. (DisneySea has more adult rides – but DisneyLand has your more traditional attractions like Splash Mountain, Space Mountain & Big Thunder Mountain – all the mountains.)
Psssstt: Tokyo DisneySea is the only park of the two that serves alcohol.
If you have a hard time deciding between the two parks, I’ve written an article to help you work out whether Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo Disneysea is best for you.
TOKYO DISNEYLAND
1-1 MAIHAMA, URAYASU, CHIBA
千葉県浦安舞浜1-1
SEE WEBSITE AS OPENING HOURS VARY
TOKYODISNEYLAND WEBSITE
My hubby and I have loved Gambanyoku (Hot Stone Spa) since we started dating in Kobe. We often make use of the nation-wide day spa brand called “Olive Spa.” Most spas that offer Gambanyoku have a separate female and male section. So we book a private room so we can go together.
The staff give you some tea or water and then you’re shown to your room with a shower with robes. Then you are left alone to use the shower and gambanyoku room. The room is like a sauna but with stone “beds” on the floor. It’s believed to be good for the skin, circulation and a form of detox. I love it so much but I’m a cold-blooded person. My husband is Scottish and occassionally needs to leave the room for a break and then come back. If you don’t like saunas or being really warm it may not be your thing. But my skin feels so good and body so relaxed afterwards – which is why I recommend.
Prices are approximately 4000 yen per person for 60 minutes or 5000 yen for 80 minutes.
Olive Spa branches are open all over Tokyo. Note: the Hiroo, Akasaka and Ueno branches don’t have Gambanyoku facilities.
WEBSITE (Japanese only)
Okay… probably the dweebiest thing you’ve heard in a while but… my hubby and I love a good karaoke sesh. Just the two of us. It’s an awesome date if you’ve just seen a concert and want to do your own messy, wailing version 2.0 (can you imagine the glory that was us after a Richard Marx concert?!) OR another idea is a tribute session – we might have done George Michael very proud ( or…..not…..) too.
And (I’ll try to “say” this loud and proud) but….one day we were complaining about our kids playing the movies Trolls all week…only to then go to Karaoke and relive the soundtrack together. We were terrible ! And we loved it!!!!
It’s an easy night out. You can dress down as much as you like. You literally pick up a phone and someone with bring you booze and nibbles!
And it’s not like karaoke you’re imagining outside of Japan. You’re in a little tiny booth with just you and whoever you’ve invited. You can adjust the lights (aka um…disco setting anyone?!), the volume, the room temperature, the key of the song…. It’s like your own private caravan …meets…disco…meets loud screeching and dancing… meets room service!!!
Many of the big karaoke chains also offer costumes to take into the room with you. Very “Lost in Translation.”
My embarrassing ‘playlist’ suggestions?
Anything Phil Collins.
“I wanna dance with somebody” Whitney H.
Making a literally any guy sing “Man, I feel like a woman.”
“I’m gonna be. (500 Miles). Proclaimers.
“Africa” by Toto.
Okay… I’ll stop. I’m now turning into my Dad.
But you get the idea.
Major karaoke box chains are Big Echo, Karaoke Kan and Pasela Resorts but there are lots of others (including Karaoke included in big amusement complexes like Round 1.
I am absolutely crazy for the Beatles bar Abbey Road in Roppongi.
The entire bar is Beatles themed – down to the cocktail menu. The cover band (one band plays all night see their website for band details.) They certainly don’t look like the Beatles but the sound very close and its just such good fun.
The first show starts at 7:30 and you can stay until the very end of the fourth and final set at around 11pm. The bar opens at 6pm if you’d like to have a drink before the music begins. It is possible to request songs with the wait staff throughout the evening. The band are true hard-core fans so they even know those random hits from the very, very first recordings.
The bar charge 2,500 yen per person with a rule that you must order at least one food item and one drink. The food isn’t great and portions are small so I recommend eating something beforehand and snacking during the show – if you can.
The entire bar is smoke-free.
ABBEY ROAD TOKYO
港区六本木5-16-52 B2
B2 FLOOR, IMPERIAL ROPPONGI II, 5-16-52 ROPPONGI, MINATO
OPEN FROM 6PM
Have you seen the internet posts on Mario Carts zooming around Tokyo yet? It’s a real thing and it is soo much fun. It has been such a success that this is now an option in other parts of Japan too. But you can’t beat the real deal in Tokyo, right?
** Please note that, as of 2022, Mario Carts / Maricar have rebranded as Monkey Kart **
I wrote in great detail about this Mario Cart / Monkey Kart experience here, including what documents you’ll need and my favourite course to take.
Our favourite Izakaya in Tokyo is Tatemichiya in Daikanyama. It is also often known as the Punk Rock Izakaya. The New York Times wrote a fantastic review on this place (read HERE.) It’s local, it’s trendy and it’s so so yummy. I highly recommend booking ahead so you can sit at the counter. Yes – there is an English menu. Our favourites are the nikujaga (meat & potato dish), sashimi of the day, steamed vegetables and the deep-fried tofu. I’d be surprised if your meal and drinks for two people come to more than 7000 yen.
If you’re new to Japan you may not have tried a lemon or grapefruit sour (alcoholic drink). This would be a good place to try.
The entrance to the loo is so small. It will make you laugh.
Afterwards, we love going around the corner for a rooftop drink at Hacienda Del Cielo.
TATEMICHIYA
渋谷区猿楽町30-8
30-8 SARUGAKUCHO, SHIBUYA
OPEN 6PM-3AM (UNTIL MIDNIGHT ON WEEKENDS AND NATIONAL HOLIDAYS)
TATEMICHIYA
Or maybe you’d prefer to try the Champagne & Gyoza bar in Akasaka? This place is lovely and casual. Who would have thought that bubbles and dumplings could be such a yummy match? There is just one guy behind the counter with a gigantic bucket of different champagne bottles and he cooks gyoza on the spot. I don’t know how he keeps up!
There are vegetarian gyoza options (but I don’t recommend if you’re a strict vegie as they are all cooked on the same hot plates.)
STANDO SHAN CHAMPAGNE & GYOZA BAR, AKASAKA
港区赤坂3-15-4
3-15-4 AKASAKA, MINATO
OPEN 5PM-1:30AM (3PM-11PM ON SATURDAYS)
CHAMPAGNE & GYOZA BAR
This is also the area of the newly opened Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studio Tour Tokyo
(often is sold out months in advance. Klook is an easy way to purchase tickets.)
And straight after the champagne & gyoza bar? On a beautiful friend’s recommendation, I also head straight for Code Name Mixology Akasaka cocktail bar. It is about 3 doors down. Well …down and up to be exact because it is on the second floor. I also just turn up without a booking but for a group larger than 2 people? You may not want to risk it….and make an appointment. (If you call in English – they will freak out until they hand you to an English speaking staff member but don’t hang up , okay?)
This place is all kinds of old school and I love it! Cocktails have a real theatre to them and the place is styled like Gaston’s pub in Beauty & the Beast! Fake rustic chic. (I’m talking fake deer head, the lot)
A little appetizer comes out ( in exchange for charging a small table fee) and last time I visited ? It was a potato salad on breads – a carb-lovers dream! It was soooo good.
I would actually give it a miss if you can’t get a seat at the bar. It’s just not as much fun if you can’t see the cocktails being made.
CODE NAME MIXOLOGY
港区 赤坂3-14-3 渡林赤坂ビル2F
AKASAKA BUILDING 2F, 3-14-3 AKASAKA, MINATO
OPEN FROM 6PM
CODE NAME MIXOLOGY AKASAKA
I have another to add to the list, this time in Ebisu (I’m obsessed with Ebisu at the moment!) The restaurant is called Fukumirai and it’s for the braver diner as they don’t speak English or have a English menu. It has a lovely “secret restaurant” vibe – but the staff could not be more lovely and inviting. *Please note that this is not a restaurant where you can take children.
The restaurant interior is like a forest wonderland – there are trees indoors!!! And the staff showed me pictures of when the trees bloom with cherry blossoms and the entire restaurant becomes one big pink floral night picnic.
And the way to overcome the language barrier? Ask for omakase (a course decided my the chef.) That way you’ll be served their specials of the day, the freshest seasonal ingredients and you’ll get to properly eat like a local! For me, I ask for omakase but state that I’d like niku nashi (with no meat.) It was the most amazing mix of organic vegetables like gigantic asparagus, tomatoes that could have passed for sweets, grilled corn and I tried raw mizunasu (a special type of eggplant) for the first time and it was a knockout! We also were served a gigantic bowl of omakase sashimi – and my night was made.
We had all that food and a couple of glasses of the house white and the bill came to 7000 yen per person – which was amazing for the amount of food we ate (and such high quality too.)
The restaurant only seats 18 so book a few days in advance. If you miss out on a spot, try their other restaurant in the same area called Fukuwarai. This is what the entrance looks like:
FUKUMIRAI
渋谷区恵比寿南1-9-4 長谷川ビル
HASEGAWA BUILDING, 1-9-4 EBISUMINAMI
OPEN FOR LUNCH: 11:30-2PM
OPEN FOR DINNER: 6PM-12PM
CLOSED: SUNDAYS
RESTAURANT REVIEW WEBSITE
XEX Greenhills Roppongi is a great spot for dinner and drinks ( and even more reasonably priced if you head out for lunch – but the views and the ambience aren’t quite the same. ) This restaurant has a really special romantic feel and I love how you can move to the bar /lounge area afterwards for cocktails, cheese or dessert.
They have the entire menu on their website so take a look to see if it matches your tummy’s needs and budget.
They have an italian restaurant, sushi & tempura restaurant and beautiful old-school lounge/bar.
The lounge bar asks for a cover charge when a band is performing so be sure to ask first.
The staff at XEX speak beautiful English so you’ll even be able to make reservations for yourself etc.
Please adhere to the Xex Atago Dress Code. No shorts or sleeveless shirts for men , for example (see website for more info.)
* This restaurant isn’t for young children. Only Junior High School age and older kiddies on the weekdays and elementary ages and older on holidays and weekends. (Another reason why I love it for date nights!)
XEX ATAGO GREENHILLS
港区愛宕2-5-1 MORIタワー
MORI TOWER, 2-5-1 ATAGO, MINATO
OPEN FOR LUNCH: 11:30-3:30PM
OPEN FOR DINNER: 5:30PM – 10:30PM (BAR OPEN UNTIL 4AM)
XEX GREEN HILLS ATAGO
Another suggestion is to have dinner and/or drinks at the rooftop bar at the Andaz. The views are spectacular and, I believe, it is the most beautiful modern hotel in Tokyo. The Rooftop bar actually is a semi-open terrace so it is fine to go even on a rainy night.
There is a cover charge of 2000 yen per person.
ANDAZ TOKYO TORANOMON HILLS
港区虎ノ門1-23-4
1-23-4 TORANOMON, MINATO
WEBSITE
A really, really fun thing to do with either a large group or even just as a couple is take a Yakatabune. This is a Japanese-style booze cruise. You pay a set amount for a tempura and sashimi dinner, free flowing drinks and karaoke on board. Prices vary depending on times and group numbers but it’s safe to assume that you’ll pay around 11,000 yen per person. Some of my friends didn’t love all the food but…give me a giant platter or sashimi and free-flowing wine and beer….and I’m the happiest lady in the city.
You don’t have to wear a yukata or kimono – but I think it adds to the fun, no?
I loved walking on the roof of the boat. The view was spectacular.
We’ve used a company called Yakabune Funasei. Be sure to book ahead to make sure you get your preferred time.
From JR Shinagawa station Konan exit the walk takes 13 minutes following the Shinagawa Grand Commons Passage (Level 2) and taking the escalator to the ground level from the JR Shinagawa station Takanawa exit. Alternatively, you could take a 5 minute taxi from the ground level of the Takanawa Exit of Shinagawa Station.
品川区北品川1-16-8
1-16-8 KITA-SHINAGAWA, SHINAGAWA
WEBSITE
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