With Valentine’s Day around the corner, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite Tokyo date spots and ideas for you to check out with that special someone.

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Slow Coffee, Sweet Things, and Craft Browsing in Kuramae

Kuramae is the kind of neighborhood that rewards wandering. Once known primarily as a wholesale district, it has quietly transformed into one of Tokyo’s most pleasant areas for café hopping and small discoveries. Start with coffee and pastries, then keep going until you are genuinely full. Kuramae has no shortage of thoughtfully designed cafés, each with its own take on bread, sweets and carefully brewed coffee.

Once you have had enough pastries and caffeine, turn your attention to the shops. The area is packed with small clothing stores, leather-goods workshops, and stationery specialists, including even a shop devoted entirely to washi tape, mt lab.

Kissa Hangetsu
4-14-11 Kuramae, Taito-ku

Dandelion Chocolate, Factory & Cafe Kuramae
4-14-6 Kuramae, Taito-ku

mt lab.
3-14-5 Kotobuki, Taito-ku

An Evening of Wine, at Your Own Pace in Akasaka

For something indulgent, head to Nomuno in Akasaka. The wine bar is just steps from the wooded grounds of Hie Shrine, where torii gates climb the hillside above the city. The concept is simple and generous. With a flat fee, you can sample from over 100 bottles of wine, pouring small tastes or generous glasses as the mood dictates. You stay as long as you like, comparing notes, discovering unexpected favorites, or returning to the same bottle again and again.

The space itself is warm and relaxed, with a cozy wooden interior that encourages lingering. You can order food, or bring your own. Once you have had your fill of wine, it is easy to keep the night moving around Akasaka‑Mitsuke. The neighborhood comes alive after dark, with narrow streets packed with izakaya, casual bars, and a surprising concentration of Korean restaurants.

If the night still feels young, head to The Mermaid. This long-running pub has an easygoing atmosphere that makes it a natural final stop.

Hie-jinja Shrine
2-10-5 Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku

nomuno Akasakahonten
3-19-2 Akasaka, Minato-ku

The Mermaid
3-10-9 Akasaka, Minato-ku

A Swan Boat Ride Followed By Kichijoji’s Best Italian Pizza

Considered one of the most romantic spots in the city, couples have long flocked here to take a spin in the charming swan boats that dot Inokashira’s central pond. But how does one make a date memorable? Might we recommend: a van down by the river? No, really. Garage 50 (less a garage and more just a vintage VW van) is a weird, wonderful joint that serves up delicious personal pizzas for just ¥600. The makeshift pizza oven is located right in the vehicle itself. It’s also only a few blocks away from Inokashira, which makes it the perfect pitstop for grabbing takeout before heading to the park for a picturesque picnic. 

Garage 50
1-23-5 Kichijoji Honcho, Musashino-ku

Good Coffee, Cute Pastries, and Puppy Walking Through Yoyogi  Park

Three words: coffee, pastries, puppies. DOG HEART, located next to Yoyogi Park, offers a grand solution to this perennial longing: rentable pups! Yes, for a small fee, you can rent a pooch and take it for a stroll through Yoyogi Park. They even provide all the necessary equipment like a leash, water, snacks and a doggy bag, so all you have to do is focus on making memories. Of course, for all its cuteness, this date is not complete without a meal. Once you pick up your pup, head to 365 Days. The coffee and pastries at this cafe are delicious, elegant, and endlessly Instagrammable. If you are in the mood for something more Japanese, Kantan na Yume offers delicate wagashi in a calm, intimate setting. Or, for a different turn altogether, stop by Tamsang Tokyo for Thai milk tea and craft beer, an unexpectedly satisfying combination after a walk in the park.

DOG HEART from アクアマリン
1-45-2 Tomigaya, Shibuya-ku

365 Days
1-2-8 Tomigaya, Shibuya-ku

Kantan na Yume
41-3 Kamiyamacho, Shibuya-ku

Tamsang Tokyo Thai Tea & Craft Beer
1-7-9 Tomigaya, Shibuya-ku

A Slower Day Across the River in Ichikawa

Just across the Edo River, Ichikawa feels worlds away from central Tokyo. Long known as an affluent residential area, it once attracted writers and cultural figures. Many retired geisha settled in Ichikawa, living in homes purchased by patrons, leaving behind an unhurried atmosphere that still lingers today. It makes for a gentle day out when Tokyo feels overstimulating.

Nakayama Hokekyo-ji, founded in 1260 and regarded as one of the most important temples in Japan within the Nichiren tradition. Nearby is the Higashiyama Kaii Memorial Museum, a small but evocative museum dedicated to Kaii Higashiyama. His works blend European-inspired landscapes with Japanese techniques.

Afterward, head toward Ichikawa Station for a change of pace. Aso Coffee is a long-standing roastery with an impressive range of beans and a loyal local following. For dinner, the area offers an unexpected option: a Russian restaurant serving Russian, Georgian and Ukrainian dishes. Ichikawa Oidon, housed in a renovated old home with a traditional garden, the restaurant specializes in Kyushu-style cuisine and is particularly well known for its Kagoshima-style shabu shabu. Alternatively, opt for Northern Italian cooking at L’Osteria di Tosci, a small, family-run restaurant known for its comforting, carefully prepared dishes. Altogether, Ichikawa shows a side of the Tokyo area that feels deeply local and refreshingly untouched by tourism.

Nakayama Hokekyo-ji
2-10-1 Nakaya, Ichikawa

Aso Coffee
4-17-9 Shinden, Ichikawa

Russia-Tei
2-1-1 Ichikawaminami, Ichikawa

Ichikawa Oidon
1-16-9 Mama, Ichikawa

L’Osteria di Tosci
4-17-22 Shinden, Ichikawa

Escape The Crowds For An Aquarium Visit, Ferris Wheel Ride, Ocean Views and Relaxed Hookah in Kasai  

One train stop away from Tokyo Disneyland, you’ll find Kasai-Rinkai Koen, home to Tokyo Sea Life Park and Japan’s tallest Ferris wheel. Tokyo Sea Life Park is a cheap, fascinating, and relatively quiet aquarium compared to others in the capital, making it an optimal date excursion. Sharks, rays, schooling tuna, a kelp forest, and even a penguin exhibit can all be found underneath the dome of this exemplary marine museum. In addition to the sea life, Kasai-Rinkai boasts the Diamond and Flower Ferris Wheel which, on clear days, holds one of the best views of Mt. Fuji in all of Tokyo. After a day of exploring, stroll by the coastline then hop a bus to Kasai and grab doner kebabs at New Aladdin, a low-profile hookah lounge with a big drink menu and even bigger personality. 

Tokyo Sea Life Park
6-2-3 Rinkaicho, Edogawa

New Aladdin
3-30-13, Nakakasai, Edogawa City 

Showa Kinen Park Bike Date and Picnic, Mt. Fuji Sunset Views From the Dragonfly Bar

This is the opposite of a cramped city date. Rent bicycles and explore this sprawling national park filled with flower fields, lakeside viewpoints, rowing boats and seasonal scenery that somehow always feels cinematic. The plum blossoms bloom in February, so tell your date to wear something cute for their photo shoot. Bring a surprise picnic and a sheet and find a nice spot on the wide open lawns. Showa Kinen is one of the best “let’s wander and talk for hours” dates in Tokyo. As it gets chilly, head to the nearby Green Springs to see the sunset and Mt. Fuji views at the Dragonfly Bar, located at the top of the dramatic waterfall steps.

Low-Key Private Finnish Sauna Followed By Homemade Buttermilk Pancakes in Nohonbashi

There’s something quietly intimate about a date where you don’t need huge plans, fancy restaurants or entertainment — just time together. Instead of the usual onsen experience, try something a little more romantic with a Finnish-style private sauna, where the two of you can unwind side-by-side, steam away the stress of the city, and just exist together in that relaxed calm that only comes after real rest. When you finally emerge blissed-out and rosy-cheeked, keep the cozy mood going with a gentle stroll a block away to Flapjack’s Breakfast and Lunch, where fluffy buttermilk pancakes and comforting brunch plates make for the sweetest, low-key ending to the date. If the mood is still good, take a stroll along the Sumida River and see where the day takes you next.

OOO Sauna

Flapjack’s Breakfast and Lunch

Make Rings And Memories Together in Sangenjaya

If you’ve been dating for a while and want something more meaningful the usual dinner-and-a-movie, try making jewelry together. MITUBACI TOKYO offers hands-on workshops guided by veteran artisans, letting couples design and forge everything from elegant matching rings to anniversary bands, bangles and keepsake pieces. Unlike many studios, MITUBACI uses a traditional forging method called Tanzou, which strengthens the metal, creating pieces built to last just like the memory attached to them. They also have English classes. Workshops are intimate, calm and surprisingly emotional. You’ll see, hammer, polish and shape your designs side-by-side. You can finish and take your rings home the same day.

Step Back in Time To Showa Shibuya  For Cozy Drinks

If the rigors of the modern world have made dating feel stale, try stepping back in time. In the heart of Shibuya, the busiest ward in the world’s largest city, there is silence. Nonbei Yokocho is a cramped, creaking alleyway that has seen a lot and survived it all. Unsurprisingly, this  Showa-era darling has become a famous photo spot for tourists and locals alike. The photos are nice, especially for a date night, but it’s on peaceful evenings that Nonbei becomes a time machine. Walking the alley and poking your head into the various bars that line the street, it’s suddenly the 1950s. It’s a magical experience. For a true escape, head for Bar Piano, an indecipherable lounge painted red with the dim glow of colored bulbs. Have drinks upstairs, meet fellow bar tenants, and leave yourself truly wondering where and when you are. 

Bar Piano
$$
1-25-10 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku
3 min. walk from Shibuya Station
Instagram: @barpiano.tokyo  

You might also like our guide to bars in Tokyo and Japan.