Kyoto

Tokyo gets all the noise, but Kyoto is for lovers. Known as Japan’s most romantic city, the historic and cultural capital of this most fascinating nation is a picture-postcard city of classical Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, traditional wooden houses, and imperial gardens. The food is incredible, the people are magnificent, and the atmosphere is spellbinding. What more could you want from a couples getaway? The city has become something of a hotspot for proposals, and it isn’t hard to understand why. If you want to make the most of Kyoto’s amorous ambiance, you’ll have to visit during spring.

The best time to visit Kyoto for cherry blossoms is between March 15 and April 15, with the full blooms usually bursting forth in early April. There’s little more romantic than taking a ride or walk through Philosopher’s Path, dodging branches drooping with the weight of their magnificent pink blooms. Nijo Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is also enhanced by the blooms. Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is unmissable, especially if you planned to take romantic photos on your couples’ vacation. Whether you hope to take engagement photos in a memorable setting, or selfies that will make friends at home drool with envy, this is one of the most beautiful places to photograph in Japan. The Golden Pavilion. A 14th-century villa turned Zen Buddhist temple, this gold-leaf-laden masterpiece stands above a pond and is so tranquil, that you can’t help but feel amorous.

Location: Kyoto, Japan