Leaving the house in winter can be tough; it's cold out there! Plus, the holiday season is busy and stressful. There's so much shopping and so many bonenkai filling up your schedule.

 

But it's also an inherently romantic time of year, with winter illuminations, crackling fires and plenty of opportunities to cozy up for warmth.

 

If you find yourself needing a little inspiration for alone time with that special someone, look no further! We've put together a list of our favorite winter date ideas for Tokyo. Check'em out and book your babysitter tonight!

 

 

When the weather is just not conducive to being out and about, but you need to leave the couch, head to the movie theater! Winter theatrical releases range from standard holiday fare to live action musicals. Some highlights include:

 

Last Christmas (6 December)

Jumanji: The Next Level (13 December)

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (20 December)

Kill Chain (20 December)

Long Shot (3 January)

Ford v Ferrari (10 January)

Downton Abbey (10 January)

Cats (24 January)

Hustlers (7 February)

Bombshell (21 February)

 

 

Another indoor option, museums have the added benefit of being educational, too! They're a great destination for strolling hand-in-hand through exhibits, learning new things together about modern art or the Edo period. Several also have regular free admission days, so they're also an affordable diversion from the winter doldrums.

 

Ueno

 

Ryogoku

 

Free Admission the first Sunday of every month

Takebashi

 

Free Admission on the second and fourth Saturday of every month

Ueno

 

 

Winter may not seem like the best time of year to check out one of Tokyo's many beautiful parks and gardens, but you'll be surprised to find that there is still a lot of lovely nature to take in and things to do during the colder months.

 

Winter peonies bloom in Hamarikyu Gardens and Ueno. Yoyogi Park hosts several antique festivals and flea markets throughout the winter. And, if we're lucky enough to get a coating of snow, nothing beats seeing Shinjuku Gyoen covered in the white stuff.

 

 

The January Grand Tournament begins in Ryogoku at Kokugikan on 12 January and ends on 26 January. While tickets went on sale 7 December, they usually sell out very quickly. If you aren't lucky enough to nab any in advance, there are still day-of tickets.

 

You'll need to wake up early (and dress warmly!) to get in line by 7 a.m. or so. Hundreds of people usually show up for a limited number of tickets, so the earlier you arrive to claim yours, the better. It's worth it though; we can't think of anything more romantic than watching dozens of very large men pushing each other around!

 

 

Dinner and drinks is a date-night staple, obviously. But get a little more creative with it this winter by hitting up a street food vendor instead of the ritzy sit-down place.

 

Hear us out! Snagging a delicious meal while on-the-go is the perfect way to warm up while walking the streets of Tokyo in the winter. So, when you're headed to a local park, movie theater or museum for the date-date, budget some time for a yokocho or market meal. We love this list for suggestions.