Honeymoon in Toyko
 

Hello everyone - we are going to Tokyo December 27th till 1st January ( staying at the conrad) then onto Kyoto for three nights then back to Tokyo for two nights. I would really like everyones help please make this such a memorable honeymoon as we are finding it very hard to find which restaurants to go to. Would everyone suggest there top ten lunch places and top ten dinner places that there would suggest a first time visitor to go to please. Only Japanese stlye food ( anything from Sushi to tempura etc) up to budget of 10,000 yen per person ( slightly more if really worth it).

Would anyone also suggest somewhere to have a luxury meal ( not more than 20,000 yen a person) for New Years Eve that has a bit of an atmosphere and we can do the countdown too?

Welcome to the Japan forum, emorge22! You'll find that people here help those who help themselves to an extent. Do some searching on this forum and you'll find lots of relevant threads. Just to start you off, check out www.bento.com for restaurant reviews. Also there is Michelin Japan (2 links) for what that is worth.
Try this thread for Tokyo Gourmet lunches.
Higher-end dining in Tokyo.
Also keep in mind that things are closed around New Year's: More info and Pros and cons.

Honeymoon = romantic. The best place in that regard on our recent trip was Joel Robuchon. It is in your price range for lunch. We did the 8000 yen menu and - with champagne/drinks (a must on any special occasion :)) - it came to somewhat more than 10000 yen per person. Perhaps about 25000 yen total.

http://www.robuchon.jp/joelrobuchon_menus-en

It isn't Japanese food - it's French with some Asian influences. But sitting at counters (although the food may be excellent) is not romantic IMO.

If you're coming from the US - especially the east coast - lunch shouldn't be an issue at the beginning of your trip (you'll be waking up very early and going to sleep very early). Only problem is it's a schlep from the Conrad - and the subway connections aren't the most convenient. Cab will run about $40 each way. Probably more cost effective to take a subway to a stop near the restaurant - and then take a cab.

WRT New Year's Eve - I have no reason to believe that New Year's Eve dinner is any less of a disappointing overpriced dining experience in Tokyo than it is anywhere in the US (and perhaps most parts of the world). I would simply do what I usually do at home. Find the best things to see (like maybe fireworks - even if they're only on TV!). And stock up on some yummy foods/drink to have in my house/hotel room. From places like department store food basements. Everything from apps to dessert. I can imagine much worse things than getting some decent sushi - and/or some great bread and cheese with some grapes or the like - etc. (whatever you like) - a good bottle of champagne - and some great chocolates - and snuggling up in bed on New Year's Eve (and I'm not even on my honeymoon - I've been married for 42 years!). Robyn

One suggestion for getting the most out of a 10000 yen budget is that lunchtime, namely the set menus where there may be one or two set courses to pick from, can be quite a bargain, moreso considering that taxes and gratuity are all-inclusive, as well as a drink (which can be 800 yen itself).

My wife (Tokyo native) was complaining that I, along with most Americans, didn't have a appreciation of real tempura restaurants. Probably not considered top 10, but to indoctrinate me we recently did the tempura restaurant in the Ritz Carlton in Midtown, which has all of six seats and set menus of 4500 and 6000 yen for lunch course, and good reviews from some locals.

Agree about having the best "bang for buck" during lunch.

However, if you're really looking for dinner, Tokyo has tons of really good French restos. In addition to Robuchon, you'll find every top French resto having an outpost in Tokyo.

Here's a link to the online Michelin Guide:
http://gm.gnavi.co.jp/restaurant/list/tokyo/

In addition to western food, ask your concierge for suggestions on great ramen, izakayas, etc. Definitely delicious and a more genuine "taste" of Japan.

Mmmmm... an intimate night in a luxury hotel room with a partner in the full throes of the greasy Ramen sweats. Another genuine "taste" of Japan :(

Overindulging in matsutake mushrooms at an evening meal, that's a whole other story...

My husband and I happen to like tempura. We had lunch at Kondo on our trip this year - and were somewhat disappointed. Wasn't bad - but it wasn't 2 star Michelin either. I thought the tempura at Ippoh Tokyo on our last trip (on the restaurant floor at Barney's New York) was better. And the best was at the RC Osaka on our last trip (alas - that tempura restaurant doesn't seem to exist today). Robyn

I need to look this one up....

Might be outside your budge but what about Sukiyabashi Jiro???

Paying top dollar to be shoved through dinner in 40 minutes at Jiro's counter is not my idea of romantic.

+1. Jiro is most definitely not a romantic experience.

Ryugin on the other hand fits the bill for fine dining and it can be romantic.

Of course I think top props go to Robuchon in Ebisu.

You mean that place located in the Haunted Mansion clearly transplanted from Disneyland? :)

The very one. Your description is exactly right.

Hard not for a woman to feel like a princess there.