You can test your partner's patience and flexibility by bringing him or her to a place that's definitely not in their usual comfort zone. An easily accessible island from Kanto would be Sarushima, or Monkey Island. This place is a good spot for barbecues, swimming, hiking and fishing. If you want to see if your date is game for adventure, this is the place to be!

If you're a foodie or a culture vulture, you'll get an insight into your compatibility with your date if you invite him or her to a cooking or culture class. If you're looking for ideas, the power of social networks will ensure you never run out of options—and if you don't mind paying, you can check out Veltra or TripAdvisor.

Many prefectures also hold "Prefecture 101" cooking classes at their Tokyo tourism offices to share the best their region has to offer, with two big prefectural showcases being the Ginza Nagano share space (Ginza) and the Tottori Okayama Shimbashikan (Shinbashi).

If you want both a cultural and cooking experience, you can also try Tadaku, which offers international cooking classes. For starters, why not try learning Philippine cuisine with me!