Wedding Venues in Japan: Shrines and Venues for Foreign Couples

"What if we could have a kimono wedding at a shrine in Japan?" Even if you dream of it, it is hard to confirm from overseas whether foreign couples can apply or whether the ceremony can be held in English. With most official venue websites in Japanese, you may not know where or how to start your inquiries.

This guide introduces the four types of wedding venues in Japan, along with real examples of shrines and temples that accept foreign couples and hotels you can consult in English, including how their conditions differ. With the 10-point table of things to check before booking, you can compare your candidate venues on the same terms.

It also covers good times of year and weather for a ceremony, and how to have kimono photos taken without holding a ceremony.

Four Types of Wedding Venues in Japan

Wedding venues in Japan are easier to compare when you sort them into four types: shrines, in-house shrines and chapels at hotels and wedding venues, venues for non-religious ceremonies, and temples. Because the ceremonies and atmosphere differ, start by deciding what kind of ceremony the two of you want.

• Shinto Ceremonies at a Shrine
• In-House Shrines and Chapels at Hotels and Venues
• Non-Religious Ceremonies Witnessed by Guests
• Buddhist Ceremonies at a Temple

Shinto Ceremonies at a Shrine

A Shinto ceremony is a wedding in which the couple make their vows before a shrine priest. According to the order of service on Shimogamo Shrine's wedding site, it proceeds through purification, a prayer, the san-kon no gi, the exchange of rings, the reading of vows, and the offering of a sacred branch, and takes about 30 minutes. The san-kon no gi is a ritual in which the couple share sacred sake from three cups.

According to a National Diet Library feature, the Shinto wedding is a relatively new form that began in the Meiji era, and there are several theories about its origin. Its appeal lies in holding your ceremony in a historic shrine building while wearing kimono such as shiromuku, the all-white bridal kimono.

In an online survey conducted by Recruit Bridal Research Institute in May 2025, among responses representing 583 men and women aged 20 to 49 who held a wedding ceremony in Japan in the previous fiscal year, 6.2% held it at a shrine. Even for Japanese couples, a ceremony on shrine grounds is a special choice.

In-House Shrines and Chapels at Hotels and Venues

Some hotels and wedding venues have a shrine for Shinto ceremonies and a chapel for Christian-style ceremonies inside the building or on their grounds. In the same survey, 54.7% of ceremonies were held at wedding venues and 22.0% at hotels, together more than 70%.

Shrines inside or on the grounds of these venues may be dedicated to the deity of a particular shrine. An example of a Tokyo hotel with a garden explains that its three shrines on the grounds are dedicated to the deity of Izumo Taisha. The ceremony, meal, and stay can all happen in one place, and the weather has less effect on your plans.

For chapel ceremonies, there are plans that include an officiant, a choir, live music, and a marriage certificate. These venues suit couples who want the option of both Japanese and Western attire.

Non-Religious Ceremonies Witnessed by Guests

A jinzen-shiki is a non-religious ceremony in which the couple make their vows with invited family and friends as witnesses. An example of a Tokyo wedding venue with a garden describes it as a ceremony themed on the bonds with important guests, who serve as witnesses.

Note that in many Western countries, a "civil ceremony" usually means a legal marriage at a government office. A jinzen-shiki in Japan is not a legal procedure, so a legal marriage is handled separately, either by submitting a marriage registration at a Japanese municipal office or through procedures in your home country.

This style suits couples of different faiths or couples who want to decide the format freely.

Buddhist Ceremonies at a Temple

A Buddhist ceremony is a wedding in which the couple make their vows before the Buddha, usually in the main hall of a temple. According to Higashi Honganji's guide, it includes chanting, the reading of vows, the presentation of Buddhist prayer beads called nenju, and the offering of incense.

Application conditions vary by temple. Higashi Honganji accepts applications from anyone but holds the ceremony according to the rites of the Shinshu Otani school, while Chion-in accepts couples regardless of religion or sect.

Few temples provide wedding information in English, so couples who want a ceremony in a quiet temple may find it easier to start with the English-friendly temple introduced in the next section.

Here is how the four types compare.

Shrines and Temples in Kyoto and Tokyo That Accept Foreign Couples

Even in Tokyo and Kyoto, few shrines and temples provide wedding information in English. Here are four places that either have English pages or officially state that they accept foreign couples, along with how their conditions differ.

• Kamigamo Shrine: A Kyoto Shrine With an English Wedding Site
• Meiji Jingu: Apply Through Meiji Kinenkan's English Page
• Shimogamo Shrine: Japanese-Only Info but Open to Foreign Couples
• Shunkoin: A Kyoto Temple Offering Buddhist Ceremonies in English

Kamigamo Shrine: A Kyoto Shrine With an English Wedding Site

Kamigamo Shrine in Kyoto explains the flow of the ceremony on its English wedding site and offers an English inquiry form. According to the English page, wedding staff stationed at the shrine are available to help.

According to the Japanese application guidelines, the hatsuhoryo, the ceremony fee paid to the shrine, is ¥150,000 for the Hosodono hall and ¥200,000 for the main sanctuary. To confirm a booking, you prepay a ¥100,000 application fee in addition to the ceremony fee; this is not an extra charge but an advance applied to your final wedding costs.

Up to about 50 guests from both families can attend, and bookings open on the first day of the month one year before the ceremony. These amounts reflect the revision on October 1, 2026, which raised the Hosodono ceremony fee from ¥100,000 to ¥150,000.

Outside photographers and videographers are not allowed, and bringing your own attire costs ¥33,000 per item. Kamigamo suits couples who are happy to leave photography to the shrine's partner studio.

Meiji Jingu: Apply Through Meiji Kinenkan's English Page

For a Shinto ceremony at Meiji Jingu, you can inquire through the English page of Meiji Kinenkan, the shrine's wedding hall. You can choose Meiji Jingu's Hosaiden hall or Meiji Kinenkan's Gishikiden hall, and in both cases Meiji Jingu's priests and shrine maidens conduct the ceremony.

However, according to Meiji Kinenkan's English guidelines, the ceremony is conducted entirely in Japanese. Even if you live overseas, you cannot hold the ceremony unless you attend a briefing session in person beforehand.

The English page does not list prices, so estimates and briefing dates must be confirmed by inquiry. Meiji Jingu suits couples who can attend a briefing in Japan before the ceremony or who have Japanese-speaking family members, and you can find photographers for the area in our Meiji Jingu kimono photography guide.

Shimogamo Shrine: Japanese-Only Info but Open to Foreign Couples

Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto now provides wedding information only in Japanese, but it officially states that it accepts applications from foreign couples. Its Japanese FAQ says couples of foreign nationality can apply, and that an interpreter is required if you do not speak Japanese.

The ceremony fee is ¥150,000, and up to 15 guests each from the bride's and groom's sides can attend. Bookings open about 10 months in advance, and phone consultations are available for couples who live far away, which is reassuring. There is no cancellation fee for the ceremony fee itself, but you need to check the terms of ceremony and reception plans with each provider.

The ceremony plan, which includes shiromuku and montsuki hakama, dressing, and photos, costs ¥312,180 including tax, with the ceremony fee paid separately. Photography during the ceremony is handled by partner studios, and outside photographers cost extra. If you also want separate kimono photos in Kyoto, take a look at our Kyoto kimono photography guide.

Shunkoin: A Kyoto Temple Offering Buddhist Ceremonies in English

Shunkoin, a temple within the Myoshinji complex in Kyoto, introduces Buddhist weddings on its English page. The English page describes the flow: chanting of the Heart Sutra, vows given by a monk, the couple's own vows and ring exchange, the san-san-kudo sake ritual, and signing a certificate of vows written in Japanese and English.

The English page states that the temple welcomes all couples, while noting that its ceremonies are spiritual unions only, not legal marriages. An English article from the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) also introduced Shunkoin as a temple that holds ceremonies regardless of faith.

Prices, guest numbers, and the language used in the ceremony are not listed on the English page, so confirm them by inquiry. Shunkoin suits couples who want a quiet ceremony at a temple without worrying about differences in religion or nationality.

Hotels and Wedding Venues You Can Consult in English

The venues that publish prices in English and let you plan the ceremony, meal, and stay together are mainly city hotels. Choosing a hotel that arranges shrine ceremonies lets you hand over communication with shrines, where language can be a barrier.

• Tokyo Hotels That Combine Ceremony, Meal, and Stay
• Kyoto Hotels That Arrange Shrine Ceremonies
• Plans for Kimono Photos Without a Ceremony

Tokyo Hotels That Combine Ceremony, Meal, and Stay

In Tokyo, only some hotels show their wedding prices in English. In an example of a Tokyo hotel with a garden, the Japanese-style ceremony plan costs ¥1,760,000 for six guests, including tax and service charge. It covers the ceremony and ceremony fee, Japanese attire, 400 photo files, dressing, hair and makeup, a meal, and two nights in a suite.

An example of a central Tokyo hotel publishes a wedding package in English starting at ¥2,999,000 for 15 guests. The price includes tax, with a 15% service charge added, and the package covers the ceremony, reception, attire, photos, and two nights in a suite.

Many hotels have English pages but do not list prices, so you will need to request a quote. This approach suits couples who want to arrange everything from ceremony to stay in one place.

Kyoto Hotels That Arrange Shrine Ceremonies

In Kyoto, some hotels arrange ceremonies at nearby shrines in addition to their own in-house shrines and chapels. An example of a Kyoto hotel presents Shinto ceremonies at Shimogamo Shrine and Matsuo Taisha, as well as Buddhist ceremonies at Nishi Honganji, on its English pages.

An example of a Kyoto hotel with a garden publishes a ceremony in its bamboo-surrounded chapel from ¥715,000 in English, for weekdays only and up to 100 guests. The plan is also aimed at anniversaries and vow renewals, so ask whether it can be used for a wedding. The same hotel's wedding page explains that a multilingual wedding specialist supports you from planning to the day itself.

There is also an example of a Kyoto hotel exclusively for international couples, which specializes in small weekday ceremonies. Here is how the main hotel examples compare.

Prices and conditions are as shown on official pages in October 2026. If you are not confident handling shrine procedures yourselves, consulting a hotel like these is the easiest route.

Plans for Kimono Photos Without a Ceremony

If you want kimono photos without being tied to a ceremony, some venues offer photo plans with no ceremony. An example of a Tokyo wedding venue with a garden offers plans including attire, hair and makeup, and 100 photos from ¥350,000 including tax, with support in Japanese and English.

Even among Japanese brides, kimono is more often worn for pre-wedding photos than on the wedding day. In a 2024 mail survey of 3,656 readers by Recruit's Zexy magazine, 10.9% of brides wore shiromuku on the wedding day. Among those who had studio photos taken on a separate day, 36.3% wore shiromuku and 44.0% wore iro-uchikake, a colorful patterned outer robe.

You can find photographers by city in our directory of kimono photographers. This option suits couples whose dates do not fit a ceremony or who mainly want photos.

10 Things to Check With a Venue Before Booking

Once you have candidate venues, check the language of the ceremony, the need to travel to Japan, what the fee covers, photography rules, and booking and cancellation terms first. Having an English page does not always mean the ceremony can be held in English.

• Whether the Ceremony Can Be in English and Travel Needs
• What the Fee Covers and Rules for Bringing Your Own
• When Booking Opens and Cancellation Terms

Whether the Ceremony Can Be in English and Travel Needs

The first thing to check is whether you can proceed in English from application to ceremony. At Meiji Kinenkan the ceremony is in Japanese only, and Shimogamo Shrine requires an interpreter if you do not speak Japanese.

The number of trips to Japan also varies by venue. Meiji Kinenkan requires you to attend a briefing in person, while Heian Jingu says all consultations can be completed online, and Shimogamo Shrine offers phone consultations.

Some venues, like an example of a Tokyo hotel with a garden, provide language and cultural support by video call and email. If no one in your family speaks Japanese, ask about this kind of support first.

What the Fee Covers and Rules for Bringing Your Own

The ceremony fee paid to a shrine or temple itself is often around ¥150,000. Shimogamo Shrine, Kamigamo Shrine's Hosodono, the Kobaiden hall at Kitano Tenmangu, Kifune Shrine, and Higashi Honganji all charge ¥150,000.

However, the ceremony fee covers only the ceremony itself, and attire, dressing, photos, and meals are often charged separately. Rather than comparing ceremony fees alone, compare the total of everything the two of you need.

There are also rules for bringing your own attire or photographer. Kamigamo Shrine does not accept outside photographers, and Shimogamo Shrine charges extra for photographers other than its partner studios. If you plan to bring your own photographer from overseas, ask whether it is allowed and how much it costs before applying.

When Booking Opens and Cancellation Terms

Some shrines open bookings 10 months to a year before the ceremony date. Shimogamo Shrine accepts bookings from about 10 months in advance, and Kamigamo Shrine from the first day of the month one year before.

Also note that provisional bookings expire quickly. Heian Jingu, Kasuga Taisha, and Shimogamo Shrine ask you to confirm your booking within about 10 days of a provisional reservation.

Cancellation terms also differ greatly. Shimogamo Shrine charges no cancellation fee for the ceremony, while Kamigamo Shrine refunds half of the ceremony fee and application fee if you cancel at least 31 days before, with no refund after that.

Here is a checklist to use when contacting venues.

The sanshin is the bridal procession in which a priest leads the couple through the shrine grounds to the ceremony hall.

Choosing a Wedding Date by Season and Weather

In Japan, weddings are most common in autumn and spring and less common in midsummer (July and August) and January. If you want cherry blossoms or autumn leaves, start planning a year ahead, when bookings open.

• Autumn and Spring Are the Busiest Wedding Seasons
• What to Watch for in the Rainy and Typhoon Seasons
• Start a Year Ahead for Cherry Blossoms or Autumn Leaves

Autumn and Spring Are the Busiest Wedding Seasons

According to 2024 wedding counts collected monthly by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry from companies operating wedding venues, November was the busiest month at 13.1% of the 63,190 weddings surveyed, followed by October at 11.4% and March at 10.3%. The quietest months were January at 4.4%, August at 4.8%, and July at 6.0%.

The more popular the month, the sooner bookings fill up. If your preferred month falls in a busy period, considering weekday ceremonies or morning time slots should widen your options.

Photo prices also vary by season: an example of a Tokyo wedding venue with a garden adds a surcharge to its domestic location photo plan in December and from March 15 to April 15.

What to Watch for in the Rainy and Typhoon Seasons

The rainy season from June to mid-July and the typhoon-prone months of August and September can affect kimono ceremonies that involve walking outdoors. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency's normal values, the rainy season in the Kanto-Koshin region runs from around June 7 to around July 19, and typhoons approach Japan 3.3 times on average in both August and September.

How venues handle rain varies. Shimogamo Shrine says the procession can be held on rainy days. The Kyoto Kimono Wedding Council's kimono photo plans also proceed with traditional bankasa umbrellas in light rain.

If you plan a ceremony during the rainy or typhoon season, ask about rainy-day arrangements and postponement terms before applying.

Start a Year Ahead for Cherry Blossoms or Autumn Leaves

If you also want photos with cherry blossoms or autumn leaves, the safest approach is to start a year ahead when bookings open. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency's normal values, cherry blossoms reach full bloom on March 31 in Tokyo and April 4 in Kyoto.

For autumn leaves, the normal dates when most leaves of the maple trees observed by weather offices turn red are November 28 in Tokyo and December 5 in Kyoto. In recent years Kyoto has often been 5 to 15 days later than normal, and peak viewing at famous spots differs from these dates, so check local autumn leaf reports before setting your dates.

At shrines like Kamigamo that open bookings from the first day of the month a year ahead, it is safest to assume that weekends in cherry blossom season fill up early.

Frequently Asked Questions

Applications from foreign couples, the difference from legal marriage, guest numbers, and photo-only visits are common questions before choosing a venue. Answers differ by venue, so read on while checking official information.

• Can foreign couples have a wedding at a shrine?
• Does a ceremony at a venue make us legally married?
• Can we have a ceremony with just the two of us?
• Can we take kimono photos at a shrine without a ceremony?

Can foreign couples have a wedding at a shrine?

Some shrines accept foreign couples, but the conditions differ by shrine. Shimogamo Shrine accepts foreign couples and requires an interpreter, while Meiji Kinenkan holds ceremonies in Japanese and requires attendance at a briefing beforehand. Ask about language and travel requirements before applying.

Does a ceremony at a venue make us legally married?

No. According to the U.S. Embassy in Japan, religious ceremonies are not recognized as legal marriages, and a legal marriage in Japan requires submitting a marriage registration at a municipal office. Depending on your nationality, procedures at your country's embassy may also apply, so check with your embassy along with our guide to marriage in Japan.

Can we have a ceremony with just the two of us?

Some venues accept ceremonies for just the couple or family only. An example of a Tokyo hotel has separate categories for "just two of us" and family-only ceremonies. Minimum guest numbers vary by venue, so confirm by inquiry.

Can we take kimono photos at a shrine without a ceremony?

Some shrines and temples do not allow photo-only visits, so check in advance. Fushimi Inari Taisha prohibits walking the grounds in wedding dresses or other attire inappropriate for worship and photography for commercial purposes, and Kiyomizu-dera does not allow wedding photography. For photos only, choose a photographer who obtains permission or a venue's photo plan.

Next Steps

Wedding venues in Japan fall into four types: shrines, in-house shrines and chapels, venues for non-religious ceremonies, and temples. Few shrines and temples accept applications in English, and even with an English page, the ceremony may be in Japanese only or require an in-person briefing in Japan.

Start by narrowing your options to two or three, then contact each venue using the 10-point checklist to ask about the ceremony language, prices, bringing your own vendors, and cancellation terms. If you mainly want kimono photos rather than a particular ceremony format, you can find candidates in our photographer directory.

Sources

• Kamigamo Shrine: English wedding site
• Kamigamo Shrine: Application guidelines
• Meiji Kinenkan: English wedding information
• Meiji Kinenkan: Rules for shrine ceremonies
• Shimogamo Shrine: Wedding applications
• Shunkoin: English wedding information
• Higashi Honganji: Wedding information
• Heian Jingu: Wedding FAQ
• National Diet Library: History and culture of weddings
• Recruit Bridal Research Institute: Marriage Market Survey 2025
• Zexy Wedding Trend Survey 2024
• Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry: Current Survey of Selected Service Industries
• Japan Meteorological Agency: Rainy season dates
• Japan Meteorological Agency: Typhoon normal values
• U.S. Embassy in Japan: Marriage in Japan
• Fushimi Inari Taisha: Requests to visitors
• Example of wedding plans at a Tokyo hotel with a garden
• Example of wedding plans at a Kyoto hotel with a garden
• Example of a kimono photo plan at a Tokyo wedding venue