Getting married in Japan as a foreigner: legal steps, documents and ceremonies

Updated: 2026-10-24

A wedding procession at a Japanese shrine

Getting married in Japan: legal vs ceremony

"Getting married in Japan" can mean two different things: registering a legal marriage at a Japanese city office, or holding a wedding ceremony here. Foreign couples can do either, but they work very differently, and the legal route takes far longer than most travel blogs suggest when neither of you lives in Japan. This guide covers both: the documents and steps for a legal marriage, using embassy and city-office pages, and the kinds of ceremonies foreigners can book, with published prices. Sources are listed at the end.

Already married at home?

Many couples hold a symbolic ceremony in Japan instead. Nomad Weddings' bilingual team plans elopements in Kyoto, Tokyo, Hokkaido and Okinawa from ¥520,000.

See Nomad Weddings packages

Key facts (checked October 2026)

A ceremony alone isn't a legal marriage in Japan. Only registration at a city, ward or town office is.
For two foreigners who don't live in Japan, Tokyo's Chuo City says the review takes at least four months, and about six when there's no precedent.
Shrine ceremonies that accept outside couples start at about ¥312,000–¥363,000 in Kyoto and Osaka, plus a shrine offering of ¥100,000 or more at some shrines.

Can foreigners get married in Japan?

Yes. Japanese law says the requirements for marriage, such as age and being single, are decided by each person's home-country law, while the form of the marriage follows the law of the place where it happens. In practice, that means you prove you're free to marry under your own country's rules, then register under Japan's procedure.

A wedding at a chapel or shrine doesn't do this. The U.S. Embassy says religious ceremonies alone "are not recognized as legal marriages." That's why many overseas couples marry legally at home and hold a symbolic ceremony in Japan. Planners including Nomad Weddings, Elope in Japan and 37 Frames say this is the most common choice.

Who can legally marry in Japan

Both partners must be at least 18. The U.S. Embassy adds that you must also meet your home state's requirements, so if your state's minimum age is higher, that applies.
Each partner must meet the conditions of their own country's law.
You need two witnesses aged 18 or over. They can be any nationality, but U.S. embassy staff can't act as witnesses.

Documents you'll need

Document	Notes
Marriage registration form (Kon-in Todoke)	Signed by two adult witnesses. Shinjuku City only accepts A3-size forms.
Proof you're free to marry	Usually a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage, with a Japanese translation (Chuo City). What this is depends on your country; see below.
Birth certificate and translation	Some offices ask for this.
Proof of nationality	A valid passport usually works.
Translations	Every foreign-language document needs a Japanese translation that names the translator. Chuo City says anyone can translate, including you.

By country

United States: from September 1, 2025, U.S. embassies and consulates in Japan stopped notarizing the Affidavit of Competency to Marry. Instead, you download a statement explaining that the U.S. doesn't issue this kind of certificate and show it to the city office.
United Kingdom: apply online for a marital status affirmation or affidavit (£50), then sign it in person at the British Embassy in Tokyo. Appointments are on Tuesdays or Wednesdays only, at least seven days after applying.
Australia: Japanese authorities ask for a Certificate of No Impediment (CNI). By post it costs AUD $181 per person, and postal applications are only accepted from within Japan.

Requirements differ by country, and Shinjuku City asks foreign nationals to check with the office first.

How to register your marriage, step by step

Get proof you're free to marry from your country (above).
Fill in the Kon-in Todoke and have two witnesses sign it.
Submit it at a city, ward or town office. Under the Family Register Act, you file at your registered domicile or where you are located. Bring ID such as a passport.
Wait for the review. For two non-residents, Chuo City says simple cases take at least four months, because the office may need to check with the Tokyo Legal Affairs Bureau. It warns that tourists on short stays may leave before a decision is made.
Request the certificate of acceptance (Kon-in Todoke Juri Shomeisho).

Chuo City also says its counter can't easily help in languages other than Japanese (interpreting is in English only) and that it doesn't mail certificates. Some planners offer help: Elope in Japan charges ¥85,000 for translation and accompanying you to the city office.

After registration: certificate and recognition back home

U.S.: the certificate of acceptance comes in a large decorative version (about ¥1,400) or an A4 version (about ¥350); both are legal proof. The embassy calls it "your only proof of marriage" and notes that marriages legally performed abroad are generally valid in the U.S.
U.K.: a marriage that follows Japan's procedure correctly and would also be recognized under U.K. law is recognized in the U.K. GOV.UK recommends translating the certificate if you'll use it abroad.
Australia: you don't need to register a Japanese marriage in Australia. The Japanese certificate is prima facie evidence of the marriage.

How much does it cost?

Item	Published cost
U.K. marital status affirmation	£50
Australian CNI (postal)	AUD $181 per person
Certificate of acceptance (U.S. guidance)	About ¥350 (A4) or ¥1,400 (decorative)
Help with translation and the city office	¥85,000 (Elope in Japan)
Shrine wedding plan	¥312,180 (Shimogamo, plus ¥100,000 offering) to ¥363,000 (Kamigamo, plus offering from ¥100,000)
Elopement package	From ¥520,000 (Nomad Weddings)

Same-sex couples

Japan does not currently allow same-sex couples to register a marriage. Lower courts have split on whether this is constitutional, and the Supreme Court's Grand Bench took up the cases in 2026, with a ruling expected as early as fiscal 2026. Check the latest news before planning. GOV.UK's Japan marriage guidance covers opposite-sex couples only and points same-sex couples to a separate page. A symbolic ceremony or photoshoot is open to any couple, though you should confirm with each venue.

Does marriage change your visa status?

Registering a marriage doesn't give either of you a visa by itself. A spouse visa is a separate application to Japan's immigration authorities. If you're both visiting as tourists, nothing about your stay changes. Short-term visitors also can't take paid work in Japan.

Types of wedding ceremonies foreigners can have

Style	Example	What to know
Shinto shrine	Meiji Jingu (Tokyo)	Conducted entirely in Japanese. Both of you must attend a briefing in person beforehand, even if you live abroad. Outside professional photographers aren't allowed.
Shinto shrine	Shimogamo Shrine (Kyoto)	From ¥312,180 including kimono dressing, hair and makeup, and two photos. Offering ¥100,000. Up to 15 guests per side. Photos by the shrine's appointed studio.
Shinto shrine	Kamigamo Shrine (Kyoto)	Ceremony-only plan ¥363,000 including outfits, beauty and photos; offering from ¥100,000. The ceremony is explained in English on its site.
Shinto shrine	Tamatsukuri Inari (Osaka)	¥323,400 for up to 45 guests, including ceremony fee and kimono. Welcomes international couples.
Buddhist temple	Through a planner	Elope in Japan estimates ¥200,000–¥500,000 for the ceremony alone.
Chapel	LA-VIE FACTORY chapels	The company runs chapels in multiple cities and works in English and Chinese.

Why couples choose Japan for a destination wedding

Four distinct seasons, shrine ceremonies you can't have anywhere else, and kimono that you can rent and have professionally dressed. Some travel companies sell all-in packages: Tobu Top Tours' UNIQUE WEDDING JAPAN offers a three-day photo wedding with a ceremony at Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima from US$9,000, with an English-speaking guide.

Best places to get married in Japan

Kyoto: World Heritage shrines (Shimogamo, Kamigamo) and temple gardens.
Tokyo: Meiji Jingu and city venues.
Osaka: Tamatsukuri Inari, which openly welcomes overseas couples.
Hokkaido and Okinawa: snow or beach ceremonies. Nomad lists Niseko from ¥820,000 and Miyakojima from ¥650,000.

Planning tips for non-resident couples

If you want a legal marriage, consider doing it at home first. The Japanese process can outlast your trip.
Kyoto shrines take bookings in advance: Shimogamo needs the application form at least a month before the ceremony.
Check photo rules. Kiyomizu-dera bans wedding photo shoots, and Kyoto city parks require a paid permit for professional shoots.

Smaller alternatives: elopements and pre-wedding photoshoots

If a full wedding is more than you need, an elopement in Japan keeps the vows and the photos with a much smaller budget. If you're already married and mostly want the pictures, a pre-wedding photoshoot with LA-VIE FACTORY starts from ¥396,000 with outfits, hair and makeup and an interpreter.

FAQ

Is it easy for foreigners to get married in Japan?

A ceremony is straightforward. A legal marriage for two non-residents is not quick: expect four months or more for the review (Chuo City, Tokyo).

What's the average cost of a wedding in Japan?

Nomad Weddings cites a Zexy 2024 survey putting a Japanese wedding with a reception at about ¥3.4 million on average. Small shrine ceremonies start around ¥312,000 plus the offering.

Can you have a wedding in Japan for $5,000?

A small one, possibly. Henry Delac's 4-hour elopement is listed at $5,100 (currency not stated), and Nomad's packages start at ¥520,000 (about US$3,300 by its own estimate). Flights and hotels are extra.