How much is a wedding in Japan? Costs for photos, elopements and ceremonies
Japan wedding cost by type, with official prices"How much is a wedding in Japan?" has no single answer, because couples from abroad buy very different things: a one-hour session with a photographer, a kimono photoshoot, a planned elopement, a shrine ceremony or a hotel wedding with dinner for the family. The gap between the cheapest and the most expensive is more than a hundredfold. This guide compares published starting prices by type, all taken from the official sites of the studios, planners, shrines and hotels in our studio database, then lists the extra fees those sites mention, Okinawa Prefecture's official averages and ways to keep the total down. Every source is listed at the end.
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Find a studio- Photographer only: from ¥26,000 for 1 hour (approx. US$170). Outfits and hair and makeup are yours to arrange.
- Kimono or pre-wedding photoshoot with outfits, hair and makeup: about ¥55,000–550,000 (approx. US$350–3,500), most often ¥100,000–300,000.
- Planned elopement: from ¥450,000–520,000 (approx. US$2,860–3,310); 37 Frames starts at ¥1M.
- Shinto shrine wedding: from ¥220,000 plus a shrine fee of about ¥100,000 through an agency, or ¥312,180–717,930 for plans at well-known shrines, sometimes plus an offering of ¥150,000 or more.
- Ceremony with dinner for family: from ¥413,600 for 10 guests at an Osaka shrine to ¥2,600,000 for 50 at a Tokyo luxury hotel.
- Official average: couples from overseas spent ¥498,066 on a ceremony and ¥510,556 on a photo wedding in Okinawa in 2025 (Okinawa Prefecture).
US dollar figures are approximate, converted at the European Central Bank reference rates for October 30, 2026 (€1 = ¥175.68 = US$1.1172, so US$1 ≈ ¥157.25). You'll pay in yen at the rate on the day you pay. Flights and hotels are not included anywhere unless stated.
Japan wedding cost at a glance
| Type | Lowest published prices | Approx. US$ | Usually included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photographer only | ¥26,000–60,500 | $170–380 | 1–1.5 hours of photography and edited files |
| Kimono photoshoot | ¥55,000–198,000 | $350–1,260 | Wedding kimono rental, dressing, hair, photographer |
| Pre-wedding shoot (dress or kimono, on location) | ¥108,900–550,000 | $690–3,500 | Outfits, hair and makeup, photographer, often transport |
| Planned elopement | ¥450,000–1,000,000+ | $2,860–6,360+ | Planning, photography, location and permit help |
| Shinto shrine wedding | ¥220,000–717,930 (+ offering at some shrines) | $1,400–4,570 | Ceremony, kimono for both, hair and makeup, a few photos |
| Chapel or resort ceremony | ¥165,000–715,000 | $1,050–4,550 | Ceremony, officiant, music, flowers; outfits often extra |
| Ceremony + meal or reception | ¥413,600–2,600,000 | $2,630–16,530 | Ceremony, attire, meal for a set number of guests |
The detail behind each row follows. Within each table, companies are sorted by price, and the order has nothing to do with partnerships.
Photographer only
The cheapest way to get wedding photos in Japan is to bring your own outfits, arrange your own hair and makeup, and book a photographer by the hour.
| Company | Published price | Approx. US$ | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Have a good Holiday | Couple photoshoot from ¥26,000 | $170 | 1 hour, 100+ unedited files; entry fees and transport not included |
| Pre-Wedding Photo Japan (Tokyo) | 1 hour ¥43,000 (weekday) | $270 | Weekends and holidays +¥20,000; travel outside Tokyo ¥10,000–25,000 |
| nico nico photo (Sapporo) | 1.5 hours ¥60,000 | $380 | 150 photos |
| Capture My Japan (nationwide) | 1 hour ¥60,500, tax incl. | $380 | 50 photos; photographer's transport and entry fees extra |
Capture My Japan's pricing page also shows a second, lower price table (1 hour ¥49,500) without saying when it applies; we've used the main "Packages & Pricing" table. Ask which price applies to your date.
Kimono and pre-wedding photoshoots
This is what most couples from abroad book: no ceremony, just photos in wedding clothes, either in a studio or on location. See the kimono photoshoot guide for a 15-studio comparison.
| Company (area) | Published price | Approx. US$ | What's included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asakusa Shashinkan (Tokyo) | Studio ¥55,000 / shrine or rickshaw location ¥60,500 | $350 / $380 | Kimono for both, dressing, bride's hair or wig and makeup; 1 photo (studio) or 30 photos (location) |
| INAI WEDDING (Tokyo) | Studio ¥88,000 / Asakusa location ¥99,800 | $560 / $630 | Kimono, dressing, hairstyling, English-speaking photographer, 150+ photos; makeup +¥12,000 |
| Waplus Nara | ¥99,000, tax incl. | $630 | Shiromuku, groom's hakama, hair set, 50 photo files; makeup +¥11,000 |
| Berel (Okinawa) | Dress ¥108,900 / kimono ¥163,900, tax incl. | $690 / $1,040 | 1-hour shoot, outfits, hair and makeup, 200 originals + 10 edited |
| Studio Zero (Kyoto, Osaka, Nara and more) | ¥128,000, tax incl. | $810 | Kimono (or dress and tuxedo), hair and makeup, 1 location, car, about 200 photos |
| Yumeyakata (Kyoto) | Gion location ¥151,800 | $970 | Wedding kimono, hair and makeup, taxi, about 200 photo files |
| Kyokane (Kyoto) | Location ¥198,000 + facility fee | $1,260 | 1 kimono each, dressing, hair and makeup, about 100 photo files |
| ENISHI (Kyoto) | Overseas TRIAL plan ¥220,000, tax incl. | $1,400 | 1 location, 1 outfit; costumes and location fees included |
| Heart Art | Full day from ¥250,000 | $1,590 | Up to 8 hours, 2 looks, hair and makeup, transport, 300+ originals |
| DE&Co. | Lite Plan ¥280,000 before tax | $1,780 | About 5 hours, 1 outfit each, hair and makeup, interpreter, 150+ photos |
| LA-VIE FACTORY | Basic ¥396,000 | $2,520 | 1 outfit, hair and makeup, interpreter, 4–5 hours, 150 files |
| JAPAN WEDDINGS | ¥550,000 (Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara Park and others) | $3,500 | 1 outfit each, hair and makeup, all-day crew, car and driver, 80+ photos |
Asakusa Shashinkan, INAI WEDDING, Yumeyakata, Kyokane, Heart Art and JAPAN WEDDINGS don't say on these pages whether tax is included; ask. For regional detail see the Kyoto, Tokyo, Osaka and Nara, Hokkaido and Okinawa guides.
Elopements
An elopement here means a small ceremony for the two of you (sometimes with a few guests), planned in English, with a photographer. The ceremonies are usually symbolic; see is a wedding in Japan legally binding?
| Company | Published price | Approx. US$ | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan Serenity Weddings | From ¥450,000 | $2,860 | Price depends on inclusions, location and season; full-service quotes on request |
| Nomad Weddings | Elopement packages from ¥520,000 | $3,310 | Kyoto, Tokyo, Hokkaido and Okinawa; Niseko ceremony from ¥820,000 |
| Henry Delac Weddings | Core US$5,100 (4 hours) | (about ¥802,000) | Planning, photography, permit guidance, bilingual support |
| 37 Frames | From ¥1,000,000 | $6,360 | Planning, photography and most permits; most elopements ¥1M–3M |
Read the Japan elopement guide for locations, permits and what the day looks like.
Shinto shrine weddings
A shrine ceremony is a real religious rite, usually around 30 minutes, with both of you in kimono. Many shrines quote a plan price for attire, hair and makeup, and ask for a separate offering (hatsuhoryo) for the ceremony itself, often paid in cash. Our Shinto wedding guide explains the ritual.
| Shrine or agency | Plan price | Offering / shrine fee | Approx. US$ (total) |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAKON STYLE (Tokyo and Kyoto partner shrines) | ¥220,000+, tax and interpreter incl. | About ¥100,000, plus a dressing room fee of ¥22,000 where required | About $2,040–2,180 |
| Kyokane (Kyoto) | ¥239,800+ | Ceremony fee extra | $1,520 + fee |
| Shimogamo Jinja (Kyoto) | ¥312,180, tax incl. | ¥150,000 | $2,940 |
| Tamatsukuri Inari (Osaka) | ¥323,400, tax incl. | Ceremony fee included in the plan | $2,060 |
| Kamigamo Jinja (Kyoto) | ¥363,000, tax incl. | ¥150,000 (Hosodono) / ¥200,000 (main hall) | $3,260+ |
| Heian Jingu (Kyoto) | ¥418,000, tax incl. | ¥150,000 / ¥300,000 | $3,610+ |
| Meiji Jingu (Tokyo) | From ¥717,930 | Not listed separately on the plan | $4,570 |
WAKON STYLE's FAQ gives about ¥300,000 as the average total. Kamigamo's plan page says the offering is "from ¥100,000", but its application terms list ¥150,000 or ¥200,000; confirm with the shrine. Meiji Jingu's price varies by date and content.
Chapel and resort ceremonies
| Venue | Published price | Approx. US$ | Not included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hoshino Resorts Tomamu (Hokkaido) | Chapel on the Water ceremony fee ¥165,000 (day) | $1,050 | Outfits, hair and makeup, bouquet, photos |
| The Busena Terrace (Okinawa) | Open-air lobby wedding ¥297,000, tax incl. | $1,890 | Attire (dress from ¥220,000, tuxedo from ¥143,000); photos and hair must be booked through the hotel |
| Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto | Chapel ceremony from ¥715,000 (weekdays) | $4,550 | Photographer from ¥253,000, hair and makeup from ¥189,750, attire |
Tomamu's plan page doesn't say whether tax is included.
For chapel weddings planned in Chinese, see Watabe Wedding and the wedding venues guide.
Ceremony with a meal or reception
| Venue | Published price | Guests | Approx. US$ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tamatsukuri Inari Shinonome plan (Osaka) | ¥413,600, tax and service incl. | 10 | $2,630 |
| Sumiyoshi Taisha family wedding (Osaka, winter 2027) | ¥800,000 | 6 | $5,090 |
| Tokyo Daijingu (wedding within 6 months) | ¥1,115,420, service incl. | 6–10 | $7,090 |
| Halekulani Okinawa Hau Terrace Wedding | ¥1,600,946, tax incl. | Couple + 8 | $10,180 |
| Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo Shinto package | ¥1,760,000, tax and service incl. | 6 people | $11,190 |
| Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi Grand Wedding | ¥2,600,000, tax and service incl. | 50 | $16,530 |
Halekulani and Hotel Chinzanso include two nights in a suite for the couple. Tokyo Daijingu's price applies to first visits or applications from November 1 to December 31, 2026. Four Seasons Otemachi adds ¥33,000 per extra guest.
What couples actually spend: Okinawa's official figures
We haven't found a national government figure for what couples from abroad spend on weddings in Japan, but Okinawa Prefecture surveys resort wedding companies every year. Its 2025 report (published May 2026) gives the average per couple:
| 2025, per couple | Ceremony | Photo wedding |
|---|---|---|
| Couples from overseas | ¥498,066 (approx. US$3,170) | ¥510,556 (approx. US$3,250) |
| Couples from elsewhere in Japan | ¥885,593 (approx. US$5,630) | ¥241,355 (approx. US$1,530) |
The report counts 687 couples from overseas in 2025, 638 of them with a chapel ceremony, bringing 14.9 guests on average and staying 4.9 days. It says spending by overseas couples rose for both ceremonies and photos, and points to the weak yen. From 2025 the averages are calculated per couple rather than per company, so they can't be compared directly with earlier years. These are Okinawa figures; we haven't found an equivalent official figure for Kyoto or Tokyo.
Extra costs the official sites mention
- Shrine offering (hatsuhoryo): ¥150,000 at Shimogamo; ¥150,000–200,000 at Kamigamo (¥200,000–250,000 for its evening ceremony); ¥150,000–300,000 at Heian Jingu; about ¥100,000 at WAKON STYLE's partner shrines, paid in cash.
- Outfits: resort and hotel ceremonies often exclude them: The Busena Terrace's dresses start at ¥220,000, and Four Seasons Kyoto lists kimono rental from ¥250,000 for the bride and ¥150,000 for the groom.
- Hair and makeup: +¥11,000 at Waplus Nara, +¥12,000 at INAI WEDDING, from ¥189,750 at Four Seasons Kyoto.
- Bringing your own vendors: Shimogamo charges ¥30,000 for an outside dresser; Kamigamo's terms list ¥33,000 per outfit and ¥33,000 for beauty brought in from outside. The Busena Terrace doesn't allow outside photographers, and at Tokyo Daijingu only the shrine's own photographer may shoot inside the hall.
- Weekends and peak season: Studio Zero +¥20,000 (weekends) and +¥30,000 (high season); ENISHI +¥22,000; DE&Co. +¥20,000 before tax; INAI WEDDING +¥11,000; Pre-Wedding Photo Japan +¥20,000. LA-VIE FACTORY has no peak or weekend surcharge.
- Location permits: Osaka City's park-use guide lists wedding photo shoots among activities needing permission and shows ¥10,870 per 2 hours for commercial location shoots. DE&Co. charges permit fees at cost; 37 Frames includes most permits; Kyokane adds a facility fee.
- Travel and entry fees: Capture My Japan and Have a good Holiday exclude the photographer's transport and entry fees; Capture My Japan adds ¥16,500 for Mt. Fuji or Hokkaido; Pre-Wedding Photo Japan charges ¥10,000–25,000 outside Tokyo.
- Albums and extras: Yumeyakata's 20-page album is ¥65,450 plus international postage; Capture My Japan sells RAW files for ¥22,000.
- Tax: some prices are before Japan's 10% consumption tax (DE&Co., LA-VIE FACTORY's studio plans), and many pages don't say. Ask for a tax-inclusive quote.
Flights, hotels and meals on non-shoot days come on top of all of this.
How to keep the cost down
These are our suggestions, based on the price lists above rather than on any official source.
- Decide whether you need a ceremony. A photoshoot in wedding clothes costs a fraction of a shrine or hotel wedding, and you can hold the legal or religious wedding at home.
- Avoid weekends and peak weeks. Surcharges of ¥11,000–30,000 apply at several studios, and DE&Co.'s ¥280,000 Lite Plan is only for off-season dates.
- Choose a plan that includes what you'd otherwise add. A cheaper plan without makeup, transport or permits can end up costing about the same as one with them.
- Go through an agency for a shrine ceremony. WAKON STYLE's partner-shrine route (about ¥300,000 in total by its own estimate) is cheaper than the big-name shrine plans, though the shrines are smaller.
- Use a studio's own campaign prices, such as LA-VIE FACTORY's ¥374,000 Basic for contracts signed by December 10, 2026, but read the conditions.
- Stay close to the location. One region a day keeps travel fees and lost shooting time down.
Not sure what fits your budget? The where-to-shoot quiz narrows down the region, and our studio database lists every company above with its full terms.
FAQ
How much does a wedding in Japan cost?
It depends on what you book. From official price lists: a photographer from ¥26,000, a kimono or pre-wedding photoshoot from about ¥55,000 to ¥550,000, an elopement from ¥450,000, a shrine wedding from about ¥320,000 including the shrine fee, and a ceremony with dinner from ¥413,600 for 10 guests. Flights and hotels are extra.
How much does a Shinto shrine wedding cost in Japan?
Through an agency such as WAKON STYLE, about ¥300,000 in total. At well-known shrines, plans run from ¥312,180 at Shimogamo (plus a ¥150,000 offering) to ¥717,930 at Meiji Jingu.
Is it cheaper to get married in Japan than at home?
We can't say for your country. What the official figures show is that a small ceremony or photoshoot in Japan is priced well below a large hotel wedding: overseas couples spent ¥498,066 on average on a ceremony in Okinawa in 2025, while a 50-guest hotel package in Tokyo starts at ¥2,600,000.
What extra fees should we expect?
A shrine offering, outfits at hotels and resorts, weekend and peak-season surcharges, photographers' travel and entry fees, location permits, and consumption tax where prices are quoted before tax.
How much is a pre-wedding photoshoot in Japan?
With outfits, hair and makeup included, from about ¥100,000 to ¥300,000 at most studios we compared, and up to ¥550,000 for an all-day package with a car and driver.
Sources
- Okinawa Prefecture: Okinawa resort wedding statistics 2025 (PDF, Japanese, published May 2026) (checked Nov 2026)
- Have a good Holiday, Pre-Wedding Photo Japan, nico nico photo, Capture My Japan: pricing (checked Nov 2026)
- Asakusa Shashinkan, INAI WEDDING, Waplus Nara, Berel, Studio Zero, Yumeyakata, Kyokane, ENISHI (checked Nov 2026)
- Heart Art, DE&Co.: Lite Plan (Chinese), LA-VIE FACTORY, JAPAN WEDDINGS (checked Nov 2026)
- Japan Serenity Weddings, Nomad Weddings, Henry Delac Weddings (checked Nov 2026), 37 Frames (site database, Oct 2026)
- WAKON STYLE: Shinto wedding, Shimogamo Jinja: plans, Tamatsukuri Inari: plans, Kamigamo Jinja: Futaba plan, application terms, Heian Jingu: ceremony plan, Meiji Kinenkan: Meiji Jingu ceremony plan (mostly Japanese, checked Nov 2026)
- TOMAMU the WEDDING: Chapel on the Water, The Busena Terrace: ceremonies, options (checked Nov 2026), Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto: wedding packages (site database, Oct 2026)
- Sumiyoshi Taisha weddings (Japanese), Halekulani Okinawa: wedding plans (Japanese), Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo: plans (checked Nov 2026), Tokyo Daijingu: plans (Japanese), Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi: Grand Wedding (site database, Oct–Nov 2026)
- Osaka City: park-use permit procedures (PDF, Japanese) (checked Nov 2026)
- European Central Bank: euro reference rates (October 30, 2026)
Prices were checked on each official site in November 2026; items marked "site database" were checked in October or November 2026 for our studio pages, where the site blocked our November check. Prices change and campaigns end, so confirm the latest details with each company before booking.