Kimono wedding photoshoot in Japan: Kyoto, Tokyo, Nara and Kanazawa compared
Kimono photoshoots: prices, places, rulesA kimono wedding photoshoot, called maedori or a pre-wedding shoot in Japan, gets you photographed in a bride's shiromuku or iro-uchikake and a groom's montsuki hakama, against a Kyoto temple, an Asakusa street or a Kanazawa garden. You don't need to hold a ceremony, and many couples from abroad combine it with a trip. The catch: bridal kimono must be put on by professional dressers, and some of Japan's best-known temples and shrines ban wedding photography. This guide compares 15 studios that publish plans in English, using the prices on their official sites, then covers the photo rules, seasons and how the day works. Every source is listed at the end.
Want each studio's terms side by side?
Our studio database lists every kimono studio's published prices, what's included, cancellation terms, payment and rain policy in the same format, with links to the official pages.
Browse the studio database- Studio only, few photos: EMARSA in Kyoto from ¥29,800 before tax (1 print) and Asakusa Photo Studio in Tokyo from ¥55,000: approx. US$190–350.
- Location shoots with 50–200 photos: INAI in Asakusa from ¥88,000, Studio Zero in Kyoto from ¥128,000 (tax incl.) and the Kyoto Wedding Association from ¥198,000 before tax: approx. US$560–1,260.
- Interpreter included: Kyoto Wedding Association, KOTOBUKI (Kanazawa), DE&Co. and LA-VIE FACTORY, from ¥198,000 to ¥396,000.
- Rules: Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto forbids wedding photo shoots. Kasuga Taisha in Nara prohibits photos in bridal outfits, kimono included, unless you married there.
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$1 ≈ ¥157.25). You'll pay in yen.
Kimono photoshoot or kimono wedding?
This page is about photo plans: you rent the kimono, get dressed and spend a few hours being photographed. A kimono wedding means a Shinto ceremony at a shrine, booked through the shrine with its own schedule and photographer; see Shinto weddings in Japan. If you're still deciding what to wear, our guide to Japanese wedding kimono explains shiromuku, iro-uchikake and hikifurisode and what the groom wears, and the kimono quiz takes five questions.
Kimono photoshoot prices compared (15 studios)
Sorted from lowest to highest starting price. The order has nothing to do with partnerships. Only studios with official plan pages in English are included.
| Studio (area) | Lowest published price | Approx. US$ | What's included |
|---|---|---|---|
| EMARSA (Kyoto) | Studio: shiromuku ¥29,800 / iro-uchikake ¥39,800, before tax | $190 | Kimono for both, makeup, dressing, wig, 1 print. Outdoor +¥30,000 |
| Asakusa Photo Studio (Tokyo) | Studio ¥55,000 / shrine or rickshaw ¥60,500 | $350 | Shiromuku or red uchikake, groom's black kimono, makeup, wig or hair. Location plans: 30 photos |
| INAI WEDDING WASOU (Tokyo, Asakusa) | Studio ¥88,000 / Asakusa ¥99,800 / Japanese garden ¥159,800 | $560 | Kimono, dressing, hair, English-speaking photographer, 150+ edited photos. Makeup +¥12,000 |
| MUSEWOOD (Tokyo, Mt. Fuji) | Asakusa 4 hours ¥98,000, tax incl. | $620 | Furisode kimono or dress, hair and makeup, all files + retouches. Shiromuku or iro-uchikake +¥35,000 |
| Waplus Nara (Nara, Kyoto) | ¥99,000, tax incl. | $630 | Shiromuku, montsuki hakama, hair, 50 photo files. Iro-uchikake +¥11,000, makeup +¥11,000 |
| Studio Zero (Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Tokyo and more) | One kimono ¥128,000 / two kimono ¥158,000, tax incl. | $810 | Bridal kimono, montsuki hakama, hair and makeup, 1 location, chauffeur, about 200 files |
| Yumeyakata (Kyoto) | Gion location ¥151,800 | $970 | Bridal kimono and dressing, hair and makeup, taxi, about 200 files |
| KYOKANE (Kyoto, Tokyo Ginza) | Studio ¥176,000 / location ¥198,000 + facility fee | $1,120 | Kimono for both, dressing, bridal hair and makeup; location: about 100 files |
| elle pupa (Kyoto) | Kimono ¥187,000 / kimono + dress ¥286,000, tax incl. | $1,190 | 150 photos, 1 location, 2 hours, costumes, hair, makeup, travel |
| Kyoto Wedding Association (Kyoto) | From ¥198,000 before tax | $1,260 | Photographer, hair and makeup, groom's dressing, 100 JPEGs, interpreter, car |
| ENISHI PHOTO WEDDING (Kyoto) | Overseas TRIAL plan ¥220,000, tax incl. | $1,400 | 1 location, 1 outfit; costumes and location fees included |
| Heart Art (Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara and more) | Full day from ¥250,000 | $1,590 | Up to 8 hours, 2 looks (e.g. dress + shiromuku and iro-uchikake), 300+ originals |
| KOTOBUKI (Kanazawa) | From ¥250,000 + tax | $1,590 | Montsuki hakama and uchikake, entry fees, transport, interpreter, hair and makeup, about 80 photos |
| DE&Co. Decollte Photography (major cities) | Lite Plan ¥280,000 + tax (off-season offer) | $1,780 | About 5 hours, bridal kimono or dress, 150+ files, English/Mandarin interpreter, permit applications |
| LA-VIE FACTORY (across Japan) | Basic ¥396,000 (¥374,000 if signed by Dec 10, 2026) | $2,520 | 1 outfit (Western or kimono), hair and makeup, interpreter, 4–5 hours, 150 files. Two kimono +¥33,000 |
Asakusa Photo Studio, INAI, Yumeyakata, KYOKANE and Heart Art don't say on their English pages whether tax is included; ask when you get a quote. DE&Co.'s Lite Plan is for shoots from June 1 to October 31 and December 11 to March 15, in listed cities only. MUSEWOOD's base kimono is a furisode, not a bridal kimono.
Why prices differ by ten times
- Number of photos: a studio plan may include a single print (EMARSA); location plans usually deliver 50–200 files.
- Makeup: INAI and Waplus don't include it in the base price (about ¥11,000–12,000 extra).
- Interpreter and transport: included by the Kyoto Wedding Association, KOTOBUKI, DE&Co. and LA-VIE; Studio Zero includes a chauffeur and Yumeyakata a taxi.
- Temple and garden locations cost extra: Daikaku-ji is +¥44,000 at elle pupa, Tofuku-ji +¥66,000 at Yumeyakata.
- Weekends and peak season: Studio Zero adds ¥20,000 on weekends and holidays and ¥30,000 in high season; INAI adds ¥11,000 on weekends and Japanese holidays; DE&Co. adds ¥20,000 before tax.
Kyoto, Tokyo, Nara or Kanazawa?
| City | The look | Studios above | Lowest location plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyoto | Temples, gardens, Gion's old streets | EMARSA, Studio Zero, Yumeyakata, KYOKANE, elle pupa, Kyoto Wedding Association, ENISHI | Studio Zero ¥128,000 |
| Tokyo | Asakusa's temple streets, Skytree, gardens | Asakusa Photo Studio, INAI, MUSEWOOD, KYOKANE (Ginza) | Asakusa Photo Studio ¥60,500 |
| Nara | Nara Park, old townscape | Waplus Nara, Heart Art | Waplus ¥99,000 |
| Kanazawa | Kenrokuen Garden, Higashi Chaya teahouse district | KOTOBUKI | ¥250,000 + tax |
Kimono photoshoot in Kyoto
Kyoto has the most studios and the widest choice of backdrops. The Kyoto Wedding Association, a group of local businesses hosted on Kyoto Prefecture's website, lists locations such as Toyokuni Shrine, Yoshida Shrine, Kodai-ji, Daikaku-ji, Tofuku-ji and Ninna-ji, and notes that some aren't always open. Yumeyakata's base route is Gion and Higashiyama, with Arashiyama, Shirakawa and Tofuku-ji as paid upgrades. KYOKANE says its location shoots include shrines and temples that usually need special permits.
Kimono photoshoot in Tokyo
Tokyo's kimono studios cluster in Asakusa, around Kaminarimon and Senso-ji, and they're generally cheaper than Kyoto's. INAI also has a Japanese garden plan, and Asakusa Photo Studio offers a rickshaw shoot. If Tokyo is your main stop, you can do the shoot without a separate trip.
Nara and Kanazawa
Waplus has shops near JR Nara Station and Nara Park, but note Kasuga Taisha's rule below. KOTOBUKI in Kanazawa runs a Kenrokuen course and a Higashi Chaya-gai course, on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays only, with applications closing 14 days before.
Photo rules at temples, shrines and parks
- Kiyomizu-dera (Kyoto): its FAQ says photo shoots for weddings or cosplay are forbidden, as are drones, monopods and tripods.
- Kasuga Taisha (Nara): its photo rules prohibit, in principle, photos in a wedding dress or bridal kimono unless you married at the shrine, even for personal use. The rules also note that Tobihino, the open field many visitors think of as Nara Park, is shrine land.
- Kyoto Botanical Gardens: commercial photography is banned in principle, but photographers hired for pre-wedding shoots can get a permit through a separate procedure.
- Kyoto city parks: professional wedding shoots need a permit, ¥4,600 per hour for stills, applied for online at least two weeks ahead (checked October 2026).
- Other temples and shrines: we didn't find official wedding-photo rules for places such as Fushimi Inari or Senso-ji. Don't assume that means it's allowed; ask your studio which locations it has permission for, and don't bring a hired photographer into a temple on your own.
Best season for a kimono photoshoot
| City | Cherry blossoms (JMA normal: first bloom / full bloom) | 2026 actual |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | Mar 24 / Mar 31 | Mar 19 / Mar 28 |
| Kyoto | Mar 26 / Apr 4 | Mar 23 / Mar 30 |
| Nara | Mar 28 / Apr 4 | Mar 24 / Mar 31 |
| Kanazawa | Apr 3 / Apr 8 | Mar 29 / Apr 3 |
- Spring and autumn are the busiest. Autumn leaves at Kyoto's main spots usually peak in mid-to-late November (Kyoto City tourism site, checked October 2026). DE&Co. recommends booking at least 6 months ahead for blossom and autumn-leaf season.
- Blooms aren't guaranteed. LA-VIE states that seasonal scenery isn't guaranteed, and the 2026 dates above came several days earlier than normal.
- Winter: the Kyoto Wedding Association takes no bookings from December 27 to January 12, and recommends weekdays year-round.
- Summer: a bridal kimono is worn in many layers. In our view, early-morning slots are the more comfortable choice in July and August; ask your studio.
What the day looks like
- Choose the kimono. At the Kyoto Wedding Association you pick on the day, in about 30 minutes. LA-VIE has you choose from photos about 3 months ahead and try it on the day before. DE&Co. doesn't require a fitting the day before if you only wear kimono.
- Hair, makeup and dressing at the studio. INAI's kimono are free-size and adjusted by the dressers; you can book a fitting in advance for ¥5,000.
- Travel to the location by the studio's car or taxi, if included.
- Shoot. Plans run from about 2 hours (elle pupa, Waplus) and 2.5–3 hours in total (INAI) to 4–5 hours (LA-VIE, KOTOBUKI) or a full day (Heart Art).
- Photo delivery: Studio Zero emails files in about 3 weeks; INAI in about 4 weeks; KOTOBUKI in about 30 days; LA-VIE files in about a month and an album in about 3 months.
Sizes: LA-VIE's rental sizes cover, for example, a bride's bust of 72–111 cm and a groom's height of 160–180 cm; outside that, you bring your own. KOTOBUKI publishes a size chart. If you're tall, ask before you book.
Booking, rain and cancellation
- Lead time: LA-VIE asks for at least 2 months; Waplus needs at least 3 days for outdoor shoots; Asakusa Photo Studio takes bookings from 6 months ahead and suggests about 1 month.
- Deposits: Yumeyakata takes ¥33,000 by credit card within 3 days of its invoice; LA-VIE takes 25% of the total.
- Rain: the Kyoto Wedding Association keeps shooting in light rain with traditional umbrellas; Studio Zero postpones for free; Yumeyakata can adjust the place or time and refunds the deposit if severe weather cancels the shoot; KOTOBUKI moves indoors; DE&Co. shoots in rain in principle.
- Cancellation: terms vary widely; read them on each studio's page in our studio database before paying.
How to choose
| If you care most about | Ask | Studios that state it on their site |
|---|---|---|
| Communication in English | Is the interpreter with you all day? | Kyoto Wedding Association, KOTOBUKI, DE&Co., LA-VIE (interpreter included); INAI (English-speaking photographer); Yumeyakata (English-speaking staff translate) |
| Temple backdrops | Does the studio already have permission, and what's the fee? | Kyoto Wedding Association, KYOKANE, Studio Zero, Yumeyakata, elle pupa |
| Lots of photos | How many files, how many retouched, when? | Studio Zero and Yumeyakata (about 200), Heart Art (300+) |
| Budget | Is tax, makeup or a weekend surcharge extra? | EMARSA and Kyoto Wedding Association (before tax); INAI and Waplus (makeup extra) |
For dress and kimono shoots across Japan, including Hokkaido and Okinawa, see the Japan elopement guide and our Okinawa wedding guide.
FAQ
How much is a kimono wedding photoshoot in Kyoto?
Kyoto studio plans start at ¥29,800 before tax (EMARSA, 1 print). Location plans with about 100–200 photos run from ¥128,000 (Studio Zero, tax incl.) to ¥198,000 before tax (Kyoto Wedding Association, with an interpreter): approx. US$810–1,260.
Is a kimono photoshoot in Tokyo cheaper?
Usually. Asakusa Photo Studio's location plans start at ¥60,500 and INAI's Asakusa plan at ¥99,800, compared with ¥128,000 and up for most Kyoto location plans.
Can foreigners wear a wedding kimono for photos?
Yes. Every studio in the table publishes English plans for visitors, and the Kyoto Wedding Association handles pre-shoot communication by email in English.
Can we wear both a kimono and a Western dress?
Yes. Studio Zero's kimono + dress plan is ¥228,000, elle pupa's is ¥286,000 (both tax incl.), and Heart Art's full day includes two looks.
Can we shoot at Kiyomizu-dera or Kasuga Taisha?
No. Kiyomizu-dera forbids wedding photo shoots, and Kasuga Taisha prohibits bridal outfits, kimono included, unless you married there.
Sources
- EMARSA, Studio Zero Kyoto, elle pupa, Yumeyakata, Kyoto Wedding Association: plan, Q&A (prices checked Nov 2026)
- INAI WEDDING WASOU (checked Nov 2026)
- Asakusa Photo Studio, MUSEWOOD Tokyo plans, Waplus Nara, KYOKANE, ENISHI PHOTO WEDDING, Heart Art, KOTOBUKI Kanazawa (site database, Oct 2026)
- DE&Co. Decollte Photography: Lite Plan, FAQ (site database, Oct 2026)
- LA-VIE FACTORY: Basic / Standard, FAQ (site database, Oct 2026)
- Kiyomizu-dera FAQ, Kasuga Taisha: photography rules (Japanese), Kyoto Botanical Gardens: photography (Japanese) (checked Nov 2026)
- Kyoto City: park filming permits (Japanese), Kyoto City: autumn leaves (Japanese) (checked Oct 2026)
- JMA: cherry blossom first bloom, full bloom (Japanese) (checked Nov 2026)
- European Central Bank: euro reference rates (October 30, 2026)
Prices and rules were checked on each official site in November 2026 (items marked "site database" were checked in October 2026) and may change. Confirm the latest details with the studio before booking.