Shinto weddings: the ceremony step by step, and where foreigners can have one
Shinto weddings: steps, meaning, shrinesA Shinto wedding (shinzen-shiki) is a ceremony held before the kami, the deities of Shinto, usually at a shrine. The bride wears a white kimono, the couple share sacred sake from three cups, and shrine maidens perform a dance. It's short, about 30 minutes, and many couples from overseas are surprised to learn that some shrines will hold one for them. This guide explains the steps and their meaning, what to wear, which shrines accept international couples, what it costs, and what it isn't: a legal marriage.
Add a kimono photoshoot to your trip
Shrines often allow only their own photographer. LA-VIE FACTORY offers kimono photo plans with an interpreter, from ¥396,000.
See LA-VIE FACTORY plans- Length: about 30 minutes for the ceremony (Tokyo Daijingu, Kamigamo Shrine).
- Language: conducted in Japanese. Meiji Jingu holds ceremonies entirely in Japanese and requires both partners to attend a briefing in person.
- Cost: Kyoto shrine plans start around ¥312,000–¥363,000, plus an offering of ¥100,000 or more.
- Legal? No. In Japan only registration at a city office makes a marriage legal.
What is a Shinto wedding?
It's a ceremony in which the couple report their marriage to the kami and pray for a long and happy life together. Meiji Jingu, describing its ceremonies for Japan's Tourism Agency, notes that sharing the sacred sake is the most important part: each sip is regarded as equal to a vow. Meiji Kinenkan traces the ceremony to the myth of Izanagi and Izanami, the deities who married and gave birth to the gods.
A short history
Weddings in Japan were traditionally held at home. Tokyo Daijingu explains that today's shrine weddings began in 1900 (Meiji 33), when the crown prince, later Emperor Taishō, married before the kami at the imperial palace sanctuary, and that the shrine then started offering Shinto weddings to the public. Its English site calls it "the first one to have established the Shinto wedding ceremony in Japan."
The National Diet Library notes that the origin is debated. Tokyo Daijingu's affiliated organisation held a model wedding in 1901, and scholars have also pointed to ceremonies at Izumo Taisha in the 1880s–90s and in a village in Gifu in 1875.
The Shinto wedding ceremony, step by step
The order differs by shrine. This is how Tokyo Daijingu describes its ceremony:
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| Sanshin no gi (procession) | Priests and shrine maidens lead the couple and their families through the grounds to the hall. |
| Shubatsu (purification) | A priest recites a prayer and purifies the couple and all guests. |
| Norito sōjō (prayer) | The chief priest reports the marriage to the kami and prays for the couple's happiness. |
| Sankon no gi (san-san-kudo) | The couple share sacred sake from three stacked cups, small, medium and large, to seal their vows. |
| Toyosaka no mai (dance) | Four shrine maidens holding chrysanthemums dance to celebrate the couple. |
| Seishi sōjō (vows) | The couple read their written vows aloud before the kami. |
| Tamagushi hairei (offering) | They offer a sakaki branch and bow twice, clap twice and bow once. |
| Yubiwa kōkan (rings) | The couple exchange rings, "originally a Western custom," adopted with the times. |
| Toyohogi no mai (dance) | A dance unique to Tokyo Daijingu, performed by a maiden in butterfly costume, symbolising descendants. |
| Shinzoku-hai (family sake) | Everyone shares sake and says "omedetō gozaimasu." |
Kamigamo Shrine's English order also includes a hand-washing rite, an offering of food to the kami (kensen) and a bell rite by shrine maidens (isuzu no gi), with rings optional.
Do couples exchange rings or kiss?
Rings, often yes: Tokyo Daijingu includes a ring exchange, and Kamigamo offers it on request. A kiss isn't part of the order at either shrine.
What makes a Shinto wedding unique
- The procession under a red parasol, which Meiji Kinenkan calls a symbol of Japanese weddings.
- Sacred sake instead of spoken "I do"s as the heart of the vow.
- Shrine maidens' dances and sacred music; Tokyo Daijingu has 13 priests, maidens and musicians serving at each ceremony.
What the bride and groom wear
Kyoto Prefecture says a white shiromuku is the typical choice for a Shinto ceremony, with a white wataboshi hood or tsunokakushi headband. A coloured iro-uchikake is also formal enough. The groom wears black montsuki haori hakama. Shrine plans usually include the kimono: Shimogamo Shrine's plan covers shiromuku, montsuki, dressing, hair and makeup.
A typical Shinto wedding day
- Morning: dressing, hair and makeup (kimono dressing takes longer than a dress).
- At the shrine: about two hours at Kamigamo Shrine: 30 minutes waiting, 30 for the ceremony, 30 for photos.
- Afterwards: a meal or reception. Tokyo Daijingu's hall allows 2.5 hours for a reception.
Can foreign couples have a Shinto wedding in Japan?
Yes, at some shrines, but each shrine sets its own terms:
- Meiji Jingu (Tokyo): the ceremony is entirely in Japanese, and both partners must attend a briefing in person beforehand, even if they live abroad.
- Tamatsukuri Inari (Osaka): welcomes couples from around the world and has plans for international couples.
- Tokyo Daijingu: overseas residents can arrange meetings by email in advance. Its wedding site is in Japanese only and doesn't state rules for foreign couples, so ask directly.
- Kamigamo Shrine (Kyoto): explains its ceremony in English on its wedding site.
Where to have a Shinto wedding
| Shrine | Published plan | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shimogamo Shrine (Kyoto) | From ¥312,180 + ¥100,000 offering | World Heritage; up to 15 guests per side; shrine-appointed photographer |
| Kamigamo Shrine (Kyoto) | ¥363,000 + offering from ¥100,000 | World Heritage; English ceremony guide |
| Tamatsukuri Inari (Osaka) | ¥323,400 (up to 45 guests) | Includes ceremony fee and kimono |
| Tokyo Daijingu (Tokyo) | Ceremony + meal for 10 from ¥1,115,420 | Up to 80 in the hall; cash deposit ¥100,000; no cards |
Is a Shinto wedding legally binding?
No. The U.S. Embassy in Japan states that religious ceremonies alone are not recognised as legal marriages; only registration at a municipal office is. Many overseas couples marry legally at home and hold a Shinto ceremony as a symbolic wedding. See our guide to getting married in Japan.
Can same-sex couples have a Shinto wedding?
We couldn't find published policies from the shrines above on same-sex ceremonies, so ask each shrine directly. Separately, Japan does not currently allow same-sex couples to register a marriage.
How much does a Shinto wedding cost?
Expect a plan fee plus an offering (hatsuhoryō). Kyoto's World Heritage shrines charge about ¥312,000–¥363,000 plus ¥100,000 or more. Elope in Japan's 2026 estimate for a shrine ceremony fee is ¥130,000–¥200,000, before kimono, hair and makeup and photography. Tokyo Daijingu's packages with a meal start above ¥1.1 million for 10 guests.
Pairing your shrine ceremony with a kimono photoshoot
Shrines often allow only their own photographer inside the hall (Shimogamo and Tokyo Daijingu do), so couples who want creative photos often book a separate kimono photoshoot before or after. Studios such as LA-VIE FACTORY offer kimono plans with an interpreter; see our wedding kimono guide.
Attending a Shinto wedding as a guest
- Dress formally; Meiji Jingu doesn't allow casual clothes, bare shoulders, hats or coats in the hall.
- Arrive on time: latecomers can't enter at Meiji Jingu.
- Take photos only from your seat, if at all.
- Bring a cash gift in a proper envelope; see Japanese wedding traditions.
FAQ
How long does a Shinto wedding ceremony last?
About 30 minutes.
Do you have to be Japanese to have a Shinto wedding?
No, but each shrine sets its own rules, and ceremonies are in Japanese.
How common are Shinto weddings in Japan?
15.2% of couples chose one in the Zexy Wedding Trend Survey 2024.
Can you legally get married in Japan as a U.S. citizen?
Yes, by registering at a city office; a shrine ceremony alone isn't legal.
Sources
- Tokyo Daijingu: Shinto weddings, English, wedding hall FAQ, plans
- National Diet Library: the origins of Shinto weddings
- Japan Tourism Agency: Shinto Weddings (by Meiji Jingu), Meiji Kinenkan, ceremony rules
- Kamigamo Shrine weddings (English), plans, FAQ
- Shimogamo Shrine: plan, reservations
- Tamatsukuri Inari Shrine, plans
- Kyoto Prefecture: kimono wedding costumes
- U.S. Embassy: Marriage in Japan
- Elope in Japan: 2026 costs
- Zexy Wedding Trend Survey 2024