Tokyo wedding and elopement guide: shrines, hotels, photographers, prices and seasons
Tokyo weddings and elopements: prices and rulesTokyo is the easiest place in Japan to get married as a visitor: two international airports, hotels with English-speaking wedding teams, and photographers who have shot hundreds of elopements. It's also bigger and more varied than people expect, from Meiji Jingu's forest to Asakusa's old streets and garden venues that feel nothing like a city. This guide compares shrine ceremonies, hotels, elopements and photo-only plans using prices published on official sites, with Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) season data and the park rules from Japan's Ministry of the Environment that rule out some famous backdrops. Every source is listed at the end.
Not sure which Tokyo option fits?
Answer a few questions and we'll match you with studios, planners and venues whose published plans fit your area, budget and language, with links to their official pages.
Find a studio- Meiji Jingu shrine ceremony: from ¥717,930 (approx. US$4,570) with attire, hair and makeup. The ceremony is entirely in Japanese and you must attend a briefing in person beforehand.
- Hotel packages for overseas couples: Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo from ¥1,760,000 (approx. US$11,190) for 6 people, with ceremony, dinner, photos and two nights in a suite.
- Elopement photography: from ¥240,000 (approx. US$1,530) for 4 hours (Gom Photography); planned elopements from ¥1M (37 Frames).
- Kimono photos in Asakusa: from ¥55,000–88,000 (approx. US$350–560).
- Photo rule to know: at the Imperial Palace Outer Garden and Shinjuku Gyoen, paying a professional photographer for personal photos is not allowed.
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.
Why Tokyo works for a destination wedding
- Logistics: no extra domestic flight or train for you or your guests. HAPPO-EN, for example, says it is about 30 minutes by taxi from Haneda Airport.
- English planning: Hotel Chinzanso plans with overseas couples in English, Four Seasons Otemachi publishes its wedding packages in English, and several photographers are bilingual.
- Choice of looks: shrine, chapel, Japanese garden, city skyline and old Asakusa within one city.
- Easy add-ons: Mt. Fuji, Hakone and Kamakura are day trips, and many photographers list them as extra locations.
A ceremony in Tokyo is not a legal marriage by itself. Legal marriage in Japan means registering at a city or ward office; see getting married in Japan as a foreigner.
Shinto shrine weddings in Tokyo
Meiji Jingu
Tokyo's best-known shrine runs weddings through Meiji Kinenkan, which has an English wedding page and inquiry form. The ceremony-only plan at Meiji Jingu starts at ¥717,930 for up to 48 guests and includes the ceremony, attire, hair, makeup, dressing and an attendant; the price varies by date and content, and plans with a meal are available on request. Two rules in its English "Manners and Rules" PDF matter most:
- The ceremony is conducted entirely in Japanese.
- Both of you must attend a ceremony briefing in person on a date before the wedding. Even if you live overseas, the ceremony can't go ahead without it, so plan to arrive early.
Guests must wear formal clothes with shoulders covered, may photograph only from designated seats, can't leave mid-ceremony, and latecomers are refused entry. The rules also say professional photographers may not do for-profit photography.
Tokyo Daijingu
This shrine in Iidabashi says on its site that it originated the modern Shinto wedding. Ceremonies are sold through its Daijingu Kaikan hall as packages with a meal: for up to 10 guests, ¥1,115,420 for weddings within 6 months of booking or ¥1,225,420 within 12 months (for first visits or applications from November 1 to December 31, 2026). Packages include shiromuku and montsuki, dressing, hair and makeup, a Japanese-Western course meal and photos. Its wedding pages are in Japanese only. The hall's FAQ says couples living overseas can arrange meetings and fittings by email in advance, but we didn't find anything about ceremonies for couples who don't speak Japanese, so ask before planning around it.
Smaller shrines through an agency
WAKON STYLE arranges ceremonies with an English–Japanese interpreter at partner shrines and temples in Tokyo, including Yushima Tenmangu, Nakano Numabukuro Hikawa Shrine, Nanasha Shrine and Saimyoji Temple. Plans start at ¥220,000 (approx. US$1,400) including tax, plus a shrine fee of about ¥100,000. This is the lowest-cost route to a real shrine ceremony in Tokyo that we found, and the interpreter makes it workable if you don't speak Japanese. For the ritual itself, see our Shinto wedding guide.
Hotel and garden venues
Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo
A garden hotel in Bunkyo with two chapels and three shrines on site. A dedicated English-speaking coordinator plans by video call and email, so the only trip you make is for the wedding. All prices include tax and service:
- Shinto ceremony package: ¥1,760,000 for 6 people / ¥2,365,000 for 20 (approx. US$11,190 / 15,040).
- Western ceremony package: ¥1,815,000 for 6 people (approx. US$11,540).
- Both include the ceremony, attire, hair and makeup, photos, dinner and two nights in a Prime Executive Suite.
- Pre-wedding photos: ¥722,700 (Western) or ¥730,400 (Japanese style), about 2 hours, Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays only.
Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi
Next to the Imperial Palace gardens, with a chapel and ballroom. Its Grand Wedding package is ¥2,600,000 for 50 guests (approx. US$16,530), plus ¥33,000 per extra guest, tax and service included, with a two-night suite stay; it must be booked by December 31, 2026. Two smaller packages had booking periods that ended in August 2026.
HAPPO-EN
A wedding venue in Shirokanedai with a Japanese garden it describes as 400 years old, and a photo plan for visitors from abroad. All tax included: Quick ¥350,000 (about 4 hours), Standard ¥450,000 with a Japanese course meal for two at its ryotei, and Full ¥500,000 adding a tea ceremony (approx. US$2,230 / 2,860 / 3,180). Each includes one kimono per person, hair and makeup and 100 photos. Emails and meetings can be in English; in rain, the shoot moves indoors.
For other hotels around Japan, see wedding venues that take overseas couples.
Eloping in Tokyo
Most Tokyo elopements pair a photographer (or planner-photographer) with a few city locations, sometimes with a shrine ceremony or a day trip to Mt. Fuji. These companies publish English prices:
- Gom Photography: English, Korean and Japanese. Elopement 4 hours ¥240,000; Wedding Day 6 hours ¥300,000; pre-wedding 2 hours ¥180,000 (tax included). Weekends add ¥12,000–24,000.
- Ippei and Janine: a bilingual duo based in Tokyo since 2006. Sessions from ¥65,000 (45 minutes) and a wedding package from ¥400,000 (up to 6 hours, two photographers). Photography only; they can introduce rental shops and makeup artists.
- 37 Frames (Destination Wedding Japan), based in Shinjuku: elopements from ¥1M (approx. US$6,360) including planning, photography and most location permits.
- Henry Delac Weddings: planning and photography from US$5,100 for 4 hours.
- Nomad Weddings Japan: elopement packages from ¥520,000 and Honshu pre-wedding shoots (Tokyo, Kyoto, Mt. Fuji) from ¥450,000, planned in English.
Our Japan elopement guide covers the legal side, permits and a sample day.
Asakusa and kimono photo shoots
Asakusa, with Senso-ji's Kaminarimon gate and views of Tokyo Skytree, is the most popular place in Tokyo for kimono wedding photos.
- INAI WEDDING WASOU: 3 minutes from Kaminarimon. Studio ¥88,000, Asakusa location ¥99,800, with kimono, dressing, hairstyling and an English-speaking photographer. Bridal makeup is ¥12,000 extra; the page doesn't say whether tax is included.
- Asakusa Photo Studio: studio ¥55,000 (one photo), shrine or rickshaw location ¥60,500 with 30 photos.
We didn't find official rules from Senso-ji on wedding photography, so rely on studios that shoot there regularly. More studios are compared in our kimono photoshoot guide.
Tokyo wedding prices compared
Lowest published price on each official site, grouped by style. The order has nothing to do with partnerships.
| Venue / company | Style | Published price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAKON STYLE | Shrine ceremony via agency | From ¥220,000 tax incl. + shrine fee about ¥100,000 | Interpreter included |
| Meiji Jingu | Shrine ceremony | From ¥717,930 (approx. US$4,570); tax not stated | Japanese only; in-person briefing |
| Tokyo Daijingu | Shrine ceremony + meal | From ¥1,115,420 for up to 10 guests (approx. US$7,090); tax not stated | Japanese pages only |
| Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo | Hotel ceremony | ¥1,760,000 for 6, tax and service incl. (approx. US$11,190) | Dinner, photos, 2 suite nights |
| Four Seasons Otemachi | Hotel wedding | ¥2,600,000 for 50, tax and service incl. (approx. US$16,530) | Book by Dec 31, 2026 |
| HAPPO-EN | Garden photo plan | ¥350,000 tax incl. (approx. US$2,230) | Kimono, 100 photos |
| Gom Photography | Elopement photos | ¥240,000 tax incl. (approx. US$1,530) | Outfits not included |
| Ippei and Janine | Wedding photos | From ¥400,000 (approx. US$2,540); tax not stated | 2 photographers, 6 hours |
| 37 Frames | Planned elopement | From ¥1M (approx. US$6,360); tax not stated | Planning and permits |
| INAI WEDDING WASOU | Kimono photos | ¥88,000 (approx. US$560); tax not stated | Makeup extra |
Photo rules in Tokyo parks and shrines
Tokyo's two most famous national gardens are run by the Ministry of the Environment, and both say the same thing in writing.
- Imperial Palace Outer Garden (Kokyo Gaien): personal souvenir photos need no permission, but paying a professional photographer to take personal commemorative photos doesn't meet its filming conditions and is not allowed. Tripods and reflectors used to photograph a particular person are to be avoided during busy periods such as cherry blossom and autumn-leaf season.
- Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden: the same rule: paying a professional photographer for personal commemorative photos isn't allowed, and the park rules list taking photos or video for payment as a prohibited commercial activity without permission. Even for personal photos, tripods and reflectors aimed at a person are banned in set periods: across the garden from March 19 to April 26, 2026, in the Japanese garden from November 1 to 15, 2026, and across the garden from March 25 to 31, 2027.
- Meiji Jingu ceremonies: guests photograph only from designated seats, and professional photographers may not do for-profit photography at the ceremony.
- Tokyo Daijingu: only the shrine's own photographer may shoot inside the hall (site database, October 2026).
In practice, Tokyo photographers work in streets, private gardens like HAPPO-EN and hotels, and places they have permission for. Ask yours where they can legally shoot before you fall in love with a location.
Best time for a Tokyo wedding
| Season | JMA data (Tokyo) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Cherry blossoms: normal first bloom Mar 24, full bloom Mar 31; 2026: Mar 19 and Mar 28. April mean 14.3°C (58°F) | Busiest; Shinjuku Gyoen equipment limits apply |
| Rainy season | Kanto-Koshin normal about Jun 7 to Jul 19 (2026: about Jun 2 to Jul 19) | Indoor backup needed |
| Summer | August mean high 31.3°C (88°F) | Hot and humid in kimono |
| Early autumn | September 225 mm and October 235 mm of rain, the wettest months | Typhoons can disrupt travel |
| Late autumn | Maple coloring at the JMA Tokyo tree: normal about Nov 28 (2025: Nov 23). November mean 12.5°C (55°F), 96 mm of rain | Dry and mild |
| Winter | January mean 5.4°C (42°F); 193 hours of sunshine, the sunniest month | Clear skies; best Fuji views on day trips |
Our take: late March to early April and mid-to-late November are the most popular. Winter is underrated in Tokyo: cold but often bright, with fewer crowds. Typhoon and rain risk is highest in September and October, so if you choose those months, keep a spare day.
How to plan a Tokyo wedding
- Decide legal or symbolic (see our legal guide).
- Pick a style: shrine, hotel, elopement or photos only.
- Check language and attendance rules. Meiji Jingu requires an in-person briefing; Hotel Chinzanso plans remotely.
- Ask about photography. Can your own photographer shoot the ceremony? Which locations have permission?
- Request itemized quotes for the same date and guest count, and note whether tax is included.
- Book early for spring and autumn. HAPPO-EN needs at least 1.5 months' notice; peak dates elsewhere go much sooner.
FAQ
Can foreigners get married at Meiji Jingu?
Meiji Kinenkan takes wedding enquiries in English, but the ceremony is entirely in Japanese and both partners must attend an in-person briefing before the wedding, even if they live overseas.
How much does a wedding in Tokyo cost?
A shrine ceremony through an agency starts around ¥320,000 with the shrine fee, Meiji Jingu from ¥717,930, and Hotel Chinzanso's package for 6 from ¥1,760,000. Elopement photography starts at ¥240,000. Flights and hotels are extra.
Can we have wedding photos at Shinjuku Gyoen or the Imperial Palace?
Not with a paid professional photographer. The Ministry of the Environment says paying a professional for personal commemorative photos isn't allowed at either garden.
Can we elope in Tokyo in English?
Yes. Gom Photography, Ippei and Janine, 37 Frames, Henry Delac Weddings and Nomad Weddings all work in English.
Tokyo or Kyoto for a wedding?
Tokyo is easier for guests and has more hotel and English-planning options. Kyoto has more historic shrines and temples. Compare them in our Kyoto wedding guide.
Sources
- Meiji Kinenkan: weddings (English), Manners and Rules for Shrine Wedding Ceremonies (PDF), ceremony-only plan (Japanese) (checked Nov 2026)
- Tokyo Daijingu: Shinto weddings, Daijingu Kaikan: plans, FAQ (Japanese; checked Nov 2026)
- WAKON STYLE: ceremony plan (checked Nov 2026)
- Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo: wedding packages, English-speaking planners (checked Nov 2026)
- Four Seasons Otemachi: Grand Wedding (site database, Oct 2026)
- HAPPO-EN: photo plans for visitors (checked Nov 2026)
- Gom Photography: pricing, Ippei and Janine: services and prices, 37 Frames / Destination Wedding Japan: elopements, Henry Delac Weddings: packages, Nomad Weddings: pre-wedding packages (checked Nov 2026)
- INAI WEDDING WASOU, Asakusa Photo Studio: English page (checked Nov 2026)
- Ministry of the Environment: Kokyo Gaien personal photography, Shinjuku Gyoen: photography with equipment, Shinjuku Gyoen: garden rules (Japanese; checked Nov 2026)
- JMA: cherry blossom first bloom, full bloom, maple coloring dates, Tokyo climate normals, Kanto-Koshin rainy season dates (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 venue before booking.