Traditional Japanese Photo Wedding: Cost and How the Day Runs, in Shiromuku and Irouchikake
“We are not holding a ceremony, but we want photos in wedding dress.” That is the reason we hear most often for choosing a photo wedding.
The cost and what is included
HANAYAKA’s traditional Japanese wedding shoot is ¥105,000 (tax included). The bride wears shiromuku (white wedding kimono) or irouchikake (coloured brocade over-robe), the groom wears montsuki hakama, and the price covers specialist makeup and hair, about an hour of shooting in our tatami room plus Sensoji Temple and Sumida Park, at least 100 images and up to 10 retouched cuts. There is also Plan A (¥165,000) for shooting both Japanese dress and a Western dress, and Plan B (¥250,000) with Mt. Fuji in the background.
How the day runs
The whole thing takes about three hours: roughly two hours getting ready and one hour shooting. Images are delivered on Google Drive for you to download within four weeks. To discuss dates, use online booking.
Shiromuku or irouchikake, how to choose
Shiromuku is pure white tradition. Its solemnity and clarity work well against a shrine background or in a tatami room. Irouchikake is opulent. The red and gold embroidery holds its own against outdoor greenery and cherry blossom, and nothing photographs more brilliantly.
If you cannot decide, wearing both is also an answer. Ask us about changing costume within your shooting time. If you want both Japanese dress and a Western dress, there is the Kimono and Dress Plan A (¥165,000).
Locations and the pictures they give you in Asakusa
Our tatami room: a calm Japanese space of tatami and shoji screens. It also serves as insurance against the weather. Sensoji Temple and the five-storey pagoda: the classic Japanese wedding-photo backdrop. Sumida Park: the openness of the riverside with Skytree, and cherry trees in spring. Covering these three in an hour is the standard route.
If you want Mt. Fuji behind you, Plan B goes out towards Lake Kawaguchi (¥250,000, vehicle included, 8:00 departure). At least 200 images, and about nine hours all in, but the results are in a different class.
Photo wedding trips from overseas
Couples living abroad building a Japanese-dress shoot into a trip to Japan: we get more of these requests every year. Our staff speak English, Chinese and Vietnamese, and everything beforehand can be handled by email. Images are delivered on Google Drive, so picking them up after you fly home is straightforward. Once you have dates, start by writing to us in the notes field of the online booking.
Photo wedding plan prices (tax included)
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Western dress wedding shoot | ¥105,000 |
| Mt. Fuji route wedding shoot, Plan B | ¥250,000 |
| Traditional Japanese wedding shoot | ¥105,000 |
| Kimono and dress wedding shoot, Plan A | ¥165,000 |
*Tax included. Prices correct as of the date of this article; see pricing plans for the latest.
Frequently asked questions
- Q. Can we see the costumes beforehand?
- Come to the shop and you can see the actual garments. We welcome a chat in advance too.
- Q. Can our parents be there at the shoot?
- Yes. Family are welcome to watch or take part, just let us know.
- Q. Is it odd to do photos only, without a ceremony?
- Not at all. More couples now choose photos over a ceremony, and most of our wedding shoots are photo weddings only.
- Q. Can we do a hair and makeup rehearsal?
- We do not run rehearsals beforehand, but we settle the look at the consultation on the day using reference photos. Bring the images you like.
- Q. Can we be photographed with our pet?
- Ask us if the shoot is outdoors. Let us know in advance.
Book here