The beautiful gardens, temples, shrines, mountains, castles, and overall natural scenery attract many people to Japan. Not only do they get to visit one of the oldest civilizations, but they also get to enjoy several sights while enjoying the cuisines, festivals, and shopping experiences. As a result, Japan has become one of the best destination wedding locations as it has everything you need – aesthetics, cuisines, and variety. We show you how to get married in Japan as a U.S. citizen:
How to Get Married in Japan As a U.S. Citizen?
Many people enjoy Japanese cuisine and would love to have an authentic experience. Where better to do this than when getting married in Japan? Below are the steps you should take to accomplish an unforgettable destination wedding:
1) Choose a wedding option: You can get married in a civil or religious ceremony. Religious ceremonies often center around Christian, Shinto, and Buddhist rites, while civil weddings follow the Japanese marriage laws. Your choice of wedding affects your preliminaries before the wedding, where you can get married, and the process of getting married in Japan.
2) Book a wedding venue: Some of the most popular wedding venues in Japan are Meiji Jingu, Sensoji Temple, Yokohama Geihinkan, and the Chapel on the Water, Hokkaido. Since these venues attract many couples, booking one in advance is always advisable. You will need to confer with your wedding officiant as they must sometimes approve a venue before going ahead with the ceremony.
3) Hire a wedding planner: Organizing a wedding in Japan requires a lot of legwork as you must handle the legal and operational sides. Hiring a skilled wedding planner allows you to be in multiple places simultaneously, ensuring you do not have any loose ends as you near the wedding.
4) Find witnesses: You will need two witnesses to register your wedding application in Japan. They should be at least 20 years old and able to enter a contract. Their nationality does not matter.
5) Get an affidavit of competence to marry: You can only get married in Japan if you have confirmed you are legally free to enter a marriage. The forms differ based on whether you are marrying a U.S. citizen or a Japanese citizen, and the notary can walk you through the process. You can get this notarial service from the U.S. embassy or consulate if you provide a valid U.S. passport. Note that the affidavit lasts only 3 months, and you must thus present it for marriage application before it lapses.
6) Prepare your documents: Besides the affidavit of competence to marry, you will also need to provide a valid passport, birth certificate, and other documents as requested by the local government office. For example, a divorcee will require their divorce decree when making the marriage application.
- Translate your documents: Japan uses Japanese as its official language, and authorities will not accept English documents. You must get the translation done by a certified translation service to ensure they are accurate.
- Get an apostille: Any official documents issued in the U.S. or other countries are only acceptable in Japan if they have an apostille. This document certifies the stamps, signatures, and seals on the documents, and you can get it from the state that issued your document. For example, a California birth certificate should have an apostille from the California Secretary of State.
Travel Visa Pro offers notarization, translation, apostille, and passport services under one roof, allowing you to meet your needs in one go.
7) File a marriage registration: You will present the required documents to the municipal office closest to your wedding location. You and your witnesses will then sign the kon-in todoke (婚姻届) in Japanese and pay the registration fee. If you meet all the requirements, you can get your marriage license in one day.
8) Get married: Depending on your choice of wedding in Japan, you will get married in the municipal government office or at another venue approved by your officiant. Your officiant will walk you through the marriage process.
9) Obtain your marriage records: You should request a certificate of acceptance of notification of marriage from your municipal office to prove the marriage. You have two options. The first is the Kekkon-todoke juri shomeisho, which is the equivalent of a marriage certificate that has details about you and your marriage registration. The second is the Kekkon-todoke kisai jiko shomeisho, which is longer than the Kekkon-todoke juri shomeisho and has copies of all the documents you presented.
If you get married in Japan, is it legal in the U.S.? Completing the marriage paperwork and submitting your Kon-in Todoke constitutes a marriage that is valid in Japan and the U.S. You will not get a marriage certificate from the U.S. and will instead use your Japanese marriage document as proof. You can always translate and notarize the certificate if you want to use it in the U.S. Travel Visa Pro can help you with this.
What are the Different Types of Marriage in Japan?
A U.S. citizen getting married in Japan can choose between a civil, religious, and symbolic wedding. We look at what they entail:
1. Civil Wedding
The process of civil marriage in Japan is straightforward and allows you to get married within days. Such a marriage follows the following steps:
- You prepare all your supporting documents, e.g., an affidavit of freedom to marry, a valid passport, etc.,
- You get two witnesses – these can be anyone above 20 years,
- You show up at the municipal office and have your documents reviewed by the municipal officer, and
- You and your witnesses sign the kon-in todoke (婚姻届).
The municipal officer completes and files the paperwork, and just like that, you get married! After this, you can get the Kon-in Todoke Juri Shomeisho, which proves your marriage.
2. Religious Weddings
Shinto, Christian, and Buddhist weddings are the most common in Japan, and many people practice all three. As such, many couples choose to tie the knot in these ceremonies before filing their marriages with the municipal office. The processes differ as follows:
- Christian Weddings
These are the most popular in Japan, as Christianity has a big following. In these ceremonies, a celebrant leads the wedding in a church or any other approved venue as follows:
- The bride’s father gives her away at the church,
- The ceremony features bible readings, prayers, and songs,
- The celebrant leads the exchange of rings and vows, and
- The couple seals the union with a kiss.
The processes differ based on the church, as some may follow with the communion.
- Shinto Weddings
These weddings are also known as Shinzen Shiki (神前式) and are the traditional option for couples in Japan. They take place in a shrine in most cases, but you can also have them in other pre-approved venues. The processes often follow the steps below:
- A shrine maiden leads everyone to the shrine through the gagaku performance, and everyone enters the shrine based on their ties to the couple,
- A purification ceremony takes place under the watch of the Shinto priest,
- The priest leads the process through prayers and blessings,
- The couple exchanges cups of sacred wine before reading the marriage vows and exchanging rings, and
- The ceremony ends with the saishu aisatsu (斎主挨拶), where everyone bows before the altar and celebrates the wedding.
After this, the couple and the guests move to another location for the rest of the festivities.
3. Symbolic Weddings
While civil and religious weddings are common, symbolic ceremonies are also gaining traction for the following people:
- Already married people who want to renew their vows without having any paperwork,
- Same-sex couples as they cannot marry legally in Japan, and
- People who want a symbol of commitment without the legal aspects.
Since these ceremonies do not have any religious or legal preliminaries, couples have freedom on where, when, and how to get married.
Is a marriage in Japan recognized in the United States? All civil and religious marriages must be registered at the local municipal office for you to get a Kekkon-todoke juri shomeisho that proves your marriage. Symbolic weddings do not result in such a certificate. They are thus not recognized in Japan or the U.S. When choosing the best option for marriage in Japan, consulting an attorney is advisable.
Marriage Requirements in Japan for U.S. Citizens
Every couple must present their documents to the municipal officer, who will assess their eligibility for marriage. Luckily, the requirements for getting married in Japan for foreigners are straightforward, as follows:
- Eligibility: All Americans getting married in Japan must be able to marry in their home states legally. So, if your marriage is not valid back home, you should not pursue it in Japan as it will be void once you are back in the U.S. You can always consult your attorney to understand what applies to you.
- Sexuality: Same-sex marriages are not legal in Japan, and you can thus not get married in this country.
- Age: You and your partner must be at least 18 years old to tie the knot. If you are under 18, your parents must have written a consent letter for you to go ahead with the marriage.
- Marital Status: You must be single to marry in Japan, which you should prove with your affidavit of freedom to marry. If your previous marriage ended in death or divorce, you can marry again. However, if you are a woman, you must wait at least six months after your divorce to marry. Officials request this to avoid any paternity conflicts.
- Relationship: While some countries allow distant relatives to marry, Japan does not. You cannot have any relationship with your partner, be it by blood, marriage, or adoption.
- Witnesses: You must have two people present when signing the kon-in todoke (婚姻届). They must be at least 20 years old and capable of entering a contract.
- Translations: All documents presented to the municipal office should be in Japanese.
- Apostilles: You should process apostilles for all official documents issued in the U.S.
Since wedding requirements differ, you should check with your officiant regarding any other eligibility criteria. For example, some churches require couples to attend classes before tying the knot.
What Documents Do I Need to Get Married in Japan?
The marriage requirements in Japan dictate that everyone must present the following documents to the municipal office before registering their marriage:
- Proof of identification: If you are both U.S. citizens, your passport is the best option. It must be valid beyond your departure date and in good condition. If your partner is a Japanese citizen, they can present their national ID.
- An affidavit of competence to marry: You should get this document from the U.S. embassy or consulate in Japan.
- An original birth certificate copy: Some municipal offices may require this while others may not. It’s best to have one, just in case.
- A kon-in todoke (婚姻届): This document serves as your application for marriage registration.
- A divorce decree: If your previous marriage ended in divorce, you should present the divorce decree.
- An apostille: Official documents, e.g., certified birth certificate copies, should have apostilles to verify their signatures, stamps, and seals.
All documents issued in English must have accurate translations done by certified translation services.
How Old Do You Have to Be to Get Married in Japan?
Before April 2022, the legal marriage age was 18 for boys and 16 for girls. At the time, anyone under 20 years old needed parental consent to marry. But following the amendment of the Civil Code, this has since changed. So, how old do you have to be to get married in Japan? Japan marriage laws dictate that both partners must be at least 18 to get married. Only people under 18 require parental consent.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Married in Japan?
People getting married in Japan can choose between different weddings, which affects the overall costs. So, how much does it cost to get married in Japan? A small civil wedding costs less than $200 as the couple only pay for administration costs. However, a religious or traditional wedding averages $25,000 to $35,000 due to venue, catering, photography, and videography costs.
How to Find a Wedding Planner in Japan?
What do you need to get married in Japan? Where should you have the wedding? When should you get married? These are all questions a good wedding planner can answer. So, how do you find the right person for the job?
1. Select the best wedding planners in Japan based on their reviews and recommendations from family and friends,
2. Focus on the planners who have dealt with local and foreign weddings, as they will understand the nuances of your situation,
3. Look at their previous weddings and assess their style based on your preferences,
4. Consult the planners and understand the following:
- How many weddings can they handle?
- How often do they communicate?
- Can they work alone, or do they need you to pitch in frequently?
- How often will you get updates?
5. Choose the planner who feels like the best person for the job.
Don’t forget to look at the pricing, too!
