Photographing Traditional Weddings at Meiji Shrine

Japanese bride in white shiromuku and groom in black kimono stand before a crowd at Meiji Jingu Shrine.

A Meiji Shrine wedding is steeped in tradition. They are a fusion of spectacle, kimonos, history, and cultural grandeur. Ready your camera! This is your chance to capture Tokyo’s most enchanting wedding moments and create unforgettable travel photos. Let’s head to this amazing venue to see them.

Shinto priests lead a wedding procession with a red parasol across a stone courtyard at Meiji Jingu.

Best days to see Meiji Shrine wedding parades

There is a chance of seeing a Meiji Shrine wedding at any time. But every day isn’t equal in Japan. Some are more special than others. Luck is an important part of life for the Japanese. Many are superstitious. Certain words and numbers are avoided as they are associated with misfortune. Weddings are no exception to this. Having said this, most weddings will be on weekends.

Shinto wedding procession at Meiji Jingu with a bride and groom walking under a large red traditional parasol.

Using the Rokuyo calendar for lucky wedding days

Before you visit the shrine to see a wedding, look online for a Rokuyo calendar. They show good or bad fortune days. Tai-an (大安) is the luckiest one. The culture for it comes from ancient China.

Two shrine maidens in white robes with green patterns and orange ties walk through a crowded Meiji Jingu courtyard.

There are about fifty of these days in a year. Everyone loves good fortune. Many couples want their wedding on Tai-an. It gives you the best chance to see a wedding procession at Meiji Shrine.

Some days to be avoided. A few are even favorable before or after certain times. Many shrines offer discounts on unlucky days. That keeps business coming in. Don’t be surprised to see people getting hitched on the worst day, Butsumetsu. That’s when Buddha died.

A Japanese bride and groom in traditional wedding attire walk and smile together in a sunlit stone courtyard.

Fewer weddings happen during the hottest and coldest months. Summer is a terrible time for these formal events. No one likes to spend an afternoon drenched in sweat. Cold winters can be uncomfortable too.

Rear view of a Shinto wedding procession at Meiji Jingu with a red parasol leading guests across the stone courtyard.

Capturing a Meiji Shrine wedding procession

  • They are solemn. Two priests usually lead them. Miko (shrine maidens), the couple (in hakama and shiromuku kimono), under a red umbrella, with their attendants, follow. Family and friends in formal wear bring up the rear. Once assembled, everyone moves across the main hall’s courtyard to the chapel. The procession returns once the ceremony is finished. Everyone returns in the same order and route.
  • Visitors rush to find good positions as soon as the processions appear. Smartphones and cameras form a wall along the route, and the clacker of shutters is incessant.
  • When photographing a marriage procession, getting lost in the moment is easy. It’s possible to forget where you are. Be careful of creeping forward, trying to get that perfect picture.
  • Some people move too far and enter the path of the procession. Yes, I’ve done it. Luckily, staff in the courtyard announce the comings and goings of parades. They keep an eye on everything and will warn people who get too close.
  • Don’t bother with a flash as you’ll be too far away from the couple for it to be useful.
A Shinto priest in traditional white robes holds a shaku baton while standing in a crowded courtyard at Meiji Jingu.

What time do the weddings happen?

The weddings are most common on weekends (Saturday and Sunday), usually between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

Shinto wedding procession at Meiji Jingu with priests, shrine maidens, and a bride under a red parasol.

Photography tips for Meiji Shrine weddings

  • A 24-105mm (full-frame) lens will cover most situations. It’ll let you take wide shots and get in closer. If you want to zoom in for details and blur the background, take something longer.
  • Leave tripods and flashes at home, as they aren’t allowed.
  • Think about using “silent shutter” mode to keep the noise to a minimum.
Shinto wedding procession at Meiji Jingu featuring a bride and groom under a large red parasol with guests.

Are Meiji Shrine weddings worth it?

Meiji Shrine weddings are great opportunities to see traditional Japanese culture up close. The brides’ kimonos are beautiful. Some cost a fortune. If you’re lucky, some couples appear again with a photographer to take more photos around the shrine. That might give you another chance to get more snaps.

A bride and groom in traditional Japanese wedding attire walk under a large red parasol at Meiji Jingu.

While the weddings are a highlight, they are just one part of this massive forest sanctuary. For a full breakdown of the best sake barrel angles, Torii gate, and hidden garden spots, check out my Meiji Shrine Photo Guide.

Photography gear for this shoot

  • Camera body: Canon EOS R5
  • Lens: Canon RF24-105mm F4 L IS USM

Have you ever photographed a wedding at Meiji Shrine? Tell us about it in the comments below. And if you want to get married there, check out the official Meiji Kinenkan website.

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