How much does a wedding in Japan cost?
The ゼクシィ結婚トレンド調査2024 puts the average ceremony + reception at ¥3,439,000 gross (¥3,724,000 in Tokyo metro), at ~52 guests. But couples receive ¥2,056,000 in ご祝儀 (gift money) on average, so the average NET out-of-pocket is ¥1,613,000. The number that matters is net, not the venue's headline quote.
What is the ご祝儀 offset?
ご祝儀 (goshūgi) is cash guests give the couple at a Japanese wedding. It partially self-funds the event, so your true cost is gross minus ご祝儀. Our calculator shows this netting — the wedding's version of a rebate you can count on from Japanese-side guests.
How much ご祝儀 do guests give?
By relationship (2024 survey): 友人 (friend) ¥30,000; 上司 (boss) ¥44,000; colleague ~¥20,000–30,000; 親族 (relatives) ~¥50,000–100,000 (avg ~¥77,000); 恩師 (mentor) ~¥41,000. New crisp bills, an odd number of ten-thousands, and avoid ¥40,000 (4 = death).
Do foreign guests bring ご祝儀?
Generally no — ご祝儀 is a Japanese custom that overseas guests usually don't follow. But foreign-side guests still cost you catering, so a mostly-foreign guest list has a much smaller offset and a higher net cost. The calculator counts only Japanese-side guests toward the offset.
What is 会費制 (kaihisei)?
A party format where guests pay a fixed 会費 (~¥15,000–20,000) at the door instead of bringing ご祝儀. It's the default in Hokkaido (~82% of couples) but only ~5% nationally, where it reads as a modern, casual, lower-cost choice. The couple's out-of-pocket is lower and there's no separate ご祝儀 accounting.
What's the cheapest way to get married in Japan?
A フォトウェディング (photo wedding, no ceremony) averages ~¥172,000 — a fraction of a full reception. A 会費制 party is the cheapest way to still gather guests. Many international couples pair a photo wedding with a small 会費制 party or a family 食事会 (meal).
Will the venue's quote go up before the wedding?
Almost certainly. Per the 2024 survey, 79.6% of couples (82.3% in Tokyo metro) see their final bill EXCEED the first quote — by an average of ¥972,000 (¥1,040,000 in metro), driven mostly by food/drink and dress upgrades. Budget above the first estimate and ask for a realistic-options quote, not just the base plan.
How many guests does a Japanese wedding have on average?
About 52 (national) per the ゼクシィ結婚トレンド調査2024; ~49 in the Tokyo metro. Small / family-only weddings (少人数婚) run ~10–20.
What documents do we need to register the marriage (婚姻届)?
For a foreigner marrying a Japanese national: the 婚姻届 form with two adult witnesses; the foreign partner's passport; a 婚姻要件具備証明書 (Certificate of Legal Capacity to Marry) from their embassy or home country — or a substitute where none is issued — plus a Japanese translation. Requirements vary by nationality AND municipality, so confirm with your embassy and your ward office first.
Does registering our marriage give the foreign spouse a visa?
No. Registering the 婚姻届 only creates the legal marriage. Living in Japan on marriage grounds requires a separate application for the 日本人の配偶者等 (Spouse of Japanese National) status of residence to the Immigration Services Agency, with its own documents and evidence of a genuine marriage. Approval is not automatic.
Do we still need the Japanese partner's 戸籍謄本?
As a general rule, no — since March 1, 2024, offices can look up 戸籍 records electronically, so a 戸籍謄本 is no longer required in most cases. Some offices may still ask in edge cases, so confirm when you pre-check with your ward office.
What is a bridal fair (ブライダルフェア)?
A venue open-house where you tour the space, taste sample menus, and get a personalized quote from a sales planner. They're free (and often offer perks for attending) — but they are sales environments conducted in Japanese, so bring your Japanese-speaking partner, visit 2–3 venues, and don't sign on the first visit.
How much is a photo wedding (フォトウェディング)?
Market bands (マイナビウエディング 2026): studio-only under ~¥100,000; ¥100,000–200,000 mid; ¥200,000–300,000 for a dress + kimono location shoot; ¥300,000+ premium with video. Overall average ~¥172,000; ~70% of couples spend under ¥200,000.
Does the region change the cost?
Yes, moderately. The Tokyo metro (首都圏) runs about 8% above the national average (¥3,724,000 vs ¥3,439,000). Regional weddings tend to run below the national figure. The calculator applies a metro/regional adjustment.
What is 見積もり上振れ?
The documented pattern where the final wedding invoice exceeds the first venue quote. The initial 見積もり is a low base plan; options added later (food, dress, photo) push it up — by roughly ¥1,000,000 on average for the ~80% of couples affected.
Is the calculator's figure exact?
No — it's a range estimate. Cost bands are from the ゼクシィ結婚トレンド調査2024 (and venue-market data for 会費制/少人数/photo), the ご祝儀 offset uses survey averages, and venue quotes commonly grow before the final invoice. Confirm your own figures with each venue. Not financial advice.