Meiji Shrine Weddings Are Perfect for Japan Travel Photos
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 an amazing venue to see them.
When are the Meiji Shrine weddings?
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.
Before you visit the shrine to see a wedding, look online for a Rokuyo calendar. They show the good or bad fortune days. Tai-an (大安) is the luckiest one. The culture for it comes from ancient China.
There are six in a lunar year. Everyone loves good fortune. Many couples want their wedding on that day. You will have the best chance to see a wedding procession at Meiji Shrine.
There are also days to be avoided. A few are even favorable before or after certain times. So, 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.
There will be fewer weddings during the hottest and coldest months. Summer is a terrible time for these events as they are formal. No one likes to spend a hot afternoon drenched in sweat. A cold winter can be uncomfortable too.
What is a Meiji Shrine wedding procession like?
They are solemn. Two priests usually lead them them. Then the Miko (shrine maidens), attendants, and the couple, under a red umbrella, with their attendants, follow. Family and friends bring up the rear. Everyone enters the courtyard in front of the main hall and moves across it to the shrine. The procession returns in the same order and route once the ceremony ends.
When the processions appear, visitors rush to find good positions. Smartphones and cameras form a wall along the route, and shutters are audible incessantly.
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 procession path. 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.
Recommended lenses for Meiji Shrine weddings
Anything will work. With longer lenses, you’ll be able to fill your frame more. But with shorter lenses, you’ll be able to work in more of the background. My favorite for this place is the Fujifilm 55- 200 mm lens. It’s a nice compromise. Of course, you can take more than one lens!
Conclusion
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 casual photos around the shrine. That might give you another chance to get more snaps.
Many shrines in Japan offer wedding ceremonies, but Meiji is the best place to see one. It is the perfect place to get your ultimate Tokyo travel photo.
Rohan Gillett
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.
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External related websites
- Meiji Kinenkan (Official website)