Tailor-made Vacation · Japan
Gay Wedding in Japan: A Luxury Same-Sex Wedding & Ceremony
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At a glance
If you want to hold a same-sex wedding ceremony in Japan, we can build the entire trip around it.
The centerpiece might be a Zen Buddhist ceremony at Shunkoin Temple in Kyoto, with personal vows, rings and san-san-kudo, the traditional sharing of sake. Or you might prefer something more private, such as a garden ceremony in a Kyoto machiya or a blessing at a high-end ryokan.
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We can arrange the ceremony itself, your coordinator, flowers, photography, private transfers, hotels and the honeymoon around it. You might begin with a few nights in Tokyo, marry in Kyoto, then travel by rail to Kinosaki Onsen for a ryokan stay and kaiseki dinner before continuing to Kanazawa or elsewhere in Japan.
Same-sex marriage is not currently recognized nationally in Japan, so the ceremony will be symbolic rather than legally binding. Many couples complete the legal formalities at home and use Japan for the part they actually want to remember: the ceremony, the celebration and the honeymoon.
Everything can be tailored around the two of you, whether you want a private ceremony with no guests, a small group of family and friends, or a longer Japan honeymoon built around the wedding.
Day by day
This is a sample plan, not a fixed departure. Days can be added, removed or reordered, and almost every client changes something. Prices are an entry-level guide; your quote will be exact.
Shunkoin Temple, Kyoto
Shunkoin is a Zen Buddhist sub-temple within Kyoto’s vast Myoshin-ji complex, founded in 1590. For more than a decade it has openly welcomed same-sex couples to marry there, long before marriage equality became a mainstream political conversation in Japan.
The ceremony is led by a Zen priest and takes place within the temple itself. It can include the chanting of the Heart Sutra, personal vows, an exchange of rings and san-san-kudo, the traditional ritual of sharing sake. Couples also receive a written vow signed by both partners.
What makes Shunkoin special is the setting. You are not recreating Japan inside a hotel ballroom. You are marrying in a working Zen temple, surrounded by historic architecture, painted screens and gardens, with a ceremony that belongs to the place in which it is being held.
A garden ceremony in a Kyoto machiya
Kyoto’s machiya are traditional wooden townhouses found throughout the city’s older neighborhoods. Some can be hired privately for intimate wedding ceremonies, giving you a setting that feels much more personal than a conventional hotel venue.
A typical ceremony might take place in a small private garden, followed by drinks and a catered wedding breakfast inside the house. It works particularly well for couples traveling with a small group of family and friends, where the atmosphere can stay relaxed and entirely your own.
The appeal is privacy and a real sense of place. Rather than staging a Japanese-style wedding inside a hotel, you are celebrating in one of the traditional homes that have shaped Kyoto’s streets for generations.
A private ryokan ceremony
For couples who want something quieter than a temple ceremony, a private blessing at a high-end ryokan can work beautifully.
Picture tatami rooms, shoji screens opening onto a garden, a private cypress bath and the ceremony taking place with almost no one else around. Afterward, dinner can be served course by course in your room, turning the wedding evening into the beginning of the honeymoon rather than a separate event.
Several of the ryokans we work with in Kinosaki Onsen can arrange this kind of private celebration. It suits couples who want the occasion to feel intimate, distinctly Japanese and completely removed from the formality of a traditional wedding venue.
The legal details
Japan does not currently recognize same-sex marriage nationally, making it the only G7 country without marriage equality. The issue is now before Japan’s Supreme Court, after a series of lower-court cases produced conflicting rulings on whether the current law is constitutional. A final Supreme Court decision is not expected before 2027 at the earliest.
At local level, the picture is different. Partnership systems have spread across Japan and now cover more than 90% of the population. They give same-sex couples a degree of recognition in participating municipalities, but they are not marriages and do not provide the full legal rights that come with marriage under national law.
For an international couple planning a wedding in Japan, the important point is simple: your ceremony in Japan will be symbolic rather than legally binding. Many couples complete the legal marriage at home, then travel to Japan for the ceremony and honeymoon.
That can actually work very well. It means the Japanese ceremony can focus entirely on the occasion itself, whether that is a Zen Buddhist ceremony at Shunkoin, a private gathering in a Kyoto machiya or something more intimate at a ryokan, without having to build the day around legal formalities.
Why Out Of Office
We have been planning Japan itineraries for LGBTQ+ couples for years, including ceremony trips, honeymoons, and combinations of both. We know which ceremony formats suit which couples, which properties approach LGBTQ+ guests with genuine warmth rather than compliance, and which coordinators treat every wedding as requiring individual attention.
On a practical level, we handle the restaurant reservations that require Japanese-speaking intermediaries, the ryokan check-in logistics, the Shinkansen connections, and the documentation coordination for the legal ceremony. We are available throughout your trip and have in-country support if anything needs adjusting on the ground.
Further information
Tokyo: Days 1-2
You arrive into Haneda and transfer directly to your hotel. We recommend Aman Tokyo for a wedding trip: the scale and calm of the property set the right tone for what follows, and the spa provides the kind of pre-ceremony recovery that a long-haul flight makes necessary. Two nights in Tokyo gives you time to adjust, explore the city at your own pace, and arrive in Kyoto ready for what you came for.
Kyoto: Days 3-5
The bullet train south takes two hours and fifteen minutes. Your ceremony takes place on day four, giving you a day to settle into the city first and a day after to simply be in Kyoto as a married couple. We recommend Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto for the ceremony stay, built on the historic Mitsui family estate with a private onsen and a team that has worked with LGBTQ+ guests with consistency and care. Six Senses Kyoto is an equally strong option for couples who prioritize wellness as part of the stay.
On the day itself, your Out Of Office specialist will have arranged everything: transportation to the ceremony, a dedicated coordinator, florals, and the wedding breakfast reservation.
Kinosaki Onsen: Days 6-7
The Kounotori limited express north from Osaka takes around two and a half hours and deposits you in one of Japan’s most atmospheric towns. Kinosaki is a single willow-lined street, seven historic bathhouses, and a handful of exceptional ryokans.
After the intensity of Kyoto, it operates as a natural decompression: yukata robes, the onsen circuit at your own pace, kaiseki dinner served in your tatami room. We recommend Nishimuraya Honkan, the finest property in town, with in-room cypress baths and a kitchen that treats the season as its primary ingredient.
Kanazawa: Days 8-9
Kanazawa sits on the Sea of Japan coast and has the particular quality of a city that history treated well. Kenroku-en, one of Japan’s three great landscape gardens, is here, as are the preserved samurai and geisha districts of Nagamachi and Higashi Chaya.
The city’s craft heritage, gold leaf work, Kutani ceramics, Kaga silk, is among the most distinguished in Japan. For couples who want their trip to end somewhere that feels like a discovery rather than a familiar landmark, Kanazawa earns its place. We recommend The Share Hotels Kanazawa or, for the most design-conscious option, Hotel Kotorinoki.
Departure: Day 10
Kanazawa to Osaka Kansai International Airport takes around two hours by rail. Most major US hubs connect directly.
Our Experts
Japan is often at the top of people's travel bucket-list, and for good reason. It's a country where you can find whatever it is you want, from the bustling cosmopolis of Tokyo to the luxury resort lined shores of the smaller islands.
The beauty of Japan is the amazing blend between old and new. You can enjoy the futuristic neon glow of Tokyo whilst also exploring some of the world's most culturally significant sites.
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Super client centred service. From first contact I have had warm, efficient, friendly and flexible service.
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Frequently asked questions
What does Out Of Office do?
Out Of Office is a luxury LGBTQ+ travel company specializing in tailor-made vacations and extraordinary journeys around the world. We create bespoke luxury vacations, LGBTQ+ honeymoons, safaris, cruises, beach escapes, private tours and group trips, with every itinerary designed around you. Our travel specialists combine global expertise, first-hand destination knowledge and trusted local partners to create seamless, highly personalized experiences.
Is Out Of Office a gay travel agency?
Out Of Office is an LGBTQ+ owned and run luxury travel specialist, with particular expertise in gay and LGBTQ+ travel. We understand the additional considerations that can come with traveling as an LGBTQ+ person or couple, from local laws and customs to finding genuinely welcoming hotels and experiences.
We welcome every traveler, including friends, families and allies. Many of our clients are not members of the LGBTQ+ community, but choose Out Of Office for our luxury travel expertise, personalized service and discretion.
Do you create tailor-made LGBTQ+ vacations?
Yes. Every tailor-made trip with Out Of Office is designed from scratch around your interests, travel style, budget and the way you want to experience a destination. We can arrange luxury hotels, private transfers, flights, guides, excursions, cruises and special experiences as part of one personalized itinerary. The journeys shown on our website are there to inspire you rather than restrict you; only clearly identified group departures operate as fixed itineraries.
How do you choose LGBTQ+ friendly hotels and destinations?
We combine first-hand destination knowledge with trusted local expertise to recommend luxury hotels, resorts and experiences where LGBTQ+ travelers can feel informed and welcome. We also consider the laws, customs and attitudes of each destination, because LGBTQ+ rights and experiences differ around the world. Our team regularly visit many of the properties we work with and where a destination requires greater awareness, we give you clear and considered advice so that you can make an informed decision about where and how you travel.
We plant trees for every booking
For every booking made with Out Of Office we commit to planting trees in your name to help reduce the impact of travel on future generations. You'll even get a link to see where your trees are planted in the world via our partner Ecologi.
We donate to Rainbow Railroad with every booking
Rainbow Railroad helps LGBTQ+ people escape state-sponsored violence and persecution. A donation goes with every trip we sell, funded by us and never added to your price.
Start Planning Your Trip
Tell us where you would love to go, when you are thinking of traveling and what kind of trip you have in mind. One of our LGBTQ+ travel specialists will create a tailor-made itinerary designed around your destination, style and preferences.
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