Japan registers marriages at a government office, not a church, shrine, or ceremony venue. This is a complete, accurate guide to exactly how it works for international couples in 2026, including every document you need, the witnesses requirement, and why most couples choose a different path entirely.
Quick Answer
Yes, two foreigners can legally marry in Japan without being residents. Both partners need an Affidavit of Competency to Marry from their embassy, Japanese translations of all documents, and two witnesses aged 18 or older. Registration happens the same day at a municipal office once paperwork is in order. Most international couples choose to legally marry at home and hold a symbolic ceremony in Japan instead.
Nomad Weddings JapanUpdated May 202610 min read
Hakuryuen, Kyoto · Symbolic Elopement Ceremony · Nomad Weddings Japan
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To legally marry in Japan as a foreigner, both partners must obtain an Affidavit of Competency to Marry (or Certificate of No Impediment) from their respective embassies in Japan, submit Japanese translations of all foreign documents, and file a Kon’in Todoke-sho marriage notification form with two witnesses aged 18 or older at any municipal office. Neither partner needs to be a Japanese resident or citizen. Once accepted, the marriage is registered the same day.
In Japan, a marriage is not legally recognised by a ceremony, whether at a shrine, a temple, or anywhere else. A marriage becomes legal when a couple registers at a local municipal office and the paperwork is accepted. That is the only mechanism. The ceremony, if you have one, is entirely separate.
For Japanese couples, it is common to register the marriage at a city office on a completely separate day, or even months or years before holding any ceremony. For international couples, the process has some additional steps: an embassy affidavit, Japanese translations of foreign documents, and two witnesses who sign the registration form.
This guide covers every requirement accurately. It is updated for 2026 and written specifically for couples where both partners are foreign nationals planning to marry in Japan.
Eligibility
Are You Eligible to Marry in Japan?
Before starting the process, both partners must meet Japan’s basic eligibility requirements and the requirements of their own home countries. The Japanese requirements are the floor, not the ceiling.
Minimum Age
Both partners must be at least 18 years old. Japan’s legal reform in April 2022 lowered the age of majority to 18 and unified the marriage age across both sexes. Parental consent is no longer required for adults aged 18 or older.
Marital Status
Both partners must be legally single. Japan does not recognise polygamous marriage. If either partner has been married before, proof of divorce or death of a former spouse is required.
Divorce Waiting Period
Women must wait 100 days after a divorce before legally remarrying in Japan (reduced from six months in April 2024). This rule does not apply to men. There is an exception if pregnancy is confirmed or confirmed impossible.
Family Relationship
Parties cannot be related by blood or adoption within a degree that Japanese law prohibits. Cousins are permitted under Japanese law, though this varies by nationality, so check your home country’s requirements.
Note: Both partners are additionally bound by the eligibility requirements of their home countries. If your home country prohibits the marriage for any reason, including age, consanguinity, or a prior marriage, the Japanese registration will not be valid under your home country’s law even if Japan accepts it.
Arashiyama Bamboo Temple, Kyoto · Nomad Weddings Japan
What You Need
Documents Required to Register Your Marriage
The following documents are required when filing at the municipal office. Requirements can vary slightly between offices, so always confirm with the specific city or ward office where you plan to register before you arrive.
1
Passports パスポート
Both partners must present their current valid passport. A passport is the most universally accepted form of identification for foreigners at Japanese municipal offices. Bring originals, since photocopies are not sufficient for identification purposes.
2
Marriage Notification Form 婚姻届書
The Kon’in Todoke-sho (婚姻届書) is the official marriage registration form. You collect this at the municipal office, not in advance. At the office you will fill in both partners’ names, nationalities, dates of birth, and addresses. The form also requires two witnesses to sign.
The form is in Japanese. If you cannot read Japanese, ask the municipal office for assistance or bring a Japanese-speaking person with you.
3
Affidavit of Competency to Marry 婚姻要件具備証明書
This is the most important document, and the one that requires a trip to your embassy or consulate in Japan. Known formally as the Kon’in Yoken Gubi Shomeisho (婚姻要件具備証明書), it confirms that you are legally free to marry under the laws of your home country. Both partners typically need one each, from their respective embassies.
Some embassies issue this the same day; others require appointments booked weeks in advance. Check your specific embassy’s process early.
4
Japanese Translations
All documents submitted to the municipal office must have Japanese translations attached. Importantly, the translation does not need to be professionally certified. Anyone who speaks Japanese may translate the documents. Many embassies automatically include Japanese translations with the documents they issue, which simplifies this step considerably.
Check whether your embassy includes Japanese translations before arranging your own. Many do for the affidavit. Passport information pages typically need to be translated separately.
5
Birth Certificate 出生証明書
Not universally required, but some municipal offices ask for it, particularly for couples where one partner has a name that appears differently across documents. Bring certified copies as a precaution. These also require Japanese translation.
6
Divorce or Death Certificate (if applicable)
If either partner has been previously married, proof that the prior marriage has legally ended is required, either a divorce certificate or a death certificate for a deceased former spouse. These also require Japanese translation.
7
Residence Certificate 住民票
Required only if one or both partners are registered residents of Japan. If neither partner lives in Japan, this is not needed. Non-residents register at the municipal office of the area where they are staying.
By Country
Embassy Affidavits by Nationality
The specific document name and process varies by country. The table below covers the most common nationalities of couples who elope in Japan with Nomad Weddings. Always check directly with your embassy for the most current requirements before visiting.
Ehefähigkeitszeugnis (Certificate of Marital Capacity)
Contact German Embassy Tokyo directly
France
Certificat de Coutume
Contact French Embassy Tokyo directly
Other countries
Varies by nationality
Contact your home country’s embassy or consulate in Japan directly for current requirements
Often Overlooked
The Witnesses Requirement
One detail many couples miss: the Kon’in Todoke-sho requires two witnesses. Both witnesses must be aged 18 or over and must sign the form with their name, address, and date of birth in Japanese. Witnesses do not need to be present at the municipal office. They can sign the form before you go.
If you are visiting Japan without people you know, finding witnesses is a genuine logistical challenge. Options include:
A friend or family member who signs in advance (even from abroad)
Your photographer, planner, or celebrant, who can sign before the visit
A Japanese-speaking acquaintance willing to help
Some municipal offices can assist. Ask in advance.
The Process
Step-by-Step: How to Register
1
Confirm Your Eligibility
Check that both partners meet Japan’s requirements and the requirements of their home countries. If either partner has been previously married, gather the divorce or death certificate now, since these take time to obtain and translate.
2
Contact Your Embassy Early
Check your embassy’s process for the affidavit. Some allow walk-ins; many require appointments booked 1 to 4 weeks in advance. Confirm what documents they need from you, what fee they charge, and whether they include Japanese translations.
3
Gather and Translate All Documents
Collect passports, birth certificates if required, and any divorce certificates. Arrange Japanese translations for any documents your embassy does not translate automatically. Check with your planned municipal office that the translation format is acceptable.
4
Obtain the Embassy Affidavit
Visit your embassy or consulate in Japan. Both partners may need to attend, or one may be able to go on behalf of both. This varies by country. Pay any required fees and collect the affidavit documents. Note: the affidavit may have an expiry date, so do not collect it too far in advance of your planned registration date.
5
Arrange Your Two Witnesses
Identify two witnesses aged 18 or over. Have them fill in their name, address, and date of birth on the Kon’in Todoke-sho in Japanese. If they are signing from abroad, they can complete the form and send it back to you.
6
File at the Municipal Office 市役所 / 区役所
Take all documents to the city office (shiyakusho/市役所) or ward office (kuyakusho/区役所) in the area where you plan to register. Submit the Kon’in Todoke-sho along with all supporting documents. Once approved, which happens the same day if documents are correct, you are legally married. Request the Kon’in Todoke Juri Shomeisho (婚姻届受理証明書), your official marriage certificate, at this time. It takes approximately 30 minutes to issue.
7
Register Back Home (If Required)
Some countries require you to notify their embassy or officially register your Japanese marriage at home. Others require no notification. Check the requirements for your nationality before leaving Japan. Countries that commonly require notification include South Korea, Singapore, and several European nations.
How Long It Takes
A Realistic Timeline
The most common mistake couples make is underestimating how much preparation the legal process requires. The city office visit itself is quick. Everything before it can take a week or more.
4 to 8 weeks before
Contact your embassy. Find out if you need an appointment, what documents they require, and how long the process takes. Some embassies are booked weeks out.
2 to 4 weeks before
Gather documents. Birth certificates, divorce certificates, passport information pages, and arrange translations for anything your embassy will not translate automatically.
1 to 2 weeks before
Embassy visit. Obtain your affidavit. Confirm its validity period, since some expire after a short window and must be used promptly.
Before the office visit
Arrange witnesses. Have two witnesses sign the marriage form. Contact the specific municipal office to confirm any local requirements or variations.
Registration day
Municipal office. Submit all documents. If everything is in order, registration is approved the same day. Allow 1 to 2 hours for the visit and certificate collection.
What It Costs
The Cost of Marrying in Japan as a Foreigner
Legal registration in Japan is one of the least expensive parts of the process. The municipal office charges no fee, or a nominal administrative fee in some areas. The costs that add up are the embassy affidavit, document translations, and (for most couples) the ceremony and photography that go alongside the registration.
Cost Summary
Legal Registration vs Full Elopement
Legal registration alone: ¥7,000 to ¥15,000 (approx. USD $46 to $99) for embassy affidavit fees, plus minor translation costs if your embassy does not include translations. Municipal office registration is free or carries only a small administrative fee.
Complete Japan elopement experience: ¥555,000 to ¥1,360,000 (approx. USD $3,650 to $8,950, or AUD $5,720 to $14,020) for photography, planning, hair and makeup, celebrant, and venue permits. Most of our couples invest between ¥700,000 and ¥1,200,000 for the full experience across one location.
The cost gap between “legally registered marriage” and “elopement we will remember” is real, but it is smaller than couples expect. For context, the average wedding in Australia in 2025 to 2026 runs approximately AUD $34,000 to $38,000.
Best Regions for an International Wedding in Japan
If you intend to legally register your marriage in Japan, you can do so at any municipal office. Practically, most couples choose the region where they plan to hold their ceremony. Here is how the regions compare for international couples.
Kyoto
京都
Tradition · Heritage · Autumn
Best for couples who want traditional aesthetics: shrines, gardens, machiya streets, kimono ceremonies. Highest demand in November for autumn foliage and April for cherry blossoms. Our Kyoto teams can support legal registration here.
Legal Support Available
Tokyo
東京
Access · Embassies · City
Best for accessibility. International flights, every major embassy, and a broad range of ward offices. The most logistically straightforward city for legal registration, since embassy visits and ward office filing can be done in the same neighbourhood.
Hokkaido (Niseko, Furano)
北海道
Snow · Mountains · Off-Peak
Best for winter ceremonies and dramatic natural landscapes. Permit costs are low or free, and the off-peak market means more relaxed vendor availability outside ski season. Our Hokkaido base is in Niseko.
Okinawa (Miyakojima)
沖縄
Beach · Coral Sea · Tropical
Best for couples wanting a tropical beach ceremony in Japan. Best conditions run March through June before typhoon season. Miyakojima is the standout location for visually distinctive ocean ceremonies.
Nomad Weddings Japan supports symbolic ceremonies across all four regions. Direct legal registration support is currently available in Kyoto only.
When to Marry
Best Time of Year to Marry in Japan
Visually peak seasons attract the highest demand, not only for venues but for embassy appointments and ceremony vendors. If you are aiming for cherry blossom or autumn foliage, plan everything 12 months out, including the embassy visit. Off-peak windows offer more flexibility and lower competition for the same vendors.
Season
Months
Highlights
Demand
Cherry Blossom
Late March to mid-April
Sakura peak across Honshu, especially Kyoto and Tokyo
Highest demand · Book 12 months out
Late Spring
Late April to May
Fresh greenery, fewer crowds. Avoid Golden Week (late April to early May).
Moderate demand
Summer
June to August
Lush landscapes, summer festivals. Humid in Honshu; cooler in Hokkaido.
Lower demand · Better pricing
Autumn Foliage
Mid to late November
Koyo across Kyoto, Nikko, and Hokkaido. The most photographed season.
Highest demand · Book 12 months out
Winter
December to February
Snow ceremonies in Hokkaido. Clear, crisp light in Kyoto and Tokyo.
Lower demand · Quieter venues
Couples registering legally during cherry blossom or autumn foliage windows should book their embassy appointment as soon as travel dates are confirmed. Major embassies in Tokyo can be booked out for weeks during peak ceremony seasons.
Niseko, Hokkaido · Symbolic Outdoor Ceremony · Nomad Weddings Japan
What to Know
Common Challenges Couples Face
Short Trips
Couples visiting Japan for one or two weeks often find the embassy appointments and document gathering consume significant days they had planned to spend on their elopement.
Language Barrier
Most city offices have limited English-speaking staff. The Kon’in Todoke-sho form is in Japanese. Bringing a Japanese speaker is strongly recommended.
Office Variations
Requirements vary between offices. A couple rejected at one office for missing a document may find a different office accepts their paperwork. Always call ahead.
Translation Nuance
While translations do not need to be certified, they must be accurate and complete. Partial or poorly formatted translations can cause delays at the office counter.
“Most couples who want to be legally married in Japan underestimate how many separate days the process takes. The city office visit itself is fast. Everything leading up to it is the challenge.”
James · Nomad Weddings Japan
Making the Decision
Legal Registration vs. Symbolic Ceremony
The overwhelming majority of international couples who elope in Japan choose to legally marry in their home country first, then hold a meaningful symbolic ceremony in Japan. This is not a compromise. It is a deliberate and practical choice. Here is why.
Most Popular Choice
Marry at Home. Ceremony in Japan.
No embassy visits or city office logistics
No translation requirements
More days available for your Japan experience
Legal recognition back home is immediate
Full creative freedom for the ceremony
Any location in Japan, no filing location constraint
No witness sourcing required
More Logistically Complex
Legal Registration in Japan
Embassy affidavit required (appointment often needed)
All documents in Japanese translation
Two witnesses must sign the form
City office visit during business hours
Process can take multiple days of your trip
Must file at the office local to your stay
Requirements vary by office, so always call ahead
From a past couple
“We thought legal registration in Japan would be the simple part. Once we looked into it, we realised the embassy appointment alone needed booking weeks ahead. We legally married at home, came to Kyoto for the ceremony, and didn’t lose a single day to paperwork. Best decision we made.”
Zoe & Myles · Arashiyama, Kyoto · April 2026
Wedding Bands · Hakuryuen, Kyoto
Elopement Ceremony · Hakuryuen Garden, Kyoto
Nomad Weddings Japan
Legal Registration Support, Kyoto Only
Our Kyoto celebrant can guide you through the entire legal registration process, from document preparation and translation requirements to accompanying you to the city office on the day. This is the only region in Japan where Nomad Weddings provides direct legal registration support.
If you want to be legally married in Japan and you are holding your ceremony in Kyoto, this is the most supported path available. Get in touch early, since embassy appointment timelines mean we typically need at least 4 to 6 weeks of preparation before your intended date.
This service is available in Kyoto only. Our teams in Hokkaido (Niseko and Furano), Tokyo, and Okinawa (Miyakojima) do not provide legal registration support. For couples in those regions, we recommend completing the legal process in your home country and celebrating with a symbolic ceremony in Japan.
Hakuryuen, Kyoto · Elopement Day · Nomad Weddings Japan
Yes. Neither partner needs to be a resident or citizen of Japan. Both must obtain an Affidavit of Competency to Marry (or Certificate of No Impediment) from their respective embassies in Japan, and all documents must be submitted with Japanese translations to the local municipal office.
You need: a passport for both partners, an Affidavit of Competency to Marry or Certificate of No Impediment from your embassy in Japan, the Kon’in Todoke-sho form from the municipal office signed by two witnesses aged 18 or over, and Japanese translations of all non-Japanese documents. A birth certificate may also be required at some offices.
No. Translations for Japanese marriage registration do not need to be professionally certified or notarised. Any Japanese speaker may prepare the translation. Many embassies automatically include Japanese translations with the documents they issue, so check with your embassy first before arranging your own.
The municipal office visit itself takes 1 to 2 hours if documents are in order. The preparation (embassy appointment, document gathering, translations, witness arrangements) typically takes 1 to 3 weeks. For couples visiting Japan on a short trip, starting the process as early as possible is essential.
The minimum age is 18 for both partners, following Japan’s legal reform in April 2022. The reform also lowered the age of majority to 18, so parental consent is no longer required for 18 and 19 year olds. Both partners must also satisfy the age requirements of their home countries.
Legal registration itself is free or carries a small administrative fee. Embassy affidavits typically cost ¥7,000 to ¥15,000 (approximately USD $46 to $99) depending on nationality. Document translations, if not provided by your embassy, add a small additional cost. A complete Japan elopement experience with photography, planning, and ceremony coordination typically runs ¥555,000 to ¥1,360,000. See our Japan elopement cost guide for the full breakdown.
Cherry blossom (late March to mid-April) and autumn foliage (mid to late November) are visually peak seasons but attract the highest demand. Embassy appointments and ceremony vendors should be booked 12 months in advance for these windows. Winter in Hokkaido, late April to May in Kyoto and Tokyo, and March to June in Okinawa offer lower demand and more flexibility.
No. Shrine and temple ceremonies, regardless of how meaningful, are symbolic only. Legal marriage in Japan requires registration at a municipal office. You can absolutely hold a ceremony at a shrine or temple, and many couples do, but you must also file the Kon’in Todoke-sho separately for the marriage to be legally recognised.
Yes, in Kyoto only. Our Kyoto celebrant offers full support through the legal registration process, including document preparation, translation guidance, and accompanying you to the city office. This service is not available in Hokkaido, Tokyo, or Okinawa, where we focus on symbolic ceremonies. Contact us to discuss your Kyoto plans.
The information in this guide is provided as a general reference and is updated periodically. Marriage registration requirements in Japan can vary between municipal offices and change over time. Always confirm current requirements directly with your home country’s embassy or consulate in Japan and with the specific municipal office where you plan to register. This guide does not constitute legal advice.
Nomad Weddings Japan
Plan Your Wedding in Japan
Symbolic ceremonies across Kyoto, Hokkaido, Tokyo, and Okinawa. Legal registration support available in Kyoto. English-speaking local team.
