I’m moving to Tokyo with my fiance and we’re planning on getting married there at a registry office (or Japanese equivalent). Is that a thing like in other countries? We just book a time, bring required documents then show up on the day to get married? Or is that only for Japanese citizens. Is there a place that does the vows in English?
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This is a copy of your post for archive/search purposes.
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**Foreigners marrying in Japan**
I’m moving to Tokyo with my fiance and we’re planning on getting married there at a registry office (or Japanese equivalent). Is that a thing like in other countries? We just book a time, bring required documents then show up on the day to get married? Or is that only for Japanese citizens. Is there a place that does the vows in English?
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While obviously written for an American audience, the overall instructions and information provided by the United States Embassy in Japan is applicable:
[https://jp.usembassy.gov/services/marriage/marriage-in-japan/](https://jp.usembassy.gov/services/marriage/marriage-in-japan/)
The key part is:
>Japanese law requires all foreigners who marry in Japan to first prepare a sworn Affidavit of Competency to Marry, affirming they are legally free to marry, from their own country’s embassy or consulate in Japan.
Getting this document does vary by nationality. Some countries will only provide this for legal residents. Some countries require specific documents from the home country before they can provide this. So you’ll want to review the embassy website for your country in Japan to find out exactly what documents you’ll need and how to get them.
All marriages in Japan are done at city hall. You don’t even need an appointment, just show up on whatever random week day you want with the papers. I have no idea of how it works for two foreigners, but I guess it’s done. You need special forms from your consulate in Japan, research that and get everything in proper order.
There are no vows at the city hall, it’s really anticlimactic there, like “Here’s your forms saying you’re married. Pay at the front window, Have a nice day.”
For actual vows and all, people have receptions with the church ceremony performed by someone who may or may not be an actual priest, likely not. Our “priest” was a nice old french man who did the whole ceremony in Japanese, though he did speak English as well.
Why aren’t you getting married before you move? It would likely make it much easier for you and may cause less difficulty in paperwork later?
>We just book a time, bring required documents then show up on the day to get married?
You do not need an appointment and there are no vows, just an official stamp on your papers and “Congratulations”. It’s really not all that special.
I would strongly suggest that if neither of you are Japanese that you get married in your home country. Why add a level of complexity, difficulty, etc., not to mention a foreign language, into an already delicate process? But that’s me. You do you.
Honestly, I don’t recommend it for future paperwork reasons. If I was in my own country, marrying a fellow national, I would get married in my own country.
If that is the case for you guys, elope before you move and then have create a special ceremony to perform in Japan. Most people do not get legally married on the same day as their ceremony. A ceremony can literally be anything/anywhere/just the two of you/with everyone you know/with new friends… possibilities are endless.