Vow Renewal in Kyoto
Say it again, in a Kyoto shrine
誓いを、もう一度
A vow renewal is not a smaller wedding. It is the one ceremony you hold knowing exactly what you are promising — and a Shinto ceremony suits that better than most, because its nine rituals are about gratitude and the years ahead rather than about signing anything.
Why couples do this in Japan
Nothing to arrange at home
No venue, no guest list, no year of planning. You are already travelling; the ceremony takes a morning.
An anniversary that looks like something
Ten years, twenty-five, or a year that mattered for your own reasons. You leave with a film, not a restaurant receipt.
Your children can be in it
Children who were not born at your wedding can stand in this one. The eighth ritual joins the families; nobody is a spectator.
How a vow renewal differs from a wedding here
What stays the same
- The same priest, the same shrine, the same nine rituals.
- Kimono, dressing, hair and make-up for both of you.
- The sacred sake, the sakaki branch, the blessing.
What changes
- The vows are written for a marriage that already exists. We help you word them.
- Children and parents can take a part, rather than watching.
- No registration, no documents, no residency requirement — there is nothing to prepare before you arrive.
This is a cultural ceremony. It does not change your legal status, and it does not need to — you are already married.
Questions couples ask about vow renewals
Do we need our marriage certificate?
No. Nothing is registered and nothing is checked. Bring yourselves and your passports for the hotel, and that is all.
How far ahead should we book?
The shrine fixes the date, so the earlier the better — particularly in cherry blossom and autumn leaf season. Write to us with a month and we will tell you what is open. [実際のリードタイムを記入]
Can we write our own vows?
Yes. The fourth ritual is where they are spoken. Send us what you would like to say and we will arrange it with the priest, in your language and in Japanese.
Is it strange for a non-Japanese couple to do this?
Not at all, and not to the shrine either. What matters is that you understand what you are taking part in, which is why the whole ceremony is explained beforehand and as it happens.
Tell us the month and the anniversary
We will come back with the dates the shrine can hold, and an itemised quote. Nothing is reserved until you say so.