text: Above all, both men and women should avoid anything that could draw attention to yourself over the couple being celebrated.
  Whether you prefer a shrine, church, or chapel, there's a wealth of gorgeous places to get married in Japan! Here are some of the most in-demand wedding venues around. Many of them also make excellent spots to visit when sightseeing, even if you're not planning on getting hitched!
  Meiji Jingu Shrine is located in Shibuya, and is one of the most popular wedding sites in Tokyo. It also happens to be Japan's most famous Shinto shrine, with roughly three million visitors coming for the year's first prayers (hatsumode). At busy times, the shrine can perform up to 15 weddings a day! This shrine is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. In 2018, Princess Ayako wed her husband Kei Moriya here.
  Many people also choose to hold their reception on the grounds at the Meiji Kinenkan, a venue managed by the shrine itself.
  Chapel on the Water was designed by renowned Japanese architect, Tadao Ando in 1985. Located in Hokkaido, this modernist chapel has been built in the quiet clearing of a beech forest. The chapel's seats face a fully open front wall overlooking a reflecting pool where a large steel cross appears to float on the water. The elegant, modern design and beautiful natural scenery that surrounds the chapel make this a continually popular wedding destination. This chapel was also the location for a music video by the popular singer, BoA.
  Even if you're not getting married, the gorgeous architecture of the chapel makes it worth a visit. If you happen to be visiting Hokkaido, don't forget to stop by this church!
  Another modernist church that is highly in demand for weddings is St. Mary's Cathedral in Tokyo. Built in 1964, this Catholic church was designed by Japanese architect Kenzo Tange. The dramatically soaring roof and stainless steel walls here create a breathtaking, meditative atmosphere.
  Unlike the Chapel on the Water, which is a privately-run chapel used mainly as a wedding venue, this is a functioning church that holds regular masses. Regardless of your religion, a visit is worth it for the stunning architecture alone.
  Yasaka Shrine is a Kyoto landmark and a popular site for Shinto weddings in Kyoto. This shrine is known for its connection to the geisha who work in Kyoto's Gion district, and also for its annual festival, the Gion Matsuri, which is the largest in Kyoto.
  Yasaka Shrine is known as an ideal shrine to visit when seeking love and marriage because it enshrines the deities Susanoo-no-Mikoto and Kushinadahime-no-Mikoto, a married couple. Many believers stop to write their wishes on the heart-shaped ema plaques here, or buy an enmusubi o-mamori (love amulet) from the shrine. Pay a visit if you're seeking luck in the romance department!