The warmth of the letters and materials, and the personalities of the staff.

We chose Michinoku Wakon because, when we requested their materials, they included a handwritten letter that moved us deeply. The care and effort put into that personal touch made us feel that they would handle our wedding with the same heartfelt attention.

Since the groom's family resides in Miyagi Prefecture, we decided to hold our wedding there. While chapel weddings are beautiful, Miyagi has so many stunning shrines, and for a family-centered wedding, a shrine felt like the perfect choice. That's how we decided on a shrine wedding.

We had decided on Michinoku Wakon from the very beginning. The bride, her mother, and the groom's mother visited several of the shrines we had in mind. We thought it would be great if we could also consult with someone that same day, so we made a spontaneous phone call. To our delight, they kindly agreed, and we were able to visit and have a consultation on the very same day.

We requested materials from several other companies, and most of them sent digital brochures. However, Michinoku Wakon included a handwritten letter with the materials they sent us, which made us feel the most warmth and personal touch.

The special location and the support of the planner made our ideal Buddhist wedding a reality.

What we found most attractive about Michinoku Wakon was that they offered many plans for the ideal wedding that we had envisioned. For example, we were able to wear dresses and uniforms for location photos, and we were able to hold our wedding reception at a beautiful ryokan with just our family, which was very satisfying.

We wanted to have a uniquely Japanese wedding, and there was something special about having the ceremony at a temple or shrine. In this day and age when Western-style weddings are the mainstream, we felt a sense of romance in having our wedding at Chuson-ji, a World Heritage site, and were fascinated by the idea of having a wedding at a place that will remain in the future.

We were drawn to the planner's attentiveness during the fitting session, which inspired us to invite not just the two of us, but also our parents and relatives to the wedding. Initially, we had planned to hold the ceremony with just the two of us, but when I shared my desire to at least show my parents the wedding attire during the fitting, the planner was very accommodating, and they arranged for my parents to attend the fitting on short notice. Thanks to that, our parents were extremely pleased on the day of the ceremony.

From that moment, we knew we wanted to entrust our wedding to Michinoku Wakon.

Strengthening Ties between Japan and Germany: Shinto Ceremony in Sendai and Michinoku Wakon

We first met in Sendai, the bride's hometown, when I came to Japan as an exchange student at Tohoku University. After several years of a long-distance relationship between Japan and Germany, we now live together in Berlin, the capital of Germany. Even though we live far away in Berlin, Japanese culture and traditions are incredibly important to us, and Sendai holds a special place in our hearts. That’s why we decided to have a Shinto wedding ceremony in Sendai, a place that means so much to us, in a uniquely Japanese style.

The reason we chose a Shinto ceremony is because, while Christian-style weddings are common around the world, a Shinto ceremony is uniquely Japanese. Since both of our cultures are integral parts of our lives, it was important for us to show respect to each other's traditions. Having a Shinto wedding was a meaningful way to honor both of our cultures.

I was truly impressed by the kindness, quick responses regardless of day or night, and the incredible passion they had for their work. Their motivation to make everything perfect was very high, and they were truly professional. Despite the time difference between Japan and Germany, it was never an issue during the preparations.

From the planner in charge to the entire crew, the atmosphere, teamwork, and job sharing were all in perfect harmony. The moment I really felt glad that I chose Michinoku Wakon was when I saw how proud everyone was of their work and how much they genuinely enjoyed it. Witnessing their love for what they do, I felt reassured that I had made the right choice.

A shrine wedding ceremony that came true on the recommendation of my mother-in-law and
Wedding photos with excellent support

Originally, I had no plans to have a wedding and only intended to take wedding photos. However, my mother-in-law found out about Michinoku Wakon when she looked up a place in Miyagi where weddings could be held at a shrine.
Actually, before that, we had gone to talk to another company that offered weddings at shrines and temples, but decided to pass on them because the services and prices were not competitive.

Since our parents' homes are located in Iwate and Fukushima, we had not yet decided where we would hold the ceremony, but the fact that we could hold the ceremony at a shrine or temple in Tohoku was one of the attractions.

Of course, the wedding day itself was special, but the most memorable moment was during our wedding photo plan. We were scheduled to shoot outdoors, but as the forecast predicted heavy rain a few days before, we were unsure of what to do. Thanks to their spot-on advice, although we had to adjust the schedule slightly on the day, the rain stopped halfway through, and we were able to proceed with the outdoor shoot as planned.

Additionally, we are incredibly grateful to the team who left early in the morning to come to Iwate for the shoot. Their thoughtful attention to detail and the way they lifted our spirits during the shoot made it a truly wonderful experience.

A wedding at Uesugi Shrine made possible by detailed support through LINE and ZOOM and a comprehensive plan.

Our interactions with the planner were always accompanied by smiles, which made the whole preparation process enjoyable. It was incredibly reassuring to be able to ask questions via LINE at any time, and the planner's reminders before each meeting were very helpful. Even though we didn't initially have a clear vision of what a traditional Japanese wedding would look like, thanks to the many ideas proposed by the planner, we were able to hold a wedding we were truly satisfied with.

After our Shinto ceremony at the shrine, we plan to host a separate reception for friends at a different venue. When comparing it to other venues, we realized that Michinoku Wakon offered very reasonable prices for photography and videography, excellent communication, and high-quality planning support. Their ability to be flexible and accommodate our detailed requests made the whole experience much easier for us.

The Uesugi Shrine, where we held our ceremony, is located on the site of a former castle, adding to its solemn and majestic atmosphere. In addition to the shrine’s unique presence, there are plenty of photo-worthy spots such as the moat and red bridge. Plus, with a nearby traditional restaurant perfect for hosting the reception, it truly felt like the ideal place for a Japanese-style wedding.

I also appreciated how the plan was clear and included everything we needed. There were many aspects that could be flexibly adjusted to meet our preferences, making the entire process smooth and reassuring.

A traditional wedding where all requests were fulfilled.

We met in the same department at the same workplace and have continued our confidential relationship despite the bride's shockingly early confession of her love for me, which left me scratching my head.
He proposed at a place in the bride's memory.
We held the ceremony at Motsuji Temple, a World Heritage site, during the season of autumn leaves.

We chose to hold the ceremony at a shrine or temple because we wanted a traditional, old-fashioned atmosphere that would please our grandparents, who had been so kind to us.

It was a wonderful place to enjoy the autumn leaves with a Japanese atmosphere and many reflection spots.

Yes! The attentive service and the fact that you can spend a special once-in-a-lifetime day while experiencing Japanese traditions and culture is very attractive!

They kept us in mind throughout the whole process from start to finish to ensure our satisfaction.

We visited four different companies that plan traditional Japanese weddings, but it was the dedication and sincerity of the planner at Michinoku Wakon that left the most lasting impression, and that’s when we decided to go with them.

At first, we toured wedding venues with chapels, but since we didn’t have a strong connection to churches, we felt it would be better to hold the ceremony at a temple, which was more familiar to us. Having our ancestors' memorial tablets present at the temple was a truly meaningful part of the experience.

From the very first meeting, the planner was always there for us, ensuring that we felt comfortable and could proceed without any worries. Thanks to their support, we were able to welcome our special day with peace of mind, and we are truly grateful for that.

The ceremony venue and locations that Michinoku Wakon proposed perfectly aligned with our wishes, offering us an experience beyond what we had imagined. Additionally, the flexibility in the wedding plan, rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach, ensured that our ceremony was exactly what we had hoped for. We greatly appreciated this personalized touch.