Kyoto Wedding Photoshoot Schedule: Hour by Hour, 10:00 to 15:00

Planning wedding photos during a trip to Kyoto, but not sure how much of your holiday it will take? This guide walks through a real photo day at Bridal Salon Pure, inside The Westin Miyako Kyoto in Higashiyama, hour by hour. You will see how location and studio days run, what to prepare from abroad, and how to build the rest of your Kyoto itinerary around the shoot.

What does a Kyoto wedding photoshoot schedule look like on the day?

The day starts with the bride, because dressing takes the longest. A Japanese bridal kimono is put on in layers by a professional dresser, then hair and makeup are styled to match. The bride may wear a shiromuku (an all-white bridal kimono, traditionally said to stand for purity and a fresh start), an iro-uchikake (a richly colored outer robe, often decorated with auspicious motifs) or a hikifurisode (a long-sleeved kimono with a trailing hem). The groom wears a montsuki, a black formal kimono with family crests, worn with hakama trousers. Under the kimono you wear tabi, white split-toe socks. The groom can come with the bride if you prefer.

Location plan: hour by hour

Location shoots are possible at places such as Higashiyama (around Nene-no-michi and Ninenzaka), Arashiyama, Gion Shirakawa, the Kamo River, Keage Incline, Daikakuji, Bishamondo and Zuishin-in. You can see real photos from the Higashiyama streets on our Higashiyama wedding photos page.

Studio plan: hour by hour

Several studio plans take place at Pure’s Nijo Castle Studio, so for studio plans you meet at the studio. These times are Pure’s example schedule. The length of the day differs by plan, so please confirm your own times when you contact us. Not sure which style suits your trip? Read Studio vs Location Wedding Photos Kyoto.

How long does it take? Plans, hours and prices

Location costs may differ depending on the location. Shooting on weekends and Japanese national holidays adds ¥33,000 (tax included). All plans are listed in English on our English page.

How do we fit the photo day into a Kyoto itinerary?

• Avoid your arrival day. Give yourselves a night of rest so you feel fresh in front of the camera.
• Plan nothing else before mid-afternoon. With the example schedule you are busy from 10:00 to about 15:00.
• Keep the evening for Kyoto. You leave with a light hair set, so a relaxed dinner or an evening walk works well.
• Consider a weekday. It avoids the weekend surcharge, and popular sightseeing spots are often busier on weekends.
• Think about the season. Autumn leaves are a popular backdrop, but their timing changes every year, so please ask us when you contact us.

For sample 3 to 5 day plans, see Kyoto Itinerary Wedding Photoshoot: How to Plan a 3-5 Day Trip.

What should we bring and prepare from abroad?

For a full list, see What to Bring to a Kimono Photoshoot in Kyoto: 12-Item Checklist.

How should we behave at temples and old streets on the day?

Many Kyoto locations are places of worship or everyday streets. A little care keeps the day pleasant for everyone.

• Speak quietly inside temple and shrine grounds.
• Leave paths, steps and gates clear for other visitors between shots.
• Follow posted rules and your photographer’s guidance, and do not enter roped-off areas.
• In kimono, take small steps and hold the hem on stairs and uneven stones.