Nijo Castle, the one of World Heritage Site in Japan, is now accepting the reservation of the traditional wedding for the 2010 season until the end of this month (Oct 31, 2009).
www.nijojo-wedding.jp
Nijo Castle was built during the Tokugawa era (completed in 1603) as the residents of Tokugawa Family in Kyoto.
In 1994, Nijo Castle was registered as the part of Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Wikipedia).
According to the report from NHK program, the City of Kyoto appointed Kyoto Kokusai Hotel to provide the wedding service at Nijo Castle.
By opening the door to grooms and brides, the City of Kyoto hopes everyone to be familiar with the tradition of Kyoto, and preserve its craftmanship.
For 2010, they are accepting 65 couples to hold the wedding at Nijo Castle.
- 60 couples for daytime wedding between April-June, Sep-Dec, 2010, and March 2011
- 5 couples for nighttime wedding between April 23 and May 30 2010
If more than 65 couples aqpply for the wedding, they will hold the lottery to select the couples.
* Perhaps, you should visit Nijo Castle on one of those weekends. You may be able to witness the wedding.
Daytime Wedding Schedule
This is the translation from
http://www.nijojo-wedding.jp/schedule.html
The plan includes:
1. Traditional Rikisha (Jinrikisha) Parade into the Nijo Castle
Carried by the Rikisha (Japanese wooden cart) specially hand-made by 30 traditional craftmen in Kyoto.
Gloom and Bride get into the Rikisha at Kyoto Kokusai Hotel, and they will go through the gate into the Garden
2. Zen-so (Introduction)
Groom and bride entrer to Seiryu Garden (清流園)
*the place is usually closed to the public.
*Music is accompanied by Gagaku (Japanese traditional music) from here
3. Kongi (Ceremony) – Vow, and exchange ring
4. Mizuawase-no-gi (水合せの儀), Konka &Kissa-no-gi; (婚菓・喫茶の儀)
The group now moves to Kaun-Tei (香雲亭), the tea house.
For, Konka & Kissa-no-gi, the couple will be required to hand-make a bamboo chopsticks prior to the wedding.
And groom and bride will serve the Japanese snacks to the wedding guests by using the bambo chopsticks
5. Ko-so (Postlude)
Closing the ceremony.
Groom and bride will throw Origami cranes to the guests in the garden from the eave of Kaun-tei
6. Picture
7. Departure
Leave the Nijo castle by Rikisha.
*and you will be seen by a lot of tourist, of course.
Location
I think you just need to see the picture here…
http://www.nijojo-wedding.jp/ceremony.html
Basic Plan Detail
The basic daytime plan is 600,000 yen for 30 guests.
The nighttime wedding will cost 700,000 yen.
(I mean the price include the wardrobe rental~!!?? This is very cheap.)
- Wardrobe rental for groom
- Choose one from
- Wardrobe rental for bride
- Choose one from (Including hair and make-up fee)
- Juni-hitoe (十二単) !!!!
- White Japanese kimono
- White Western dress
- Ceremony (including master of ceremony, marriage certificate, location fee)
- Music peformers (Gagaku)
- Kaizoe (The special assistant to Bride for wardrobe and ceremony)
- Origami crane, and flowers
- Picture (1 set only)
** Most materials used at the ceremony are made in or around Kyoto (includes kimono and marriage certificate paper!)
Options:
- Dance by Maiko (Geisha)
- Music with flute and Japanese koto
- Adiditional photo
- Video production (DVD service)
- Wardrobe rental for the guests
Reservation
Call them by October 31, 2009 in Japanese.
Nijo Wedding (Kyoto Kokusai Hotel)
TEL 075-222-1111 (call them in Japanese)
Well… I’m sure this will be very competitive… But if you feel like doing Japanese wedding…. go for this VERY tradisional Japanese wedding.
I seriously started thinking about having the wedding at Nijo Castle (although I don’t have the right person to get married yet :-p)
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