Kimono Wedding Photos in Japan During Hydrangea Season | A Kawagoe Pre-Wedding Story
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Many couples visiting Japan dream of taking their wedding or pre-wedding photos during cherry blossom season.
Most visitors come to Japan hoping to see cherry blossoms.
But one of my favorite seasons begins after the petals have fallen.
In June, hydrangeas bloom beneath fresh green trees, filling temple gardens and forest paths with shades of blue, purple, pink, and white.
Recently, I photographed a couple from Hong Kong who wanted to experience both traditional Japanese culture and the beauty of this short but colorful season.
For their pre-wedding session, I brought them to Kawagoe, a historic town just outside Tokyo, where centuries-old architecture and blooming hydrangeas created the perfect backdrop for their wedding photos.
Why We Chose Kawagoe
Located about an hour northwest of central Tokyo, Kawagoe is often called “Little Edo.”
The town is known for preserving the atmosphere of Japan’s Edo Period, with traditional merchant houses, historic temples, and streets that feel largely unchanged by time.
For couples visiting Japan, it offers a chance to experience a more traditional side of the country without traveling far from Tokyo.
It is also one of my favorite locations for photography.
Within a relatively small area, you can find historic architecture, peaceful gardens, temples, and beautiful seasonal scenery throughout the year.
Choosing a Traditional Wedding Kimono
Since they were traveling all the way to Japan, the couple wanted to wear traditional wedding kimono for their session.
The bride chose a colorful Irouchikake wedding kimono, while the groom wore a formal black montsuki kimono and hakama.
To complete the experience, I brought them to one of Kawagoe’s antique kimono rental shops, where some of the garments are more than one hundred years old.
Watching a couple transform from modern travelers into figures from another era is always one of my favorite parts of the day.
Stepping Back in Time at Honmaru Goten
Our first stop was Honmaru Goten, one of the few remaining castle palace buildings in Japan.
Walking through its tatami rooms and wooden corridors feels a little like stepping back 200 years into Japan’s past.
Rather than focusing on posed photographs, I encouraged the couple to simply explore the building together. Looking through the paper sliding doors and wandering the quiet hallways created some of my favorite moments from the day.
Exploring the maze of rooms separated by traditional shoji screens became part of the fun.
Peeking through doorways and around corners, the couple joked that they felt a little like ninjas inside an old Japanese house.
Between the formal portraits, there was plenty of laughter together.
A Summer Visit to Kita-in Temple
Next, we headed to Kita-in Temple, a historic temple with more than 1,200 years of history.
By this point, the temperature was already close to 30°C (86°F), and the summer heat was beginning to take its toll.
After taking a few photographs around the temple grounds, we escaped into the shaded garden area behind the main buildings.
Almost immediately, the atmosphere changed.
A gentle breeze moved through the trees, and the shade offered welcome relief from the afternoon sun.
Hydrangeas Among the Fresh Green Forest
Then we found exactly what we had come for.
Clusters of hydrangeas appeared throughout the garden, adding shades of blue, purple, pink, and white to the surrounding greenery.
The bride’s red wedding kimono stood out beautifully against the cool colors of the flowers.
As the they wandered through the shaded pathways, the session began to feel less like a photoshoot and more like a quiet walk together through the garden.
Planning Your Own Kimono Wedding Photos in Japan
Most visitors come to Japan for cherry blossoms.
But a few weeks later, the country becomes colorful in a completely different way.
Surrounded by fresh green forests and blooming hydrangeas, June can be one of the most beautiful seasons to photograph in Japan—and I hope these photographs have shown why.
Pre-Wedding & Anniversary Sessions with bozphoto & styles
At bozphoto & styles, we focus on natural, location-based photography across Tokyo and Japan.
Rather than heavily posed shoots, we prefer to walk together, talk, and document real moments in places that are meaningful to you — whether it’s a park, a neighborhood, or somewhere connected to your personal history.
Pre-wedding, anniversary, or couple sessions are all about telling your story in a simple and authentic way.
👉 Learn more about our Pre-Wedding Photo Plans.
About bozphoto & styles
We’re a photo team based in Japan, here to capture your adventures—whether you’re proposing, celebrating, or just exploring together.
From the streets of Tokyo to the views of Mt. Fuji, we love traveling across Japan to create natural, meaningful images of your time here.
If you’re ready to turn your trip into something truly unforgettable, we’d love to be part of it.
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