Mary Anne & Nick's Intimate Elopement in Arashiyama, Kyoto
Mary Anne and Nick eloped in Arashiyama, Kyoto, in May, just the two of them, with no guests and nothing to keep to but the light. They began the morning getting ready at the Osaka Station Hotel, then travelled west into the green hills of Arashiyama to marry among the bamboo and temples on the quiet edge of Kyoto.
When they first reached out, what they wanted was refreshingly simple. To elope, just the two of them, and to have a photographer they could trust to capture the moments as they happened. That clarity shaped everything. With no timeline built around guests or a reception, the day could breathe, and the two of them could simply be together in one of the most beautiful places in Japan.
Arashiyama in May is a gift. The cherry blossom crowds have gone, the summer heat and rains have not yet arrived, and the district settles into deep, unhurried green. The bamboo grove, the arc of the Togetsukyo bridge, the slow water of the Hozu river and the temple grounds all soften in late spring, and the paths grow quiet. For a couple who wanted the day to feel like theirs alone, the off season gave them exactly that.
Mary Anne wore a gown by Amsale, with hair and makeup by Haruka, and carried a bouquet by Bois De Gui, its blooms chosen to sit gently against the greens of the season. Cartier at her hand. There was nothing performed about any of it. My work is documentary and editorial, shot on both film and digital, and days like this are what it was made for: two people, a place that means something, and the space to let real moments unfold.
As a photographer based in Japan and part of a bilingual team, I was able to handle the small logistics quietly in the background, from the move between Osaka and Kyoto to the rhythm of the morning, so that Mary Anne and Nick never had to think about anything but each other. That is the whole point of an elopement done well.
Vendor credits
Photography: Sofia Hiramatsu
Getting-ready venue: The Osaka Station Hotel (add link)
Location: Arashiyama, Kyoto
Hair & makeup: Haruka Makeup Kyoto
Florist: Bois De Gui
Gown: Amsale (Amsale Aberra)
Jewellery: Cartier
If you're dreaming of the same
If you're imagining an intimate elopement in Kyoto, just the two of you, I would love to help you shape a day that feels entirely your own. You can see more of my work as a Kyoto wedding and elopement photographer, or read my guide to the best places to elope in Japan.