International Marriage in Japan: Legal Steps, Daily Life, and Common Challenges

Did you know that international marriages in Japan have a divorce rate of about 47%, compared to 35% among Japanese couples? In the U.S., the numbers are slightly different—international marriages end in divorce roughly 20% of the time within five years, just below the 22% rate for all first marriages. (Sources: Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Japan; Journal of Family Issues, 2017)

While international marriage has become more common—and often easier—in diverse societies, Japan presents unique cultural, legal, and lifestyle challenges that are specific to international couples. Understanding these hurdles ahead of time can make a big difference in building a strong and lasting life together.

This blog covers:

1. Legal Steps: Welcome to the Land of Forms and Stamps

2. Daily Life: Reality After the “I Do”

3. Cultural Expectations and Religion

4. Raising a Family in Japan

5. Financial Matters: Joint Assets, Taxes, and Retirement

6. What About Work?

7. When Things Get Hard: Divorce, Custody, and End-of-Life Decisions.

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1. Legal Steps: Welcome to the Land of Forms and Stamps

A. Getting Married in Japan:

If you're marrying in Japan, you’ll need to file the necessary paperwork at the municipal office (city hall or ward office) where the Japanese spouse resides.

The required documents vary depending on the foreign spouse’s country, but typically include:

• 婚姻届 (Marriage Registration Form)

• Copy of passport

• 戸籍謄本 (Family Registry for the Japanese spouse)

• 婚姻要件具備証明書 (Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage) or equivalent

• Japanese translations of all foreign-language documents (I personally translated everything in our case)

Don’t forget: legal marriage in Japan doesn’t always mean automatic recognition in spouse home country. Check with your country’s embassy.

B: Getting Married Abroad (e.g., in the U.S.):

If your marriage is certified abroad, you must notify the nearest Japanese embassy or consulate within three months of the marriage. The required documents usually include:

• Your spouse’s birth certificate

• The foreign marriage certificate

• An Affidavit of Competency to Marry

• Japanese translations of all documents

• The Japanese Marriage Registration Form

This notification will be processed and officially recorded by the municipal office in Japan.

C: Changing Family Name:
If the Japanese spouse chooses to take the foreign spouse’s last name, they must file a separate notification within six months of the marriage.

If you prefer to retain your respective family names, just indicate this preference on the Marriage Registration Form. No additional procedures are required. However, if you need to change family name after 6 months, you need to obtain an approval from local family court.

E. Visa and Immigration
If one spouse is non-Japanese and intends to live in Japan, they’ll need a Spouse of Japanese National visa or Long-Term Resident status, depending on the situation. If you go for a Spouse of Japanese National visa, in our case, it took 3 months to obtain it, so plan ahead. Time consuming part is to gather required documents.

2. Daily Life: Reality After the “I Do”

Language Barrier

Even in international marriages, one partner often ends up handling most of the paperwork and translation—especially if the other doesn’t speak Japanese. From hospital visits to tax filings and opening bank accounts, Japanese language proficiency makes difference.

Surprisingly, most public and private services in Japan are still primarily offered only in Japanese, which can be a major challenge for non-Japanese-speaking spouses.

Real Story: The Banking Headache

Banking was one of our biggest hurdles early on. We had no idea that banks like Sony Bank or SMBC PRESTIA offered English-language services. So, we went straight to one of Japan’s major banks, where my husband was told he needed to write his address in kanji (漢字). After a bit of negotiation, they finally allowed him to write it in Roman characters instead.  

FATCA: International marriages in Japan can face unique financial hurdles, especially if one spouse is a U.S. person under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). FATCA requires Japanese banks to report accounts of U.S. citizens or residents, even dual nationals, to the IRS. 

U.S. spouse may need to hire accountants (costing ¥50,000+ annually) and provide extra documents adding to paperwork woes.

To avoid frustration, here are two banks we recommend:

✅ Sony Bank

https://sonybank.jp/en/
Sony Bank offers English online banking services for foreign residents who have lived in Japan for at least six months.

✅ SMBC PRESTIA

https://www.smbctb.co.jp/en/openaccount/
Formerly Citi Bank Japan’s retail business, SMBC PRESTIA continues to support international customers. If you are currently employed in Japan, you can open an account.

Real Story: Lost in Translation... Literally

We usually watch movies in English with English subtitles, and although I follow the story, there are always some scenes or dialogue I don’t fully understand. I’d ask my husband questions afterward—a lot of questions. One night, after my third “Wait, what did that mean?” he sighed and said, “Did we watch the same movie??”.  The careless comment cost him a Frappuccino.

3. Cultural Expectations and Religion

Cultural norms can sneak up in surprising ways. For example, many Japanese families still expect home visits or caregiving responsibilities or religious event such as O-bon. For foreign spouses, this may feel unfamiliar or overwhelming.

On the flip side, foreign partners may have expectations about shared finances, parenting roles, or communication styles that differ significantly from Japanese norms.

Family and Social Pressure
International couples in Japan sometimes face subtle or even overt pressure—from family, colleagues, or society. Some Japanese families may be hesitant to accept a foreign spouse, while others may be overly enthusiastic.

Real Story: My hometown is a tiny mountain village surrounded by beautiful nature—but also bound by a small-world mentality. It’s the kind of place where, if someone buys a new car, everyone knows by the end of the day.

When I first brought my American husband to visit my parents, my mother was so concerned about what the neighbors might think that she made sure no one saw him. In contrast, his parents welcomed me into their family with open arms. I never felt uncomfortable, even though I’m neither American nor Christian….

During the visit, my mother came to see him not as a “foreigner” but as a real, kind-hearted person. Eventually, she stopped saying the kind of things.

Real story: It was clear my husband was the first foreigner in our apartment complex. No one said anything outright, but we could sense the curious looks.

So, we made an effort to be part of the community. We joined the neighborhood fire drill, took part in cleanup days, and—most importantly—followed the waste management rules to the letter.

My husband, like many Americans, naturally holds the elevator doors for neighbors. One day, we bumped into a very senior couple, and they said, “We’ve heard about you, and we’re happy to have you in this community.” It really meant a lot.

4. Raising a Family in Japan

If you plan to have children, more questions arise:

·      Which language(s) will you use at home?

·      Will your child attend local Japanese school, or an international one?

• Nationality and passports

• Culture, Identity and belonging

• Discipline

These situations can really test a parent's maturity. With the right support from parents, children usually find their own way. Arguing in front of them rarely helps—and often makes things harder.

5. Financial Matters: Joint Assets, Taxes, and Retirement

Finances in an international marriage can quickly become complicated—and heavy on compliance requirements.

If you can, I highly recommend getting professional help. The challenge is that it can be expensive!  But in many cases, the cost is worth the peace of mind.

Here are some key things to keep in mind:

• Tax systems differ: Japan’s tax rules may be very different from what you’re used to.

• No joint tax filing in Japan: If not employed, you’ll still file separately.

• U.S. tax obligations remain : U.S. citizens must file taxes annually—even while living abroad. (FATCA rules apply.)

• Japanese systems to understand early: National health insurance, pension contributions, and long-term care premiums will impact your retirement planning.

• Gift and estate taxes: Cross-border asset management gets tricky—each country has its own rules.

• Social Security Benefits: Understand how your time abroad may affect your eligibility in both countries.

• Investment accounts and : Access, taxation, and reporting rules differ between countries.

• Inheritance tax: These become critical if you hold assets or property in both countries.

• U.S. domicile rules: Your U.S. residency status can affect banking access, investment eligibility.

I personally had a good experience with CHI Border International:
✅ www.chiborder.com
(Not an affiliate—just a satisfied client.)

6. What About Work?

Since you’ve married someone from a different language and culture and now have family across borders, it would be a shame not to make use of that experience in your career. That said, pursuing a career brings its own set of challenges.

·      Which country to work

• Job opportunities for the foreign partner

• Japanese work culture: expectations and challenges for international spouses

Real story: There was a time when we lived apart between the U.S. and Japan due to work.

I was offered a career opportunity in Japan. My husband supported me in taking the job, even though it meant living apart again. I promised him I’d return in two years—and I did. That HR head position in Japan gave me a huge boost in confidence, and it later helped me advance my career back in the U.S..

7. When Things Get Hard: Divorce, Custody, and End-of-Life Decisions.

This may not be an easy topic, but it’s an important one—especially for international couples navigating two systems, two cultures, and two families.

• Divorce for International Couples: Divorces involving international spouses can be legally and emotionally complex. In Japan, family court (家庭裁判所 / katei saibansho)often mediates these cases.

• Child Custody: Currently, Japan only allows sole custody after divorce. However, in May 2024, the law was revised to allow joint custody post-divorce as an option. This new system is expected to be implemented by May 2026.

While the reform is a step forward, it comes with its own concerns about implementation and safeguarding children’s well-being.

• Visa Issues After Spousal Death: If you're residing in Japan under a Spouse of Japanese National visa, and your Japanese spouse passes away, you must report the death to Immigration within 14 days. You then have up to 6 months to apply for a change in your visa status. Failure to do so may result in the requirement to leave Japan.

• Where Do You Want to Spend the Final Chapter of Life?

Here are a few questions to consider:

• Would you feel more at ease receiving end-of-life care in your home country or Japan?

• Do you prefer hospice care, home-based care, or a medical facility? What are your thoughts on life-prolonging treatments?

• Have you set up legal documentation in both countries—such as guardianship designations, wills, and inheritance plans?

• Are there cultural or family expectations around funerals, cremation, or memorial services that you want to honor?

Wrap up:

Sometimes I feel international marriage is a lot like running a business. Don’t get me wrong—I’m not saying the relationship is cold or calculated. What I mean is that, just like in business, you face one problem after another—and in international marriages, those problems can sometimes be more complex than in local ones.

But frustration and complaining haven’t helped us much. What works is gathering the right information, making decisions, and dealing with challenges head-on—just like managing a business day by day. Maybe that’s just life.

Thankfully, we’ve also met so many kind people along the way who’ve supported us. And through it all, we’ve stayed a team—partners and best friends.  

At NavigatorJapan.com, we aim to provide real-world insights to help you thrive. Whether you're navigating paperwork, choosing where to live, or simply figuring out how to make your marriage work across borders—we’re here for you.