With the autumn Shichi-Go-San season approaching, families across Japan are getting ready for the milestone celebration held for children turning 3, 5, and 7. In recent years, though, the day has often become a rushed one for families, split between kimono preparation, a hair salon, a photo studio, and a shrine visit.
In Ise, Mie Prefecture, a different approach to Shichi-Go-San is drawing attention: kimono, photography, and a shrine visit, all completed in a single day.
A Photo Studio Steps From Sarutahiko Shrine
About a one-minute walk from Sarutahiko Shrine sits torch Sarutahiko Jinja-mae, a shrine-visit photo studio. Kimono rental, dressing, hair styling, studio photography, and the shrine visit itself can all be handled in one location, reducing the amount of moving around for families with young children.
After the photo shoot, guests can walk straight to Sarutahiko Shrine while still in kimono. Ise Grand Shrine's Naiku (Inner Shrine) and the Okage Yokocho shopping street are also about a 10-minute walk away, making it possible to combine the Shichi-Go-San celebration with sightseeing in Ise.
Less Preparation, More Time Together
A child's Shichi-Go-San is a special day for the whole family, but the preparation, the salon visit, the studio session, and the shrine visit can add up to a long and busy day with a lot of movement in between.
Every family has its own way of marking the occasion — some want to take their time and make the day an elaborate one, while others simply want to celebrate together as a family, without complication.
torch Sarutahiko Jinja-mae was created for families who want to enjoy Miyamairi and Shichi-Go-San more casually, with kimono, photography, and the shrine visit completed in a single day, reducing the burden of preparation and travel so families can spend more time simply being together.
What the Plan Includes
The plan covers:
- Antique kimono rental
- Dressing
- Hair styling
- Point makeup
- Studio photography
- Photo data
- Approximately 120 minutes of shrine-visit time
- Luggage storage
Families can arrive empty-handed, get dressed and photographed at the studio, and then head straight to the shrine.
More Than a Photo — A Memory of the Whole Day
The day is not only about the studio photos. Walking the approach to the shrine in kimono, pressing hands together in prayer as a family, strolling through Okage Yokocho, and watching a child walk just a little more proudly than usual — these moments become memories of their own, beyond anything captured in a photograph.
Pricing is presented in advance and kept straightforward, with no additional charges on the day and no sales pitch after the shoot.
Staff With Childcare Experience
Every child has their own pace, whether it's an unfamiliar kimono, an unfamiliar place, shyness, or tears. torch's team includes staff with childcare (hoikushi) qualifications, who support each child through the preparation and the photo shoot at their own pace.
More Than 80 Percent of Families Return
From Miyamairi through Shichi-Go-San, the Half Coming-of-Age Ceremony, and graduation, torch has photographed families across these milestones over the years. More than 80 percent of families who use the studio are repeat customers.
What Families Say
Families who have visited shared comments such as:
"Being right in front of the shrine meant we could go straight to pray after the shoot — it was so smooth."
"Our child got fussy partway through, but the staff stayed patient and gentle the whole time, and we still came away with natural, smiling photos."
"It took us more than an hour to get here, but it was a day we're glad we made the trip for."
A Celebration for All Seasons
Shichi-Go-San isn't only an autumn occasion. In recent years, a spring pre-shoot has become popular among families who prefer to avoid the busiest crowds and shoot at a more relaxed pace.
In January, some families combine the shoot with a New Year's visit in kimono to Ise Grand Shrine or Sarutahiko Shrine. February and March suit Hinamatsuri celebrations or flower viewing in kimono. April and May bring fresh greenery, and some families arrange location shoots with a photographer around Ise Grand Shrine. Seasonal campaigns also run during the summer.
Because autumn is Shichi-Go-San season, the shrine and surrounding area get quite crowded, so more families are choosing to shoot in spring or summer instead. Kimono rental alone, without the photography plan, is also available. Families can choose the timing and style that suits them best, and enjoy Shichi-Go-San at any time of year.
A Message From torch's Representative
Tae Soeda, representative of torch LLC, shared the following:
"Shichi-Go-San is an important day to celebrate a child's growth. We want it to be a day where every child can be told, 'Congratulations.'
At the same time, for parents, the day can easily become a rushed one, moving between kimono preparation, the salon, the photo studio, and the shrine.
Every family celebrates differently. Taking the time to prepare for an elaborate Shichi-Go-San is wonderful, too. But we also believe some families simply want to keep the preparation and the travel simple, and celebrate together.
We want to be a studio that families like that can choose. What matters to us isn't a 'properly done' Shichi-Go-San, but a day where each child can be themselves — a shy smile or even a few tears are still part of what makes that day theirs.
By completing the kimono, the photography, and the shrine visit in a single day, we hope to give families a little more time together. We want to keep offering days that leave families thinking, on the way home, 'That was a good day.'"
Store Information
torch Sarutahiko Jinja-mae
Kimono photography for Miyamairi, Shichi-Go-San, the Half Coming-of-Age Ceremony, Ju-san Mairi, graduation, and other family milestones, about a one-minute walk from Sarutahiko Shrine. After the shoot, guests can walk to Sarutahiko Shrine in kimono, and Ise Grand Shrine's Naiku and Okage Yokocho are also within walking distance. Kimono rental, dressing, hair styling, photography, and the shrine visit can all be completed in a single day.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/torch.sarutahikojinjyamae/
torch Ise Jingu-mae
A small private photo studio overlooking Ise Grand Shrine, set in a retro building. Family portraits, Miyamairi, birthdays, and nursery and school entrance ceremonies can be photographed here with no waiting, in a simple, everyday style with an uncluttered background.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/torch.isejingumae?igsh=MWlnMXo0NzFrMjRhcQ%3D%3D
For International Visitors
English support is available, and visitors from overseas are welcome. Kimono rental, dressing, photography, and shrine visits in Ise, Japan can be arranged, with reservations and inquiries handled through Instagram.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/torch.sarutahikojinjyamae/
Reservations
Bookings for the 2026 autumn Shichi-Go-San season are now open. Reservations and inquiries can be made through the official LINE account: https://lin.ee/wTM9Nza
