From the outside, Estación de Kobe appears to be a tall, fairytale castle. Inside is even more enchanting. To most foreigners, this seems like a beautiful yet uncharacteristic venue for a traditional Japanese wedding. Historically, these are Shinto ceremonies performed at a shrine because about 80% of Japanese participate in Shinto practices. The groom wears a hakama beneath a black kimono jacket and the bride dresses in an embroidered silk shiromuku. However, since the 1980s, about 75% of weddings in Japan follow Western customs – including wearing a tux and wedding dress – conducted in a chapel or wedding hall.
