Closing the Distance: A Proposal in Hakone with Mount Fuji Views

If there’s one thing love is known for, it’s that it doesn’t care about distance or borders. My clients, Frencis and Nathan, are a testament to that. They had been together for three years, navigating different time zones and living in different countries.

Frencis is from the Philippines, while Nathan is from the United States. Since Nathan regularly visits Japan for work, they decided to spend a few days together there during one of his trips. Knowing they would already be in the country, he felt it was the perfect opportunity to finally ask one important question.

Unlike many of my clients, Nathan wasn’t new to Japan. He already knew he wanted to propose in Hakone before he even reached out to me. When we started discussing the details, he shared that having a view of Mount Fuji was one of his biggest priorities when choosing a location.

Of course, he also asked for my recommendations, and after discussing several options, we landed on a plan that combined two of Hakone’s most iconic sights. The proposal itself would take place at the famous torii gate by Lake Ashinoko, while the rest of the photoshoot would include a second location with views of Mount Fuji.

Hakone Shrine is one of the area's most well-known landmarks, best recognized for its striking red Torii of Peace standing along the edge of the lake.

Because of its popularity, I advised Nathan to have an early start. Crowds begin arriving quickly throughout the day, so I recommended meeting at around 6:00 a.m. He took the advice and booked a hotel near the shrine so they could get there early without relying on transportation that morning.

My associate, Aleandra Acosta, was there to photograph the proposal. To avoid raising suspicion, Nathan introduced her to Frencis as a photographer he had hired for a couples photoshoot around Hakone Shrine. What Frencis didn’t know was that the photoshoot would begin with a proposal.

She was completely surprised, and Aleandra was there to capture every moment as it unfolded.

After the proposal, Aleandra gave them a bit of time to take it all in, and then brought them to a second location where they continued the photoshoot with Mount Fuji in the background. The weather cooperated and the views were clear. Everything came together exactly as we had hoped.

The proposal shoot was a success, and seeing how happy they were with the photos made all the planning worthwhile. Moments like these are exactly why we do what we do. We’re trusted with some of the most important milestones in our clients’ lives, and it’s always an honor to be part of them.

If you’re planning a proposal, engagement, or special trip to Japan and would like your experience documented, feel free to reach out below. We'd love to help bring your vision to life.