Marriage and spouse visa questions

[butters]

let me explain my situation. About 2 years ago I met a girl while I was studying in Japan, and recently we got engaged to be married. We haven't set a date yet, but we're thinking about late fall. Right now I live in Holland (I returned after my student visa expired a few months ago) and my future wife lives in Japan. Basically, what we haven't decided is where to get married.
Would it be easier to get married here in Holland, then register our marriage at the embassy and apply for my visa at the embassy, or would it be easier for me to go to Japan on a tourist visa, get married, and apply for a spouse visa there? Is the latter even possible, as I remember reading somewhere that it's not possible to change from a temporary visitor's visa to another type inside Japan.

I appreciate any advice you guys have for me!

 

[Glenski]

It is most certainly possible to change visa types within Japan. As for getting married here, it is a terribly simple matter. Takes 10 minutes at city hall after you and she provide the necessary documents (also quite simple). She needs to provide a copy of her koseki (family register), and you probably need to provide some sort of document from your embassy confirming/swearing that you are currently single (check with your embassy). That, plus signatures from 2 witnesses, and you are in. You don't even get a marriage license unless you want to pay extra for it.

Ceremonies are the expensive thing, and you don't need one, but if you want one, that's a whole different ball game.

Once you are married, go to immigration and fill out the forms. You may have to provide a few photos of the two of you together, and perhaps the paperwork is longer for some now (just for security sake), but it's pretty straightforward. Even if you both are not working, you can get her parents to sign as guarantor, and you will probably get the spouse visa in 3-4 weeks.