Intimate wedding in Japan. Where?

My partner and I want to get married in Japan. We aren't to picky which Provence. I just want a small, garden wedding. I was thinking we could hire out a small ryokan with a nice garden and use their facilities but I'm unable to find one suitable, can anyone think of somewhere? I need room for about 20 guests for the ceremony- they're organising their own accom. And then I want to take everyone out for a nice dinner. I'd love to get married in a park ie: yoyogi etc but I don't think that's possible?
Any ideas would be great- I'm at a loss!

Before you worry about the location (Provence by the way is a region of France. You meant that you didn't have a special Japanese prefecture in mind, didn't you?) do you mean a real marriage, according to the Japanese law, OR a ceremony that is lovely but not legally binding (and you will be married in your country, before or after the ceremony in japan).

A legal Japanese wedding is quick, not romantic, and takes place in a city office. But then you would have to follow the Japanese law re property sharing and many other things.
http://www.japan-guide.com/forum/quereadisplay.html?0+99028

http://www.japan-guide.com/forum/quereadisplay.html?0+88562

http://www.japan-guide.com/forum/quereadisplay.html?0+89443

http://www.japan-guide.com/forum/quereadisplay.html?0+63741

My guess is that the original poster is talking about a wedding "ceremony."

I don't understand what she means by "garden wedding," though. Do you just want to bring everyone together, and say your vows (without any priest/minister), and that's it?

Another difficulty I see is hiring out a ryokan, but the guests not staying over... that sounds like a bad idea for the ryokan, if you know what I mean.

I would try to find a nice hotel with wedding banquet facilities, nice places like Meguro Gajoen, Four Seasons Tokyo at Chinzanso, or Happoen (a few places that come to mind), book a banquet room, and enjoy the garden together with the guests.

As you are in Japan, I would recommend to do a Shinto ceremony. They are really special when you rent kimonos for the both of you,

Kimonos,even rental ones, are expensive and one needs to hire a person or 2 to dress the bride..
http://factsanddetails.com/japan.php?itemid=617

Shinto weddings photos:
http://www.massimilianozecca.com/2007/07/shinto-wedding.html
http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/~rfrey/Images/101/Shinto_married_couple...

Just to answer the original question, I googled with words "Wedding Party" (Hirouen) and "Japanese Garden" and these rolled out.

Fujiya Hotel (Hotel in Yamanashi)
http://www.fujiyahotel.co.jp/ja/wedding/sp_10/index.html

Chinzanso (Hotel in Tokyo)
http://hotel-chinzanso-tokyo.jp/

Oukatei (Government-owned villa/park in Tokyo)
http://www.adachiku-oukatei.jp/about/index.html

Yasui (Hotel/Restaurant in Shiga)

Yoshikawa Villege (Restaurants in Aichi)
http://www.yoshikawa-sachie.co.jp/village/index.html

RoastbeefKamakurayama (Restaurant in Kanagawa)
http://roastbeef.jp/restaurants/kamakura

Hanbe (Restaunrant in Hiroshima)
http://www.hanbe.jp/wedding.html

Sankeien (Historical Architecture in Kanagawa)
http://j-ceremony.com/index.html

Tokugawaen (Historical Architecture in Aichi)
http://www.zetton.co.jp/shop/tokugawaen/

Kokeizan Musoan (Wedding Hall converted from the Old Building in Gifu)
http://www.eco-kon.biz/gallery/47.html

This is only one I found that has English website.
Yachiyo (Hotel in Kyoto)
http://www.ryokan-yachiyo.com/wedding/

I think what the OP has in mind is a Japanese version of a European garden wedding, which doesn't really exist here in Japan.

But perhaps a ceremony at a jinja and a banquet at a "ryotei" is something close to that. The ryotei could have a view of a Japanese garden which usually do not allow people to walk around in.

Sorry I don't have any specific places in mind, but perhaps someone can post additional information.

This looks fun.
http://wedding.mynavi.jp/wedding/121/