Grand Mercure Ise-shima Resort & Spa will launch a new garden wedding plan in fall 2026, offering couples the opportunity to celebrate their special day in a stunning natural setting. The all-inclusive plan features a unique poolside ceremony at The Matoya Village within the hotel grounds, with bookings starting January 22, 2026.
Background: Addressing Regional Wedding Venue Decline
In recent years, local cities including Shima have seen a decline in wedding venues. This plan aims to create new wedding options in Ise-Shima for those born and raised in the area or those who feel a connection to the region. The plan is available during the comfortable fall season (September to November) and represents an effort to preserve and evolve the region's wedding culture for future generations.
In collaboration with FOLK FOLK, a wedding production company with the concept "Zero couples who give up on their wedding," the plan offers flexible arrangements for budget and format, making weddings more accessible to diverse couples.
Plan Overview
Booking Start Date: January 22, 2026 (Thursday)
Available Period: September 1, 2026 (Tuesday) to November 30, 2026 (Monday)
Venue: The Matoya Village Poolside, Grand Mercure Ise-shima Resort & Spa (939-6 Kasatori, Matoya, Isobe-cho, Shima City, Mie Prefecture)
Plan Price: From ¥850,000 for 20 guests
Inclusions: Accommodation in Superior Twin Room (one night before the wedding for bride and groom), ceremony venue, ceremony coordination, venue decoration, attire, hair and makeup, food and beverage, sound equipment
Guest Capacity: 20 to 60 guests
For details, visit: https://grand-mercure-iseshima-resortandspa.jp/plan/folkfolk-wedding-2026/
Key Features
1. Relaxed Poolside Ceremony with All-Inclusive Resort Experience
Grand Mercure Ise-shima Resort & Spa is a resort hotel with panoramic views of the Rias coastline. The wedding ceremony takes place at The Matoya Village poolside within the hotel grounds, in a relaxed atmosphere.
The plan includes accommodation for the bride and groom in a Superior Twin Room on the night before the ceremony, allowing them to prepare their hearts while surrounded by the magnificent nature of Ise-Shima before their important day.
Optional arrangements are available for extended stays after the ceremony or accommodation for family and friends. After the ceremony, guests can leisurely enjoy the hot springs or savor the hotel's buffet featuring local ingredients.
In the lounge, guests can enjoy free-flow drinks and spend relaxing time with loved ones while reminiscing about the ceremony, experiencing the all-inclusive resort stay.
2. FOLK FOLK's Flexible Wedding Plan Concept: "Zero Couples Who Give Up on Their Wedding"
FOLK FOLK, a wedding production company, responds to couples who wish to hold their wedding in their hometown surrounded by loved ones while also working to preserve regional wedding culture for the future. The plan is also expected to serve as a catalyst for a new "Wedding × Tourism" category for tourists who feel inspired by the Ise-Shima area.
FOLK FOLK develops wedding plans that allow each couple to shape their unique vision and plan freely.
3. Cuisine and Gifts Featuring Ise-Shima Ingredients and Resources
The garden party features cuisine utilizing ingredients and regional resources unique to Ise-Shima, expressing the blessings of sea and mountains characteristic of this region through food.
Wedding gifts feature carefully selected items unique to Ise-Shima, designed to make the "Ise-Shima wedding" memorable and meaningful for guests. The selection includes katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes) long cherished as a symbol of good fortune, aromatic aosa (green laver) products nurtured by the sea, and NARUMI porcelain made at the Shima factory - items that evoke memories of the ceremony each time they are used in daily life. These gifts are chosen to quietly pass on the story of "a wedding held in Ise-Shima" while fitting naturally into guests' lives.
About FOLK FOLK
FOLK FOLK is a company based in Ise City specializing in wedding production under the concept "Zero couples who give up on their wedding." They excel at creating free and natural weddings that value each bride and groom's feelings and background without being bound by formalities or customs. They work to redefine weddings as deeply memorable life experiences while creating new wedding culture in collaboration with the region, utilizing local landscapes, culture, and food.
Location: 1784-4 Kanda Kushibon-cho, Ise City, Mie Prefecture 516-0016
TEL: 0596-63-6565
Access: Approximately 3 minutes by car from Kintetsu Ujiyamada Station
Official Website: https://www.folkfolk.jp
Comment from FOLK FOLK Representative Michiya Higashiyama
"A wedding is a special moment, but it doesn't necessarily need to be solemn. However, 'where, with whom, and how you pledge' will deeply remain in your life. While many couples give up on weddings due to budget or value differences, we want to make that number zero. That's why we created this new collaborative plan. Pledging in your hometown, surrounded by loved ones, or traveling to a region you love and making your pledge with important people - these acts themselves are a blessing to the region and an act of creating the next culture."
About Grand Mercure Ise-shima Resort & Spa
Grand Mercure Ise-shima Resort & Spa is located in Ise-Shima National Park and offers a relaxing all-inclusive stay while overlooking the scenic Rias coastline. Based on the concept of "terroir," especially in breakfast and dinner buffets, the hotel provides menus using local ingredients, welcoming guests with a "unique to this place" stay experience.
Location: 939-6 Kasatori, Matoya, Isobe-cho, Shima City, Mie Prefecture 517-0204
TEL: 03-6627-4731 (Reservation Center)
Access: Approximately 15 minutes by car from Kintetsu Ugata Station. Free shuttle bus operates between Ugata Station and the hotel.
Official Website: https://grand-mercure-iseshima-resortandspa.jp/
About Grand Mercure
Grand Mercure is a premium brand that provides attractive hotel experiences appealing to travelers' imagination and insatiable spirit of discovery. Launched in the Asia-Pacific region approximately 20 years ago, the brand now operates about 80 hotels worldwide, blending with local culture and traditions. Flagship hotels include Grand Mercure Mysore in India, Grand Mercure Belém do Pará in Brazil, and Grand Mercure Rio de Janeiro Riocentro in Brazil. Under the concept "Proudly Local," the brand proposes stays where guests can deeply immerse themselves in local culture and customs through the five senses, including locally symbolic scents permeating the facilities and dining experiences using local ingredients. Grand Mercure is part of Accor, a world-leading hospitality group operating over 5,700 facilities in more than 110 countries, and is a participating brand in ALL, a lifestyle loyalty program offering various benefits, services, and experiences.
About Accor
Based in Paris, France, Accor is a leading hospitality group operating over 5,700 hotels and residences, and over 10,000 restaurants and bar facilities in 110 countries worldwide. From luxury to economy, the group encompasses approximately 45 hotel brands and extends into the lifestyle sector with Ennismore, developing the industry's most diverse and fully integrated ecosystem. ALL is a booking platform and loyalty program that provides members with unique experiences promised by the Accor Group during stays and beyond. The group also focuses on driving positive action through business ethics, responsible tourism, sustainable environmental protection, community engagement, diversity, and inclusion. Founded in 1967, Accor is headquartered in France and listed on Euronext Paris (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and OTC markets (ticker: ACCYY). For details, visit https://group.accor.com.
Information is current as of January 22, 2026.
All photos are for illustrative purposes.
