Studio Mario

Studio Mario (スタジオマリオ) is a Japanese children's photo studio chain operated by Kitamura Co., Ltd., the company behind the well-known camera and photo retail brand "Camera no Kitamura." The chain provides photography services for milestone events in family life, with a strong emphasis on children's ceremonies such as Shichi-Go-San (seven-five-three), Omiyamairi (first shrine visit), and Okuizome (first meal celebration), as well as maternity, family, coming-of-age, and other commemorative shoots. According to its official website, Studio Mario has served more than 4 million children cumulatively between April 2009 and June 2025, and it positions itself as a photo studio chosen by mothers across Japan. The studio differentiates itself through a combination of accessible pricing and family-friendly service. Its official site advertises a shooting base fee of 5,500 yen (tax included) plus product costs, with no additional charges on weekends and holidays, no costume fees, unlimited costume changes, free sibling photography and costumes, and no cancellation fees. It offers both single-item products and set packages, with examples ranging from a 13,200 yen single-item product to set plans priced at 49,800 yen and 79,800 yen. The brand also runs seasonal campaigns, such as half-price base fees for Shichi-Go-San and Omiyamairi shoots, and limited character collaboration shoots. Studio Mario is known for its extensive costume selection, including kimonos finished by Kyoto artisans, and for styling coordination tailored to children, with roughly 2,000 styling variations according to Japanese Wikipedia. Because it is operated by Kitamura, a specialist photo retailer, it emphasizes high-quality photo printing. Some Studio Mario locations are co-located with Camera no Kitamura stores, and the brand has used a unified store logo. The chain has also engaged in character collaborations, including with NHK E-TV's "Inai Inai Baa!" and, in the past, limited collaborations with the TV anime "Beast Saga" and "Doki Doki! Precure." As of April 2022, Studio Mario operated 370 stores nationwide from Hokkaido to Okinawa, according to Japanese Wikipedia; a store list dated May 3, 2022 counted 364 stores. The chain's broad national footprint and focus on family milestones make it a significant player in Japan's commemorative photography market.

Studio Mario is a children's photo studio chain operated by Kitamura Co., Ltd., the Japanese company known for the "Camera no Kitamura" photo retail brand. The chain was developed as a service brand within Kitamura's photo business, leveraging the parent company's expertise in photo printing and retail. According to the official website, Studio Mario has served more than 4 million children cumulatively from April 2009 to June 2025, indicating that the brand's large-scale operations were well established by the early 2010s. Japanese Wikipedia states that as of April 2022, Studio Mario operated 370 stores nationwide from Hokkaido to Okinawa. A store list dated May 3, 2022 counted 364 stores, distributed across regions: 9 in Hokkaido, 26 in Tohoku, 106 in Kanto, 78 in Chubu, 56 in Kinki, 27 in Chugoku, 16 in Shikoku, and 46 in Kyushu. This broad footprint made it one of Japan's largest children's photo studio chains. The brand has emphasized costume quality and styling. According to Japanese Wikipedia, it offers costumes finished by Kyoto artisans and provides about 2,000 styling variations tailored to children. It also highlights high-quality printing from Camera no Kitamura. Some Studio Mario locations are co-located with Camera no Kitamura stores, and the brand has unified its store branding with a new logo. Studio Mario has engaged in character collaborations, including with NHK E-TV's "Inai Inai Baa!" and, in the past, limited collaborations with the TV anime "Beast Saga" and "Doki Doki! Precure." These collaborations reflect its strategy of appealing to families with young children through popular characters. On its official website, Studio Mario promotes seasonal campaigns such as half-price base fees for Shichi-Go-San and Omiyamairi shoots, and limited character shoots. It also posts important notices, including support for photo and album restoration following the Reiwa 8 Kumamoto Earthquake, and announcements about revisions to shooting base fees and product prices. The brand continues to operate as a major nationwide children's photo studio chain under Kitamura.

• Cumulative child photography service begins to be counted from April 2009.

• As of April 2022, Studio Mario operates 370 stores nationwide from Hokkaido to Okinawa.

• A store list dated May 3, 2022 counts 364 stores across Japan.

• Cumulative child photography service reaches over 4 million by June 2025.

A family-friendly, nationwide children's photo studio chain offering accessible pricing, extensive costumes, and high-quality prints backed by Camera no Kitamura.

• Shichi-Go-San photography

  Photography for the seven-five-three festival, with kimono rental and styling.

• Omiyamairi photography

  First shrine visit photography with free baby kimono rental.

• Okuizome photography

  First meal celebration photography.

• Maternity photography

  Photography for expectant mothers.

• Family photography

  Photography for families, with no additional charge for siblings.

• Coming-of-age ceremony photography

  Photography for coming-of-age celebrations.

• Profile and promotional photography

  Photography for profiles and promotional materials.

1. 1写真館・フォトスタジオ【スタジオマリオ】七五三やお宮参りの撮影はこども写真館studio-mario.jp
2. 2スタジオマリオ - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org
3. 3Studio Mario - Wikidatawikidata.org