“2025 Latest Edition | The average cost of a family funeral and how to choose a funeral home without making a mistake. A complete guide from 24-hour funeral parlors for emergencies to digital funerals.”

■ Funeral costs rise 18% in three years – Latest market situation

According to a 2025 survey by the Japan Funeral Culture Association, the average funeral cost will be 980,000 yen (up 5.2% from the previous year). Demand for “direct funerals” is increasing sharply, especially in urban areas, and in some cases costs can be reduced by 62% compared to traditional funerals. Of note is the rise of “digital funeral platforms” that utilize AI, and a new type of service that allows relatives in distant locations to attend using AR is popular among younger generations.

▼ Funeral cost comparison by major area (as of March 2025) ▼

■ Five major criteria for choosing a funeral home that will not disappoint you

  1. Transparency : Obligation to disclose detailed expense information by item (Funeral Law revision to take effect in April 2025)
  2. Emergency response : Can ceremonies be carried out within 48 hours of placing the body?
  3. IT equipment : Online condolence system and digital guest book available
  4. Additional costs : Are posthumous name fees and hearse fees included in the basic fee?
  5. Environmental considerations : Recycling rate of Buddhist flowers and measures to reduce CO2 emissions during cremation

▼ Comparison of major funeral home services ▼

■ 7 money-saving tips that you’ll lose out on if you don’t know

  1. Time zone discount : Up to 30% off for crematorium use from 5 to 7 am
  2. Pre-death contract : Apply before age 60 to freeze expenses forever
  3. Utilization of local governments : Maximum subsidy of 200,000 yen for joining mutual aid associations in Tokyo 23 wards
  4. Digitalization : Eliminating paper invitations saves 50,000 yen
  5. Buddhist altar equipment rental : Choose the joint type rather than the main tablet
  6. Music copyright : Limit the songs played to those not registered with JASRAC
  7. Mutual aid plan : Group contract discount for multiple families

2025 Trend Alert :

As the demand for “digital memorial portraits” surges, there have been many cases of unscrupulous businesses using AI to process past SNS photos and charge high prices. The key to identifying a reputable business is whether or not it has a certification mark from the Japan Digital Funeral Association (JDMA). In addition, for fraudulent services that claim to be “eco funerals” but actually use regular cremation, it is essential to check for “Green Funeral Certification” issued by the Ministry of the Environment.

■ Correct procedure flow in case of emergency

  1. Death confirmation (0-1 hour): Family doctor or 24-hour house call service
  2. Temporary resettlement (1-3 hours): Self-contained cold room management and cold storage resettlement facilities.
  3. Selecting a funeral service provider (3-6 hours): Use the local government’s emergency funeral support hotline
  4. Procedures (6-24 hours): Submitting a death notification and obtaining a cremation permit
  5. Ceremony implementation (24-48 hours): Notify attendees via digital notification

Expert advice :”To prevent the recent increase in ‘lonely funerals’, major funeral parlours are offering services that use AI to analyse the networks of bereaved families. Systems that automatically extract relatives who are often overlooked from social media connections and resident registration data are attracting attention. Also, if you register your funeral wishes in advance using an end-of-life planning app, you can ensure that the process goes smoothly even if it is sudden.”