Japanese princess bids farewell to family

A hand out photo shows Japanese Princess Sayako (R) looking at old cameras of her fiancée Yoshiki Kuroda at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on October 23. The only daughter of Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko will marry a commoner Kuroda on November 15.. PHOTO: AFP

Sayako -- clad in a traditional purple junihitoe, or ceremonial court robe, with a fan in her hand -- prayed at a temple inside the Imperial Palace that enshrines ancestors of the royal family.

The morning prayer would be Sayako's last before her wedding on Tuesday to commoner Yoshiki Kuroda, who works for the Tokyo metropolitan government.

In the afternoon, Sayako -- having changed into a white long dress -- met with her parents to exchange parting cups filled with Japanese sake, Jiji Press reported.