How to rent Kimono in Japan? Taking photos in classic Japanese attire is not complicated and there are countless cool places like temples and parks.
However, not every place offers a photo shoot along with the rental or even makeup and hair production.
In this article I will tell you about our experience renting kimono in Tokyo and the results of the photos!
How to rent Kimono in Japan for 1 day and photos
We decided to rent kimono in Tokyo before even boarding the plane, as I really wanted to live this experience! lol We visited Japan in September. It was a really cool and cultural experience, as we learned about the customs and details of life with our Japanese photographer and guide.
What is a kimono?
The kimono is a traditional Japanese garment that consists of a piece of clothing with square sleeves and a rectangular body, shaped like the letter T. It is fastened in the front and tied with a wide sash called an obi.
The women’s and men’s cut of this garment are different, especially in the sleeves, where there is a small pocket in the men’s version.
There are several different types of kimono depending on the occasion and age, and in the past the marital status of the wearer was also represented.
Kimono is often worn at formal events such as weddings, funerals and religious ceremonies, but can also be worn as casual wear at informal occasions such as festivals.
The outfit is completed using some accessories such as geta (wooden sandals), tabi (socks with the big toe separated), wagasa (umbrellas made of bamboo and paper) or kasa (normal umbrellas).
What is yukata?
During the summer, the Japanese wear a yukata, a lighter garment for hotter days. The yukata is more colorful, used at fireworks festivals and in traditional lodgings called ryokan.
The word yukata originated from the composition of the words yu (bath) and katabira (underwear). In the past they were used by noble people, warriors and later they became popular.
Underneath the yukata we wear lighter white clothing. He is tied with a belt called Obi and a rope on the outside. It is a little tight and makes it a bit difficult to walk, which is why the steps are very short.
See our full experience How to rent kimono in Japan in the video below, click to watch!
Can foreigners wear kimono?
Yes, renting a kimono and wearing it is not cultural appropriation as it is formal attire or worn during summer festivals. Of course it is necessary to use it respectfully, it is not an outfit for a fancy dress party.
Kimono stores in Japan
In many cities you will find small shops to rent kimono in Japan and the most classic cities to use them are Kyoto and Tokyo.
One thing I noticed in these stores is that the quality of the fabric is not always good, not to mention the availability of prints and sizes. I saw a lot of ugly yukatas made of rather trashy fabric, you know, just picking them up made me feel hot hahaha Not to mention the prices that were a little above average for those who rent on the spot, between 7 thousand yen per person. The cheapest ones were 5 thousand, but they were ugly, so it wasn’t worth it.
One thing you need to pay attention to is that the structure of the Japanese people is different, so not all clothes fit a foreigner. Be it height, shoulder size, belly, etc.
For this reason, it is necessary to make a reservation in advance, providing all information such as measurements and even choosing the print. This way you can be sure that you will be wearing a kimono that you like to take your photos. After all, crossing half the world to get there and not wearing a nice outfit isn’t enough, right!
How to rent kimono in Japan
As I explained above, it is important to take the time to choose the print, combination of accessories and inform the correct sizes. You can waste a lot of time in a store and maybe not find something you like.
I made the reservation using this link Photo shoot and kimono rental in Tokyo. Here you choose the day and time to take your photos. It’s important to book in advance as it sells out quickly!
After booking, the owner of the place and guide contacted me via WhatsApp and sent the list of available kimono, as well as belts, hair accessories and umbrellas. This way I could combine all the colors and create the look I always dreamed of!
Japanese makeup and hairstyle
To look good in the photos, I also hired a hairdresser (in the place where I wore the kimono) to do a very traditional hairstyle and soft makeup, in the Japanese style. She even hid my gray hair lol
It was really cool because she told me some interesting facts about how Japanese women are. They are very discreet, rarely use very flashy colors and like simple but very beautiful ornaments.
This service was separate, cost 12 thousand yen and you can also hire it if you wish, just let the guide know.
Sanctuary to take photos in Tokyo
The location for the photos was taken in Yanaka Ginza, a very residential area in Tokyo and a little north of Akihabara. Although it’s not that far away, you can already see a much calmer atmosphere. It doesn’t even look like one of the biggest cities in the world.
There are some famous places such as Ueno Park, Yanaka Cemetery and Tennoji temple. You can get here using the JR Yamanote Line, JR Keihin-Tohoku Line and the Keisei Line. Taking the subway is easier with the Chiyoda Subway Line.
Our kimono experience in Japan
I did my hair and makeup an hour before the scheduled time. After that, we put on the kimono, the belts, the wooden sandals and I took an umbrella made from reused pieces of kimono (very beautiful!).
We walked about 8 minutes to the Nezu Shrine, a very beautiful place with several red gates (torii), fox statues (messenger of the gods), sacred buildings and trees. It is one of the oldest shrines in Tokyo and famous for its Azalea Festival (Tsutsuji Matsuri), held from April to early May. If you visit Japan during this time, it is definitely worth seeing! It was also considered “the most beautiful shrine in Tokyo”.
We were very happy that the day was cloudy and not too hot, as the garment is a little tighter and warmer, as it is a thicker layer of fabric.
The guide/photographer took our photos with her iPhone and already knew the best spots to take photos. She also told us several interesting facts about Japanese customs, history and details that only those who are from there know. One of them was the difference between a shrine and a temple, as well as teaching us how to make a prayer/request at a Shinto shrine.
It was a really cool experience and the photos turned out really cool. I think the light wasn’t good everywhere, so some photos were more reddish, so they had to be processed in Adobe Lightroom. Overall, I really liked the result!
I thought the rental price and the guide/photographer support were totally worth it! I highly recommend this experience.
Rent Kimono in other cities
I also found other cool activities where you can rent a kimono, some involve a traditional activity like a Japanese writing class or a Tea ceremony (the latter we did in Kyoto and it was really cool!
Check out the activities I recommend:
4 Essential Tips for Renting Kimono in Japan
1 – Don’t rent kimono during your trip, you will waste more time and may not find the print you want. Book this activity in advance to choose the print and adjust body sizes, feet, height, etc.
2 – I recommend renting kimono in mid-season like autumn and spring. We went in the summer and luckily it was less hot that day. If you travel in the summer, make your reservation in the morning.
3 – Arrive one hour before the agreed time if you want to do your hair and makeup. I think it made all the difference.
4 – If you have an iPhone, the guide sends all photos directly via AirDrop. If not, she will put it on Google Drive for you to download later. In this case, download it when using the hotel’s WiFi!
We found this experience in GetYourGuide, a platform that brings together activities with locations around the world and also sells tickets and tours! It’s a German company that I trust and always use on my trips. Now she has become a sponsor of the blog and our YouTube channel and we are very happy to share the best experiences with you!
I hope you enjoyed this article How to Rent Kimono in Japan! Leave your comment if you have any further questions and check out our other articles about this beautiful country!
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