▋"Kimono Style" Little Facts Kimono is the general term for Japanese traditional clothing. In order to correspond to the dress, it is called kimono or "clothing". The following is a brief description of the most common formal attire: fusode, furisode, and casual attire: yukata, k

▋ "Kimono Style" Tips

Kimono is the general term for Japanese traditional clothing. In order to correspond to the dress, it is called kimono or "kimono" (きもの/kimono). And yukata , kimono, furisode, komon... these are all types of kimono styles. You don't just need to choose the color you like. You also need to wear the corresponding kimono according to different occasions and seasons. The most important thing is The difference is "formal wear" and "casual wear". The following is a brief description of the most common formal attire: fusode, furisode, and casual attire: yukata, komon, and hakama.

Wearing furisode, blooming like flowers

Wearing yukata to participate in the Gion Festival

▋Selection of three kimono and yukata rental shops in Kyoto

After having a preliminary understanding of kimono styles, the next step is to get to the point: kimono experience. There are many kimono rental shops in the center of Kyoto and its suburbs. How do you choose? From now on, you don’t have to worry anymore. "Le Chigo! Japan" recommends the following three restaurants. They have good locations, good services and reasonable prices. Come and have a look!

The largest in Kyoto! "Yumekan"

Among the large number of kimono rental shops in Kyoto, Yumekan is very famous. Since its opening, about 1 million people have come here to experience kimono. The Yumekan main store on Gojo Street has a total of six floors and a total area of ​​more than 600 square meters, making it the largest in Kyoto! Every year, we launch exclusive designs of original kimonos in both cute and classic styles; we also provide 8-to-1 hairstyles, customized hairstyles, etc. for everyone to choose from.

Entrance on the first floor of our store

Dream Pavilion Photography Plan

In addition, there are many additional services, including professional makeup and well-received outdoor photography plans for major scenic spots; you can specify a photographer and choose the route to your favorite scenic spot, so you don’t have to use it again. If you don’t have a selfie stick or are worried that your traveling companions won’t be able to take photos, let a professional photographer take a beautiful photo of you. There are also photographers and shop assistants who can speak Chinese and English, making communication very easy. At the same time, the official website also provides a Traditional Chinese version, making online reservations super easy!

In recent years, Yumekan has opened a branch, "Oike Bettei", located near Kyoto International Manga Museum. Very different from the Gojo main store, Oike Bettei has an orthodox Kyo-Machiya style, and the selection and dressing process is completely comfortable. In addition, in addition to the basic 8-choose 1 hairstyle design, there are also 9 "villa exclusive" options.

Yumekan Oike Bette, traditional Kyoto machiya style

Yumekan Oike Bette

In addition to kimono rentals, Oike Bette also holds various cultural activities such as tea ceremony experiences from time to time. If you are interested, you can make reservations online. The most important thing is that you can now enjoy a 10% discount by using the coupons of "Le Chigo! Japan"! (Please note that the expiration date is October 17, 2019)

Yumekan (Gojo Main Store)

・Address: 128

, Manjuji-cho, Shimokyo-ku, Kyoto City・Business hours: 10:00～18:30 (last entry time is 17:00)

・Transportation: About 3 minutes’ walk from Exit 1 of Karasuma Line “Gojo” Station on the subway

A long-established and well-established brand! "Okamoto"

Okamoto is the first long-established store in Kyoto to provide kimono rental for sightseeing. The company is an Okamoto fabric store founded in 1830. It has a complete range of kimonos and rich colors. As soon as this rental service was launched, it quickly became popular among the public. Good reviews.

The biggest advantage of Okamoto is the location! Our store and five branches are concentrated in the area of ​​ Kiyomizu Temple and Yasaka Shrine , the first-class tourist attractions in Kyoto. After changing into your kimono, you can walk for a few minutes to Kyoto's most representative Kiyomizu Temple, Yasaka Tower and other places to take photos. As a souvenir, it is very popular among tourists from other prefectures and cities in Japan and from all over the world. Every year, an average of 200,000 people choose to come here to experience "Kimono Beauty for a Day".

Okamoto

Okamoto

Hair design only costs 500 yen

Okamoto Kimono offers about 1,000 kimonos for everyone to choose from, ranging from classic to cute styles, suitable for all ages.Okamoto is also highly praised for its hairstyling. The staff are skilled and sophisticated, but the fee is only 500 yen. The price has not increased over the years, making it the cheapest kimono rental shop in Kyoto.

レンタルきものOkamoto Main Store

・Address: 546-8 Gojobashi Higashi 6-chome, Higashiyama District, Kyoto City

・Opening hours: 09:00～20:00 (last return time is 18:30)

・Transportation: Kyoto Municipal Get off bus No. 100 or 206 at "Gojozaka" station and walk for about 5 minutes.

Win with temperament! " Dyer "

is a dyer (full name "Dyemaker") located near Kodaiji Temple Nene no Road. It is a kimono rental shop run by Kyoyuzen Dyeing Studio, which has been in business for more than 100 years. It provides kimonos regardless of Both the color and fabric look more textured, and the overall style is more dignified and elegant, which best expresses the feminine temperament of "Yamato Nadeshiko". In addition, another big advantage is the fixed price! All plans, whether it is a kimono or a yukata, include hairstyling fees and are tax-included in the package price.

Dyemaker

Ichiju Taiko Knot, elegant and beautiful

The complete set includes hair design

Comparison of three major kimono rental shops: "Yumekan", "Okamoto" and "Dyemaker"

After seeing this, do you already want to make a reservation? Let us first use the following table to quickly review and compare the features and prices of the three major kimono rental shops in Kyoto just introduced!

▋Kimono and Yukata Reservation Process Teaching

Are you excited after seeing this? After you decide on your trip to Kansai, Japan, it is recommended to make an online reservation first. Although each one is slightly different, generally speaking, you can make an appointment for a date within the next two or three months from now. The official websites of the three rental shops introduced in this article all have Chinese interfaces, which are clear at a glance and the steps are super simple and can be completed in about 5 minutes. The following is an explanation of the reservation process at Yumekan "Oike Bettei", which the reporter has personally experienced.

Step one: Make a reservation in advance

First, go to the official website and click "Reservation", then click on the date, reservation plan (select the rental plan, number of people), additional price items (hair style plan), time, payment method, contact information (mark * (All items are required), after filling in, click the "Reservation" button at the bottom. Then the content screen you just selected will appear. After confirming that it is correct, please press the "Confirm" button.

The system will automatically send a confirmation letter. At this time, you need to go to your e-mail immediately to receive the letter and click on the link in the letter to confirm, and the reservation is completed.

Step 2: Choose a kimono (yukata)

After completing the simple rental procedure at the counter, you can choose a kimono! There are hundreds of styles for you to choose from, including cute styles, gorgeous styles, and classic styles. You can also freely match it with your favorite belt. If you don’t know what to choose, the staff are professional and happy to help. The obi actually has an eye-catching effect. If you choose a contrasting color with the kimono pattern, the photo effect will be more outstanding! Of course it’s also great to choose the same color.

Choose a yukata

Choose a belt

Choose a belt with decorative rope

Step 3: Change clothes

You may have heard that when wearing a kimono, you need to use a lot of towels and tie them tightly with pillows. Over time, it will cause stomach upset. Comfortable. Actually, don’t worry too much! The dressing teachers are very professional, experienced and gentle. They will fine-tune the dressing according to each person's situation. If you want to loosen it up, of course it's no problem! I would like to remind everyone that in order to respect the privacy rights of others, photos are not allowed in the dressing room when changing clothes!

Step 4: Hair Design

The basic style here is "Choose 1 from 8". The reporter chose the No. 6 style that day, which features elegant braiding on the sides and top of the head. Hairstylists are like magicians, they are very skilled and can usually complete the job in about 20 minutes. Whether you have short, medium or long hair, you can find a hairstyle that suits you. If you are in doubt, the hairstylist and beautician will also provide professional advice.

Another thing to note is that the hair accessories in the Dream Hall are purchased at an additional price, averaging about 1,000 yen, and can be taken home after the experience. It is strongly recommended to buy it, it will add a lot of points to your photo effects.

Bettei-limited hairstyles

From left: short hair style, long hair size 6, long hair style

▋Kimono and yukata experience, recommended must-photo spots

The Kyoto-style Threenenzaka

Gion Tatsumi Bridge is a popular outdoor photoshoot all year round Attractions

Walking in a yukata in Arashiyama

Must-take photos: Kiyomizudera Temple and the surrounding areas of Gion

Kiyomizudera Temple and Yasaka Shrine are super tourist attractions in Kyoto. They are crowded with tourists all year round, especially the surrounding stone roads such as Nianninzaka and Sananninzaka. The strong ancient capital style intertwined with the shops on both sides is beautiful no matter how you take pictures. It’s just that walking on the stone path wearing a kimono and zori (geta) is difficult, and it’s hard to avoid the background of the photo being filled with passers-by. In addition, the nearby Hanamikoji and Shirakawa (Tatsumi Bridge) areas are popular spots for Japanese couples to take wedding photos. Of course, if you make a special trip to change into kimono, don’t miss it.

Photographed at Kiyomizu Temple and Jizhu Shrine

The red jade walls and lanterns at Gion Shirakawa

Although the west tower gate and dance hall of Yasaka Shrine are always crowded with tourists from all over the world and groups of students on study tours, it takes patience to wait for the aerial view, but This place is really suitable for wearing kimono and looking into the mirror. The reporter especially recommended the dance hall and the main hall. In addition, there is a "Bigozensha Shrine" dedicated to the goddess of beauty within the shrine. Just use the beauty water here and dab it on your face to keep your face radiant. Maiko and geisha from nearby will come here to pray!

Photographed at Yasaka Shrine from the right, front, and looking back.

Photographed from the right, front, and looking back at Yasaka Shrine

Photographed next to the main shrine of Yasaka Shrine

Advanced: Nanzenji Temple and Waterway Pavilion

If this is your second or more trip to Kyoto, or your second or more kimono experience, then skip the Kiyomizudera area and go to Nanzenji and Suirukaku! The Suirukaku is based on the aqueduct of the Roman era. The beautiful arched piers are a major feature. Water from Lake Biwa is introduced to Kyoto for irrigation, hydropower generation and other purposes. The slightly weathered red bricks and tiles add a touch of vicissitudes of life, which is perfect for leaving a beautiful image in a kimono.

The Suidobashi Bridge completed in the Meiji Era (1888)

Using side light to take pictures will give you a three-dimensional impression

Nanzen Temple is a "special" among all Japanese Zen temples, ranking above the Five Mountains of Kyoto and the Five Mountains of Kamakura. The grandeur and calmness of the three gates of Nanzenji Temple are very suitable for you, no matter whether your kimono is dignified and elegant or pretty and cute. Spring cherry blossoms, summer green, autumn maples, and winter snow all have different beauty throughout the year.

Nanzenji Sanmen is one of the three gates in Japan

The three gates and the green maple are very suitable for wearing kimonos

Movie scenes: Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

The Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine was built in the Nara period and is a tourist destination for foreign tourists. The most popular sightseeing spot in Kyoto, the endless Senbon Torii Gate is very spectacular. Especially when the morning light shines down, the scenery is so beautiful that it takes your breath away! This is also the stage where the male and female protagonists of the movie "Memoirs of a Geisha" and "Tomorrow, I Want to Date Yesterday's You" starring Sota Fukushi and Nana Komatsu went on a date!

Must-photographs when wearing a yukata in summer: Kamogawa , Takase River

Kamogawa is a first-class river in Kyoto. Whether it is morning, afternoon or dusk, wearing a light yukata here is the best way to take pictures of the cheerful summer style of Kyoto. . At the same time, it is also recommended to take a walk along Kiyamachi-dori Street and take pictures along the banks of the Takase River with green willows. When you are tired from walking, there are excellent coffee shops and sweet shops nearby where you can take a rest.

Kyoto summer scenery poem: Kamogawa summer bed

The most summery yukata photo location

In addition to the above attractions, the Arashiyama area is also highly recommended.It is recommended that you find a favorite kimono rental store nearby in Arashiyama, such as Wargo Arashiyama Ekimae store, change your clothes, and walk for 3 to 5 minutes to reach Togetsukyo Bridge, Bamboo Forest Trail and other representative scenic spots to take photos. Don’t worry When I got tired of playing, I had to take a ride back to the city to return the kimono.

Photography Tips

Kyoto’s temples, temples, gardens, and specific neighborhoods are antique, poetic, and perfect for photographing in kimono. Please note before taking photos that there are many places that explicitly prohibit the use of tripods, selfie sticks, flashes, or even photography (such as the Shiji Trail). Some temples, such as Kenninji Temple, the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto, also have restrictions on clothing and prohibit wearing any form of wedding dress for photography inside. In addition, it is easy to meet maiko who are going to work in the Gion area. At this time, please do not block their way or ask them to stop so that you can take pictures or take photos. Please cooperate with and abide by the above so as not to affect your enjoyment!

▋Added to the show: the practical discount app "Kimono Passport"!

Renting a kimono or yukata, plus hair styling, costs about 5,000 yen (excluding tax). Here I want to tell you about a super easy-to-use app: "Kimono Passport" (Kyoto Kimono Passport), that is, when you change into a kimono or yukata, you can visit, shop, eat, and experience tea ceremonies in these shops or facilities that cooperate with the passport activities. During the event, show your mobile phone screen during checkout to enjoy discounts or receive special gifts.

cooperates with many stores, including major hotels, art galleries, Ganwei Tea, etc. It is valid from now until September 30, 2019. Please remember to download and use it.

After reading this article, do you want to experience kimono or summer-only yukata immediately? And it’s really not difficult to make an appointment online! This summer, put on your yukata and roam around the thousand-year-old ancient capital! Make good use of the Kyoto Bus One-Day Pass and the "Kimono Passport" app to write down beautiful and shining memories of your trip to Kyoto.

☞More Japan travel guides are available on the official website of "Letsgojp Japan": https://www.letsgojp.cn