Travelling to new and exciting places means more than just taking a holiday—it also beckons us to step outside our comfort zones to fully immerse ourselves in different cultures. Sometimes this can be challenging, like trying exotic foods we don’t usually eat, and at other times it might be a fresh experience that we feel honoured to participate in.
Interested in learning more about Japanese culture?
One simple yet beautiful way to learn more about Japanese culture is to don a kimono and explore the sights in it. By taking the time to hire a kimono, you will be fitted and appropriately dressed; each drape, fold, and tie will be executed precisely according to the way it is supposed to be worn.
We’ve done the hard work, found the best places to hire a kimono in Japan, and pinpointed an Insta-ready location to take your picture in. You’re welcome.
Can tourists wear kimonos in Japan?
Yes, tourists can hire and wear kimonos in Japan. Locals don’t mind when foreigners wear one (some are even amused when they see tourists donning them!). However, like in any other culture, there are rules to mind while wearing one:
- Kimonos are considered formal wear, while the yukata is an informal and lighter version of the kimono.
- Make sure the left side wraps over the right side. The other way around is reserved for those who passed away.
- Wear the knot of the obi (belt) on the back, not the front!
- Don’t forget to wear an undergarment or the nagajuban before the kimono.
- Wear white socks when wearing a kimono in Japan. Bare feet = not allowed.
Here are more do’s and don’ts you should know before going to Japan!
1. Tokyo
Explore the heart of Tokyo — Shibuya
As you can imagine in a big city like Tokyo, there are heaps of places to dress up in a whole range of costumes and traditional dress. Most places will require you to take your own photos which might be a struggle if you want an IG-perfect photo but aren’t travelling with anyone who’s good with a camera.
Renting a Kimono is easy on Klook!
VASARA's in Tokyo is perfect for getting an iconic shot in the middle of the scramble in Shibuya. Look glamarous and stand-out in a bright Kimono on the crossing as passersby surround you from all angles. The store has a wonderful selection of modern and traditional Kimonos, in every size and colour. The hair designers are professionals and you can select from a wide variety of styles for both short and long hair.
You'll be amazed at the amount of steps that go into the dressing of a Kimono, plus all the bits and bobs! Underobes, ties, hair pins will not be a miss! It is a little tricky to find (the best spots always up a few levels in Tokyo, not eye-level!) - so look out for the Ippei Building first and then head up to floor 5!
Rent your Kimono now and show it to your friends!
Alternatively, going for a walking tour too can be a good option for a different backdrop. Your professional photographer will take you to all the prettiest shrines, gardens, and coolest streets so that you can pose up a storm and have fabulous photos to take home (or post on social media) to remember your time in Tokyo.
Insta-worthy moment: Any manicured garden or carefully restored temple creates the perfect backdrop, and Tokyo is full of them. If you or someone you are travelling with is a camera wiz, you can just as quickly hire a kimono in Japan without booking a photography package.
2. Osaka
This diverse city provides lots of photo ops.
Osaka is a modern city with ancient roots. The area of Hozenji-Yokocho has an old-timey feel, with cobbled streets and buildings complete with original facades that will meld beautifully in the backdrop.
Alternatively, the bustling city, skyscrapers and bright lights will juxtapose stunningly against the traditional outfit you are dressed in, creating the kind of sartorial moment you would only find on the pages of Vogue.
Insta-worthy moment: The undeniably Japanese cityscape featuring a blurred, swarming crowd, and bright lights in the background (with you perfectly in focus in the foreground).
3. Ishikawa
Choose from dozens of different kimonos
Hiring a kimono doesn’t just mean slipping on a robe; you will be provided with the whole kit, including socks, undershirt, obi and sandals and assisted in dressing so that you look the part.
Think only the ladies get their fun wearing a kimono in Japan? In the coastal area of Ishikawa, men, women and children can all experience this tradition. VASARA in the capital Kanazawa has different offerings available to suit gender preferences!
Insta-worthy moment: With its patchwork-like rock walls and historical sentimentality, Kanazawa creates an interesting backdrop and another cultural experience not to be missed.
4. Kyoto
The deer at Nara Park will come right up to you
If you are visiting Kyoto, you must add a day trip to Nara Park to your itinerary. Nara is home to other attractions, including the Nara National Museum and Todaji, a temple constructed in 752 (it’s been here for more than a thousand years!). Nara is approximately one hour from Kyoto by train, which means you have lots of time left in your day to explore.
The star attraction, however, is definitely Nara Park, home to at least 1,000 deer who have grown accustomed to human visitors and are pleased to greet them for gentle pats and food. You can even book a tour that comes with a kimono package, so you can go around wearing traditional clothes.
Insta-worthy moment: You’re in a park that’s full of friendly deer. What *isn’t* an insta-worthy moment in this situation?
5. Hokkaido
A unique opportunity to learn a traditional instrument
Experience a total culture immersion when you learn to play the koto (the Japanese harp) as part of your Hokkaido kimono experience! Even the most musically challenged can have a crack at it.
In this experience, you will be taught a traditional song about another discernibly Japanese icon, the cherry blossom, once you have been fitted for your chosen kimono. Who knows, the power of looking so gorgeous might even give you the confidence to pick this new instrument up quickly. You’ll be putting on performances for your friends in no time.
Insta-worthy moment: Obviously, it’s a candid of you, looking stunning in your rented kimono, casually playing the koto as if this isn’t the first time you’ve ever seen one.
6. Okinawa
Learn the differences between the kimonos
The kimonos worn in Japan’s Okinawa differ from those traditionally found in mainland Japan. While both styles of kimono act as a palette for intricate patterns made up of vibrant colours, the kimonos in Okinawa tend to be even bolder, have a sort of tropical flare, and are considered to be a more formal traditional dress.
A ryusou kimono in Okinawa will have large, open sleeves for the sea breeze to flow through. The fabric is generally thinner and made from the fibres of bashofu, a local plant.
Insta-worthy moment: Wander around Naha, a city with a distinctly different ambience from other areas of Japan you would have visited. This place has a tropical feel, so you are bound to grab some unusual shots not typically taken by those visiting places like Tokyo or Osaka.
7. Hiroshima
Immerse yourself in Japanese culture.
Did you know you can join a matcha tea ceremony while dressed in a kimono? You can enrich your knowledge of Japanese culture by joining a traditional tea ceremony in Hiroshima. Children from the age of six and up can also attend and it’s a fabulous way to introduce them to principles of patience and discipline.
A tea ceremony is a very special experience that, as a traveller, really can’t be replicated back home and is just so soothing for the soul. It’s safe to say we could all use a warm hug from the inside right now and there is no doubt that while visiting this city you will be reflecting on the major tragedy that took place here during World War II. This makes for an even more compelling reason to take some time to just be.
Insta-worthy moment: A totally blissed-out shot of you and your friends at peace and drinking tea. Did someone say perfection?
8. Fukuoka
A relaxing three-kilometre ride down the Yanagawa River
Picture it: you, your partner or friends and even your children all kitted out in kimonos and cruising down the Yanagawa River, taking in the sights. Dreamy, huh? Well, this dream could become a reality in Fukuoka.
Splendid all year round but charming in the spring (March to May) thanks to the cherry blossoms, this area is considered Japan’s version of Venice, with narrow waterways infusing the city with a romantic charm. If there’s anything more picturesque than being guided through the canals on a gondola while you sit back looking extra gorgeous in your kimono, we wanna know about it!
Insta-worthy moment: Just before or after you pass Yaemon Bridge, a sweet little wooden bridge that could be straight out of Monet’s Garden.
9. Kumamoto
Kimono rentals are available for the whole family.
Kumamoto is most famous for its castle, which was built almost 600 years ago. Under these circumstances, it’s only fitting that you would take this opportunity to dress like royalty, pretend you’re a princess and pose up a storm.
Complete your Japan bucket list by renting a kimono in Kisamekyo Kimono. Let its team style you from head to toe—even assist you in tucking your hair into a tight, neat bun! They even have a quaint studio inside, so you can have a mini photoshoot before going out.
Insta-worthy moment: It’s not just women who can enjoy this experience. In Kumamoto, kimono rental is available to men, women, and children from the age of three and up—imagine the family photos!
10. Tokyo… yes again!
You will have access to a professional team!
Yes, we already gave you one suggestion for renting a kimono in Japan’s capital Tokyo. Still, there’s no harm in giving you one more, right?. This one is a bit more special—it gives you the spotlight to pose as much as you want as if for a magazine centrefold!
That’s right, at Nanairo Studio, you can play supermodel for the day, complete with a personal stylist, makeup artist, and hairdresser. Get ready to look fine as hell before you ham it up for the cameras, pose with some props and get. that. shot.
If you are always the one taking photos of others, now is your time to shine. Not only will you have loads of fun being made over by pros, but you will also go home with digital copies of all the photos from the day.
Updated by: Elle David
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