Kimono rental in Kyoto and Tokyo: prices and what to know

Renting a kimono for a day is one of the most popular things to do in Kyoto and in Tokyo's Asakusa district, and it is easy to arrange: you choose a kimono in the morning, staff dress you in it, and you spend the day walking temples and old streets before returning it in the evening. Plenty of Japanese visitors do the same. Here is what it costs, what you get, and what to know so the day is comfortable. For everyday clothes, see our guide to what to wear in Japan.

Basic plan

¥3–5k

With hair

¥5–7k

Summer

Yukata

Wrap

Left over right

How kimono rental works

1. Book a plan online, usually for a morning slot. Most shops are close to the main sights, such as Kiyomizu-dera and Gion in Kyoto or Senso-ji in Asakusa.
2. Arrive in light, thin clothes. You choose a kimono and an obi sash from the shop's racks; the choice is usually bigger at the start of the day.
3. Staff dress you, which takes longer for a full kimono than for a yukata. If you booked hair styling, that comes next.
4. Leave your own clothes and bags at the shop, and take only the small bag that comes with the plan.
5. Spend the day sightseeing, then return the kimono by the shop's closing time, usually the same evening. Some shops offer a next-day return for an extra fee.

What's included and what it costs

Online prices are often cheaper than walk-in prices, and some shops discount early bookings. Add-ons such as lace collars, a haori jacket, a parasol or a photographer are charged separately, so read the plan carefully before you choose. Tokyo prices in Asakusa are broadly similar.

Kimono or yukata?

A kimono is layered, with an under-kimono beneath the outer robe, and it is the classic choice for spring, autumn and winter. A yukata is a single layer of cotton, worn over light underwear, and it is the casual summer version you will see at festivals and fireworks. In July and August most rental shops switch to yukata, and you should too: a full kimono in Kyoto's summer heat is very hot. In winter, shops add warmer under-layers and a shawl or haori jacket.

What to wear under a rental kimono

Wear thin, close-fitting clothes that will not show at the neck or sleeves: a camisole or a thin vest top with a low or wide neckline and a pair of thin leggings or shorts work well, and they also protect the rental clothes from sweat. Avoid high-necked tops, thick fabrics and anything with a hood. Wear or bring socks you are happy to change out of, as the shop provides split-toe tabi socks for the sandals. For a kimono, the shop dresses you in its own under-kimono; for a yukata, what you arrive in is what you wear underneath.

Where to rent and where to walk

Kyoto

The Higashiyama area is the classic route: the slopes of Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka up to Kiyomizu-dera, then down past Yasaka Shrine into Gion, all within walking distance and full of rental shops. Arashiyama, with its bamboo grove and riverside, is a good alternative in the west of the city. Both are very busy in spring blossom and autumn leaf season, so start early.

Tokyo

Asakusa is Tokyo's kimono district. Shops cluster around Senso-ji temple, and the temple, the Nakamise shopping street and the old lanes around them make a natural route for the day. Osaka also has rental shops, but most visitors rent in Kyoto or Asakusa, where the setting suits the clothes best.

Left over right: the one rule that matters

A kimono or yukata is always wrapped with the left side over the right on the living. From the wearer's point of view, you fold the right panel across your body first and lay the left panel over it, so the collar forms the shape of a lowercase y when someone looks at you. The reverse, right over left, is how the dead are dressed for burial, and getting it wrong is a real faux pas. The shop's dressers will always do it correctly; it matters if you ever adjust your kimono yourself, or put on the yukata provided in a ryokan.

Tips for a day in kimono

• Take small steps. The kimono is narrow at the hem and zori sandals take getting used to, so leave more time than usual between sights.
• Hold your sleeves when you reach for something, wash your hands or eat, so they do not trail across the table.
• Lift the hem slightly on steps and stairs, and take temple stairs slowly.
• Plan toilet stops: it is easier in a larger, Western-style cubicle, and some people ask staff for a quick tip before leaving the shop.
• Check the weather. Rain can damage the fabric and sandals, and some shops let you change your booking if heavy rain is forecast.
• Note the return time and the shop's location before you set off; late returns can cost extra.

Is it respectful to wear a kimono as a tourist?

Yes, for the vast majority of people in Japan. Kimono rental is a business run by Japanese companies for both Japanese and foreign visitors, and seeing visitors enjoying traditional dress is generally welcomed in Kyoto and Asakusa. Wear it with care: let the dressers put it on properly, keep it clean, and behave as you would at the temples you are visiting.

Kimono rental for men

Every major shop has plans for men, with a darker, simpler kimono and an obi worn lower on the hips, and many offer a hakama, the pleated trousers worn over the kimono, as an upgrade. Couple plans and family plans with children's sizes are common, so it is easy to dress up together.