When in Kyoto, Japan, wearing a kimono is a must-do experience!* Three kimono rental shops reviewed

Text & Photos byAnnie

I’ve always believed that every time I visit Kyoto, I should wear a kimono. After ten trips to Kyoto, I ended up wearing a kimono six times and a yukata once (the yukata article is still a work in progress...) Most Taiwanese tourists opt for kimono rental services from either Senshokukan or Okamoto, but I personally don’t care much for Okamoto’s fabric patterns and overall vibe, so I never chose them during those six kimono experiences. Out of these six times, I went with Senshokukan twice, Yume Kyoto once, and Yumeya three times (because it was the most affordable)

Below is a brief comparison of the three shops (prices have been updated after the consumption tax increase in April 2014; the table below reflects the corrected prices)

1) Senshokukan Kitamura
Official Website: http://www.sensho-kitamura.jp/
My first kimono experience in Kyoto was with Senshokukan. Since their main business is making kimonos, the fabric feels very comfortable, and wearing their kimonos truly gives you an authentic kimono feel. Senshokukan is run by a few elderly ladies, which sets it apart from larger, more commercial kimono shops. Their staff isn’t as abundant, so during peak seasons, it’s best to book early. One reason I really like Senshokukan is because the ladies are so warm and lovely—sometimes they even throw in a few Taiwanese phrases since they get many Taiwanese visitors. During the kimono dressing process, they chat with you a lot, and one of the ladies even taught me how to say “thank you” in the Kansai dialect: おおきに.

This was my first time wearing a kimono. I was so young back then (sigh), and that was also the heaviest I’ve ever weighed in my life. But kimonos are truly magical—they made me look nowhere near as heavy as I actually was.

A group photo with these adorable ladies. Thank you so much.

2) Yume Kyoto
Official Website: http://www.yumekyoto-kimono.com/access.html
The reason I didn’t go back to Senshokukan for my second Kyoto trip was because my schedule was tighter that time, and I wanted to find a shop with the earliest opening hours. After some searching, I found Yume Kyoto, which opens at 9 AM right in front of Yasaka Shrine. At the time, I couldn’t find any reviews from Taiwanese visitors about their experience there, but I decided to book anyway. Yume Kyoto’s website lists various kimono rental packages at different price points, with options varying accordingly. In the end, I chose the most expensive package and also paid an extra 1500 Q... (the rest is cut off)... which resulted in a very satisfying outcome. Because it was my first time visiting Kyoto in spring, and my friends and I had a special collaboration with a hotel, we also had a group photo session. The photos turned out quite nice. However, the socks I wore underneath were a bit visible due to the wind, which was a bit embarrassing.

Spending 1500 Q on the photo package was definitely worth it.

For my third kimono experience, I went back to the ladies at Senshokukan. My review is here: [Kyoto Stroll] Senshokukan Kimono Experience. This was also the only time I wore a kimono in summer. Despite Kyoto being unbearably hot at the time, I insisted on wearing a kimono instead of a yukata. As a result, I only lasted three hours before I got too hot to bear.

Whenever you wear a kimono, people will often take pictures of you. While the ladies were taking my photo, a Korean tourist asked for directions, so they took a group photo with us too. My smile looks pretty awkward in that photo, huh.

3) Yumeya
Official Website: http://www.yumeyakata.com/kimono/
Review: [Kyoto Stroll] Yumeya Kimono Experience. My fourth kimono experience was with Yumeya. I booked them because I found out online that they were offering a half-price discount on kimono rentals. Later, I realized this half-price deal seemed to be ongoing, so I ended up going to Yumeya for several of my subsequent kimono experiences.

January 15, 2014: Yumeya moved to a new location, just nearby their original shop.

My fifth kimono experience was during last year’s cherry blossom season. Unfortunately, that day also brought a sudden spring storm.

The strong winds messed up my hair completely.

Just look at how my socks are peeking out—you can tell how windy it was that day.

For my sixth kimono experience, I decided to go just two days prior, and that day happened to be the Bean-Throwing Festival (Setsubun). I was worried Senshokukan might be fully booked, so I booked Yumeya again. This time, I also wore makeup for the first time while wearing a kimono, so compared to previous times, I think the photos came out a bit better.

In total, these six kimono experiences cost me almost 30,000 Q. That amount could’ve bought me a plane ticket to somewhere else (though probably just enough for one ticket), but each time I spent the money, I got to wear a different style of kimono, so I’ll definitely keep doing it.

Annie @ Travel, Food & Play
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