If you have read our other post, you would know that we love dressing up! Beside Korea, Japan is also another very popular place to play dress up.

Kimono is a traditional Japanese garment. The word itself means “thing to wear” and kimono is worn during important festivals or formal occasions. There are many layers to a kimono and putting it on is an art form in itself. Kimono for women is secured with a sash known as obi and is often tied as a decorative bow at the back.

We were in Kyoto for a few days with our family around mother’s day which happened to be around the same time as my mum’s 60^th birthday. My mum had always dreamt of wearing a kimono in Japan since she was young and it was such a joy to make her dreams come true!

KYOTO YUMEYAKATA

We got our kimono from Yumeyakata which is one of the most popular kimono rental stores in Kyoto. The store is a 2 minute walk from Gojo Station (exit 1). The store front is large and very easy to find. For more information on how to get to there, click HERE.

Store address: 128, Manjujicho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Japan

PROCESS

I recommend making a booking online via their website before you go because it is a very popular store and you are not guaranteed a rental if you just turn up on the day.

When you get to the store, you will be greeted at the door and invited to choose a kimono. They have a massive collection of kimono of many types and colours. After choosing your kimono, you will choose an obi belt. Staffs are always on hand to help you match your obi to your garment.

You will then be taken to have your kimono fitted by a professional dresser. The process is intricate and actually very fascinating! Mum and I had our own private dressing room!

The store also offers makeup and hair styling service which we opted for. We wanted to look our best when dressed in our beautiful kimono! Hair and makeup was done very swiftly by professional makeup artists. Mum and I loved our makeover!

After our transformation, we met up with the men who were dressed in their kimono, patiently waiting for us.

Yumeyakata also offers studio photography and location photography services. A professional photographer took us all on a taxi to Gion, a nearby geisha district. We spent about an hour having our photos taken.

PREGNANCY AND KIMONO

You can rent a kimono for the whole day but because I was 4 months pregnant at the time, we only had it for the morning. It is sometimes not recommended for pregnant women to wear a kimono because the obi belt can be very restrictive. So if you are pregnant and you are thinking of renting a kimono, you do so at your own risk.

My professional dresser was aware that I was pregnant so she made sure that my belt was not tied too tightly. However, it was still a snug fit because it needed to hold my kimono together.

After wearing the kimono for a few hours, it started to feel a little uncomfortable. I am used to wearing more loose fitted clothes during my pregnancy so we decided to call it a day after the photo shoot.

OUR THOUGHTS

We had such an amazing and memorable time. We were so glad that our parents could join us and we have photos that we can cherish forever.

The store can get a little crowded first thing if the morning, so if you can, you might want to go a little later during the day.

We highly recommend getting your hair styled and makeup done because that can really enhance your photos. Plus, who doesn’t enjoy getting pampered?

Our experience with the photographer was wonderful! She was so professional and friendly. We all felt very comfortable posing in front of the camera. She gave clear instructions and was able to find the most amazing backdrops for our photos.

Our photos were simply amazing! We received over 200 photos few days after our shoot and they were all of amazing quality. We loved them so much we even had a photo book made and some photos blown up and framed

Thank you Yumeyakata for this amazing experience! It was definitely one of the best things we did in Japan. For pricing details, please check their website for the latest promotions and offers!

We hope you enjoy the photos!

RENT YOUR KIMONO HERE!

** Disclaimer: Our kimono rental was complementary for the purpose of this review. However, all opinions are our own.**