Journal · Kyoto
Renting a kimono in Japan: what we learned, and why I'd pay extra for silk
We rented kimono twice, on two different days in two different places. Here's how rentals work, what time and walking to expect, and the one lesson I'd pass on: pay extra for real silk.
Joanna and I rented kimono twice in Japan, on two different days in two different places. One was Rental Kimono Okamoto's Gion shop in Kyoto, which I wrote about in my Kyoto guide. Both were fun. But we came away with one clear lesson, and it's the main reason for this article.
The lesson: pay extra for real silk
The synthetic kimono was sweaty and uncomfortable. If we did it again, we'd pay extra for real silk without thinking twice.
Most shops have a cheap basic plan and one or more upgrade plans. The basic plans are usually polyester, which is easy to clean and holds up to rain, so shops can rent it cheaply. It doesn't breathe, though. You're wearing several layers, an under-robe, the kimono and a wide obi sash wrapped tight around your middle, and in polyester that heat has nowhere to go.
Silk breathes and feels softer. Of our two rentals, Okamoto's kimono were the better quality. My review says "The kimono where higher quality than other shops we rented from on our trip." That difference showed up in comfort as well as looks.
- Ask before you book. Look for "pure silk" or shoken (正絹) in the plan name. "High quality" on its own doesn't always mean silk.
- Silk plans cost more, but not much more. As of 2026, basic plans at Kyoto shops run roughly ¥3,000 to ¥5,000 per person. Pure silk plans for walking around town run roughly ¥5,000 to ¥11,000, and formal silk kimono can cost ¥25,000 or more. Some shops quote prices before tax, so check.
- Silk has rules. Shops that rent silk often ask you to avoid strong perfume and smoking, and to stay indoors if it rains. You may have to pay if the kimono gets badly stained or torn.
How rentals work
The basic idea is the same at most shops:
- Book a time slot online. You choose a plan, not a specific kimono. Then you pick your kimono, obi and bag at the shop.
- Staff dress you. Dressing is included. Hair styling is usually a small extra.
- You leave your own clothes and bags at the shop. Most shops store them for free.
- You walk around all day and bring it back. Usually that means the same shop before closing.
Okamoto's official site lists all of this. Its kimono plans include the kimono, obi, a drawstring bag, tabi socks and sandals, with dressing included. Hair styling costs from ¥500 before tax. The Gion shop is open from 9:00 to 18:00, with returns until 17:50. Returning the next day, or to a different shop, costs ¥1,000 extra as of 2026. Cancelling is free until 13:00 the day before. Other shops set their own rules. WALIN, for example, includes free next-day return on its silk plan. Check your shop's site before you book.
Booking and timing
- Book the first slot of the day. You get the most hours in the kimono, cooler morning air and quieter streets for photos.
- Expect to wait in peak season. Okamoto says that even with a booking you may have to wait at busy times.
- Know your return time and plan backward from it. Leave room to get back without rushing. Changing out of the kimono also takes a few minutes.
- Tall or wide? Larger shops keep longer kimono, wide sizes and big sandals. Mention your height and shoe size when you book.
Getting dressed takes a while
Plan on about an hour, or more. Okamoto estimates that choosing a kimono, getting dressed and having your hair done takes about one to one and a half hours in total. Choosing is the slow part, because there are hundreds of patterns.
- Wear a thin, close-fitting top and leggings or shorts. You'll change down to them, and anything bulky shows under the kimono.
- Use the restroom before you're dressed. It's much harder afterward.
- Speak up if the obi is too tight. It's meant to feel snug, not to stop you breathing. Staff will adjust it.
- Sit forward on chairs. The obi knot sits on your back, so you can't lean back. Eat lightly while you're wearing it.
Walking in zori and geta
The sandals are the hardest part for me. Since my stroke in 2016, my balance isn't what it was, and traditional footwear makes it worse.
- Zori are the flat, often padded sandals that come with most kimono plans. Geta are wooden and raised, and usually come with yukata. Geta are louder, harder and less stable. Choose zori if you have the option.
- The thong between your toes rubs. Tabi socks help, and most kimono plans include them. Put a blister pad on before you start if your feet are sensitive.
- Take small steps. The kimono wraps your legs, so you can't take a long stride anyway. Short steps help you stay balanced.
- Watch for stone steps and slopes. The prettiest lanes in Higashiyama, like Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka near Kiyomizu-dera, have stairs and slopes. Go slowly, use handrails and don't feel you have to walk the whole hill.
- Ask if you can wear your own shoes. If your balance really isn't reliable, ask the shop. Comfort matters more than the look.
Season and heat
- Spring and autumn are the best times to rent. They're cooler, and silk kimono are easier to get. Some shops rent lined silk kimono only from October to May.
- In summer (June to September), many shops switch to yukata, a light summer kimono that's usually cotton, plus thinner summer kimono. In Kyoto's heat a cotton yukata is the comfortable choice. A heavy kimono is not, and polyester is the worst.
- On hot days, carry a fan, drink more than you think you need and take breaks indoors. Tuck a cooling towel in at the back of your neck. My cooling kit has more.
- In winter, some shops add a shawl or haori jacket, sometimes for free.
- If rain is forecast, silk is the risky choice. Pick a sheltered, indoor-heavy route, or move your booking.
Photo spots near the Gion shops
Okamoto's Gion shop has its own garden and old buildings. My review calls it "a pleasant and photogenic experience," and the shop itself is a good place for your first photos. Nearby, all within a short walk:
- Nene-no-michi and Kodai-ji. This stone-paved lane runs right by the Gion shop and is mostly flat.
- Yasaka Shrine. It's a few minutes' walk away, with big open grounds.
- Yasaka Koshindo. This tiny temple is covered in colorful cloth charms.
- Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka toward Kiyomizu-dera, if you're up for the slope and stairs.
- Elsewhere in Kyoto: the bamboo grove in Arashiyama, or the torii gates at Fushimi Inari, which have their own pacing guide.
Be respectful around Gion. Some private lanes off Hanamikoji are closed to tourists or ban photography, and signs are posted. Never block a path or photograph maiko and geiko without asking.
Compeed Advanced Blister Care Pads, Mixed Sizes
Hydrocolloid pads cushion a hot spot before it turns into a blister. Worth having for any city day measured in tens of thousands of steps.
JISULIFE Handheld Turbo Fan (4000mAh)
In Japan you'll see handheld fans everywhere in summer, for good reason. Moving air over a damp cooling towel is noticeably better than either alone.
Frogg Toggs Chilly Pad Cooling Towel
Wet it, wring it, drape it on your neck. Evaporative towels are the cheapest, lightest piece of a heat plan, and they refresh in any shrine's water tap or station restroom.
Where to look
- Rental Kimono Okamoto (where we rented in Gion)
- Hanaemi (Gion, with pure-silk plans)
- WALIN (silk komon plan, October to May)
Plans and prices change, so check each shop's own site before you book.
The kit for this guide
Repel Windproof Travel Umbrella
Rain is part of travel in Japan, and the Kii Peninsula and Hakone are both wet places. A small auto-open umbrella is easy to carry and easy to open with one hand.
Also in this guide
Opening hours, routes and rules change; check before you go.