Thursday, June 8, 2017

Tokyo Sightseeing: A Day with Kimono Rental in Asakusa

Anette 10:26:00 PM Asakusa, Japan, Kimono, Tokyo, Travel

One of the things that can be recommended as a cultural experience for people visiting Japan is to combine a day sightseeing with trying to wear the traditional Japanese clothing kimono or yukata. Even for Japanese people wearing a kimono is not something you have the chance to every day, and even most Japanese people only were kimono for special occasions a couple of times a year.

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Above: The famous Kaminarimon gate that leads to Sensouji temple
This time my friend Chase suggested that we should go to the popular Asakusa area and rent kimonos together. I figured out it was a good opportunity to wear the yukata I bought a couple of years ago, and I somehow managed to put it on myself using Youtube videos for assistance. After the yukata struggle finally was over (it took more than 30 minutes to get it on.. I really should take some lessons in the art of kimono dressing) we headed towards Asakusa.

Chase had reserved a kimono package through the homepage of Kyoto Kimono Renatal Wargo, a company that offers kimono rental in different cities throughout Japan such as Kyoto, Kanazawa and Kamakura. The company offer cheap plans for kimono rental, with the basic plans starting at 2,900 yen excluding tax.

In addition to the basic kimono option the company also offers premium and high-end kimono plans for those who want to go for a more fancy kimono.

Chase decided to go for the basic plan, but could still choose from a wide range of kimonos, and in addition it was also possible to pick out an obi belt of preference from a wide selection of colors and patterns.

Above: Girl getting her hair done along with her kimono rental plan. If you want to get you hair done you can choose between a very simple free hairdo, a basic 900-yen hairdo and a premium 1,900 yen hairdo. You can check out the different styles they offer here.

Below: The changing room where one of the staff members help put on your kimono/yukata. You can also pay an extra 500 yen to borrow a handbag that matches the style of your outfit.

After 30 minutes or so Chase was ready, and we could walk into the historical area of Asakusa.
Asakusa has a lot to offer, so if you wander in the streets surrounding the Sensouji temple you’ll certainly run into various things to see. Even without any detailed plans we could enjoy the surroundings of the area, and try out a couple of local specialities on the way.

Above: Having some maccha (green tea) icecream

When visiting the Asakusa area the main attraction is of course the Kaminari gate and the Sensouji temple. We spent some time walking around the temple area before heading back to the kimono rental place.

Wargo requests that kimonos are returned 30 minutes before their closing time, in the case of the Tokyo Sensoji branch this should be before 17:30. We went back to the store, and they helped Chase getting his kimono off in no time. It had been a fun day sightseeing, and having an outfit suited for the surrounding really helped set the right mood for the day!

That's all for now! I hope you enjoyed the post! Please let me know if you have any questions or comments in the comment section below. I’ve also previously written about a recent day-trip to Kawagoe north of Tokyo where we did kimono rental for those who are interested in other options to Asakusa.

■ Basic Info

・Place: Kyoto kimono rental wargo
・Address：Japan, 〒111-0032 Tōkyō-to, Taitō-ku, Asakusa, 2 Chome−４−１
・Homepage: https://kyotokimono-rental.com/en/

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- Anette

About Anette
Anette came to Japan as an exchange student in 2010, met the love of her life and got stuck. From her base in Tokyo she writes about her experiences as a full-time worker in Tokyo and about her travels in Japan and abroad. She's a free-spirited adventurer who enjoys both the great outdoors and her urban lifestyle.