AKIHABARA

CULTURE

Let’s dress up in a kimono, traditional Japanese clothing, and head out on the town!

If you are visiting Japan, definitely try on a “kimono.” You may want to get one at a gift shop or take the plunge and try made-to-order. There are also many rental shops in Kyoto and Tokyo. Enjoy the easily-accessible Japanese tradition in any way you like!

A kimono is a type of traditional Japanese clothing. Wearing it is a true cultural experience, and it is a very fascinating item loved by everyone including tourists. Although it is traditional clothing, it is worn on various occasions in modern Japan, including milestones in life such as the coming-of-age ceremony and wedding ceremonies, as well as watching of opera or kabuki performances or enrichment classes such as for Nihon buyō (Japanese traditional dance) and tea ceremony. Nowadays, types of kimono also vary widely from traditional ones to ones with a Japanese-Western fusion style, and ones for cosplay, so you can enjoy different types of kimono depending on your mood. You might think kimono is a luxury, but there are affordable used kimono shops that carry beautiful vintage kimonos as well as accessories that go well with kimonos, so go check them out when you come to Japan. In almost all historical tourist destinations, you will find rental kimono shops, which not only help you dress in a kimono, but also let you stroll around the town dressed in the kimono. Also, there are ryokans (a type of traditional Japanese inn) and hotels that rent out a wide variety of kimonos for their guests. Dress up in a kimono and dine at a little fancy Japanese style restaurant, appreciate art, or watch stage performances, and don’t forget to take photos with the good old Japanese townscape in the background—it will surely be the best memory of your Japan trip. Once you become fond of kimonos through your Japan trip, why not get one as a souvenir? Traditional ones featuring Japanese customs, culture, seasonal plants and flowers, etc., simplified ones that you can easily wear, and even stuffed toys dressed in a mini kimono—you can find a wide variety of kimonos and related items at Fa-So-La AKIHABARA in Narita Airport, so don’t forget to check the store before boarding your flight back home. Bring kimono, a living tradition of Japan, back to your country, together with the fun memories.

Stuffed bears dressed in a kimono made by using old 7-5-3 (pronounced “shichi go san,” which is a rite-of-passage event) kimonos and komon kimonos (“komon” is a type of kimono dyed with a simple repeating pattern). / Tax-free price ¥9,800 – (Midori International)

Kimono and yukata section at Fa-So-La TAX FREE AKIHABARA in Narita Airport Terminal 2

(Information as of April 2023)