If you are planning to visit Kyoto, why don’t you try on a traditional Japanese costume? You can rent a Yukata or Kimono at a very reasonable price and go sightseeing wearing it. Here are 5 Yukata/Kimono shops in Kyoto which are available in English.

 

#1. Mission Gion

Photo Credit: mission-gion.com

Mission Gion is a 4-minute walk from Gion Shijyo Station, which is very convenient way to visit famous sightseeing spots such as Yasaka Shrine or Kiyomizu temple. Mission Gion is also in the famous travel guidebook of Kyoto. They offer various kind of plans. Yukata Rental Plan (For Men and Women) 3,500yen, Yukata Purchase Plan from 5,500yen, Kimono Rental Plan from 4,500yen(for women), from 5,000yen (for men), and Premium Plan from 8,000yen. All plans include quick hair set.

If you want to go around until after closing time 7:30 PM, there are options; either returning Yukata/Kimono to the hotel you stay or extending the return time until 3:00 PM the next day. They also have useful options such as baggage keeping (+500yen), being accompanied by a professional cameraman (+15,000yen), and discount services for couples or a group of more than 4. All plans are bookable from the English homepage, and you don’t need to bring or do anything on the day.

[map lat=”35.004320″ lng=”135.774473″][/map]

 

 

#2. Walin

Photo Credit: walin.jp

Walin is a 5-minute walk from Gojyo Station or Shijyo Station. It’s a very convenient place to start your journey. They offer a Yukata Rental Plan from 4,500yen (for men and women), Yukata Purchase Plan  7,000yen or 13,000yen(for women), Summer Kimono Plan 6,000yen (for men and women). All plans includes Kinchaku (a special bag for Japanese costume) and Geta (Japanese traditional shoes), so there’s no items you have to prepare or bring. You can leave your baggage for free. You can make the reservation from the English homepage. They accept international phone calls as well.

[map lat=”34.998714″ lng=”135.760416″][/map]

 

 

#3. Wargo

Photo Credit: kyotokimono-rental.com

Wargo is the lowest cost rental Yukata/Kimono shops among these 5. There are 6 branches in Kyoto, (also 1 in Osaka and 3 in Tokyo) so you can choose the convenient branch for your itinerary. All of the shops are located in a very convenient area, 5-minute walk from Kiyomizu temple, 2-minute walk from Kyoto Tower, and a 1-minute walk from Kinkakuji Temple. They offer Standard Kimono Plan 2,900yen (for men and women), Premium Kimono Plan 3,900yen, High-end Kimono Plan 4,900yen, Mamechiyo Kimono/Antique Kimono Plan 5,900yen and so on. There are discount services for couples and some useful options such as bag-keeping, photography, and a luxury kimono bag, Their English homepage is content-rich and available for making reservations.

[map lat=”34.987505″ lng=”135.759526″][/map]

 

 

#4 Kyo Gokoro

Photo Credit: kyo-gokoro.com

Kyo Gokoro is an incorporated non-profit organization established to spread the appealing culture of Kyoto. It’s a 4-minute walk from Nijyojyoekimae station (in front of Nijyo castle). They offer a Basic Plan 3,000yen, Delivery Plan 4,000yen and “Change at your place” Plan 4,000yen. The delivery Plan is that they bring your clothes to where you stay, so you don’t need to go back to the shop to change the clothes after sightseeing. Yukata/Kimono have to be returned the next day. “Change at your place” Plan is that they come to where you stay with Kimono/Yukata and dress you up. But this plan is available for a group of more than 20 persons. An English homepage is not available but there are PDF files about all the plans written in English. They can accept international phone calls as well.

[map lat=”35.010075″ lng=”135.754155″][/map]

 

 

#5 Hanakanzashi

Photo Credit: kyoto-hanakanzashi.jp

Hanakanzashi is a 2-minute walk from Gojyo Station which is next to Kyoto Station. It opened in March 2016, so it’s a very new and clean office. They offer a Standard Plan of 5,000yen (3,000yen with advance reservation), Elegant Plan 6,000yen (4,000yen with advance reservation), Premium Plan 7,000yen (5,000yen with advance reservation), Designer’s Brand Plan 10,000yen (8,000yen with advance reservation). An English homepage is available to make a reservation, and they have service staffs speaking English and Chinese at all times.

[map lat=”34.996555″ lng=”135.762284″][/map]