Let's make kimono !（Kimono is a gift for you

Amazing Kimono Experience

This experience is truly unique in that you get to learn about kimono and find a beautiful already made kimono to alter/upcycle to fit perfectly. Our guide/tailor Akiko(Aki) was wonderful at explaining the different parts of the kimono, and what lines you are looking to showcase and why. She did an amazing job helping my husband and I pick and alter our clothing, which required adding a kimono panel for the skirt to make it fit a very western (plus) sized body. You get to be involved in the altering process by ironing the new seam together with sewing tape. This was an absolutely amazing experience that allowed me to have more understanding and experience of kimono culture while also getting a beautiful kimono to take home. There are multiple different levels of kimono ornamentation depending on whether you want a special occasion one meant for temples or one for everyday. There are several types of obi available to try on and you can end up purchasing everything if you desire for an additional fee which I did. The fancy obi are incredibly intricate and gorgeous and Aki told us that they take at least half an hour to make the bow. This is also quite an interesting experience for men to get to dress up and add their name and family crest in kanji/katakana for an awesome personalized look. This is a wonderful experience I highly recommend for anyone who has come to Japan for the first time, wants a kimono, and wants the chance to feel like a princess or samurai.

via Viator

Awesome experience

There was a huge variety of kimonos (and yukatas) to choose from, same with obis. It can be a bit overwhelming at first, but you can take your time trying on different garments and ask any questions that might pop up. It was a very fun experience, and I am so happy with my kimono. When I put it on again back home, I noticed a few places where the sticky tape at the hems had gotten loose, so make sure to be thorough when ironing it! And if like me you cannot remember fully how to put everything on, there are how-to videos on TikTok!

via Tripadvisor

Susan makes a kimono!

Why rent a kimono when you can buy a lovely vintage one and take it home?!?! I’m in love with mine! I upgraded for silk and love it! Very simple process, wonderful team and they speak excellent English. Looking to escape the weather or d something different? Make your own kimono, learn how to wear it and also a mini photo op!

via Viator

Lovely experience

The ladies are very kind and patient and the materials they provide are gorgeous!! What a fun and memorable experience to have while visiting Japan🙌☺️

Response from the operator: Thank you so much! We’re so happy to hear that you enjoyed the experience and loved our kimono selection. It was a pleasure spending this special part of your trip to Japan with you ☺️ We hope your kimono will always remind you of your time here!

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Rent a Kimono Instead

Interesting experience but I cannot recommend it. The staff in the shop are outstanding, kind, patient and helpful. But while I knew the kimonos were vintage (therefore used), I did not expect holes, stains and fraying that I had to look out for. There were a lot to choose from, but, for me, the selection gave me the feeling that they had been there a long, long time and I was looking through what was left over. Maybe I’m too picky, but the only kimono I found that I truly liked was so stained that even the staff suggested I not choose it. My husband’s first choice had an obvious hole in the back. Also, there are a small pile of kimonos (and even a smaller pile of yukatas) that are included with the price of the workshop but the vast majority carry an additional fee, as do all of the accessories, most of which are really required to make a kimono work. Seriously, how could you successfully wear a kimono that’s been cut in half without the obi belt? Between my husband and myself, we spent an additional $113 (over and above the workshop fee) to have kimonos that could be worn, and mine is one that I really did not like, but the best I could find. I should have probably cut my losses and left, but I'd already paid the workshop fee and didn't really realize how much it was all adding up to until the end (my fault, as prices are clearly posted). Plus, I didn’t want to be negative during a vacation activity with other guests, which complaining and leaving would have been. And then there is the fact that the process is to cut a kimono in half and add hems and ties with iron-on tape. My ties (which the staff ironed on) pulled off the first time I tried to put the kimono on in my hotel room, rendering it unusable for the duration of our month-long trip. When contacted, the proprietor said I pulled too hard. Back in our hotel room I also found the obi belt, which I paid $40 for, had serious and noticeable fraying at multiple places that I hadn't thought to look for. I communicated my issues and pictures of the fraying to the proprietor of the shop who responded kindly. She offered a small 2,000 yen ($12.50) compensation for the obi belt fraying, even though she said this is to be expected with vintage pieces (huh???). Since that communication was over 6 weeks ago and she never followed up and provided that small, nominal compensation, I decided to write this review. It's clear some people like this activity, but it was not our thing. Also, please realize that a kimono, and all its accessories, is quite large even when folded, and will be surprisingly heavy and bulky to fit in a suitcase and lug around Japan for the rest of your trip.

Response from the operator: Thank you very much for taking the time to share such a detailed review. First of all, we sincerely apologize that the experience did not meet your expectations. We truly appreciate your kind words about our staff. Our team always does their best to help each guest find a kimono they can enjoy, so we are very grateful that you recognized their kindness and support. All of the kimonos used in our workshop are authentic vintage Japanese kimonos. Because they are pre-owned, some may show signs of age or wear. We remove items with significant damage from use, but we are sorry that you were unable to find a kimono that you truly liked. We will take your comments into consideration as we continue reviewing our quality control. Regarding the additional charges, some kimonos are included in the basic workshop fee, while upgraded kimonos and obi are available as optional additions. These prices are displayed in the shop and explained in advance. However, we understand that the final total felt higher than expected, and we appreciate your feedback about how this was experienced. Our workshop uses iron-on hemming tape so that guests can complete the remake without sewing during the session. We are sorry that one of the ties came off during your trip and that this caused inconvenience. The obi are also authentic vintage pieces and may show some signs of wear. However, we are sorry that the condition of the obi did not meet your expectations. When you contacted us about the obi, we offered compensation of ¥2,000. We did not receive a reply from you after making that offer, so the matter remained unresolved. We are sorry if there was any misunderstanding. If you would still like to receive the compensation, please contact us and we will be happy to arrange it. Thank you again for your honest feedback. We will continue working to improve both our quality control and the way we explain the experience and optional charges to our guests.

via Viator