Recommended places and areas for kimono rental in Kyoto

Thinking about renting a kimono in Kyoto but not sure where to rent from? This article is for you! We’ll explain the pros and cons of renting kimonos in different areas and help you decide based on your purpose!

In the first half, we’ll touch on how to choose a rental location (area), and in the latter half, we’ll explain how to select a rental shop. If it’s your first time going to Kyoto and you’re unsure, please refer to this guide!

※Supervised by Rikawafuku Kimono Rental Kyoto (Operated by TripFarm Corporation, Director Takakumo)
※Information updated as of April 6, 2023

Areas with Kimono Rental Shops

In Kyoto city, there are mainly four areas where many kimono rental shops are located:

1. Gion Area (Great access from Osaka, close to the busy district)
2. Kiyomizu Area (Near Kiyomizu Temple, perfect for sightseeing right after renting)
3. Arashiyama Area (Rising in popularity in 2022, great for immediate sightseeing)
4. Kyoto Station Area (Near hotels and the station, convenient for traveling to any area)

Choose your area based on your purpose!

If you’re feeling embarrassed about renting a kimono in Kyoto, this article explains in detail: >Is it embarrassing to rent a kimono in Kyoto? Insights on Kyoto’s kimono rental scene

Criteria for Choosing an Area for Kimono Rental in Kyoto

There are three criteria for choosing an area for kimono rental:

1. Are there any tourist spots you want to visit?
2. How long can you rent the kimono?
3. What do you want to do in the kimono?

First, let’s discuss how to decide on the area based on your tourist spots.

If you haven’t decided on your Kyoto kimono sightseeing route yet, please check out this article: >Top 10 Sightseeing Routes After Renting a Kimono in Kyoto!

If You Have Specific Tourist Spots in Mind

Generally, it’s recommended to rent a kimono near your desired tourist spots.

The reasons are: ① Walking or moving around in an unfamiliar kimono can be surprisingly tiring. ② Kyoto often has traffic jams, and traveling by bus or taxi can take a lot of time.

Popular tourist spots in Kyoto when renting a kimono are roughly as follows:

1. Kiyomizu Temple Area (including Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka)
2. Arashiyama Area (Togetsukyo Bridge, Bamboo Forest, etc.)
3. Nanzenji & Keage (Nanzenji Aqueduct, Keage Incline)
4. Gion (Yasaka Shrine, Kamogawa River, Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art, etc.)

Kiyomizu Temple Area

If you’re planning to mainly visit Kiyomizu Temple and enjoy strolling around Ninenzaka & Sannenzaka, then renting a kimono in the Kiyomizu Area is recommended.

At Rikawafuku, the Rikawafuku Kiyomizu Temple Store is located just a 5-minute walk from Kiyomizu Temple.

The reason is that the area around Kiyomizu Temple is extremely hilly, and just climbing the slopes in a kimono can be very tiring and time-consuming. Renting at Kyoto Station or other locations can waste time in transit, which is a shame for a Kyoto sightseeing trip.

Also, this area can only be accessed by bus or taxi. During the autumn leaves and cherry blossom seasons, city buses are very crowded, so taking a taxi might be a better option. The fare from Kyoto Station to the Kiyomizu Area is around 1,200 yen, and from Gion-Shijo Station, it’s about 800 yen, so taking a taxi is also recommended.

Arashiyama Area

If you’re considering renting a kimono in the Arashiyama area, it’s recommended to rent either in the Arashiyama area or near Kyoto Station.

At Rikawafuku, the Rikawafuku Arashiyama Store is just a 2-minute walk from Arashiyama Station, and the Rikawafuku Kyoto Station Front Store is a 7-minute walk from Kyoto Station.

Arashiyama has become one of Kyoto’s most popular tourist spots in 2022, particularly popular among teenage girls for its stylish cafes.

The Arashiyama area, served by three train lines (JR, Hankyu, and Randen), is surprisingly accessible despite its distance. From Kyoto Station, it’s about a 15-minute JR ride to Saga-Arashiyama Station.

The area around Arashiyama is perfect for sightseeing and can be thoroughly enjoyed in about 2-3 hours. Therefore, many customers choose to rent from the Rikawafuku Arashiyama Store in the afternoon.

Popular spots in Arashiyama include Togetsukyo Bridge, the Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji Temple, and Kimono Forest.

Nanzenji & Keage Area

Nanzenji Aqueduct and Keage Incline have become increasingly popular tourist spots in Kyoto between 2020 and 2021.

Most people prefer to rent kimonos either around Gion or near Kyoto Station when visiting Nanzenji and Keage.

From Rikawafuku, it takes about 15 minutes by train from the Rikawafuku Gion Store to the Keage area and also 15 minutes from the Rikawafuku Kyoto Station Front Store.

You can go to Nanzenji and Keage by subway from Kyoto Station, and it’s also accessible by Keihan Railway from Gion-Shijo. From Gion, a taxi ride costs around 1,000 yen, so if you’re in a group, the cost won’t be much different from taking a train.

Gion Area

If you’re planning to visit Yasaka Shrine, Kamo River, or enjoy cafe hopping around Kawaramachi, it’s recommended to rent in Gion.

At Rikawafuku, the Rikawafuku Gion Store is just a 2-minute walk from Gion-Shijo Station and a 7-minute walk from Kawaramachi Station.

The Gion area is well-connected by train and bus. With tourist spots like Yasaka Shrine nearby, renting in Gion is also a great option.

How Long Can You Rent a Kimono?

Next, let’s look at which area is recommended based on the available rental time.

If You Only Have 1~2 Hours for Rental

In this case, your choices are basically between the Arashiyama and Kiyomizu Temple areas. Both areas have tourist spots right outside, and two hours is enough to explore them fully. If you don’t have a specific place in mind and just want to enjoy the atmosphere of Kyoto with some street food, then Arashiyama or Kiyomizu Temple is even more recommended.

On the contrary, it’s best to avoid the Kyoto Station area as there are no tourist spots nearby, and you’ll end up spending your time moving around.

If You Have Half a Day or More for Rental

If you have about half a day, the Gion area is recommended. It’s only about a 15-minute bus ride to Kiyomizu Temple, and you can enjoy cafes around Kawaramachi and Gion.

In summer, taking yukata photos near the Kamo River is quite picturesque! Depending on your schedule, renting near Kyoto Station can also be recommended.

What Do You Want to Do in a Kimono?

Next, let’s talk about which area is recommended based on what you want to do.

When You Haven’t Decided What to Do

Interestingly, about 30% of Rikawafuku’s customers haven’t decided where to go after renting a kimono.

If you haven’t decided where to go, the following areas are recommended:

1. Undecided and short rental time: Arashiyama Area, Kiyomizu Area
2. Undecided and long rental time: Gion Area

In Arashiyama and Kiyomizu Temple, you don’t really need to decide where to go as tourist spots are immediately accessible. Just wandering around is enough to enjoy the tourist atmosphere.

The Gion area is convenient for going to any tourist spot, so if you decide where to go after renting, you can still enjoy your time there, provided you have enough time.

Kyoto Station is suitable for those who have a fixed plan, want to rent near their hotel, or want to rent near the station.

Mainly for Cafe Hopping

If you’re mainly interested in cafe hopping, the Gion area is recommended. Most of the popular cafes are around Gion-Shijo Station and Kawaramachi Station.

How was it? Please choose the best area according to your rental time and purpose!

Rikawafuku Kimono Rental Kyoto operates four stores in Kyoto city (Arashiyama store, Gion store, Kiyomizu Temple store, Kyoto Station front store) and served over 130,000 customers in 2021.

Choose any kimono with any plan, and check out our affordable rental plans here!
＞Rikawafuku Kyoto’s Pricing Plans

How to Choose a Kimono Rental Shop in Kyoto and How to Identify Popular Shops

Once you’ve decided on the area you want to rent a kimono, the next step is choosing a rental shop.

There are over 100 kimono rental shops in Kyoto, each with its unique features.

It’s important to choose one that suits your needs. Here are some things to consider:

Does the Plan Allow You to Choose Any Kimono You Like?

Many shops advertise low entrance fees, but once you visit, you might find that the selection of kimonos you can choose from is limited. It’s common to end up paying more if you want to choose the kimono you like.

At Rikawafuku Kimono Rental Kyoto, every plan allows you to choose from all available kimonos, so you can rent with confidence.

Which to Prioritize: Cuteness or Price?

While it would be ideal to find a service that offers cute kimonos, excellent service, and low prices, it’s rare to find a place that meets all these criteria.

If the price is low, the quality and variety of kimonos you can choose from may be limited.

Conversely, shops that focus on quality kimonos and accessories naturally have higher costs, resulting in slightly higher prices.

Understand the Plan Structure and Calculate the Total Cost with Hair Set Service

Rental plans typically include the following, and the price changes based on the added services:

1. Complete Rental Set
2. Dressing Service
3. Hair Set Service
4. Accessories

Naturally, prices are lower without the hair set service. In Kyoto, many rental shops offer hair set as an optional service, so most plan prices are based only on the dressing service and rental set.

At Rikawafuku Kimono Rental Kyoto, plans include hair set service from the start, offering a clear pricing system.

1. Kyoto Kimono Hair Set Plan
2. Kyoto Kimono Rental Student Discount Plan
3. Kyoto Kimono Couple Plan

Even with hair set plans, you can enjoy kimono rental from 5000 yen (tax included), making them highly recommended.

Check Actual Users’ Posts on Social Media!

It’s recommended to check actual users’ posts on social media platforms like Instagram.

You can see which kimonos they chose and which places they visited.

Search using the shop’s photo tags or hashtags to get a better idea!

Many customers who have used Rikawafuku have shared their posts online.

If You Want an Affordable Kimono Rental Experience in Kyoto, Choose Rikawafuku!

If you are considering renting a kimono in Kyoto, please choose Rikawafuku Kimono Rental Kyoto!

Operating four stores in Kyoto city (Gion Store, Arashiyama Store, Kiyomizu Temple Store, Kyoto Station Front Store), Rikawafuku served over 180,000 customers in 2022.

Choose from all kimonos in any plan, and enjoy affordable rental services including hair set.

If you’re unsure where to rent, please give us a try!

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Author of this article

Kyoto Kimono Rental Rika Wafuku operates four kimono rental shops in Kyoto city, including locations in Arashiyama, Gion, Kiyomizu Temple, and in front of Kyoto Station. In 2022, they served over 180,000 customers in the Kyoto area!
They offer affordable plans, with a kimono dressing plan starting from 3,500 yen, and a hair setting plan from 5,500 yen.
Close to popular tourist spots such as Togetsukyo Bridge, Kiyomizu Temple, Yasaka Koshindo, and Yasaka Shrine!
Kyoto Kimono Rental Rika Wafuku
Kimono Rental Rika Wafuku Gion Store
Kimono Rental Rika Wafuku Arashiyama Store
Kimono Rental Rika Wafuku Kiyomizu Temple Store
Kimono Rental Rika Wafuku Kyoto Station Front Store