Traveling to Kyoto With Kids? Here's the Kimono Question Every Parent Has.
You're planning a family trip to Kyoto. You've got the itinerary sorted — Fushimi Inari, Arashiyama bamboo grove, maybe a tea ceremony. And somewhere on your list is: kimono rental.
But then the doubt creeps in. Will they have kids' sizes? Is it going to be a nightmare getting them dressed? What if my 6-year-old refuses to cooperate halfway through?
These are real questions. And if you're the kind of parent who's done their research before every trip — who reads three reviews before booking a restaurant — this post is for you.
By the time you finish reading, you'll know exactly what family kimono rental looks like in practice, what to expect at Kimono no Obebe near Shijo Station, which season makes for the best family photos, and how to make the whole experience genuinely fun rather than stressful. Let's go.
Do Kimono Rental Shops Actually Cater to Families?
This is the real question — and the answer varies depending on the shop.
Some kimono rental places in Kyoto are set up almost entirely for adults. The experience is beautiful, but kids feel like an afterthought. Limited sizes, no real accommodation for little ones, and staff who aren't quite sure what to do when a 5-year-old starts getting fidgety.
That's not the situation at Kimono no Obebe. The shop is set up to handle families comfortably — kids' kimono sizes are available, the English-speaking staff can actually communicate with you and your children without a language gap creating extra stress, and the whole dressing process is kept efficient enough that you're not standing around for 45 minutes while a toddler loses patience.
Two-minute walk from Shijo Station. Easy to get to. Easy to leave from. That matters when you're traveling with children.
What the Family Rental Process Actually Looks Like
Here's a fictional but realistic scenario — the kind of morning that plays out for a lot of families visiting Kyoto.
Imagine a family of four: two parents, a 9-year-old daughter, and a 6-year-old son. They've booked their kimono slot for 10am. They walk in, the staff greets them in English, and within a few minutes everyone's picking colors and styles. The daughter is immediately invested — she wants the pink one. The son is less sure, but he warms up when he sees his dad trying on the same haori jacket style. By the time they're dressed, the boy's actually excited. They step outside into Gion, and for about two hours, they're just a family walking through one of the most beautiful streets in Japan in matching traditional clothing.
(This is a fictional example — but it's the kind of experience families describe when the rental process is handled well.)
That's what you're going for. And that's what's possible when you pick a shop that's actually set up for it.
Kimono Rental Prices for Families — What to Budget
Pricing at Kimono no Obebe is straightforward and stays consistent year-round — no seasonal surcharges during cherry blossom or autumn foliage season, which is genuinely rare in Kyoto.
Plans start from ¥1,900 for a budget option and go up depending on the style. The furisode — the long-sleeved formal kimono — is ¥15,000 and looks stunning in photos. For kids, pricing is lower, and the full breakdown is on the plans page here.
As a rough guide for a family of four, plan for ¥10,000–¥20,000 total for rental depending on which plans you choose. That's a half-day experience that produces memories and photos you'll genuinely keep. For context, a lot of families spend similar amounts on a single tourist attraction that takes the same amount of time and produces zero photos worth keeping.
Hair, Makeup, and Getting the Full Look
Kimono no Obebe offers hair styling and makeup as part of the experience — not as a hidden extra that only appears at checkout. For parents traveling with daughters especially, this is often one of the highlights. Little girls in a full kimono look with styled hair is the kind of thing that becomes the photo of the trip.
The dressing process takes around 20–30 minutes for adults. Kids are quicker. The staff work efficiently, and if your child is the impatient type, the speed of the process actually helps.
Family Kimono Photos in Kyoto — Is the Photography Add-On Worth It?
Short answer: if family photos matter to you, yes.
Kimono no Obebe offers professional photography sessions starting from ¥10,000. A photographer joins your family after you're dressed and takes you through Gion's backstreets and most photogenic spots. Instead of handing your phone to a stranger and hoping for the best, you get someone who knows exactly where the light hits well, which alleys are the least crowded, and how to get natural-looking shots of kids who don't love posing.
Getting a genuine photo of your whole family — all dressed, all actually looking at the camera, all in a beautiful setting — is harder than it sounds when you're doing it yourself. This is one of those cases where the add-on is worth it if photos are the point.
Check the guest gallery here to see real family photos from past visits. It gives you a clear sense of what's possible.
Best Season for Family Kimono Rental in Kyoto
Every season works. But each one gives your family a completely different experience.
Spring (March–May) is cherry blossom season. The streets around Gion are lined with sakura, the colors are soft and beautiful, and a kimono photo in front of blooming cherry trees is iconic. It's also the busiest time of year in Kyoto — book your rental slot well in advance if you're coming in late March or April.
Summer (June–August) brings the Gion Matsuri festival in July — one of Japan's most famous festivals. Wearing yukata (the lighter summer version of kimono) during festival season is what locals do. Kids in yukata during Gion Matsuri is a genuinely special thing to be part of.
Autumn (September–November) is the most visually dramatic season. Red and gold maple leaves against the wooden architecture of Gion looks extraordinary. Slightly cooler, slightly fewer crowds than spring, and the colors photograph beautifully. A lot of families who've visited multiple times say autumn is their favorite.
Winter (December–February) is the underrated option. Quieter streets, calm atmosphere, and winter kimono layering has an elegance that lighter seasonal styles don't. If your family is coming during the New Year period, wearing kimono around Kyoto's shrines during Hatsumode (first shrine visit of the year) is an experience that very few tourists get to have.
And again — because it's worth repeating — Kimono no Obebe charges the same price regardless of season. So pick the time that works for your family, not the time that avoids a pricing spike.
Practical Tips Before You Go
A few things that'll make the day easier:
- Book ahead. Especially during spring and autumn, slots fill up. Contact the shop through the booking page here to confirm availability before you arrive in Kyoto.
- Wear slip-on shoes. You'll be given zori sandals as part of your rental, but wearing shoes that are easy to change in and out of makes the transition faster for everyone — especially kids.
- Keep plans flexible after rental. Once you're dressed, you'll want time to actually walk around. Don't stack a tight schedule right after your kimono slot. Give yourself at least two hours to wander Gion, stop for matcha, and take photos without rushing.
- Kids do better when they're involved in the choice. Let them pick their color or pattern when you arrive. A child who chose their own kimono is a much more cooperative subject than one who was just handed something.
Getting to Kimono no Obebe
The shop is a 2-minute walk from Shijo Station (Hankyu Kyoto Line or Keihan Main Line). From Kyoto Station, take the Karasuma subway line to Shijo — five minutes on the train. When you exit the station, you're already in the Gion-Shijo area, which means you're walking distance from all the best spots as soon as you step out in your kimono.
For more details, see the about page here, and follow @kyoto_kimonorental_noobebe on Instagram for real photos from families and guests who've been through the experience.
Kyoto's one of those rare places where a single afternoon can feel genuinely memorable — not just another day of checking attractions off a list. Renting kimonos as a family, walking through Gion together, getting photos that actually look like the trip you planned — that's the kind of thing kids remember. Worth doing right.
