The One with all the Kimonos

What with all the Harajuku girls and all the other cool Japanese fashion trends something we really weren’t expecting to see quite so much in Japan was people wearing kimonos, but it’s actually really common, and the juxtaposition of modern-day Japan with the traditional dress just adds to the allure of this fascinating country. They range from the kimonos worn for a special occasion (I love this photo of a bride and groom at the Meiji shrine)…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…or visiting somewhere like Asakusa (I couldn’t resist taking a picture of these two ladies enjoying their ice-creams)…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…to the more everyday kimonos, like this one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You see couples wearing kimonos…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…and we spotted this man wearing this rather gorgeous one in a taxi queue at Tokyo station.

So, when we arrived at Kushiro and discovered you could be dressed in beautiful silk kimonos for free OF COURSE Harriet and I jumped at the chance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First we had to choose our kimonos from the rack – they felt incredible, and such pretty designs…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…and then we had to stand patiently while the ladies dressed us in layers of silk. It was all very precise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…they fixed our hair and put flowers in it…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

….and then they tied on the obi (sash, now you know where the name Obi-Wan comes from), which holds it all together, and made an elaborate bow at the back, so skillfully it was like origami. Amazing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…and then we were invited to put on the geta (wooden shoes) and then came the really hard bit… try to walk in the whole ensemble. Of course you can only take little tiny steps, so it takes you a while to get anywhere. But we couldn’t resist posing in our kimonos with the paper parasols they lent us…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…and I really wish we’d bought the kimonos, because they were only about 5,000 yen (about £30), so really, a bargain, but I didn’t have enough cash with me. We were a bit sad when we had to take them off, although I can’t imagine having to wear them all the time. Walking in those shoes is a nightmare 😉