A group of women in kimonos walk on a street in Kyoto.
Text and photos by Aya Fisher
Interpretation by Yayoi Hayata
As I walk through Kyoto it is almost impossible not to notice all the colorful kimonos filling the streets. Everywhere I look tourists are posed in front of temples, shrines or other landmarks around the city getting the perfect picture.
Kimono rentals have become an essential part of Kyoto’s tourism. It has given hundreds of thousands of visitors the opportunity to be a part of traditional Japanese culture while exploring the city.
I visited a kimono rental shop to learn why so many people choose to wear kimonos and what that experience means to those who help make it possible for tourists.
For kimono rental shop owner Kiyomi Nakamura, the experience is about sharing Japanese culture with everyone.
“Tourists just want to experience wearing kimonos and taking pictures at tourist places,” she said. “It helps Japanese culture stay alive.”
Nakamura, who has been in the business for four years, believes introducing people to the beauty of the kimono helps preserve a part of Japan’s traditions.
