Kyoto Kimono Photoshoot at Yumeyakata Gojo: Prices, Process, and Tips

Yumeyakata Gojo in Kyoto is one of the most popular places to rent kimonos.
They have over 550 kimono designs, so it’s almost impossible not to find something you like.

There are also 200+ obi belts to choose from, whether you prefer traditional and bold, or simple and minimal, you’ll definitely find a style that fits you.

👉👉 KKday Kyoto Kimono Rental – Yumeyakata Gojo Store

How the Kimono Experience Works

Booking in Advance

Yumeyakata is extremely popular, especially during sakura and autumn foliage seasons.
So I highly recommend booking online first, otherwise you might waste a lot of time lining up.

Their website explains all the plans clearly.
You choose a kimono rental plan first, and then add optional services.

I chose the couple’s kimono rental, plus hairstyling, full makeup, and a professional outdoor photo shoot.

Everything must be returned by 5:30 PM on the same day, or there will be extra charges.

Check out the kimono rental plans 👇👇（More details on Yumeyakata’s website）

Most girls add the hairstyling option, and if you rarely put on makeup, getting the full makeup add-on might be worth it too.

(Since I was already wearing a pretty kimono, I wanted nice photos as well… so I ended up adding more and more options 😂)

Yumeyakata opens at 10:00 AM, but if you want to start earlier at 9:00 or 9:30 to avoid crowds, you can pay an extra 1,100 yen to enter early.

The add-on options 👇（More details on Yumeyakata’s website）

Here are the photography plans 👇 👇（More details on Yumeyakata’s website）
P.S. We went during cherry blossom season, so the photography price was even higher 🥲

We booked the outdoor photography plan, so we had to arrive at 9:00 AM (no early-entry fee needed), and the photo shoot started at 10:30 AM.

Arrival & Check-In

How to get to Yumeyakata Gojo:

• Subway Karasuma Line → Get off at Gojo Station, Exit 1 → 3 min walk
• City bus → Get off at Karasuma Gojo → Walk east along Gojo Street for 5 min

We arrived at 9:00 AM, showed the reservation email, and went upstairs to start choosing our kimono and obi.

Choosing and Wearing the Kimono

There are so many kimonos here, you’ll easily feel overwhelmed 😂
But don’t worry, the staff can help you pick something that suits your style.

I chose a simple, understated floral pattern, something elegant but not too flashy.

After choosing the kimono, the staff helps you put everything on.
The steps are a bit complicated:

• First, you wear an inner layer to keep everything neat.
• Then the kimono itself, with the left side wrapped over the right.
• A thin belt keeps it in place, then the wide obi belt is wrapped tightly and tied into a beautiful knot at the back.

The obi has to be tied very firmly to keep the shape and create that elegant straight posture, so it feels really tight 😵

Accessories & Baggage Storage

Next, you pick a bag to go with your outfit.
There are lots of cute options.

Yumeyakata also offers baggage storage.
Each person can store one bag for free, including whatever you change out of.
Large suitcases or strollers cost extra.

Hairstyling & Makeup

If you booked both services, two staff members work on you at the same time,
one doing your hair from the back, and one doing your makeup from the front.

The makeup artist even complimented me with a cheerful “kawaii!” while working.

I ended up with pretty heavy makeup, which felt a little unfamiliar 😬
But they said heavy makeup looks much better in photos, and honestly, they were right.

Professional Kimono Photoshoot

A kimono experience wouldn’t be complete without some beautiful photos.

Yumeyakata offers professional photography services, and you can choose from several shooting routes.
There’s an extra 2,000 yen fee if you want to request a specific photographer, but we didn’t choose anyone in particular.

At first, I was a little worried about communicating with a Japanese photographer.
But it turned out our photographer was actually Taiwanese!
He was super friendly and easy to talk to, so the whole photoshoot went really smoothly 👍
Here’s his account 👉👉 @taichi183jp

Since it was cherry blossom season, sakura were blooming everywhere.
Taking photos in kimono surrounded by cherry blossoms honestly felt like a bucket-list moment 😆

We chose the Higashiyama Route, which includes some of Kyoto’s most iconic spots, Yasaka Pagoda, Ishibe Alley, Ninenzaka area, Yasaka Kōshin-dō, Hanamikoji Street, and Maruyama Park.

Our photographer guided us through these atmospheric streets and shrines, capturing gorgeous shots of us in kimono with Kyoto’s old-town charm.

There were even some locations where regular tourists aren’t allowed to take photos, but thanks to the photographer’s permit, we were able to take pictures there too.

It was my first time wearing a kimono, and honestly, the obi was so tight that moving around felt a bit difficult.
The two guys I was with walked at their usual speed, while I was shuffling behind them in tiny wooden-sandal steps 😵‍💫

Kimono photoshoots aren’t cheap, but I really think hiring a photographer was worth it, especially since we had rented kimono and came during cherry blossom season.
Might as well get some amazing photos to bring home!

Total Cost

It’s been a while, so I don’t remember the exact prices we paid.
But based on the prices listed on Yumeyakata’s official website, here’s an approximate breakdown for 2 people:

• Kimono rental (men & women) ▶︎ 8,000 yen
• Hair styling (8 options) ▶︎ 1,650 yen
• Full makeup for women ▶︎ 4,400 yen
• Kimono photoshoot – Higashiyama Route – Peak travel season (+20%) ▶︎ 34,320 yen
• Taxi fee during the shoot ▶︎ around 1,200 yen

👉👉 Total: 49,570 yen / for 2 people)

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Strolling through Kyoto’s historic streets in kimono during cherry blossom season feels like stepping into a painting.
Having a professional photographer made this experience even more special and unforgettable.

If you ever visit Kyoto, the kimono experience at Yumeyakata is definitely worth trying!

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Yumeyakata Main Store Info

• Address: 128 Manjuji-cho, Gojo-dori Higashinotoin Higashiiru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto
• Phone: +81-75-354-9110
• Hours: 10:00 – 19:30
• Official Website: https://www.tw-kyoto.yumeyakata.com/
• Facebook: Yumeyakata FB

How to Get There

• Subway Karasuma Line: Get off at Gojo Station, Exit 1 → 3-minute walk
• City Bus: Get off at Karasuma-Gojo → Walk east along Gojo Street for 5 minutes

⭐ If you want to rent a kimono at Yumeyakata, you can also book through KKday
👉👉 KKday Kyoto Kimono Rental – Yumeyakata Gojo Store