If you want to get a personal first hand sense of what life in historical Japan might have been like, and get some good content for your Instagram feed to boot, it’s hard to beat the experience of renting a Kimono and walking through the preserved streets of Gion and Higashiyama.
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Start by renting a Kimono at one of the many shops located on the main street running along the eastern border of Gion. Expect to pay from 3,000 to 10,000 yen per person for a full day kimono rental. The price is largely depending on the quality of the kimono you want. The staff will help you get dressed properly, including taking care of tying the obi (sash) for you. Some of the shops also offer optional services such as hair styling and professional photography. There are also several shops offering kimonos for men too, some of them even giving a discount for couples.
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Once you’re dressed up and looking good, it’s time to head out in your new outfit. A good place to start is the historic district of Gion and its narrow streets and alleys lined with traditional Edo-era Machiya townhouses. Around here, you will find tons of great backdrops and an ample supply of photography opportunities.3
Continue over to Higashiyama, another one of Kyoto’s historical districts located just a short walk from the eastern side of Gion. Higashiyama is a hilly district full of small shops, restaurants and teahouses. There are also plenty of shrines and temples scattered around the area.
4 One of the most photogenic temples in Higashiyama is Yasaka Koshin-do. What sets this little temple apart is the unique way worship and pray is practiced here. Worshippers are supposed to write their wish on a small cloth ball called “kukurizaru”. These are sold at a counter, and once you are done writing down your wish, you can attach it to the temple, where it will be kept for an undisclosed length of time. This quirky little temple is very colorful and will also be an excellent place to snap some more photos!- Yasaka Koshindo Temple
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- Kyoto Kyoutoshi Higashiyama-ku Kinenchou 390
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Continue up Higashiyama until you reach Kiyomizu-dera, one of the most iconic temples in Kyoto and a gorgeous place giving you both the beautiful temple as well as the surrounding hills full of lush greenery as another perfect backdrop for those photos. From up here, you also get a splendid view of the city far, far down below.- Kiyomizu-dera Temple
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- Kyoto Kyoutoshi Higashiyama-ku Kiyomizu 1-294
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- [Gates open] 6:00 [Gates shu…
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Kinkaku-ji, Kiyomizu-dera, & Fushimi Inari Taisha One Day Tour
¥8,923
Update date：2024/04/20
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