What to Wear Under a Kimono

Under a rented kimono you wear a thin, simple layer, such as a t-shirt with leggings or shorts; the shop supplies the undergarments that go between you and the kimono, along with socks, sandals and a bag. Come without heavy makeup, which can stain the collar, and leave time: dressing takes about an hour. For a first rental, Yumeyakata’s classic kimono in central Kyoto is rated 4.8 from 295, from US$25 a person in current promotion (usually US$26) (checked October 2026).

What to wear when you rent a kimono

Wear something thin and close-fitting that you can sit in: a t-shirt with leggings or shorts is what YUUKAGA, one of the larger rental shops, recommends for comfort. Avoid anything bulky; the dressers wrap you in several layers and an obi, and a thick sweater underneath shows.

The shop supplies the rest. At most Kyoto rental shops the price includes the undergarments, the obi, tabi socks, sandals and a small bag, and your own clothes and handbag are kept until you come back. Yumeyakata keeps clothes and a handbag free and charges 550 yen a piece a day for a suitcase, stroller or large luggage.

Makeup. Keep it light. YUUKAGA asks guests to avoid heavy makeup because it can stain the kimono. Some shops offer makeup as an add-on; Yumeyakata’s is everyday makeup, not maiko or geiko makeup.

Shoes. You walk in sandals with tabi socks. The slopes below Kiyomizu-dera are stone-paved, with steps in places, so plan a shorter walk than you would in trainers.

Check dates for a classic kimono rental →

Do you wear a bra under a kimono?

You can. A thin, non-wired bra or a sports bra sits best under the kimono’s flat line; ask the dresser if you are unsure, since they will see what works on the day. Nothing else special is needed, as the undergarment the shop gives you goes over it.

Kimono or yukata?

A yukata is a light, unlined cotton summer kimono, worn with a narrower obi; a kimono is lined and worn over an undergarment. In Kyoto the rental shops switch with the season: YUUKAGA and Kaouka list a yukata from June to September and a kimono from October to May. A yukata is quicker to put on and cooler in summer; in October to May you will be glad of the kimono’s layers, and some shops add a haori jacket or a shawl in autumn and winter.

Using the toilet in a kimono

It takes care but is fine. Before you go, gather the long sleeves and tuck or hold them, then lift the layers of the kimono up together rather than one by one, and keep the obi dry. If something comes loose during the day, go back to the shop and ask the staff.

Is it okay to wear a kimono if you’re not Japanese?

Yes. Kyoto’s kimono rental shops exist to dress visitors. Two things show respect. Wear it left panel over right: right over left is how the dead are dressed, and the dressers will get it right for you. And behave in it as you would anywhere in Kyoto, especially in Gion, where the residents have closed the private side streets to photography and asked visitors not to photograph maiko and geiko without permission.

Pick a shop

Prices and ratings from GetYourGuide, checked October 2026; shops change prices, so treat them as a guide, not a quote.

What it all costs is in kimono rental prices in Kyoto.

What is included, recommended and charged from the GetYourGuide listings of each shop, read on 28 October 2026. The left-over-right rule is the standard way a kimono is worn in Japan; the Gion photography rule from reporting on the Gion Minamigawa district council’s 2019 rule.