What is Japanese kimono? Introducing Kimono characteristics, types, and places where you can experience

Kimono (kimono) is the national costume of Japan.

In fact, there are many different types of kimono, and they are used depending on the occasion.

Japanese people do not choose kimonos based on their mood or preference at the time, but rather choose an appropriate kimono for each occasion.

This article introduces an overview and history of the Japanese kimono, the different types of kimono for different occasions, how to wear a kimono, and where you can experience wearing and buy a kimono.

If you read this you will gain a deeper understanding of Japanese kimonos, so if you’re interested, be sure to read to the end.

What is Kimono?

The kimono is the national dress of Japan and is also called “Wafuku”.

As Western culture has taken root in Japan today, most Japanese people, except for those in certain professions, do not wear kimonos every day.

However, kimonos are an indispensable part of life for Japanese people.

This is because kimonos are often worn on special occasions, such as important events in life or traditional Japanese events.

For example, Japanese people wear kimonos at coming-of-age ceremonies (a ceremony to celebrate coming of age held in Japan on the second Monday of January each year), weddings, and tea ceremonies.

There are different types of kimono that are suitable for these special occasions, so Japanese people wear kimono to look appropriate for the occasion.

Although Japanese people do not wear kimono often in daily life, when they do, they always consider how to choose the most suitable kimono so as not to ruin the atmosphere of the event. It can be said that the thoughtfulness of Japanese people is clearly shown through kimono.

Characteristics of a typical Japanese kimono

The general characteristics of a kimono are as follows:

The shape of kimono

The kimono is shaped like the letter T and has loose fitting body and sleeves.

The colour and pattern of kimono

Kimono come in a variety of colors and patterns, which vary depending on the type.

For example, the black kimono known as “Kuro-tomesode,” which is primarily worn at weddings, has a black base color and features designs of cranes and turtles, which are considered auspicious in Japan.

Patterns may change depending on the season: spring kimonos may have cherry blossoms, winter kimonos may have chrysanthemums, etc.

The material of kimono

There are many different materials used for kimonos, but the following five are the most commonly used:

1. Pure silk
   100% silk. It has an elegant luster and is the highest grade kimono material.
2. Cotton
   It is strong and highly absorbent, so it is mainly used for casual kimonos and yukatas.
   
3. Hemp
   It is highly absorbent and is used mainly for summer casual kimonos.
4. Wool
   A thick material made from sheep’s wool. It is warm, so it is mainly used for winter casual kimonos.
5. Polyester
   A strong, shiny synthetic fiber. Compared to other materials, polyester is more readily available, so kimonos made with it tend to be cheaper.

Underwear and accessories necessary for wearing a kimono

To wear a kimono beautifully, there are specific undergarments and accessories that are appropriate for it.

• Hadajuban
  Undergarment for wearing with a kimono
  
• Nagajuban
  A layer of clothing worn between Hadajuban and Kimono, like a shirt or blouse worn under a jacket.
  
• Obi
  A wide piece of cloth worn around the waist over a kimono
• Obi-age
  Cloth that decorates the top of the obi
• Obi-jime
  A string wrapped around the center of the obi
• Obi-dome
  An ornament attached to the Obi-jime string.
• Tabi
  Two-toe socks
  
• Zori
  Footwear made from rush grass, the same material as tatami mats

History of Japanese Kimono

The history of the kimono is long, dating back to the Jomon period (approximately 13,000 to 2,300 years ago).

At the time, the clothes people wore were “kanpui,” a piece of cloth wrapped around the body, and “kantoi,” a piece of cloth with a hole for the head. These two are said to be the origins of the kimono.

Since then, kimonos have changed in shape and design to suit the times.

For example, during the Heian period (794-1185), the development of aristocratic culture gave rise to a gorgeous, multi-layered kimono for female aristocrats called “Junihitoe.”

As the power of the samurai grew stronger during the Kamakura period (1185-1333) and Muromachi period (1336-1573), men’s kimonos began to feature more flamboyant patterns that expressed individuality.

In this way, depending on the historical context, many different ideas were incorporated into the kimono, leading to the shape of the kimono worn today.

During the Meiji period (1868-1912), Western culture was introduced to Japan, so Japanese people began to wear more Western clothing and less kimono.

However, kimonos have not gone out of fashion and are now worn on special occasions such as life’s turning points and traditional Japanese events.

The kimono is a traditional Japanese costume that is still loved by Japanese people today.

Types of Kimono by Occasion / Women’s Edition

There are different types of kimono suited to different occasions, and Japanese people choose their kimono according to the occasion.

From here, we will introduce the different types of kimono for different occasions.

First, let’s take a look at eight types of kimono that women wear for different occasions.

[Wedding / Married Women] Kuro-tomesode

Kuro-tomesode is a kimono for married women that is mainly worn at weddings. It is the most formal kimono for married women.

It is characterized by its dominant black color and congratulatory patterns such as cranes or turtles on the hem.

For Japanese women, Kuro-tomesode is considered formal attire worn by the mothers of the bride and groom at weddings.

Since Kuro-tomesode is the most formal type of kimono, by wearing it, the mother of the bride and groom shows respect to the guests. Married women who are not relatives of the bride or groom are not allowed to wear Kuro-tomesode at the wedding ceremony.

In Japan, there are families where Kuro-tomesode are passed down from mother to daughter for generations, and many Japanese women inherit their Kuro-tomesode from their mothers when they get married.

[Celebrations] Iro-tomesode

Iro-tomesode is a kimono worn by women on celebratory occasions, regardless of whether they are unmarried or married. It is one of the highest grade kimonos, second only to kuro-tomesode.

Simply put, Iro-tomesode is a non-black version of Kuro-tomesode.The colors used include purple, blue, gray, pink, and yellow, but all of them are characterized by pale shades.

Iro-tomesode has the following position for Japanese women:

• Formal attire worn by female relatives (grandmothers, aunts, older sisters, younger sisters, etc.) at weddings
• Formal attire worn by female guests (colleagues, friends, etc.) at weddings who are not relatives

While many Japanese women attend Western-style weddings in Japan, some of whom wear iro-tomesode. This is because wearing iro-tomesode adds a festive touch to the wedding, which is appreciated by the bride and groom.

[Shrine Wedding / Bride] Shiromuku

Shiromuku is a kimono worn by the bride at a wedding ceremony held at a shrine. It can be said to be of the same rank as a wedding dress.

It is characterized by being made in a solid white color on both the front and back. Since white can be dyed any color, the Shiromuku set means that from now on, the bride will be “dyed in the color of her husband’s family,” meaning she will change to match her husband’s family tradition.

[Shrine Wedding / Bride] Iro-uchikake

Iro-uchikake is also a type of kimono worn by brides at weddings held at shrines. It is dyed in a color other than white and features designs that are considered auspicious in Japan, such as cranes and turtles.

​​Iro-uchikake is usually worn after the Shiromuku for a change. Changing from the pure white Shiromuku to the colorful Iro-uchikake means that “the bride has been dyed the colors of her husband’s family,” meaning that she has become a member of her husband’s family.

[Celebrations / Unmarried women] Furisode

Furisode is a kimono worn by unmarried women on celebratory occasions. It is the most formal kimono for unmarried women.

The main feature of furisode is its long sleeves.

It is said that furisode became the kimono for unmarried women because in the past Japanese women would wave their long sleeves to express their love for men.

For Japanese women, furisode is considered formal attire worn at Coming of Age Ceremonies.

There are various theories about why people wear furisode at Coming of Age Ceremonies, including that “wearing a formal furisode will make the girl realize that she has become an adult” and “a furisode with long sleeves will help ward off bad luck and ensures a happy life after coming of age.”

It can also be worn as formal attire at university graduation ceremonies.

At graduation ceremonies, it is common to wear a bottom called “hakama,” which is similar to pants in Western clothing.

[Condolences] Kuro-mofuku

Kuro-mofuku are worn by women, regardless of whether they are unmarried or married, in situations where they wish to express condolences.

The base is black, just like kuro-tomesode, but there is no pattern on the hem. There is only family crest (a symbol that represents a family’s lineage and rank) on the back of both sleeves, both chests, and the back.

For Japanese women, kuro-mofuku are considered formal attire worn by the chief mourner and relatives at funerals and memorial services.

[Festive Occasions like Parties] Homongi

Homongi is a women’s kimono suitable for festive occasions, worn by both single and married women.

The pattern extends from the upper body down to the hem, making it highly fashionable.

For Japanese women, Homongi has the following position:

• Semi-formal attire (a simplified version of formal attire) worn by female guests at weddings
• Semi-formal attire worn at parties and reunions
• Semi-formal attire worn for theater, concerts, and other performances

Homongi are not only worn for formal occasions such as weddings, but are often worn when you want to dress up for festive occasions such as parties.

[Modest occasions like tea ceremonies] Tsukesage

Tsukesage is a type of kimono for women that can be worn on modest occasions by both unmarried and married women.

Like a homongi, it has a pattern from the upper body to the hem, but compared to a homongi, it has fewer patterns.

For Japanese women, tsukesage has the following position:

• Semi-formal attire worn at traditional Japanese events such as tea ceremonies
• Semi-formal attire worn at dinner parties

Compared to the homongi, the tsukesage is more modest and is often worn in tea ceremonies held in a quiet atmosphere, or at somewhat formal dinner parties.

[Casual to semi-formal occasions] Iromuji

Iromuji is a type of kimono for women that can be worn in a wide range of situations by both unmarried and married women.

Unlike the kimonos we have introduced so far, iromuji have no patterns whatsoever. They are dyed in a single color other than black, and come in a variety of colors such as pink, purple, and green.

The reason why iromuji can be worn in a wide range of situations is because they can be transformed into kimonos appropriate for the occasion by adding or removing a family crest and changing the number of crests.

For example, it can change it to the following:

• No family crest: casual wear
• With family crest (one in the center of the back): same rank as Tsukesage
• With family crest (one in the center of the back, two on each sleeve, total of three): same rank as Homongi. If the base color is a mourning color (gray or navy blue, etc.) and a black obi is used, it can also be worn as semi-formal attire for condolence occasions.

For this reason, iromuji is a versatile kimono for Japanese women that can be easily worn in any situation.

For those who often meet other people, having a set of Iromuji available will be very convenient.

Types of Kimono by Occasion / Men’s Edition

Next, we will introduce three types of kimono that men can wear for different occasions.

[Ceremonial occasions] Kuro-montsuki

Kuro-montsuki is a kimono for men worn at weddings, funerals, and other ceremonial occasions by both unmarried and married men. It is of the same rank as Kuro-tomesode and Kuro-mofuku for women.

It consists of a short kimono, a haori (coat), and hakama (wide-legged trousers), and is characterized by being dyed a deep, high-quality black color.

It is the most formal kimono for men, and for Japanese men, Kuro-montsuki has the following position:

• Formal attire worn by the father of the bride and groom at a wedding
• Wedding attire worn by the groom at a shrine wedding
• Formal attire worn at a funeral

In modern Japan, while many men choose Western-style suits for weddings or funerals, some still opt to wear Kuro-montsuki at important ceremonies as a way to express gratitude to the attendees.

[Celebrations] Iro-montsuki

Iro-montsuki is a kimono for men worn on celebratory occasions regardless of whether they are unmarried or married. It is of the same rank as iro-tomesode kimono for women.

You can think of Iro-montsuki as Kuro-montsuki that can be changed to a color other than black. Colors such as gray, white, navy blue, and purple are often used.

For Japanese men, Iro-montsuki have the following position:

• Formal attire worn by the groom at a wedding
• Formal attire for attending a wedding as a guest
• Formal attire worn at coming-of-age ceremonies

Wearing Iro-montsuki for celebratory occasions adds a festive atmosphere, so many Japanese men choose to wear Iro-montsuki instead of Western formal attire.

[Casual to semi-formal occasions] Omeshi

Omeshi is a kimono for men that can be worn in a wide variety of situations by both unmarried and married men. It is of the same rank as Iromuji (plain-colored kimono) for women.

Omeshi garments are worn on different occasions depending on whether or not a family crest is included.

If no family crest is included, Omeshi can be worn as casual attire, while adding a family crest makes it suitable for semi-formal occasions.

For Japanese men, Omeshi has the following position:

• Kimono worn as casual wear
• Semi-formal attire worn at traditional Japanese events such as tea ceremonies
• Semi-formal attire for parties, reunions, and dinner parties
• Semi-formal attire worn for theater, concerts, and other performances

Omeshi is a versatile kimono for Japanese men.

Types of Kimono by Occasion / Both Men & Women’s Edition

There are also kimonos that can be worn by both men and women. There are three types:

[Going out] Komon

Komon is a type of kimono that is mainly worn for going out. It is characterized by a pattern that is repeated all over the kimono.

For Japanese people, Komon can be considered stylish attire for going out.It is easy to understand if you imagine clothing worn when meeting friends or going on a date.

[Casual wear] Tsumugi

Tsumugi is a type of kimono that is mainly worn as everyday clothing and is characterized by patterns such as stripes and checkered patterns.

Because the fabric is durable, Japanese people use tsumugi as everyday clothing, often wearing it repeatedly.

[Summer events and accommodations] Yukata

Yukata is a kimono that is mainly worn at summer events and accommodations. It is made from breathable and highly absorbent fabric.

Additionally, compared to other types of Kimono, Yukata is simpler and easier to wear because when wearing Yukata you do not need to wear the following underwear and accessories:

• Nagajuban
• Obi-age
• Obi-jime
• Tabi
• Zori

For Japanese people, yukata has the following position.

• Attire worn for summer events such as fireworks festivals or traditional festivals.
• Nightwear for when staying at accommodation

If you visit Japan in the summer, you will likely see many Japanese people walking around in yukata. Spotting them often indicates that a festival or fireworks event is taking place nearby.

Yukata can also be worn at some accommodations, though not all of them do.

Yukata were originally made as a kimono to wear after bathing during the Edo period (1603-1868) when sento (Japanese public baths) were developed, and this tradition continues today, with yukata being provided as amenities in accommodations.

For this reason, it can be said that the yukata is the first kimono that tourists in Japan are likely to come into contact with.

The reason many Japanese kimonos are expensive

There are many different types of kimono, but most of them are expensive. The main reason for this is that most kimonos have the following two characteristics:

Made from pure silk

Most kimonos are made from pure silk.

Pure silk is the most expensive material for kimonos. It is said that there is pure silk that can cost over 10,000 yen per kilogram.

In addition, pure silk requires a lot of effort to dye, weave, and process for use in kimonos, so it tends to be more expensive.

Made by hand by artisans

The fact that kimonos are made by hand by artisans is another reason why they are expensive.

The more effort and care put into making a kimono, the more it costs, so it tends to be expensive.

How to wear a kimono

There are two ways to wear a kimono.

Ask a kimono dresser

A kimono dresser is a person who helps with putting on a kimono.

Nowadays, even Japanese people don’t have many opportunities to wear kimonos, so not many people know how to wear them.

For this reason, Japanese people who are not accustomed to wearing kimonos may ask a kimono dresser to help them put on the kimono when the occasion arises.

Formal kimonos, especially Kuro-tomesode and Iro-tomesode, are complicated to wear, so Japanese people often ask a kimono dressing expert to help them.

Even for less formal kimonos, such as yukata, if you are not used to wearing them, you can request the assistance of a kimono dresser.

Generally, you can request a kimono dresser at the following locations:

• Kimono rental shop
• Kimono dressing class
• Beauty Salon

The fee for hiring a kimono dresser will vary depending on the type of kimono, but it will generally be between 2,000 and 5,000 yen per person.

Wear it yourself

For simpler, less formal kimonos, it is possible to wear them on your own if you learn how to put them on.

There are two main ways to learn how to wear a kimono:

Searching online articles and YouTube videos

Nowadays, information on how to wear a kimono is available through internet articles and YouTube videos.

These videos are often posted by kimono retailers or professional kimono dressers, so many Japanese people who want to quickly find out how to wear a kimono properly or who want to learn how to wear one without spending a lot of money use these methods to find out how to wear a kimono on their own.

Learn from a kimono dresser

A kimono dresser is a professional who helps you put on kimonos.When Japanese people want to learn the correct way to wear a kimono on their own, they take lessons from a kimono dresser.

If you want to learn from a kimono dresser, it is recommended to contact a kimono dressing school.

Main places to experience wearing kimono

If you’ve read this far and thought, “I want to try wearing a kimono!”, you can experience wearing a kimono at the following two places, so feel free to look them up if you’re interested.

Kimono rental shop

As the name suggests, a kimono rental shop is a store where you can rent kimonos.

Kimono rental shops often have kimono dressers on hand, so even if it’s your first time wearing a kimono, you can feel at ease.

At rental kimono shops, you can experience a wide range of kimono types mentioned above. For sightseeing purposes, in the summer, you can try wearing yukata, and in other seasons, you can mainly experience komon or tsumugi kimonos.

The average cost of renting a kimono is around 3,000 to 10,000 yen per person.

Kimono rental shops are easy to find in tourist areas, so be sure to look for them.

Kimono dressing class

A kimono dressing class is a class where you can learn how to wear a kimono.

Generally, kimono dressing schools are for those who want to thoroughly learn how to wear a kimono. However, some schools offer one-day experience courses for tourists, where you can learn how to wear a kimono and try it out.

If you want to experience learning how to put on a kimono, we recommend a kimono dressing class.

The cost of a kimono experience at a kimono dressing class is roughly 3,000 to 10,000 yen per person.

Kimono dressing classes are relatively easy to find in any area, but they may not exist in your area, so it’s a good idea to check in advance.

Main places to buy kimonos

Finally, we will introduce four main places where you can buy kimonos.

Please refer to this if you are looking to buy a kimono as a souvenir or to wear in daily life.

Kimono shop in department store / shopping facility

There are almost always kimono shops in department stores and shopping facilities.

Most of the kimonos introduced in this article are sold there, so many Japanese people go to these kimono shops when they want to buy a kimono.

You can find kimono shops on the fashion floors of department stores and shopping facilities, so try and find them.

Privately-run kimono specialty store

Privately-run kimono specialty stores also carry a wide variety of kimonos.

Many of these shops are family-run and have been passed down through generations. They sell unique kimonos specific to their shop, so they tend to be more expensive compared to other places where you can buy kimonos.

Additionally, the staff at these shops have extensive knowledge of kimonos, so if you consult them about the type of kimono you want for a specific occasion, they will suggest the most suitable kimono for you.

Privately-run kimono specialty shops are often found in city centers.

Depending on the area you visit, you may not be able to find it, so if you want to go, we recommend checking in advance.

Online shopping

Kimono can also be purchased online.

The types of kimonos available vary by shop, but most shops carry the types of kimonos mentioned here.

When there is no kimono store nearby or when a kimono is needed urgently, some Japanese people purchase kimonos online, although they need to measure the dimensions themselves.

Some stores offer overseas shipping, so if it’s difficult for you to bring the kimono home with you, it might be a good idea to use this online shopping service.

Recycled kimono store

A recycled kimono store is a store that sells used kimonos.

Because they sell second-hand kimonos, their prices are cheaper than other kimono stores. Japanese people tend to use them in the following situations:

• Want to get an affordable kimono as much as possible.
• Have a few opportunities to wear it, but renting each time is not cost-effective.

The desired kimono may not always be available, but compared to other kimono stores, the prices are more affordable, making it recommended when you want to buy one as cheaply as possible.

There are recycled kimono stores all over the city, so it’s a good idea to check to see if there are any in the area you’re visiting.

Summary

Kimono is the traditional Japanese dress. There are many different types, and there is an appropriate kimono for each occasion.

Except for some professions, Japanese people do not wear kimonos every day, but on special days such as milestones in life or traditional Japanese events, they almost always wear them. Therefore, the kimono is an essential part of Japanese culture.

If reading this article has sparked even more interest in kimonos, be sure to visit a shop or try experiencing wearing one for yourself.