I don’t know about you, but I grew up fascinated by Japanese culture, and wearing a kimono was always on my bucket list. So, when I got the chance to do it in Tokyo, I wasn’t going to miss out!

And let me tell you—I found the perfect place!

Mai-ko Kimono Rental & Tea Ceremony

They’ve got locations in Tokyo and Kyoto and offer a bunch of fun options. You can:

• Rent a kimono for the day and wander the city
• Try on full samurai armor (yep, seriously)
• Or do what we did — combine it with a traditional tea ceremony

How to Book & What to Expect

Book online in advance (a couple of weeks ahead is best) here Mai-ko Kimono Rental & Tea Ceremony. When you arrive, the staff separates men and women into dressing areas. And then comes the fun part — choosing your kimono! There are so many colors and patterns, it took me forever to decide.

You can also book something like this or similar somewhere else:

Dress up!

They’ll dress you in layers, tie the obi sash, do your hair with pins (if you want), and hand you a cute little bag for essentials. For guys, it’s a simpler yukata and obi look, but still very cool.

I’ll explain each part of clothing for better understanding:

For women:

• You start with a haneri (underlayer) before putting on your kimono.
• You pick your obi sash (belt), which is tied with a decorative obi string.
• They even offer hairstyling with ornamental hairpins for that extra touch!
• You can also pick a small handbag to carry your essentials.

For men:

• The guys wear a yukata (light kimono) with an obi sash.
• The look is simple but still super traditional and stylish.

Time for Photos!

After you’re all dressed up, they’ll take you to a gorgeous rooftop garden with torii gates and bamboo for some photos — honestly, such a pretty setting.

The Tea Ceremony Experience

Once you’re done with photos, the tea ceremony begins. You’ll learn how to prepare matcha, whisk it properly, and serve it the traditional way. The lady who works there will explain everything in detail.

When you whisk the matcha, you have to be rigorous, the more white bubbles, the taste is better.

There’s even a bit about how to hold the cup and turn it toward your guest to show off the art on the ceramic. That way you are showing respect to your guest.

You’ll also enjoy a traditional Japanese sweet — and the whole thing is surprisingly calming. Simple, beautiful, and very memorable. And there are so many simple things in this ceremony that make it so special.

Want to Explore the Streets in Your Kimono?

After the ceremony, you can choose to go outside and walk around Tokyo in your kimono! Just a heads-up—the traditional flip-flops (geta) take some getting used to, we put our shoes on because we couldn’t walk properly in those flip-flops.

This was such a beautiful and unique experience, made even more special with the tea ceremony. If you’re visiting Japan, Tokyo or Kyoto, I highly recommend it! Hope you’ll be mesmerized like we were 🩷