■Kimono Prices and Where to Buy
Are you thinking that kimonos are too expensive?
Basically, that is right!
It is a one-of-a-kind item made by a craftsman who spends a lot of time and effort to make it with techniques that have been handed down from generation to generation, so it is that valuable!^^
For your reference, the first time I purchased a custom-made kimono at a kimono shop, only the Kyoyuzen Komon fabric cost about 300,000 yen!
Plus sewing fees, obi and obi-age, obi-string, obi-jime, etc…
Well, I spent a lot as my first bonus, even if it’s a memorial…
But! That does not make it easy to wear a kimono.
If you don’t wear it for weddings, funerals and other public occasions, we can enjoy kimonos with recycled, antique or affordable items^^
Currently, I set an estimate of the amount for JPY10,000-JPY28,900 (JPY30,000 is a little expensive…), and I’m thinking about if I really want or need, and how far I’m willing to pay for it and not regret it.
The following are the places I often use to make such purchases.
At a secondhand shop or antique shop that specializes in kimonos.
→”Tansuya” and “Nagamochiya” have a nationwide network, and each shop sells different items and has different specialties.
It’s very interesting to go to different stores and talk to the staff. And it helps us to learn a lot about kimonos.
If we hang around around Ginza or Omotesando, we’ll also find some great shops, so it’s fun to find our favorite one!
From flea market app
→ Because individuals are selling, we need to pay attention to the size, color and condition of the items we are looking for, but sometimes we can get very good items at very reasonable prices.
At antique fairs and flea markets.
→ There are quite a few bargains to be had!
It’s fun to visit the occasional antique market in Ueno and antique markets at shrines and temples.
There is also an antique shopping mall in Ginza called “Antique Mall Ginza” with a collection of Western antiques, Japanese and oriental antiques, kimonos and old cloth shops.
We recommend not only kimono, but also a wide variety of tea ceremony equipment and accessories.
The Oedo Antique Market, held every year at the Tokyo International Forum, is also nice.
Buying a washable kimono.
→Nowadays there are more and more kimonos that can be washed at home, such as polyester and cotton, instead of being made of silk.
It’s a bit more affordable than a bespoke kimonos.
If a silk kimono gets dirty, we have to send it to a washing service or kimono cleaning service, but we can enjoy wearing washable kimonos sparingly on days when the weather is not good or when you might get it dirty.
Bidding on the auction.
→If you like what you see on Yahoo auctions, you can bid on it.
Though I can not help but want it when I compete, and sometimes I go over my budget…
In my case, I have purchased a Komon, a Haori, an Okashige bag, and a Uchikake, all of which I have been pleased with.
Things to consider when buying kimonos
The points you should always pay attention to in the above methods are,
①Check with the seller thoroughly, as they often don’t fit or have dirt on them.
②Decide on a budget in advance.
Because of the small stature of the Japanese basically, the height and sleeve length (arm length: from the center of the back to the wrist) are particularly important to note.
Check and note your best size.
In case the size of kimono doesn’t fit you, but you like it, you may be able to have it resized for an additional 10,000 to 20,000 yen, so ask the shop staff for help.
New kimonos are nice, but in fact, older kimonos are often more solid.
My grandmother, a former kimono draper, told me that in the old days, the price was determined by the weight of the silk.
Indeed, the kimono my grandmother and mother wore when they were young is still in use more than 60 years later, and it looks so good even though I wear it now.
Please come see and touch many kimonos and develop your “eyes to judge the kimono”!
I think you will find your favorite pattern in an unchanging shape from ancient times, a shining example of craftsmanship, an astonishing design, and a spark joy experience as you experience the kimono.
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