Hi! So I’ll be in kyoto tomorrow and wearing a rental kimono and I’ll be alone…. and I have no idea what to do as I know many others wearing them are in groups or at least pairs whereas I’ll be alone and have well no photographer around to help for sure. And I’m kinda worried about the sandals too since I know they can hurt the feet. Would you recommend I not go at all? Or to just go and take pics of other places but not myself or ask random people to help me (they may not take good photos etc) or try and find some random others also in kimonos and join them? Or to switch the sandals with my own Slippers from home? Like what should I do? I’m also at a loss since I don’t know if I could find any other English speaking international solo travellers to temporarily hang out with. I’ve posted on various Facebook groups to no avail. Have been doing so since last month/:
https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments/17987bw/what_do_you_reccomend_to_do_in_this_situation/
5 comments
If you want nice photos of you in a kimono, why not try book an Airbnb Experience with a photographer/Kimono rental. I can see several that still have availability for tomorrow.
It does sound pretty ballsy to do this alone. But if you have the confidence, then good for you.
If you don’t feel comfortable, then don’t do it. You can still explore Kyoto and submerge yourself in culture without dressing up for it.
Why don’t you just take a backpack, camera and get lost in some non-toursity neighbourhoods, then find someone really nice to have lunch on Google maps? Then maybe you could speak to a Kimono rental company in person anyway and ask them what people usually do in your situation, to fill that curiosity gap.
Kyoto has so many tourists you will easily be able to find someone to take pictures for you, if you don’t like the picture they take, ask someone else after they leave. You can get a selfie stick too, just don’t try and use it in really crowded areas and block people with it.
You don’t have to rent the traditional sandals if you don’t want to, many people wear regular sandals or even flip flops, if you really want to though then taking a spare pair of shoes to switch into is fine, no one is going to care that you switched shoes, just make sure you look after the rental ones and don’t forget them anywhere!
You also don’t have to wear it the whole time, you can rent for just a few hours, walk around a few of the areas and enjoy it, then go back, get changed and explore further places in your regular clothes.
I live in Kyoto and have seen ton of female solo travelers. You would never stand out in kimono or not.
I’m sure random stranger would happily take your photo.
Or you can ask shop staff or service staff at cafes.
As for sandals, you may want to have your own in the bag just in case.
You have to know some women even wear shoes in kimono for fashion.
Wouldn’t be weird to me at all.