You want a kimono, but it looks expensive... Are cheap ones fake? Second-hand items? Without a little knowledge, it's difficult to convince yourself to buy a kimono. Here we explain the price of kimono and where to buy one.
How to Determine the Price of Kimono
Kimono prices vary depending on the material, where they are made, the design, and the time and effort required to make it. The range is very wide, from a few thousand yen to a several million yen. It may exceed 10 million yen if you want one from famous dyers and weavers. The price varies depending on the quality of the kimono, but here is a rough guide.
- 200,000-300,000 yen: Most of these kimono have stencil dyes.
- 400,000-800,000 yen: Kimono that incorporate both stencil dyeing and manual dyeing, or are made by hand-drawing.
- Over 1 million yen: Mostly hand-drawn kimono.
Kimono Do Not Have a "Fixed Price"!?
Distributors and retailers often determine the final price. So the price of the same kimono may vary considerably depending on the store that sells it. In other words, the actual value of the kimono in an expensive shop may not always be different from those in a cheaper one.
To wear a kimono, you'll need underwear, Nagajuban (長襦袢 long inner garment), a cord, a date-jime (伊達締め inner belt), an obi sash, a pair of zori sandals, and a bag. Now, let's look at the price of kimono and obi for each store.
Japanese Department Store's Kimono Departments
Kimono prices here range from about 200,000 yen to 5 million yen, and those for obi market range from about 100,000 yen to 1 million yen. Department stores cater to a wide range of users, from those who are new to wearing kimono to those who wear them habitually, and including wealthy customers, so there is an accordingly wide variety of kimono available.
Specialty Kimono Store
Kimono prices are a little bit cheaper than at a department store. They range from about 200,000 yen to 2,000,000 yen, and obi prices run from about 100,000 yen to 800,000 yen.
Online Shop
Kimono prices range from only 1,000 yen to 300,000 yen, and with obi priced from about 10,000 yen to 100,000 yen. Department stores and specialty kimono shops only sell new kimono, but you can buy second-hand ones at online shops, which is why they are so cheap.
When purchasing used kimonos from the online shop, check the following with the seller.
- Is there any mold or maggots?
- If the size is too small, you will need to resew it to let some out, but in that case, is there enough fabric for your size?
For those who are new to wearing kimono, we recommend that you begin by looking at the kimono and buy with the help of a knowledgeable shop assistant. So we do not recommend that you buy a new kimono online.
Kimono Franchise Store
Kimono prices range from about 100,000 yen to 200,000 yen, with obi from about 50,000 yen to 100,000 yen. Franchise stores are often found in shopping centers.
If you plan to buy a kimono that costs more than 800,000 yen from a kimono franchise store, we recommend that you consult with a kimono specialist at a department store or a specialized kimono store first.
Prices of Kimono Accessories
- Kimonon underwear: About 3,000 yen to 20,000 yen.
- Nagajuban: About 5,000 yen to 30,000 yen.
- String: From several hundred yen to 1,000 yen.
- Date-jime: From several hundred yen to 3,000 yen.
- Zori: About 3,000 yen to 20,000 yen.
- Bag: Prices start at around 3,000 yen to 50,000 yen.
What do you think? Many may think that kimono is very expensive, but it is said that you can wear one for three generations if you take good care of it. (Of course, there can be more than three generations even!) Anyway, why not try one?
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