Kimonos are important pieces of clothing in Japan. They can vary in appearance, but are always beautiful and graceful.
However, with that beauty and grace can come a steep price.
Some kimonos can cost as little as $40, while others can cost several thousand dollars.
The cost of the clothing depends on three primary things – the fabric, the pattern, and the designer.
There are also differences in tourist kimonos and authentic kimonos that impact the price.
To learn more about kimonos, keep reading! We’re going to cover everything you need to know, including how to tell a tourist and an authentic kimono apart.
About Kimonos
Kimono vs Yukata
A kimono and a yukata are very similar pieces of clothing.
Kimonos are usually made from materials like silk or wool, while the yukata is linen or cotton. Yukatas are cooler and made for being worn in warmer weather.
The materials used for kimonos mean that they are more luxurious, and typically worn for formal events.
The yukata is much cheaper, and great for casual events in the summer.
There are also differences in the shape of these two items of clothing.
Kimonos have a full-width, soft collar and yukatas have a stiffer collar that is half-width.
This is because of the difference in materials! A kimono will also typically have two collars or more, and a yukata will only have one collar.
The final difference lies in the lengths of the sleeves, and you can read more about that here.
How Much Is A Kimono?
The price of kimonos can vary greatly depending on material, patterns, and the designer.
The average cost of a kimono usually lies between $40 and $800, but they can cost a lot more, too.
If a kimono is bought from a known designer, with intricate patterns, and made of natural silk, it can cost thousands of dollars.
A wool kimono will cost an average of around $240, but prices can once again vary.
Cotton kimonos will go for about $40, and silk kimonos usually start at $245.
Cotton kimonos are the ones that are typically referred to as yukatas.
What Determines The Price Of A Kimono?
Material
The material used plays a key role in the price of any kimono. Silk is one of the most expensive fabrics that are used to make kimonos.
Not only does the price of the silk factor in, but also the fact that it has to be hand sewn.
Natural silk is challenging to work with, the time it takes to make one outfit will impact the price.
Anyone who makes kimonos has to go through extensive training to do so.
They have to show that they can make a kimono from scratch in just 8 hours in order to be considered a professional.
It’s a craft that is challenging but also very rewarding!
Patterns On The Fabric
The second factor that determines the price of a kimono are the patterns.
A lot of fabrics can have patterns printed onto them, which makes the final product cheaper. More expensive fabrics are hand-dyed, which also adds to the cost.
Who Designed it
Like Gucci and Prada, people will spend huge amounts of money on famous brands.
There are also brands like Chiso, who produce kimonos of exquisite quality and high prices. There, kimonos can cost 5.3 million yen ($38,744.39) or more.
Other known names in the kimono world include Kotaro Shimizu, Kako Moriguchi, and Yoshimatsu Nambu.
Like many people can recognize brands like Givenchy or Chanel, a fashion-conscious person in Japan can easily recognize these peoples’ works.
Branding and associated names play a big role in prices, as is the case around the world.
If you want a more affordable kimono, staying away from names like the ones above will help.
Tourist Kimonos vs Authentic Kimonos
There are some big differences between tourist kimonos and the ones worn by Japanese citizens. Although both can be made from various materials, the coloring differs.
In Japan, authentic kimonos are not sold in sets, but are custom-made. In other words, you won’t buy an authentic kimono with an obi.
Only tourist kimonos are sold in sets of matching colors, because this is more popular for Westerners.
For many tourists, having a kimono and matching obi is more preferable.
For the Japanese, the kimono and obi are not supposed to match.
Instead, they should be opposite colors, such as purple with yellow. The contrast is more appealing and is a sign of authenticity.
So, if you see kimonos being sold in sets with matching colors, they are tourist kimonos!
This isn’t a bad thing. It just means that owners are trying to share their culture in a way they know tourists usually find appealing.
In terms of price, tourist kimonos can also be very expensive, depending on where they are from.
All the factors mentioned before will come into play, too.
Is It Inappropriate To Wear A Kimono If You Aren’t Japanese?
Thankfully, it isn’t considered inappropriate to wear a kimono if you are not Japanese.
You can go to Japan as a tourist and enjoy participating in the culture without fear of being seen as rude.
Where Can You Buy A Kimono?
There are lots of great options for buying kimonos, even if you aren’t in Japan.
You can check out Yamato Kimono’s online store, or visit Yonaguni Ori in Okinawa. Alternatively, there are some great middle-of-the-range kimonos available at Kururi.
Final Thoughts
Kimono prices can vary depending on the material they’re made from, their patterns and dye, and their designer.
You can find kimonos for as little as $40 in some places, and $800 or more in others!
There are a number of high-end retailers like Chiso, too. Looking through their website, there are kimonos available for 5.3 million yen or more. That would be almost $40,000!
Overall, the price of kimonos can vary based on a number of factors.
However, no matter your budget, there are options available for you.
You can even rent kimonos for a day in some places, so you can always enjoy the culture on your visits.
I hope that, by exploring this website, you all will develop a much deeper appreciation for Japan, and that it may even influence you to pay it a visit yourself eventually! It is definitely a trip of a lifetime, and whether you experience it firsthand, or through my own website, I’m sure you will become just as passionate as I always have been!
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