PhotoArashiyama · Ukyo, Kyoto

Kimono photoshoot in Arashiyama

In short

A kimono photoshoot in Arashiyama starts at about 6:30 am in the bamboo grove and lasts 30 minutes; an extra hour ($150) continues to Nonomiya Shrine and ends by the Katsura River around 8. It costs from $260 for 15 edited photos within 3 days. Kimono with dressing is $55 per person, arranged before the shops open.

Starting from: $260
Duration: 30 min
Edited photos: 15

Why here

Why choose Kimono photoshoot in Arashiyama?

The bamboo grove is the one Arashiyama frame that cannot be taken later in the day, and a kimono makes it — the dark green walls of moso bamboo need a block of colour in the middle of the path. Because the rental shops by the stations open at nine, a kimono session here starts with the dressing the night before and the first train out of Kyoto Station.

How the shoot is planned

How a session in Arashiyama is planned

The route

We meet at Saga-Arashiyama Station and walk eight minutes to the grove, entering from the Nonomiya Shrine end. The base thirty minutes is on the path: the tall stretch above Tenryu-ji’s north gate for full-length frames, the curve where the fence runs low for sleeves and obi detail. With an extra hour, Nonomiya Shrine, with its bark-covered torii and moss garden, gives a quieter set of portraits. Then we drop down through the lanes to the river, finishing upstream of the Togetsukyo with the mountain behind — on gravel and flat paths throughout, so zori are no problem.

The timing

Most days the grove stays clear until about 7:30; in the late-November leaf season and on spring weekends aim for 6:30 or earlier. In summer the sun clears the ridge before six and the canopy glows bright green; in winter first light is blue-green and dim until after seven, which suits a slower start. JR Sagano trains from Kyoto Station leave before six and take about 15 minutes.

What’s included

What Kimono photoshoot in Arashiyama includes

In the package

15 edited photos
A short walk from the rental studio to one spot close by
Advice on a kimono colour that reads well against the season
Private online gallery within 3 days

Fees and permits on the route

Tenryu-ji: Garden about ¥500, buildings extra; 8:30 am–5 pm. No tripods; pre-wedding shoots need permission
Hogon-in: Open only in spring and autumn special periods, about ¥700; evening illumination in autumn with a separate ticket
Okochi Sanso: About ¥1,000 including matcha and a sweet; 9 am–5 pm. Personal photography only

Book online

Inspiration

Kimono photoshoot: ideas for your shoot

Frames by photographers on Unsplash, credited below — the mood to plan your own shoot against, not our portfolio.

Photos: Beth Macdonald, Maria Cassagne, EMANUELE Ricciardi, H Liu, Launde Morel on Unsplash

Before you book

FAQ — Kimono photoshoot in Arashiyama

How much is a kimono photoshoot in Arashiyama?

From $260 for 30 minutes and 15 edited photos within 3 days. Kimono rental with dressing is $55 per person; Nonomiya Shrine and the grove are free.

Where do we dress for a 6:30 start in Arashiyama?

The shops near the stations open around nine, so we rent in central Kyoto the afternoon before with next-day return, or quote a dresser at your hotel. You then ride the train already dressed.

Can we use the bamboo as a prop or lean on it?

No. Parts of the grove are fenced after damage, and touching or carving the bamboo is not allowed. Poses stay on the path, with the bamboo behind you.

Same shoot elsewhere