7 reasons to visit Kimono Photo Studio WA in Tokyo

Would you like to have professional photos taken in authentic Kimono in Tokyo? Please come to our studio! Kimono Photo Studio WA in Tokyo is now in the fourth year, and we have lots of customers from all over the world.

洗練された着物写真、どこかで撮りたいなと思いませんか？それならぜひ当店にお越しくださいね。Kimono Photo Studio 和は今年4年目を迎えました。毎日世界中のお客様で楽しく賑わっています（もちろん日本の方もです！）

But WHY you should visit Kimono Photo Studio WA? Here are 7 reasons!

では、なぜKimono Photo Studio和なのかをお伝えしようと思います！

1. Located in central Tokyo, only 1 minute from Meguro station!

We are located at a very convenient place. 5 minutes from Shibuya, 12 minutes from Shinjuku, 7 minutes from Shinagawa by train. Most of the main cities in Tokyo can be reached within 20 minutes. After you reach JR (Japan Railway) Meguro station, 1 minute walking distance to our studio.
In cherry blossom season, you can go to Meguro riverside, which is the famous cherry blossom place. (We have kimono for outdoor as well.)

当スタジオは都心にあり、渋谷、新宿、品川からもすぐ来れます。そしてJR目黒駅からは徒歩1分！
桜の季節には近くの目黒川の桜を見に行けますよ。お出かけ用着物もありますのでぜひ。

2. Our plans includes everything you need.

Our plans start from JPY6,800+tax per person. It includes silk kimono, simple hair-setting with hair accessories, free cosmetic use though making-up is not included, 1 photo print, free props use such as fans, umbrellas and swords, and Matcha green tea with a Japanese sweets afterward if you have time. For kimono upgrading, professional hair-setting and make-up and additional prints and data, you can choose them from many options. Also you can take kimono photos with your own camera in our changing room, please take the most of our studio!

プランには必要なものはすべて含まれています。一番お手軽な6800円(税別)のプランにも着物、簡単ヘアセット、和小物どれでも使ってOK、プリント1枚が入っています。メイクは入っていませんが当店にある化粧品は自由に使っていただけます。控室でのお客様でのカメラで撮影もOK。しかも撮影の後には抹茶と和菓子も出てくるスーパーおもてなし！もっともっといっぱい撮りたい！データも欲しい、さらに豪華な着物が良い、ヘアメイクもプロが良い！という方はオプションで追加も可能です。

3. Kimono Princess and Samurai Makeover! Please enjoy the highest kimono style, "Uchikake" style.

The style of our kimonos is called "Uchikake", which was the popular style worn by aristocratic women living in castles during the feudal era, and formal Hakama style, for men.  Currently this style is used for wedding. This style can be fit any age and any body's figure and size, and not only for solo woman, but also it is very popular with mothers and couples. Our studio kimonos are all long sleeve and made of genuine silk. We also offer Furisode-style kimono if you would like to.

当店の着物は女性は打掛スタイル、男性は着物に袴がメインです。昔は大奥、今は婚礼に使用されるこのスタイル、体型、年齢は問いません！お一人の方はもちろん、カップルやお母様に特に人気です。(着物はもちろん正絹の袖の長いものです。)　お好みで振袖スタイルも可能です。

4. Staff are all women, super friendly and homelike studio.

Any customers in various cultures can come with no worries. Woman coming by herself, children, babies, women with Hijab, all welcome!

Our studio is small located in a multi-tenant building, but we make the most of it and our customers can relax very much feeling like they are visiting friends in Japan. We take one customer/group in one slot.

Thanks to our customers, we have many 5 star reviews in Facebook and TripAdvisor so far. 

スタッフはすべて女性、アットホームなスタジオです。女性一人でも、お子さんや赤ちゃんがいても、イスラム圏の方でもご心配なく。他のお客様と一緒なることはありません。スタジオはマンションの1室にありますのでお友達に会いに行くような気分でお越しください。今のところ、FacebookやTripAdvisorでは良い口コミを頂いております。

5. Solo, friends, family, couple, group, all okay!

We have many types of kimonos, not only for women, but also for men and children with various plans. If you have any favorite poses, please do it here. If you are shy and do not know how to pose, our funny posing teacher will instruct you, so please just have fun with us.

一人で、友達と、家族で、カップルで、グループですべてOK!
当店は男性や子供用など様々な着物をご用意しておりますので誰でもお越し頂けます。お気に入りのポーズをされたい方はぜひどうぞ、ポーズなんてわからない、恥ずかしいんですという方はスタッフが楽しくおかしく教えて差し上げます。

6. We bring out your natural beauty! Not Geisha style.

We do not put white make-up like Geisha or Oiran style. We focus on our customers' original beauty so that you can show the beautiful photos to anybody, and the photos would be the best commemoration in Japan forever.

当店は芸者、舞子、花魁スタイルではありません。白塗りはせずその人本来の美しさを引き出します。誰に見せても美しい、いつまでも思い出にできる写真をお渡ししたいのです。

7. Data and photo prints are given right away

Are you hurrying to the next destination? Our simple plan can be  finished in one hour, and data in CDR and photo prints are given right away when you leave our studio. We keep our customers’ photo data for 3 months just in case for lost or damaged.

着物写真撮りたいけど時間が無いんですという方。当店のプランは1時間から可能です。データも写真もその場で作成、すぐにお渡し。データは3か月は保管しておきますのでもしCDRを失くしたり壊したりしたら遠慮せず連絡くださいね。

Are you interested? Please email or call us any time if you have question.

We enjoy the photo session every day with our customers all over the world. Next is you! Please touch the Japanese culture with full of smiles (^o^)

いかがでしょうか？ご質問などありましたらいつでも連絡してくださいね。
いつも笑いの絶えないスタジオに次はあなたが来て下さいね！お待ちしています！

KIMONO PHOTO STUDIO 和（wa）
2-24-13, Meguro Nishiguchi Mansion I - 804
Kamiosaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
TEL 070-6455-9831 (English)
東京都品川区上大崎2丁目24-13　目黒西口マンション1号館804
TEL 03-6417-9312 (日本語）
E-mail: info@kimono-wa.com
http://www.kimono-wa.com/en/



Experience Japan!

Colored Leaves in Happoen, Tokyo

Now the season for colored leaves! In Tokyo, they started to change colors, too. Today I visited Happoen, which is very close to our photo studio and a great place to visit in Autumn. 

紅葉の季節ですね！東京の木々も色づいてきました。今日は私たちのスタジオから近い紅葉スポット、八芳園に行ってきました。

This place used to be a Samurai's residence. Later, with the beautiful garden, this place was named as "Happoen" in 1950, and now this is one of the most famous wedding locations and Japanese style restaurants. "Happo" of Happoen means that this place is perfectly beautiful from "all direction" (we says "Shihouhappo" in Japanese).  

ここはもともとあるお侍さんのお屋敷だったところです。その日本庭園を生かして1950年に八芳園と命名され、今は東京でとても有名な結婚式場、料亭となっています。八芳園の名は「四方八方どこから見ても美しい場所」という意味なんですよ。

Happoen is actually a wedding location, however, visitor also can walk in the garden. This Japanese style garden is very beautiful, and the best part of it is that you can see all colored leaves, Bonsai trees, a pond and Koi carps, tea ceremony house and a small shrine at once.

結婚式場ではありますが、一般の人も庭園に入る事が出来ます。この庭園がとてもきれいで紅葉、盆栽、池と鯉、茶室、神社、一度に全部ぎゅっとなっててお得です。

One of the Bonsai tree is over 500 years alive! Many people took care of this tree for a long time, full of histories.

盆栽は樹齢500年を超えるものが！たくさんの人の手で守られてきたのですね。

The Koi carps in this pond are huge and varicolored and gold, there are many.

ここの池の鯉、すごい大きいんです。錦鯉に金の鯉もいて見応えたっぷり。

In this garden, there is a small tea house and you can actually taste Matcha (powered) green tea here. (The price was 860 JPY when I went there). If you make a reservation in advance, you can experience very formal tea ceremony as well.

庭園の中には茶室もあって抹茶を頂く事ができますよ。事前に予約をすれば正式なお手前も頂けるそうです。

So, if you go out for colored leaves in Autumn, let's go in Kimono! From our studio to Happoen is one station away by Metro, or 3 minutes by taxi (730 JPY when I went there).

素敵な日本庭園にはぜひ着物を着て行きましょう！

当スタジオから八芳園まではタクシー３分、または地下鉄で1駅です。

Our Kimono Rental Plan is from JPY5,900+tax~ (ALL inclusive)
For the customers who rented kimono here, we have special offer for studio plans. ( From Nov 24th to Dec 3rd, 2016 )
Please ask for more details!

- Kimono Photo Studio WA -
目黒駅から徒歩1分
Meguro Station, JR Yamanote Line - 1 minute walking distance
TEL：070-6455-9831
mail：info@kimono-wa.com

Experience Japan!

Special Exhibition "The NINJA - who were they?" in Odaiba, Tokyo

A Special Exhibition "The NINJA - who were they?" is currently held at National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Nihon Kagaku Miraikan). I have to go there because I am from Ninja prefecture. 

お台場の日本科学未来館で企画展「The NINJA - 忍者ってナンジャ!?」が開かれています。伊賀忍者の三重県出身の私としては行かねばなりません。

You can actually throw Shrikens (knives) and experience shadow cloning techniques in the waterfall. (You might want to go there with kids, though.)

実際に手裏剣を打ったり、滝に打たれて分身の術を使えたり、「修行」ができます！（子供と一緒じゃないと行きにくいかも）

Even though this exhibition is mainly for kids and their family, there are some places for entertaining adults.

子連れファミリーにピッタリの展示ですが大人が楽しめるところもありました。

Goshikimai - the five colored rice code.

Ninja arranged a code system with colors and combination among team members, and used them to show messages of directions and detection. 

忍者はこの五色米を暗号として使って方角やメッセージを伝えるなどしていたそうですよ。

Invisible ink is the phenomenon in which a liquid (especially citrus fruits) that becomes colorless when it dries is used to write text on the paper, and the invisible text becomes visible when it is roasted. Japanese kids used to do this in childhood at least once.... but I did not know Ninja used this technique!

あぶりだし...日本の子供は必ずやりますよね？まさか忍者の手段だったとはビックリです。

Here are the legends of the NINJA.

忍者伝説

It is said that...

- Ninja could run on the wet paper!

- Ninja could jump from the height of 15m (5th floor of a building).

- Ninja could travel 15.7km per hour and 157km in one day.

- Ninja could jump up over a height of 2.7m from standing position. (So he could get on the top of a big truck.)

I wish they could go to Olympic starting today though they can't because they are spy...

- 忍者は濡れた唐紙の上を走り抜けられた。

- 忍者はビルの5階から飛び降りることができた。

- 忍者は東京から静岡まで1日で走る事が出来た。

- 忍者はトラックの屋根に飛び乗る跳躍力があった。

だそうです。忍だから出られないけど今日から始まるオリンピックに出てほしいです。

You can see the real text book for Ninja and the skills of Ninja from 49 schools are written - "Mansenshukai."

こちらは「万川集海」と言って伊賀・甲賀49流の忍術をまとめたものです。本物が展示してありますよ。

If you are interested in Ninja, please try!

忍者に興味のある人はぜひ行ってみて下さいね。

Period:  July 2(Sat), 2016 - October 10(Mon), 2016

Opening hours:  10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Entrance closes 30 minutes prior to museum closing time)

Closed:  September 6, 13, 20 ,27/ October 4

Admission fees:  Adults: 1,600 yen, Junior (Elementary school students to 18 years old): 1,000 yen （900 yen on Saturdays), Child (Preschoolers over 3 years old): 500 yen

Information:  http://www.miraikan.jst.go.jp/en/spexhibition/ninjya/

Location:  National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Nihon Kagaku Miraikan)

Experience Japan!

Try our gorgeous Kimono from Luxury Selection!

The best part of Kimono Photo Studio WA is that you can enjoy Uchikake style kimono. 
What is Uchikake style?? - it was the popular style worn by aristocratic women living in castles during the feudal era. Currently this style is wore by a bride at her wedding only. Even Japanese women admire this style because we cannot wear them maybe once in our lifetime!

着物フォトスタジオ和の醍醐味は何と言っても打掛が着られるってことです。
打掛って何？？打掛とは昔大奥等、上流階級の女性達に着られていた着物スタイルで今では花嫁衣装として結婚式で見る事ができます。なので日本人でさえ一生に一度巡り会えるかどうかの貴重な着物なんです。

So, I would like to show you one from our Luxury Selection. This is very gorgeous with glittering color, but still elegant. There are many cranes on kimono, and these are all embroidery so that the kimono is very heavy. The back side of this kimono is red color.

と言う訳で当スタジオのラグジュアリーセレクションを一つ紹介します。鶴の柄で総刺繍。キラキラですが色が落ち着いているのでとってもエレガントです。内側は赤色です。豪華すぎてものすごく重いんです。

The cranes are very auspicious animals in Japan. Not only they look beautiful, but also they are symbol of long life, and they live together for their life once they get married. 

着物の鶴は美しいルックスはもちろん、長寿の鳥として、また、一度結婚したら一生添い遂げる生き物のシンボルとして日本ではとてもおめでたい柄なんです。


















With this Kimono, you can enjoy the true generousness of kimono, and this matches all generations!

本当に豪華な着物が体験できますし、どの世代の方にも似合いますよ！

Please check our customers' beautiful pictures!

お客様の写真です。素敵ですね〜♥️

Please experience authentic kimono at our studio!

ぜひあなたも当スタジオで本物の着物を体験してみてくださいね！

Experience Japan!

Which Kimono is recommended at Kimono Photo Studio WA?

Kimono Photo Studio WA has many luxury kimonos to choose for our customers. We are often asked which one is good, so I would like to show you one of the kimonos from Basic Selection. This is my favorite one, favorite color, yellow. Our kimonos are all made of silk and hand selected by kimono professional even Basic Selection.

着物フォトスタジオ和にはたくさんの素敵な着物が用意されています。お客さんにどれが良いと思う？とよく聞かれるので私のお気に入りを紹介してみようと思います。今回の着物はベーシックセレクションですがベーシックと言っても素材はすべて絹で和裁職人さんが選んだものなんですよ。

The brilliant yellow color makes you very gorgeous and vivid. This kimono design has many happy patterns such as Japanese fans, flowers of peony, iris, Japanese bellflowers and chrysanthemum. Each figure has auspicious meaning, especially peony is the symbol of a beautiful woman in high-class, and has meaning of happiness. 

華やかな黄色でとっても明るくなります。着物には扇、牡丹、あやめ、桔梗、菊など縁起のいい柄が描かれています。柄にはそれぞれ意味があるのですが特に牡丹は美しく高貴な女性の象徴で幸福を意味するんですよ。

Here are the customers wearing this kimono, how pretty!

この着物を着てくださったお客様です。とってもステキ！

Please find your favorite only one kimono at our studio!

皆さんもお気に入りの一枚を当スタジオで見つけて下さいね！

Experience Japan!

March 3rd is Girls' Day, "Hina-Matsuri"

March 3rd is Hina-Matsuri, which is the Doll's Festival or Girls' Day in Japan. Japanese families who have girls display Hina dolls to wish and celebrate growth and happiness of the girls. (But we have to go to school and work... I think it should be holiday...)
日本では３月３日はひな祭り。女の子の健やかな成長をお祝いする日です。（ですがこの日は祝日ではありません、学校も仕事もアリです。）

At Meguro Gajoen, which is close to our studio, Hina-dolls exhibition is currently held. There are about 1,000 dolls from north-east Japan, I think it is pray for recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake. I saw hina-dolls once washed away by Tsunami, which was impressive. 
スタジオ近くの目黒雅叙園で雛人形展「百段雛まつり」をやっていたので見に行ってきました。今年は復興の祈りも込めて岩手、宮城、福島の東北３県から約1,000体の雛人形が展示されていました。津波から生還した雛人形もあって感慨深いものでした。



Since photography was prohibited there, I took this photo at the entrance of Meguro Gojoen, not exhibit room. This is typical Hina-dolls. Emperor and Empress in beautiful kimono are displayed on the top of the shelf, people in ancient court were displayed under them. 
ちなみに写真は禁止なのでこれは雅叙園のエントランスに飾ってあるものです。真ん中にあるのは典型的な雛人形。一番上はお内裏様とお雛様、その下に宮廷の人たちが飾られています。



This is Empress.

横にあるのは吊るし雛。昔、裕福ではない家庭では雛人形は高価だったので家族や親戚で小さな人形を作って飾ったのが始まりだそうです。一つ一つの人形に子供の幸せを願う意味があるんですよ。
The dolls on the side is hanging Hina-dolls. These were used to be made by non-rich family or relatives, who could not afford expensive Hina-dolls with shelves long time ago, and they had started to make the dolls by themselves. Each doll has meaning for wish of their girls' happiness. 

For example, the rabbit is a peaceful animal but their red eyes can ward off the evil spirits. Ground cherry has efficacy of medicine and can be good-luck charm. 
例えばうさぎは平和を好む動物で赤い目は魔除けだそうです。ほおずきは薬効成分があり、お守りだったとの事。

By the way, it is said that you have to put away all the dolls after March 3rd, otherwise your girl will be late to be married.
ちなみに３月３日を過ぎたらすぐに片付けないとお嫁に行き遅れるという言い伝えがあります。





After Girls' Day, we are ready to welcome spring, we cannot wait to see cherry blossoms!
この日を過ぎると日本は一気に春に向かいますね。桜が待ち遠しい！


「百段雛まつり」は目黒雅叙園で３月６日まで開催しています。
Hina-dolls exhibition is held at Meguro Gajoen until March 6th, 2016.
10:00 ~ 18:00, admission JPY1,500JPY per adult.


    http://www.megurogajoen.co.jp/event/hinamaturi/

Experience Japan!

Access to KIMONO PHOTO STUDIO WA

KIMONO PHOTO STUDIO WA is at very convenient place in Meguro, Tokyo. Actually Meguro was the 3rd most popular place to live in Tokyo 2015 ranking. Meguro is located west side of Tokyo, 12 minutes from Shinjuku and 5 minutes from Shibuya by train, good location!
私たちのスタジオは目黒のとっても便利な場所にあります。ちなみに、目黒は2015年住みたい町(東京)ランキング3位だったんですよ。

Here is how to go to our studio from Meguro station. There are 2 stations in Meguro, JR(Japan Railway) Meguro station and Metro Meguro station. From Metro Meguro station, go up to the ground first and walk to JR Meguro station across the street.
目黒駅からスタジオへの行き方です。目黒にはJRと地下鉄の２つ駅があります。地下鉄で来る方はまず地上に出てJR目黒駅の方へ歩いて下さい。




After you get off the train at JR Meguro station, go up the stairs to Central Gate.
JR目黒駅で電車を降りたら中央改札口へ向かって下さいね。（上る出口と下る出口がありますが上る方です。）




After you get out the ticket gate, go to West Exit.
改札を出たら西口方面へ

Go to West Exit and turn right
西口を出たら右方向に
















Walk 1 minute...
1分ほど歩くと...




You see the traffic lights, and Family Mart convenience store across the street.
信号があります。向かいにファミリーマートが見えます。




Cross the traffic lights and you will see Tokyu Store super market across the street.
信号を渡るとその向かいに東急ストアがあります。

The building entrance of our studio is next to the super market. Shop sign is at the entrance wall as well. Please come to 8th floor by elevator. 
東急ストアの隣に私たちのスタジオのある建物への入り口があります。エレベーターで8階まで来て下さいね。



We are looking forward to seeing you at our studio!
ご来店お待ちしております！

KIMONO PHOTO STUDIO 和（wa）
2-24-13, Meguro Nishiguchi Mansion I - 804
Kamiosaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
TEL 070-6455-9831 (English)
東京都品川区上大崎2丁目24-13　目黒西口マンション1号館804
TEL 03-6417-9312 (日本語）
E-mail: info@kimono-wa.com
http://www.kimono-wa.com/en/




Experience Japan!

Cherry Blossoms along the Meguro River is almost blooming!

In Tokyo, cherry blossoms (Sakura) are about to bloom!

 

 

 

Meguro riverside is one of the famous places to enjoy cherry blossoms in Tokyo. Recommended for couples and families... well, all people all over the world in this season! There are about 800 cherry trees along the river for 3.8km, and you can go there from Ikejiriohashi station, Nakameguro station, and Meguro station easily.

 

These trees will be...



 

 

Like this, wonderful flowers arch! (I took this photo in 2012 spring)

 

 

Please also go to one of the many bridges of the river and enjoy the blossoms of both riversides. They should be vert beautiful. Sakura Festivals will be held on Apr 4th and 5th, and the blossoms will be lit up from Mar25th to Apr10th.

 

There are many fashionable cafes and shops along the riverside. If you would like to take a walk here, how about "in Kimono"? Kimono Photo Studio WA has Kimonos for outdoor and they are pretty retro style.

 

 

 

 

 

At Kimono Photo Studio WA, we have Kimonos for outdoor and they are pretty retro style. The price is JPY10,800 per person, and you could rent from 10:00 to 17:00 from Monday to Saturday. It includes one kimono from our Outdoor Selection, natural hair setting with Japanese hair ornament. Kimono dressing experience, Kimono sandals.
 

- Kimono Photo Studio WA -http://www.kimono-wa.com/

Meguro Station, JR (Japan Railway) Yamanote Line - 1 minute walking distance from the West exit
Meguro Station, Subway Toei Mita Line - 3 minutes walking distance from the Central exit
TEL 070-6455-9831
E-mail info@kimono-wa.com
I can pick you up at Meguro station if you would like to :)


Experience Japan!