My Favorite Kimono Related Stores in Kyoto // How to NOT go antiquing in Kyoto

[@Taylormade09]

My favorite recycle kimono shop in Kyoto is “Vintage Kimono An”. It’s owned by a funny old man that’s really nice. I go at least once a month. 🤣 The prices are very reasonable. Everything upstairs is ¥1,000!

[@unclenate2476]

The boys

[@silkvelvet2616]

I just spent the last 5 days in London setting up and selling my work at the Knitting and Stitching Show, I have spent all of Monday trying not to fall asleep because I was so TIRED! Then I hit the old yootoob and there you are (I was so busy prepping last week for my event I did not have time to look at YT), talking about handmade pins for your hair and handmade sewing needles and scissors!!!!! I hope your feet didn't get too wet that day. I may not be a kimono person like you, but I love watching your videos, you bring the history of kimono to life for we mere westerners. I spoke to several people at the event dealing with Kimono parts, such as selling cut up Kimono and Obi (made me sad) who knew about you. I also bought some non-traditional Kimono fabric (far too wide at 150cm) to make pants and short Kaftans from. Maybe one day, I'll have the funds to visit Japan and I'll get to use your videos as a travel guide.

[@airda5623]

The needle shop is a treasure. I have this sewing box for 5 years now and it's amazing! The needles are of superior quality and it doesn't damage even a thin cloth.

[@mianhaeioi]

I miss being able to hop on a plane to Japan T_T So many shops I know well in your intro montage! @5:58 Chicago Harajuku - great second -hand shop, but I find the prices are the same as online shops. Definitely go to temple flea markets instead, for the same items at much lower prices. @6:15 Erisho - saved me when I needed to accessorize a houmongi for an event but had forgotten to pack my komono. They even had formal tabi for large ankles (not my size, sadly, but as Billy said, they can order items for you) @6:43 Antique Iwai - At the back of the shop they have very small, but pretty kimono selection. I always leave with something - last trip I fell for an elegant yukata set. The woman working there always recognized me - amazing! I wonder if she's still there? Also, If you go down the small street beside that shop, you will find all of the Sou-Sou shops (last I went, there was a shop each for tabi/shoes, men, women, furoshiki/tenugui and bags/accessories) @6:51 Nomura Tailor - Heaven. Periodt. @6:56 Juusanya - I bought a haircomb rather than kanzashi, but it's easy to see the difference a natural, handmade item makes. Honestly, you can find anything you need online, but going to these shops in person is such a treat. If you know what you're looking for and you are not afraid to take your time communicating, in my experience, shopkeepers are super nice and helpful. Here's hoping the panini ends sooner rather than later, so the shops can open again...

[@MSinclairStevens]

@16:22 Juusanya! I squealed when I saw you walk into Juusanya and buy exactly the same comb in the exact same box that I did 30 years ago. Both box and comb are sitting on my dresser. My gingko leaf is a little plain, without the cutwork. I used to live in Beppu-shi from 1989-1991. I'm blown away by the wonders of this modern life to be able to revisit virtually places I long to see again. I had originally read about the comb shop Jusanya in an article my school gave me from Time Watch magazine dated September 1990 (which I also still have). After reading it, I vowed to find the store and it was the first thing I saw in Kyoto as I stepped onto the street from the subway station. In the article, the artisan , Mr. Takeuchi, was then 60 and had been making combs for 40 years. I was saddened to learn he died last year. He was the fourth generation of comb makers in the shop which has been open since 1869. They make combs for the Imperial shrine. The combs are made of boxwood, cherrywood, or camellia wood. They're then polished with sharkskin, a fine grass (tokusa), and finally hemp palm skin.

[@kaimacat]

It was a fun day! I have asked Misuya to allow choice of needles but they think it is best to supply the cotton needles because they have cotton on the spools. I love the corduroy you eventually chose!! The buckle is perfect too. The button man was a classic! Fascinating life.

[@ukallii]

I'm amazed that rain coat lasted so long! I can never get mine to last longer than 3-4 years. In your case, it's not so much fast fashion as a slow fashion investment. Nice!

[@the_dark_forest]

Oh that orange kimono! The colour is delicious, and the fabric looks very eyecatching. It's one of your best (and that's saying something) 😍🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🤩 oooooo, that travelling sewing box is SOOOOO adorable. I want one! No I don't need one, but it sure is cute. And the hair ornaments are beautiful. Definitely worth the money. It always makes me sad thinking about so many craftsman around the world, but especially in Asia, who are horrifically underpaid for their work, and have to turn out so many products that quality suffers, merely to earn enough money to live. Then we westerners complain things are too expensive. Craftsmanship is irreplaceable, as is creativity. I too would have paid the money requested for such lovely pieces which will last more than one lifetime (with care). Thanks for sharing your purchases. So very fascinating

[@lacybookworm5039]

That is a beautiful shade of green. 💚👘💚 Green and purple look so good together. 💜

[@juliemiller9258]

This may be my favorite video yet. Watching it again and wishing I was back there again. You make me smile!

[@cicigabel]

Dear Billy, I love your shopping video. The items you bought are sooo cute! This video reminds me our trip to Kyoto 4 years ago....❤️

[@auberginearcher7610]

I absolutely love your channel! You’re so engaging and accessible. Thank you for sharing so many wonderful things 💜👘

[@penlennon3576]

It was lovely to recognise some shops and places in your video when I was last in Japan 3 years ago. I couldn't go to the famous needle shop cos it was closed for New Year, but I look forward to my next visit (eventually!) thank you for sharing your shopping day.

[@TwospotzArtAndCraft]

Oh gosh, your verbal list of things to attend made me go "Awww... That would be so niiiiice!" I wouldn't understand a thing tho due to language but still. ;-D

[@deborahduthie4519]

Always exciting. Thankyou Billy Matsunaga, always entertaining.🇦🇺👘🧡

[@bekkyb3225]

i love that needle store too - the handmade pins are so cute. I will visit a few of your recommendations on my visit next month, so thank you for the tips :)

[@Westernheart2]

Oh, I wish I'd had this information when we visit Kyoto two years ago! I looked everywhere for kimonos. My son was stationed on Okinawa and first day - had us hike up to the top of the Fushimi Inari-taisha shrine! Forget about jet lag! I had cancer and was 66 years old. Sheesh. But while in Kyoto, I looked everywhere for old kimonos and obis. I never saw any, but then, my husband was not the kind of person to humor me. Mostly, we hiked in a too hot national forest and visited shrines. My son is Buddhist. I did find a kimono shop on Okinawa and filled my oversized suitcase with obis and kimonos. I had my son ship my clothes home. Now that I'm free of cancer, I'd like to return and explore more of the textile industry and design, there. i've tried to learn from here, but it's an overwhelming task.

[@sugoiwindy]

Omg. I had to immediately buy that Halloween tenugui! 😍I couldn’t believe that I can actually purchase it in the US. I love your content, thanks so much for sharing. If you haven’t done a hakama sewing video yet, I would love to learn how to make some for myself. I can’t wait to see how yours turn out. I wouldn’t have ever considered that you could use corduroy.

[@kokujinkimono2658]

What a beautiful city Kyoto is !! if I come to japan one day it is out of the question that I leave without having visited Kyoto😍😍 !! excellent video as always😍👍!! Thank you Billy🙏😊!!

[@tokyos7459]

Thank you so much for your videos! It's my dream to one day visit Japan, different things have stopped me over the years like finances, covid... etc but its great to explore there from the comfort of home thanks to you :)

[@eiszapfenkobold]

pleeeeaaassseeee try making a spiderweb sashiko obi!!!!! It will be glorious! You can do it!

[@福田ノーラ]

Hello Miss Billy. I went to Kyoto Nov.6 its awesome wearing my kimono ..love your vlog today and next time i will visit this shop..ghank u so much

[@TheLaughingPanda]

aaaaaaaa I miss Kyoto so much!!! I studied abroad just before covid... want to go back someday... The weather looks just like the first week I was there. The markets in Kyoto were so good! I went like every weekend, there were so many. I'm pretty sure I went to Eirakuya too!

[@sbaumgartner9848]

You have a very good eye for fabric selection and coordination. I like the way fabric-related stores are in a central location in Tokyo, and the impressive button and buckle store located in Kyoto. Are you saying that Japanese still like to sew their own clothes or take them to a dressmaker or tailor? I sure hope so.

[@sternenregen5489]

Box tree is Buchsbaum or Buxus. It's a precious and durable wood.

[@deborahf3738]

Too bad you couldn't film inside the shops. This is so nice, thanks for bringing us along with you.

[@thereisnospoon12]

This was so wonderful for me, all that you share. I'm back catching up on all the magnificent videos you do for us, I thought that those gorgeous kimonos you find that you might have to cut and change to Obi etc, how about making them available to us to buy and whatever amounts of fabrics left over you can put in a "mix" bag for us to buy and sew by hand into items that go with accessories. For example I sew, spin fibers on my spinning wheel like wools, silks etc, and I also am working on the fibers like using the fabrics weft/weave to make the cords, elegant strings etc that can be used in the Japanese accessories like hand bags that are used with Kimono. We have the best quality use of time available.

[@mayoooketchup]

Waaaah a trip to Kyôto! Your tour was so peaceful. How can you resist the temptation to buy everything in these shops @~@" Your rain coat was destiny haha ~ thanks again for sharing your adventures!

[@sharonrimsza7960]

Billy I truly enjoy your videos. I wish you were making more soon. Maybe you are busy with more translations or your Patreon has expanded. Come back to KZbin?

[@ChroniclesofLifeAM]

Billy, thank you so much for the video; I’m heading up to Kyoto this coming weekend and was looking for some places to look for kimono and accessories. I was wondering if any of the stores you went to sold things for men? Or, if not, do you have any recommendations for stores that do sell men’s kimono and/or accessories? Again, thank you for the video and I am really enjoying going through and watching all of your other videos. Keep up the great work and have a great day.

[@katiemelin9317]

I would love to see a tutorial on how to do Hakama with a belt buckle! I want to use my hakama for my school’s Christmas Show and that seems a lot easier than the tie.

[@michellecornum5856]

This was very interesting, and a lot of fun!

[@originalkingdomhearts]

Would you happen to have advice for wearing kimono while being plus sized?

[@MissesFateful]

Ich liebe, liebe, liebe den karrierten kimono!!!

[@connormelton1635]

I never realized until Billy slipped up on the city name...that Kyo-To and To-Kyo are basically the same name with the syllables reverse....Wow lol.

[@lacybookworm5039]

Could you review kimono 👘 from historical ish anime like InuYasha?

[@SkyeAten]

12 years ago when you were a first year in university? wow we are exactly the same age if you went to uni right after finishing school :D

[@LittleSpaceCase]

I love love darari obi i wish they were more casually worn.........

[@janeodee1677]

Do you have any recomendations for women who have a large shoe size? I am a US size 10 and I am worried I won't be able to find anything to wear with the kimono when I go to Kyoto.

[@elizabethsloan3192]

I know that Kanzashi store! I have a ginkgo leaf kanzashi from there.

[@mccm1111]

how can i wash the winter kimono when i am oversea at home?

[@Eudeline_A]

Aaaw, your video brings so many memories back from my two trips to Kyoto. It was fun to see some places I have visited. I’ve even recognize some stores! Thank you for the trip, Billy! 😉

[@Kawaii159qwerthvd]

♥️♥️♥️

[@ibosquez5238]

The bright light effect you used hurt my eyes. Why use such bright lights?

[@linr8260]

Kanzashi store is just made of dreams T.T

[@krdiaz8026]

I would feel intimidated going to these specialized stores. Would they act snobbish if you can't speak Japanese but want to buy some kanzashi? I heard from some people that Kyoto folks can be snobs to tourists when they want to be.

[@pinkSPARKL]

I went to Kyoto a few years ago, and my mother knew no Japanese whatsoever, and I had bright pink hair, and we didn't encounter any snobby people, even in some of the specialty stores. The staff in every store we went to were extremely helpful and kind even if they weren't able to speak English. I really want to go back once restrictions are fully lifted. This is just my experience, I understand that every person is different and snobby people can exist anywhere.

[@kaimacat]

Kyoto has had a huge over tourism problem which makes life very difficult for residents. Sadly many tourists are very rude, arrogant, and disrespectful. If you are none of those then the people you meet are wonderful.

[@silkvelvet2616]

@@kaimacat living in a tourist destination, Bath, UK, YES! If you're rude, don't expect helpful help. End of.

[@deborahrowan9034]

OMG a whole store only for needles.