Kimono Day in Asakusa ❀

It's getting colder again... most people wanna go out but at the same time they wanna be warm, too. Which means... cafes and restaurants in Tokyo will be almost always full. So if ever you find yourself in Tokyo whether you're a tourist making the most out of your stay or a resident just lurking 'round the city that we all love, why not immerse in the rich Japanese culture by wearing a kimono? Its many layers will get you covered from the cold plus you'll get to roam in the city in (Edo-) style! 

Last May, my friends and I decided to cross one out of our bucket list/s! 

Yeah, you guessed that right...

*drumroll*

walking along the streets of Asakusa wearing a kimono

*drumroll* lol

There are a handful of kimono rental shops in Tokyo but we opted for Kyoto Kimono Rental Wargo because it has a branch in Asakusa (just nearby Senso-ji) and it has various packages, one of which is the very affordable couple kimono package that my beau and I have chosen. In addition, you can swiftly book through their English website as long as you have a working credit card. Easy peasy!

So yeah, check out our fun-filled kimono day in the streets of Asakusa below! Enjoy! ♥

 Kimono selection... ahhhh so hard to choose if everything's pretty!

Picked a red flowery kimono and this traditional hand bag <3

 Being in a kimono is kinda difficult; it has lots of layers, the belts are put tightly to secure the layers, and it'll be hard for you to use the toilet (so they advise to go to the toilet first before putting it on) but for a once in a blue moon experience, I'd gladly do it!

The staff at Kyoto Kimono Rental Wargo is very skilled at putting kimonos so just sit back and relax, or maybe I should say stand back and relax heh~ In the package that I've chosen, hair setting is also included so they asked me to pick one hair accessory in their vast collection and did my hair! Included in the package were the slippers and the socks, which you can take home as a gift. Just the socks, okay haha!

Tsaraaaannnnn~
Dou? What do you think?

   After less than an hour getting dressed and glammed up, off we went to the streets of Asakusa to... well... walk around in our kimonos, trying our best-est (heh) to play tourists, taking photos and yeah make memories, ofc *tears*

 We picked a bad day to stroll in our kimonos- it was raining that Saturday. But you gotta do well with what you've been given so yeah...

 Anyway, I love how the obi was tied! I cannot do the tying myself, I'm not skilled at it and I don't think I'll ever be hahaha

That face hahahaha luv u

We roamed around the streets leading to Senso-ji. In my four years of stay in Tokyo, would you believe that this was my first time setting foot in that temple? Haha yeah, shinjirarenai~ But it really was my first time *grin*

Lookie! Gorg hair setting!♡

Passed by a manju shop in Nakamise Street

This is how manjus are made~

 Bought these cute manjus that are shaped like traditional Japanese thingies; too cute to eat but we ate them anyway because we're hungryyyy haha!

Also bought ice lollies! How hungry can we get hahaha

 We finally reached Senso-ji yay

Nice to meet youuuuuu

We waited for our couple friend Allie and Lando somewhere in Senso-ji; they wore kimonos, too! Roamed around the temple's confines and took pictures, of course! Haha!

Lando and Kenji

Allie and I

Group photo ♡

Miss you guyssss

Nakamise Street and nearby streets have lots of shops and come dusk, as those shops close, you can see lots of artsy window shutters like the one above~

Haiiii chiizuuuu

We looked for an arcade place for purikura, and took some photo inside, too! I love how juxtaposed this photo is: traditional versus modern~

Afterwards, we headed out on the streets once again for ice cream! Got a vanilla one, of course! The beau was feeling adventurous so he opted for a yokkan-flavoured one. I got to try that too and it was delish!!! 

Hungry from roaming around in our kimonos for hours, we changed into our normal clothes and looked for a Jingisukan (ジンギスカン) place in the vicinity for some grilled mutton! Tummies filled, yay!

Went to a karaoke place for some drunk singing in costumes before calling it a day!

'Twas all sorts of fun! I suggest you go now while the weather is great and don those beautiful kimonos! And oh, don't forget to bring friends with you for some added fun!♡

Love,

Alyssa

MIND-FART#18: Mid-week Irony

Coming to Japan, I'd say I ~gradually~ became more courageous in terms of letting my feelings out. I'm not talking about my daily rants on Twitter but you know, the real deal. Maybe the lack of Japanese speaking abilities from my side was and still is the reason for it; I tend to express what I feel right then and there because they can't understand me- my facial expressions well maybe yeah, but the curses I'm sending their way, not really. 

How ironic, taking comfort from the fact that they won't be able to nor try to understand me when all I ever wanted was to be understood. 

Well, maybe I really don't.

Happy mid-week! Hope you're hangin' in there just fine!♡