In Ise, Mie Prefecture, right across from Sarutahiko Shrine, sits Kimono no Heya ("Kimono Room"), a rental kimono brand run by torch LLC, a company that also operates photo studios in the city. Alongside antique children's kimono, the shop stocks houmongi (formal visiting kimono) for mothers.
When it comes to Shichi-Go-San, children are, of course, the stars of the day. But on a day when the whole family is already dressed in kimono for the shrine visit, mothers might enjoy a little styling of their own too.
The shop's racks are centered on one-of-a-kind antique houmongi. Colors and patterns unique to older kimono, sometimes paired with a haori for a slightly retro look, catch the eye. They may not outshine the children's formal wear, but they're cute in their own right — kimono that suit a mother on Shichi-Go-San day.
Choose the Child's Kimono, Then a Piece for Mom
Preparing for Shichi-Go-San tends to revolve entirely around the child: choosing the kimono, deciding on a hairstyle, packing everything needed for the day. Before long, many mothers find their own preparations pushed to the side.
So that mothers can enjoy kimono too, without much extra effort, Kimono no Heya has begun full-scale rental of houmongi for mothers.
It would be a shame to let the children have all the kimono fun on Shichi-Go-San. After choosing what the child likes, mothers can pick out something they like as well. Shichi-Go-San day can start with each family member finding a favorite of their own.
One-of-a-Kind Antique Houmongi
The houmongi at Kimono no Heya are selected mainly as one-of-a-kind antique pieces. Each one has its own character, with colors, patterns, and design touches a little different from modern kimono, carrying a sense of the era they came from.
They're proper enough for Shichi-Go-San while still having a bit of individuality. Rather than deciding "this color because it's Shichi-Go-San" or "something understated because I'm the mother," the lineup lets the wearer choose what she herself finds appealing. Just as with the child's kimono, mothers can choose based on their own taste.
The selection isn't large, which makes the process of finding the one piece that suits you all the more enjoyable.
Layer a Haori for a Retro Touch
One coordination that stands out in particular pairs a houmongi with a haori. Layering a haori over an antique houmongi gives the outfit a nostalgic, slightly retro feel.
Since both the houmongi and the haori are one-of-a-kind pieces, the impression changes with each color and pattern combination.
The styling isn't only about how it looks indoors. It's also considered with how it will look outdoors, against the shrine's torii gate, stone paths, gravel, and trees, while walking the grounds of an Ise shrine, and how it will look alongside the child's formal kimono, so that the parent-and-child outfits feel natural together. Each combination is put together with the image of a family walking through the shrine grounds in mind.
Dressing and Hair Styling, All in One Place
Wanting to wear kimono too is one thing, but Shichi-Go-San day is already busy enough. Add finding a kimono, booking a hair salon, and arranging dressing on top of preparing the child, and the schedule fills up fast.
At Kimono no Heya, the following can all be arranged in one place:
- Houmongi rental
- Dressing
- Hair styling by a hairdresser
- Luggage storage during the shrine visit
Choose a kimono, get hair and dressing done, and preparation is complete. Any clothes or bags not needed for the shrine visit can be left at the shop.
Get Ready, Then Head Straight to Sarutahiko Shrine
Another welcome point about Kimono no Heya is its location: right across from Sarutahiko Shrine.
There's no need to move from a hair salon to a separate dressing location and then on to the shrine. Once preparations are finished, guests can head straight to the shrine visit.
Regular clothes, shoes, and larger bags can be left at the shop, so guests can head out with only what they need. Families can walk hand in hand, take photos in front of the torii gate, and afterward, stroll through the town of Ise.
Free to Enjoy Photography However You Like
torch LLC, which runs Kimono no Heya, also operates several photo studios in Ise. But renting a kimono from Kimono no Heya doesn't mean guests have to book a torch photo shoot.
Families can take casual photos on their own phones, meet up with a photographer they've already arranged at the shrine, keep photography light and focus on enjoying the shrine visit, or continue on to walk around Ise or go out for a family meal afterward. Rather than being decided by how the photos will be taken, the day can be shaped around how the family wants to spend it.
A Little Cute of Her Own, Beside the Star of the Day
The star of Shichi-Go-San is, of course, the child. But it's a little nice for the mother walking beside them to be in a kimono she loves, too.
Choose the child's kimono. Choose a piece for mom as well. Get ready together, then walk hand in hand to the shrine.
Looking back at the photos years later, what comes to mind may not be only the kimono. Walking together. Visiting the shrine. Laughing together as a family.
Beside a child who looks especially adorable for the day, a mother can look a little lovely too. Right across from Sarutahiko Shrine sits a small kimono shop where families can enjoy that kind of Shichi-Go-San.
Not Just Shichi-Go-San — Furisode, Too
Alongside houmongi, Kimono no Heya also carries furisode for coming-of-age ceremonies and pre-ceremony photo shoots. These, too, are selected mainly as one-of-a-kind pieces with distinctive colors and patterns.
Hair styling by a hairdresser and dressing are available here as well, so the furisode can be used not only for pre-ceremony photos but also for attending a coming-of-age ceremony or visiting a shrine.
Children's Shichi-Go-San kimono, houmongi for mothers, and furisode for coming-of-age ceremonies: Kimono no Heya aims to be a place where families can find a piece they want to wear for each milestone.
About Kimono no Heya
Houmongi can be rented on their own. Sets combining dressing, hair styling by a hairdresser, and luggage storage are also available. Once ready, guests can head straight to Sarutahiko Shrine or explore Ise on foot.
How the day is photographed is entirely up to the family — using a family smartphone or camera, a photographer arranged independently, or torch's own Shichi-Go-San photography, depending on what each family prefers.
Instagram: Kimono no Heya https://www.instagram.com/kimono.no.heya/
Houmongi and furisode rental reservations are accepted through a dedicated booking form:
https://forms.gle/nNtFHBVsZUm9Ry3h7
