Silk Kimono Robe

#1 (**permalink**) 30th November 2011, 05:51 PM

Hi friends, I'm gonna go to Tokyo soon on a business trip. I am staying in shiodome area. I will be busy attending meetings but I will hopefully get a period of 2-3 hours free for souvenir shopping. I want to buy kitchen bowls chopsticks and other Asian style goods for me and the family, but most important is something my girlfriend wants. She wants a silk kimono robe. It can't be cotton, she wants silk. High maintenance I know.

Where can I get this piece of clothing in central Tokyo without paying hundreds of pounds. Its not just cost, I want to go somewhere where I can be understood in simple English as I don't speak Japanese.

Thanks for any help

#2 (**permalink**) 26th December 2011, 07:57 PM

Why not order one from home instead? A proper Japanese kimono will set you back a pretty penny, and will be tailored to Japanese tradition/fashion (not to mention sizings -is your girlfriend petite or a tall westerner? If the latter then a normal size robe may be closer to a knee-length robe on her!). There are plenty available through the internet for a lot cheaper than you can expect to pay at some overinflated tourist shop in Tokyo. A lot of them come from Thailand so are much cheaper, but still of noticable oriental design. Get your girlfriend to pick out a design she likes in advance. There are some listed here to get you started: silk kimono robe Just be sure and use a reputable company and double check that it is proper silk you are buying - in Thailand you get people swearing on their ancestor's graves that the scarves and clothes they are selling you are silk, when actually they're a composite or satin to save money.

mariosx69 · #3 (**permalink**) 3rd March 2012, 06:44 PM

I think buying these from home will be cheaper .
tourists are cheated some times

love japan · #4 (**permalink**) 29th March 2012, 11:23 AM

Hi Rob,
I've been to Tokyo and if you have only 2-3 hours for souvenir shopping you will struggle. The easiest place to do your souvenir shopping is in Shinjuku with all sorts of shops selling all types of souvenir but it might be easier to check Narita Airport shops on the way in to see what you can collect on the way out as they also have a good selection of souvenirs.
But the eaiest option is to purchase a kimono on line from a Japanese company that ships worldwide.

All the best
Pete