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Spring Flower Viewing (Hanami)

The days are becoming warmer and sunsets later - spring time is almost here, and that means that so is the hanami season! Every year, Kimono House helps prepare people of all ages for the flower viewing ( hanami ) season. If you walk around parks in Japan during the hanami  season, you can find people enjoying the blossoms from underneath and around the trees at all times of day with bento lunches and drinks (even beer and sake). It's a great example of enjoying life's fleeting moments of beauty. You can never be sure when the next rain will fall and wash away the blossoms in full bloom - so don't wait, plan your cherry blossom viewing now! In NYC, the blossoms generally start blooming at the end of March, peaking at mid April, and the last of the blossoms tapering off in May. This year has been warmer than usual, so everything may happen a little sooner than previous years. The Central Park Conservancy also debuted their cherry blossom tracker this year, so it will make i
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Happy New Year of the Rabbit

Goodbye Year of the Tiger, Hello Year of the Rabbit! 🐰 Thank you, everyone, for another year of  kind support and  warm messages - we could not have managed without you. 🥰  While Kimono House continues to put forth its utmost effort to stay at its current location, it seems that the toll of the Pandemic needs more time to be reversed and we are still thinking of what shape we will take in the future. 💪 We treasure each day, month, year we are open and can deepen knowledge about kimono and Japanese culture to more and more people. To good health and fortune in the coming year! 🥂 Kimono House is conveniently located in SoHo between Houston and Prince Streets on Thompson. 131 Thompson Street New York, NY 10012 (212) 505-0232

Wearable Art for Mom

Do you have childhood memories where someone swaddled you in a towel or a comfy bathrobe after a bedtime bath before bed? When we grow up, many of us want something that can mimic that physical feeling of security. Like when a loved one isn’t there to wrap their arms around you, wearing a piece of their clothing in their place to imagine that they are there - that type of security. Kimono are great for that because they are meant to be wrapped around the body like a loving embrace to fit simply but securely. When I started living in Japan, my mom briefly mentioned how she’d love to have a kimono for around the house. I searched through 100s of racks of fabric in as many tones and patterns at different second hand stores. I was able to find one for her Mother’s Day present one year and has worn them every summer since. Finding a gift for other occasions was made easier because I knew I could get her a simple obi belt to match for different occasions, or even slowly build up the accesso

Spring has Sprung!

Has the tweating of birds flitting around the newly blossomed trees caught your senses? Not too long ago, I read a nature magazine article that talked about the interaction between birds and trees spring. Somehow, the movement and singing of birds starts the budding processes in trees! So bird song is not only a sign for animals and humans that spring is coming soon and we should prepare accordingly, but also for trees. Did the pink and white blossoms of cherry trees come to mind when you first started hearing their melodies? It certainly did for us, because Spring = Cherry Blossom viewing season.   We've already started the conversation with friends about dates for photoshoots in kimono or a picnic under the beautiful blossoms. If you visit Japan in Spring, every fine weather day - even for a rainy forecast! - you will see people populating the parks having bento, drinks, and unfettered conversation. Sometimes it is hard to choose where we want to go because there are so many site

Anime Conventions

New York City's last anime convention for the year is this weekend - Anime NYC! The special events include Demon Slayer main stage, an  Attack on Titan  manga gallery, Fate/Grand Order  panel  and   Lupin the 3rd English dub voice actor guest panel.  Are you still looking for an item to top off your cosplay or to stand out at the con? Perhaps, you had your whole Tanjiro outfit made, but couldn't find the kitsune fox mask he wears. We have it!  Call or email with your Japanese inspired ideas to see if Kimono House New York can help you to be one of our many happy customers preparing for a convention. Kimono House is conveniently located in SoHo between Houston and Prince Streets on Thompson. 131 Thompson Street New York, NY 10012 (212) 505-0232 きめつのやいば 鬼滅の刃 しんげきのきょじん 進撃の巨人 ルパン三世  フェイト・ グランドオーダー

Childhood Milestones

. 七五三・7 5 3           七(shichi)  五 (go) 三 (san) is a ritual to celebrate the health and well-being of boys aged 3 and 5, and girls aged 3 and 7 that was popularized in the Edo period. While Novemeber 15th is the official day for Shichi-Go-San, it's also important that it's a good experience for your child so anytime around the day is fine! That means you still have time to plan a commemorative kimono photoshoot.  Do you want to have a photoshoot to document your child's growth, but do not want to buy all the necessary clothing?  Kimono House has been offering Shichi-Go-San kimono rental and styling services for over twenty years! We have also worked with the Japan Society of New York for  Shichi-Go-San ceremonies. Kimono House carries  all of the items your family might need to make the ensemble complete for any age.  Please call or email to schedule an appointment or consultation for kimono rental or purchase. I f you would like professional photos, please inquire for avai

Autumn is for...

... kimono!      Most of Japan, like the North East, has four clearly defined seasons - each with its own ways of being celebrated. But only autumn is associated with doing so many things. In addition to the milestone celebrations for 3, 5, and 7 year olds in November , the top five associations for fall this year were: Delicious Fall 食欲の秋 (shokuyoku no aki), Sports Fall スポーツの秋 (spotsu no aki), Artwork Fall 芸術の秋 (geijutsu no aki), Reading Fall 読書の秋 (dokusho no aki), and of course Fall Foliage 紅葉の秋 (momiji no aki).       But we think that one more should be mentioned. The falling temperature in autumn makes us wear warmer layers - this is perfect for kimono! Many people are enchanted by spring’s cherry blossoms and take the opportunity to wear kimono and spend time with the trees for a photoshoot. The same thing can be done with the brilliant fall foliage!  For those of you still on the hunt for a chill but simple Halloween costume, we have something for you too!      Call for a consul