Kyoto Family Adventure: Geisha Dress-Up Magic, Kimono Bonding & Heartwarming Moments with Daughters

Travelling with the girls always makes me realize how hard they try, both to keep up with their brothers but also just how hard they try generally, which is tremendously heartwarming to see. As we walked around Gion spotting geishas, they asked if they too could dress up and walk around Kyoto. I think I’m more of a boy mum, as such an activity struck me as slightly bizarre; even as a child it wouldn’t have occurred to me which I attribute squarely to my dad, who asked quizzically, “do they know what a geisha is?”

It was an involved day, kind of fascinating and just so very sweet. That morning, I was awakened by a kiss from Rowan who whispered, “mummy, is today the day we can dress in geisha clothes?” The Okamoto rentals are 4 stories of 600 kimono and dressing rooms and for an extra $5, they style and spray your hair with accessories, rather like the original Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo salons. My suggestions for more modern, warm and natural colours were roundly rejected…and the first thing the mamasan said upon seeing Pippi’s fringe was, “oh, so short! Did you cut it yourself?”

The best part was seeing their joy and how seriously they shuffled through the Yasaka shrine. Roro has been asking Zhan if she can earn some money and if he can set up three jars, like she’s seen for her brothers. We asked the girls why they need money and yesterday they said slyly that if their brothers ran out of allowance, they can give them some, but after today, Roro said she wants to save money so she can buy a hair curler.