We hosted a special event at BORDERLESS HOUSE Kyoto Kamigamo—a “Kimono Dressing & Tea Party” that brought tenants and locals together in the most beautiful and cultural way!

Wearing a kimono is a truly special experience, and it usually costs around 4,000 yen per person per day. But thanks to the generous support of Kyoto Kimono Kikaku, tenants were able to join for just 500 yen! A huge thank you to Kyoto Kimono Kikaku-san for making this possible!

This time, we had 21 tenants join us from all five Borderless Houses in Osaka and Kyoto, creating a vibrant and international gathering. After everyone dressed up in stunning kimonos, we enjoyed a tea party and cultural exchange with 12 local residents from the Kyoto Kamigamo neighborhood.

From start to finish, the event was full of smiles, great conversation, and unforgettable moments. I’ll be sharing lots of photos below so you can feel the atmosphere too!

Also… I’ll share a little behind-the-scenes story about the challenges of putting on a kimono—it’s definitely not as easy as it looks!

The Fun (and Struggle!) of Kimono Dressing

One of the most memorable parts of the day was watching everyone try on kimonos—especially for those experiencing it for the first time!

For many of our male tenants from overseas, wearing traditional tabi socks was a brand-new challenge. One of them even joked,
“Where’s my ring toe? Where?!”
It gave everyone a good laugh!

Meanwhile, the female tenants took on the task of tying their own obi (kimono sashes). There are so many different obi styles—like ribbon shapes—and it takes quite a bit of technique to get it just right.

Luckily, with kind and careful guidance from the team at Kyoto Kimono Kikaku, everyone managed to dress beautifully in their kimonos. We’re so grateful for their support!

We were also touched to have some of our local neighbors join as volunteers for the kimono dressing. One of them, O-san, is a familiar face at Kyoto Kamigamo House.

She always remembers everyone’s names and nicknames, and this time, she joined us because she wanted to help—even just a little—to make the experience more special for the tenants.

For many of our tenants, this was their very first time wearing a kimono by themselves—and once they were dressed, they couldn’t stop smiling! Excited by how they looked, everyone started snapping tons of photos together.

One of the most unforgettable moments? A tenant who loves natto (fermented soybeans) so much—he eats it morning, noon, and night—came up with a special "Natto Pose" for the photos!

A Walk Through Cultural Heritage – Kamigamo Shrine

After getting dressed, we split into three teams and strolled over to Kamigamo Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located just a 3-minute walk from Kyoto Kamigamo House.

We visited the temizuya, the traditional water basin for cleansing hands and mouth before entering the shrine. Then, all of us—tenants and staff alike—gathered in front of the torii gate for a group photo to remember the moment!

Tea Party Success! A Surprise Icebreaker: Korean Dramas!?

After the shrine walk, we returned to the house, where 12 local neighbors warmly welcomed the tenants for a tea party. At first, some neighbors were a bit nervous and unsure how to start a conversation:

“I’m not sure how to begin talking…”
“I don’t speak English well…”

But the ice melted quickly with a simple comment from one of them:
“I love Korean dramas!”

One of the Korean tenants immediately responded:
“Oh really? Which drama do you like?”

And just like that, the conversations started to bloom. 

Some neighbors even shared stories about growing up in the Kamigamo area, using hand gestures to communicate across language barriers.

A few of the local girls also took the opportunity to practice their English and Korean by chatting with the tenants. The whole tea party turned into a heartwarming exchange of cultures, languages, and laughter.

As the event came to a close, many tenants couldn’t hide their disappointment.
We heard comments like: “Already? That hour went by way too fast!”

Some even asked: “When is the next event? Please let us know as soon as you decide!”

We were thrilled to receive so many warm voices eager for the next gathering, and we’re already looking forward to planning more events like this one!

Heartwarming feedback from tenants

“This was my first time experiencing kimono dressing, and it was so fulfilling. I also learned so much about the Kamigamo area from the neighbors—I’d love to continue engaging with them and learn more!”
— W-san (Japan)

“It was so much fun chatting with tenants from other houses! I’d love to join again if there’s another cross-house event.”
— R-san (Japan)

“Please keep organizing events focused on Japanese culture! I really want to learn more about how to tie obi belts—please teach me next time!”
— A-san (Germany)

It was clear from everyone’s smiles and kind words that this event wasn’t just a fun cultural experience—it was a true moment of connection between international residents and the local community.

Borderless House × Local Community

At Borderless House Kyoto Kamigamo, we’re committed to creating a space where cultural exchange and local connection go hand in hand. We hope to continue growing alongside our tenants and neighbors, building meaningful ties with the Kamigamo community.

Thank you for reading our blog! We hope to see you at our next event.
If you're interested in living at Borderless House and joining our vibrant, multicultural community, feel free to reach out!

▶️ Borderless House Kyoto Kamigamo
▶️ Borderless House Kyoto Hanazono

Thanks again to all the neighbors who joined us—and to everyone who smiled for the camera!