Coming of Age Day and Furisode: What the Long Sleeves Mean and How Visitors Can Join
Coming of Age Day in January: why twenty-year-olds wear furisode kimono, where visitors can see it in Tokyo and Kyoto, and how to rent a furisode yourself.
Sep 14, 2026·✍️ olablog·⏱ 7 min read
Coming of Age Day in January: why twenty-year-olds wear furisode kimono, where visitors can see it in Tokyo and Kyoto, and how to rent a furisode yourself.
On the second Monday of January, Japan's twenty-year-olds dress up for Seijin no Hi (成人の日, Coming of Age Day) and go to a ceremony at their city hall. For young women that means furisode (振袖), the kimono with sleeves that hang almost to the ankle, in the brightest silks the family can afford or rent; for young men it usually means a dark kimono with hakama and a crested haori, though suits are common too. For a visitor, it is the one day of the year when the streets of every city are full of the most formal kimono there is, worn by people who are having the best day of their year. This guide explains what you are looking at and how to wear a furisode yourself.
What furisode is and why the sleeves are long
Furisode literally means "swinging sleeves." The sleeve drops 100 to 110 cm from the shoulder on a full-length (ōfurisode) version, and it is the most formal kimono an unmarried woman wears. Historically the swinging sleeve was a young woman's signal, and once married she would shorten them to the standard 50 cm of a tomesode or houmongi. Today the sleeve length is simply the marker of youth and occasion: Coming of Age Day, university graduation (with hakama), weddings as a guest, and the New Year.
| Kimono type | Sleeve length | Who wears it | Occasion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ōfurisode | 100 to 114 cm | Unmarried women | Coming of Age Day, bridal |
| Chūfurisode | 85 to 95 cm | Unmarried women | Graduation, formal parties |
| Houmongi | About 50 cm | Any woman | Weddings as guest, tea, formal visits |
| Komon | About 50 cm | Any woman | Everyday, sightseeing |
The furisode obi is tied in an elaborate decorative knot (the "fukura suzume" sparrow or a large bow) that takes a professional dresser 20 minutes on its own. That, plus the padded collar, the hair ornaments and the fur stole most women add in January, is why the whole look takes an hour and a half to assemble at home, and why rental shops that offer it are the ones with experienced dressers.
Where visitors can see Coming of Age Day
The ceremonies themselves are for registered residents, but the streets around the venues and the shrines afterwards are public and glorious.
Tokyo
- Sensoji and Asakusa Shrine. New adults from the Taito ward ceremony come to the temple for photos in the afternoon. Nakamise in mid-January is a stream of furisode.
- Meiji Jingu. The Shibuya ward ceremony is nearby, and the shrine's forest approach fills with groups in furisode from noon. The Yabusame archery demonstration sometimes held at the shrine the same week draws crowds too.
- Yokohama Arena and the big civic halls host the largest ceremonies; you cannot go in, but the surrounding stations from 10:00 are a fashion show.
Kyoto
- Heian Shrine and the Okazaki area, where the city's main ceremony is held at the Miyako Messe hall next door. From 13:00 the great torii is lined with new adults and their families.
- Yasaka Shrine and Gion. Many go on to Gion for photos in the late afternoon; Hanamikoji at 15:00 on this day is the most photographed 200 metres in Japan.
Renting a furisode yourself
You do not have to be twenty or Japanese. Furisode is rented by visitors for New Year, for birthdays, for engagement photos, and simply because it is the most spectacular garment in the shop.
At OlaChill's Tokyo Asakusa and Kyoto Kiyomizu shops, the Furisode is ¥19,000 and the Design Furisode (large modern patterns, premium fabrics) is ¥25,000, each including the full accessory set, obi, sandals and bag, tax included, 10% off booked online. Add the hair set (¥1,500), makeup (¥5,000) and DECO unlimited hair accessories (¥1,100) for the full Coming of Age look; a professional shoot is ¥15,000 and up for 30 minutes.
Allow one hour for dressing and hair. Furisode is heavy compared with a komon, the obi knot is large, and the sleeves need managing: tuck them over your arm when you sit, lift them when you climb stairs, and hold them clear of the sink. Our kimono-wearing rules guide covers the basics of moving well.
January weather and what to wear underneath
Tokyo and Kyoto in mid-January are 3 to 10°C. Furisode is silk and lined, and with a fur or feather stole around the shoulders (the classic accessory of the day), it is warm enough for an afternoon outdoors. Wear a thin thermal top with a low neckline and thermal leggings under the kimono; both shops provide the juban under-robe. Shops also provide a haori or shawl on cold days, but for furisode the stole is the correct piece.
Plan your day (Coming of Age Day)
- 09:00 Dressing and hair at the shop. Take the first slot; the young women you will share the street with have been up since 05:00 at their own dressers.
- 10:30 Photos at Sensoji or Kiyomizu-dera in the morning light before the ceremonies let out.
- 12:00 Lunch. Choose a restaurant with tables, not counter stools; furisode and a bar stool do not mix.
- 13:00 to 15:00 Walk to the shrine nearest the civic ceremony (Asakusa Shrine, Meiji Jingu, Heian Shrine) and enjoy the crowd. Congratulate anyone who catches your eye with "omedetō gozaimasu"; it is that kind of day.
- 15:30 Second photo location as the light goes gold: Sumida riverside in Tokyo, Yasaka Pagoda in Kyoto.
- 17:30 Back at the shop before 18:00, or add next-day return (+¥1,100) for an evening out.
Checklist
- 09:00 slot booked for a furisode (an hour to dress)
- Thermal top and leggings, low neckline
- A stole or scarf if you want the full January look (ask whether the shop has one to lend)
- Small formal bag; the kit bag is included
- Cash for shrine offerings and taxis; January afternoons get cold fast
- Someone to carry your coat: furisode over a winter coat does not work, so plan to be indoors or in a car between locations
FAQ
Can a married woman or an older woman rent furisode? For photos and sightseeing, yes, and nobody will mind. For a real formal occasion in Japan a houmongi or tomesode would be the correct choice; we rent both.
Can men take part? Yes. Montsuki with hakama (¥10,000) is the men's formal equivalent worn at the ceremonies, and it photographs beautifully alongside a furisode.
How long can I keep it? Until 18:00 the same day, or before 10:00 the next morning with next-day return. Hotel return is also available.
Is furisode suitable for a proposal or engagement photos? It is the traditional choice for exactly that, and the Design Furisode was added for this reason. Combine with the photo option and tell us the location you want.
Is it very cold in furisode? Less than you expect: silk, lining and a stole are warm, and shrine visits are short. The hands and feet get cold first; bring hand warmers and wear thick tabi.
Book a furisode
Reserve a Furisode or Design Furisode at the Tokyo Asakusa shop or the Kyoto Kiyomizu shop, and for New Year in kimono generally, see our hatsumode guide. Prices and styles are on the kimono rental page.
