Biyori

Tea, Kimono, Wagashi & Culture

Kimono, wagashi, and the quiet seasons of Japanese culture

I’m Yen, based near Düsseldorf. Through Biyori, I share my practice of kimono dressing, seasonal wagashi, Japanese tea, and the quiet beauty of everyday culture.

Latest writings ↓
  • May 20, 2026

    My Favorite Kimono Stores in Nagoya and Beyond

    Kimono
    One question I get quite often is: “Where do you buy your kimono?” So I thought I would share some of my personal favorite places — both physical shops and online stores. Since we are based in Aichi when visiting Japan, most of my recommendations are around Nagoya. I still need to explore Osaka more […]
  • May 16, 2026

    Ceremonial Grade Matcha — But Which Ceremony?

    Tea
    The other day, I overheard someone saying: “The matcha here is good because they use ceremonial grade.” And I remember thinking: Do people actually know what “ceremony” means in tea ceremony? Here in Germany — especially around cafés and social media — the phrase ceremonial grade is everywhere now. It has become almost synonymous with […]
  • May 14, 2026

    Seasonality in Japanese Tea Culture — Learning to Notice Small Changes

    Tea
    Matcha in Düsseldorf
    When people think about Japanese tea ceremony, they often imagine strict rules, formal movements, or beautifully arranged tea rooms. But one of the things that surprised me most when I began learning tea ceremony was something much quieter. It was the attention to the seasons. Not only in an obvious way, like cherry blossoms in […]
  • May 11, 2026

    Matcha, Nerikiri, and a Quiet Afternoon in Neuss

    Tea
    Last Saturday, I welcomed a family of three from Brno, Czech Republic, to my small tatami room studio in Neuss. They were visiting the Düsseldorf area and were curious about Japanese culture, especially tea ceremony and matcha. Their daughter, who enjoys K-pop and Japanese culture, had never been to Japan before, so this became their […]
  • May 11, 2026

    Kimono Tools That Made Dressing Easier for Me

    Kimono
    Over time, there are certain kimono items that quietly become essentials.These are a few things I genuinely love using myself and keep recommending to others. 1. Kūshinsai — A New Kind of Mesh Obi Makura Recommended for hard and thick obi. I love this item so much that I own three versions: the N, DX, […]
  • June 4, 2026

    Obijime Guide: Rules, Formality & Styling Explained

    Kimono
    Kimono in Düsseldorf
    Obijime may look like a small detail, but they have an important role in kimono dressing. With otaiko musubi, the obijime passes through the inside of the obi and helps hold the lower part of the shape in place. It prevents the tare — the hanging end of the obi — from falling down. So […]
  • May 5, 2026

    How Long Does It Take to Learn Kitsuke?

    Kimono
    kimono in düsseldorf
    “How long does it take to learn?” It’s one of the questions I get the most. And I understand why. From the outside, kitsuke often looks either very simple or impossibly complicated. The truth is somewhere in between. It doesn’t take as long as people think. But it also doesn’t work without structure. My own […]
  • May 5, 2026

    Kashiwa Mochi and Children’s Day in Japan

    Wagashi
    In early May, a very specific sweet starts to appear across Japan: kashiwa mochi. At first glance, it looks simple — a piece of soft mochi filled with sweet red bean paste and wrapped in a large oak leaf. But like many seasonal foods in Japan, it carries a deeper meaning tied to tradition, family, […]

About

I’m Yen, based near Düsseldorf. Through Biyori, I share my personal practice of kimono dressing, wagashi making, Japanese tea, and seasonal culture.

What began as a quiet interest has become a way of learning, creating, and connecting — through kimono, handmade sweets, tea ceremony, and small cultural gatherings.

Learn More

A Note for the Season

Each season brings its own colors, motifs, textures, and small rituals.

At Biyori, I like to observe the seasons through kimono coordination, wagashi designs, tea utensils, flowers, and everyday details — not as something distant, but as something we can gently notice in daily life.

Upcoming Gatherings

From time to time, I host small workshops and gatherings around kimono, wagashi, tea, and Japanese seasonal culture.

These are intimate moments to learn, taste, ask questions, and enjoy Japanese culture together in a relaxed setting.

Kimono Meet-ups
A quiet session for learning how to wear kimono more comfortably and beautifully.

Kimono Dressing Practice
A quiet session for learning how to wear kimono more comfortably and beautifully.

Seasonal Wagashi Workshop
Make nerikiri inspired by seasonal Japanese motifs, followed by tea.

Matcha & Wagashi Gathering
A small gathering with Japanese tea, handmade sweets, and seasonal conversation.

Schedule

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Receive occasional notes about new writings, workshops, seasonal wagashi, kimono gatherings, and quiet updates from Biyori.

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